Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has always been a symbol of strength, ever since we saw him in the wrestling ring of the WWF. The 45-year-old, 6-foot-5 actor, wrestler, and former football player, has been a staple in most households since his acting debut in 2001’s “The Mummy Returns” as the Scorpion King. He has since gone on to star in more than 20 pictures, as well as staying relevant in the wrestling world. In an interview with Express, the ninth-most-followed Instagram user said that he didn’t care to go anywhere or do anything, because he was so depressed.
The depression started after his mother, Ata, attempted suicide by getting out of the car on the interstate and walking into oncoming traffic. This was just a few months after they were evicted from their apartment. The then-15-year-old Johnson ran out of the car and pulled her to safety. He stated that to this day, she doesn’t remember a thing about that day. And he’s glad she doesn’t.
Dwayne Johnson: From football to wrestling
When he finished high school in Pennsylvania, Johnson joined the Hurricanes in 1991, a team that went on to win a national championship. He eventually joined the Canadian Football League, but was released within the year due to numerous injuries. That is when his dreams of becoming a football star were shattered.
Shortly after that, his then-girlfriend left him, and he says that that was the worst time.
Wrestling, however, runs in the Johnson family. His grandfather, Peter Maivia, was famous in the ‘60s, while his father, Rocky, was famous in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Dwayne, regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all-time, began training in 1995.
He gained fame in mainstream media when he joined the WWF (now WWE) from 1996 to 2004. He was the first third-generation wrestler in the company’s history. He continues to make sporadic appearances.
From the big ring to the big screen
Since his first starring role as The Scorpion King, for which he was paid a record sum of $5.5 million, he has starred in over 20 movies ranging from “The Rundown” and “Walking Tall” to a recurring role in the "Fast and Furious" franchise.
He became the world’s highest-paid actor in 2016, and was named no. 25 in the Top 100 Most Powerful Celebrities in 2013. He has made it into the top 20 on the list every year since. He continues to act, as well as produce movies and TV shows with his production company, Seven Bucks Productions.
