# Most Successful Athletes Who Become Actors **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 5, 2006, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-athletes-who-become-actors/351422 "2006-04-05T16:20:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-athletes-who-become-actors/351422/1 "2006-04-05T16:20:49Z")
Usually, athletes who make the transition to acting wind up playing either atheltes or heavies. I’d guess Arnold would be the gold standard making a switch from body building to Hollywood. Who are some of the others who have succeeded? I’d say Jim Brown, Rick Fox, Bob Uecker and Terry Bradshaw have all had some success. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-athletes-who-become-actors/351422/2 "2006-04-05T16:34:21Z")
Don’t forget Fred Dryer, who had his own series (Hunter). Also, Ed Marinaro (Joe Coffey in Hill Street Blues). Both were pro football players. ---
**Author:** ![brickbacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-athletes-who-become-actors/351422/3 "2006-04-05T16:34:44Z")
OJ Simpson ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-athletes-who-become-actors/351422/4 "2006-04-05T16:35:19Z")
[Chuck Connors](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0175488/) played for the Boston Celtics (basketball) _in addition to_ Major League Baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs before transitioning to acting. He is best known as the star of _The Rifleman_, but had a long and varied career in TV and film. He is probably better known as an actor than an athlete. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-athletes-who-become-actors/351422/5 "2006-04-05T16:36:27Z")
[[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0134642/](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0134642/)](Eric Cantona) - Man Utd. Legend moved into acting (though nowadays mainly those Nike adverts). Neither [[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1544103/](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1544103/)](Stan Colemore) nor [[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005068/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnx0dD0xfGZiPXV8cG49MHxrdz0xfHE9dmlubmllfGZ0PTF8bXg9MjB8bG09NTAwfGNvPTF8aHRtbD0xfG5tPTE\_;fc=2;ft=141;fm=1](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005068/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnx0dD0xfGZiPXV8cG49MHxrdz0xfHE9dmlubmllfGZ0PTF8bXg9MjB8bG09NTAwfGNvPTF8aHRtbD0xfG5tPTE_;fc=2;ft=141;fm=1)](Vinnie Jones) were really sporting greats (The former being better known as complete dick who wasted what talent he had, the second being better known as a psyco). ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-athletes-who-become-actors/351422/6 "2006-04-05T16:37:59Z")
Dammit screwed up my links 🙂 [Eric Cantona](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0134642/) - Man Utd. Legend moved into acting (though nowadays mainly those Nike adverts). Neither [Stan Colemore](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1544103/) nor [Vinnie Jones](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005068/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnx0dD0xfGZiPXV8cG49MHxrdz0xfHE9dmlubmllfGZ0PTF8bXg9MjB8bG09NTAwfGNvPTF8aHRtbD0xfG5tPTE_;fc=2;ft=141;fm=1) were really sporting greats (The former being better known as complete dick who wasted what talent he had, the second being better known as a psyco). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-athletes-who-become-actors/351422/7 "2006-04-05T17:00:13Z")
As an Iowa Buckeye in the 1950’s, \*\*Alex Karras \*\* won the Outland Trophy, played on a college national champion team, and placed second in votes for the Heisman. He went on to play for the Detroit Lions for 14 seasons, worked a stint in the booth on _Monday Night Football_, wrote a novel or two, and played the parts of Mongo in \*\*Blazing Saddles \*\* and of James Garner’s gay bodyguard “Squash” Bernstein in **Victor/Victoria** , to name the two roles he’s probably best known for. “Mongo only pawn in game of life.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-athletes-who-become-actors/351422/8 "2006-04-05T17:01:10Z")
Does The Rock count? It probably depends on whether or not ‘pro’ wrestling counts as a sport, but he was also an athlete in college. Howie Long did okay for himself, but I guess he’s settled into being a sports show panelist instead of an actor. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-athletes-who-become-actors/351422/9 "2006-04-05T17:05:55Z")
Swinging back into the mists of time, we get [Johnny Weismuller.](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0919321/) I think he was in a few films here and there 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-athletes-who-become-actors/351422/10 "2006-04-05T17:06:01Z")
[Sonja Henie](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0377012/bio) and [Esther Williams](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0930565/bio) . ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-athletes-who-become-actors/351422/11 "2006-04-05T17:09:03Z")
And if body building counts as sport, then [Sean Connery](http://imdb.com/name/nm0000125/bio) might count > [@](#): > > In 1953, he entered the Mr. Universe contest, finishing third in the tall man’s division. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-athletes-who-become-actors/351422/12 "2006-04-05T17:13:15Z")
**Not** Mark Spitz, whose clunky performance on TV was legendary. Mad magazine even stuck him in their parody of Bond Films as the future star of “For Fish Eyes Only”, as having “the necessary acting talent” for the role. > **[Mark Spitz - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0819156/)** > > Mark Spitz, Actor: Emergency!. Mark Andrew Spitz (born February 10, 1950) is an American former competition swimmer, nine-time Olympic champion, and former world record-holder in seven events. He won seven gold medals at the 1972 Summer Olympics in... ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-athletes-who-become-actors/351422/13 "2006-04-05T17:15:01Z")
[Jim Brown](http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0000987/maindetails), arguably pro football’s greatest rusher, was a major movie star after he quite football, and is still busy. [Mike Warren](http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0912966/maindetails), best known as officer Bobby Hill on **Hill Street Blues** , was a first-class college basketball playing, playing on three NCAA championship teams with UCLA with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-athletes-who-become-actors/351422/14 "2006-04-05T17:33:54Z")
Dean Cain gave up a football career when his knees started going out on him; he played Superman in Lois & Clark. Then there’s a lot of martial artists–Chuck Norris, for example. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-athletes-who-become-actors/351422/15 "2006-04-05T17:37:05Z")
Chuck Norris can act? 😕😕 ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-athletes-who-become-actors/351422/16 "2006-04-05T17:42:49Z")
> [@Tapioca Dextrin](#): > > Chuck Norris can act? 😕😕 Arnold (from the OP) can act? Arnold was an athlete? I guess bodybuilding is considered “athletics”… :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-athletes-who-become-actors/351422/17 "2006-04-05T17:49:53Z")
> [@Tapioca Dextrin](#): > > Chuck Norris can act? 😕😕 Well, he can act like a martial artist… how does his movie & TV listing on IMDB stack up to yours? ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-athletes-who-become-actors/351422/18 "2006-04-05T19:34:27Z")
> [@Tapioca Dextrin](#): > > Chuck Norris can act? 😕😕 I’m backing away from you now, for when the inevitable roundhouse kick comes your way! ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-athletes-who-become-actors/351422/19 "2006-04-05T19:36:04Z")
Carl Weathers (Apollo Creed & “the black guy” in Predator) played football for San Diego State and the Oakland Raiders. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-athletes-who-become-actors/351422/20 "2006-04-05T19:43:33Z")
Fred Williamson. I was surpised to discover he’s been in over 100 films after he retired from football after playing for the Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs (and being the laughing stock of Super Bowl I). He also has directed, wrote, and produces. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-athletes-who-become-actors/351422.md?page=2)