NFL Stars Who Went Hollywood

Terry Crews’ action-comedy turn and more.

Jim Brown - Terry Crews, O.J. Simpson, Jim Brown and other football greats who traded their cleats for Hollywood scripts. After nine stellar seasons with the Cleveland Browns in the 1950s and ‘60s, running back Jim Brown continued to break barriers when he made the switch to acting, tackling an array of genres. He has appeared in such films as The Dirty Dozen, I’m Gonna Get You Sucka and Any Given Sunday.—Britt Middleton (Photo: Twentieth Century Fox)

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Jim Brown - Terry Crews, O.J. Simpson, Jim Brown and other football greats who traded their cleats for Hollywood scripts. After nine stellar seasons with the Cleveland Browns in the 1950s and ‘60s, running back Jim Brown continued to break barriers when he made the switch to acting, tackling an array of genres. He has appeared in such films as The Dirty Dozen, I’m Gonna Get You Sucka and Any Given Sunday.—Britt Middleton (Photo: Twentieth Century Fox)

O.J. Simpson - O.J. Simpson’s infamous legal troubles have all but eclipsed his former gridiron glory as one of the game’s greatest running backs, playing with the Buffalo Bills and the San Francisco 49ers in the 1970s. On the big screen, Simpson most famously played Norberg, the best friend and partner of Frank Derbin in the Naked Gun trilogy.  (Photo: Paramount Pictures)

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O.J. Simpson - O.J. Simpson’s infamous legal troubles have all but eclipsed his former gridiron glory as one of the game’s greatest running backs, playing with the Buffalo Bills and the San Francisco 49ers in the 1970s. On the big screen, Simpson most famously played Norberg, the best friend and partner of Frank Derbin in the Naked Gun trilogy.  (Photo: Paramount Pictures)

Terry Crews - Terry Crews as Julius on Everybody Hates Chris was a hardworking dad who was also a heavy penny-pincher.  Moreover, he's based on Chris Rock's late father.(Photo: Michael Desmond/The CW Network)

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Terry Crews - Time and time again actor and comedian Terry Crews has proven his versatility — whether it’s playing himself on BET’s hit reality show, The Family Crews, or starring in Hollywood blockbusters such as Terminator Salvation and The Expendables or showcasing his comedic chops with roles in White Chicks and Soul Plane. Before treating himself to the Hollywood life, Crews played defensive end and linebacker for three seasons for the then-Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers and Washington Redskins. (Photo: Michael Desmond/The CW Network/ Landov)

Bubba Smith - Bubba Smith, who died last August after an apparent diet-pill overdose, was one of the most feared defensive ends during his tenure in the NFL, where he played for the then-Baltimore Colts, the Houston Oilers and the Oakland Raiders during the 1960s and ‘70s. His one-liners in a slew of Miller Lite commercials helped him exercise his comedic muscle, and he played the soft-spoken officer Moses Hightower in the Police Academy movies and also appeared in television series including Charlie’s Angels and Good Times. (Photo: Warner Bros)

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Bubba Smith - Bubba Smith, who died last August after an apparent diet-pill overdose, was one of the most feared defensive ends during his tenure in the NFL, where he played for the then-Baltimore Colts, the Houston Oilers and the Oakland Raiders during the 1960s and ‘70s. His one-liners in a slew of Miller Lite commercials helped him exercise his comedic muscle, and he played the soft-spoken officer Moses Hightower in the Police Academy movies and also appeared in television series including Charlie’s Angels and Good Times. (Photo: Warner Bros)

Alex Karras - Fans of the 1980s sitcom Webster will know Alex Karras as Mr. Papadapolis, the adoptive father of Emmanuel Lewis's titular character. Before that, he was an All-Pro defensive tackle who played 12 seasons for the Detroit Lions and eventually landed roles in movies including Blazing Saddles and the raunchy teen classic Porky’s.(Photo: Paramount Television)

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Alex Karras - Fans of the 1980s sitcom Webster will know Alex Karras as Mr. Papadapolis, the adoptive father of Emmanuel Lewis's titular character. Before that, he was an All-Pro defensive tackle who played 12 seasons for the Detroit Lions and eventually landed roles in movies including Blazing Saddles and the raunchy teen classic Porky’s.(Photo: Paramount Television)

Carl Weathers - Carl Weathers’s professional career as a linebacker with the Oakland Raiders in the 1970s was brief, but his role in one of Hollywood’s most iconic films cemented his status as a pop culture icon. He most famously starred as Apollo Creed, Rocky Balboa’s nemesis-turned-comrade in the Rocky movies. (Photo: United Artist Pictures)

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Carl Weathers - Carl Weathers’s professional career as a linebacker with the Oakland Raiders in the 1970s was brief, but his role in one of Hollywood’s most iconic films cemented his status as a pop culture icon. He most famously starred as Apollo Creed, Rocky Balboa’s nemesis-turned-comrade in the Rocky movies. (Photo: United Artist Pictures)