Athletes Turned Actors

See who transitioned from sports to acting.

Terry Crews - Terry Crews played seven seasons in the NFL before retiring in 1997. Thanks to his great physique, Crews was able to break into Hollywood after a short stint on “Battle Dome.” After bouncing around from cameo to cameo, Crews landed the lead role on the TBS comedy Are We There Yet? (Photo: Ben Hider/PictureGroup)

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Terry Crews - Terry Crews played seven seasons in the NFL before retiring in 1997. Thanks to his great physique, Crews was able to break into Hollywood after a short stint on “Battle Dome.” After bouncing around from cameo to cameo, Crews landed the lead role on the TBS comedy Are We There Yet? (Photo: Ben Hider/PictureGroup)

Shaquille O’Neal - If Shaquille O’Neal weren’t one of the most dominant centers in NBA history, he would make a great full-time actor. O’Neal’s charismatic charm easily translated to the big screen in his first feature film, Blue Chips. Since then, O’Neal has dived into the reality world with Shaq’s Big Challenge and Shaq vs. (Photo: Tim Defrisco/ALLSPORT)

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Shaquille O’Neal - If Shaquille O’Neal weren’t one of the most dominant centers in NBA history, he would make a great full-time actor. O’Neal’s charismatic charm easily translated to the big screen in his first feature film, Blue Chips. Since then, O’Neal has dived into the reality world with Shaq’s Big Challenge and Shaq vs. (Photo: Tim Defrisco/ALLSPORT)

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson - Like many pro wrestlers before him, Dwayne Johnson was able to parlay his career WWE star "The Rock" into an acting career. But unlike Andre The Giant and Hulk Hogan, the former University of Miami football player transformed into a credible actor, landing in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the highest salary as an actor in his first starring role.(Photo: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

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Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson - Like many pro wrestlers before him, Dwayne Johnson was able to parlay his career WWE star "The Rock" into an acting career. But unlike Andre The Giant and Hulk Hogan, the former University of Miami football player transformed into a credible actor, landing in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the highest salary as an actor in his first starring role.(Photo: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Rick Fox - Former three-time NBA champion Rick Fox dabbled in the acting scene while playing for the Boston Celtics. Once Fox headed West to the Los Angeles Lakers, he landed a role on HBO’s Oz. Following his retirement in 2004, Fox continued to land roles on the small screen including Melrose Place and Dirt. (Photo: Tom Hauck /Allsport)

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Rick Fox - Former three-time NBA champion Rick Fox dabbled in the acting scene while playing for the Boston Celtics. Once Fox headed West to the Los Angeles Lakers, he landed a role on HBO’s Oz. Following his retirement in 2004, Fox continued to land roles on the small screen including Melrose Place and Dirt. (Photo: Tom Hauck /Allsport)

O.J. Simpson - During a stellar career in the NFL, O.J. Simpson turned to the acting world with a role in the historical mini-series Roots. Building on that success, Simpson landed more prominent roles following his retirement in 1979 including the popular Naked Gun trilogy.(Photo: PictureGroup)

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O.J. Simpson - During a stellar career in the NFL, O.J. Simpson turned to the acting world with a role in the historical mini-series Roots. Building on that success, Simpson landed more prominent roles following his retirement in 1979 including the popular Naked Gun trilogy.(Photo: PictureGroup)

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Mark Harmon - Following in his father’s footsteps, Mark Harmon was the starting quarterback at UCLA in 1972 and 1973. When it became clear that the NFL was not in the picture, Harmon turned to acting. Nearly 40 years later, his career is better than ever, playing Special Agent Jethro Gibbs on the hit series NCIS. He hasn't abandoned sports, playing in an L.A. Dodgers celebrity game.(Photo: PictureGroup)

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Mark Harmon - Following in his father’s footsteps, Mark Harmon was the starting quarterback at UCLA in 1972 and 1973. When it became clear that the NFL was not in the picture, Harmon turned to acting. Nearly 40 years later, his career is better than ever, playing Special Agent Jethro Gibbs on the hit series NCIS. He hasn't abandoned sports, playing in an L.A. Dodgers celebrity game.(Photo: PictureGroup)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - After Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s arrival in Los Angeles, the Hall of Fame center took a shot at acting. He was an instant hit playing Roger Murdock in Airplane, and has gone on to a number of television and movie cameos over the years.(Photo: Mike Powell/Getty Images)

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - After Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s arrival in Los Angeles, the Hall of Fame center took a shot at acting. He was an instant hit playing Roger Murdock in Airplane, and has gone on to a number of television and movie cameos over the years.(Photo: Mike Powell/Getty Images)

Jim Brown - Arguably the greatest NFL player of all time, Jim Brown went on to become a successful actor, director and producer in Hollywood. Brown made history by taking part in one of the first film interracial love scenes with Raquel Welch in 100 Rifles. (Photo: George Rose/Getty Images)

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Jim Brown - Arguably the greatest NFL player of all time, Jim Brown went on to become a successful actor, director and producer in Hollywood. Brown made history by taking part in one of the first film interracial love scenes with Raquel Welch in 100 Rifles. (Photo: George Rose/Getty Images)

Fred Williamson - After a promising career as a defensive back at Northwestern University, Fred Williamson became a three-time NFL Pro Bowler with stops in Pittsburgh, Oakland and Kansas City. Williamson followed Jim Brown’s footsteps to Hollywood when he hung up his cleats in 1967 and became a star in the Blaxploitation scene. (Photo:Gregg DeGuire/PictureGroup)

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Fred Williamson - After a promising career as a defensive back at Northwestern University, Fred Williamson became a three-time NFL Pro Bowler with stops in Pittsburgh, Oakland and Kansas City. Williamson followed Jim Brown’s footsteps to Hollywood when he hung up his cleats in 1967 and became a star in the Blaxploitation scene. (Photo:Gregg DeGuire/PictureGroup)

Forest Whitaker - When a back injury ended Forest Whitaker’s football career at Cal Poly Pomona, he was able to focus on his acting and vocal talents. After graduating from the Music Conservatory at the University of Southern California, Whitaker focused solely on his acting career, earning an Academy Award for his starring role in The Last King of Scotland.(Photo: Kevin Abosch/PictureGroup)

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Forest Whitaker - When a back injury ended Forest Whitaker’s football career at Cal Poly Pomona, he was able to focus on his acting and vocal talents. After graduating from the Music Conservatory at the University of Southern California, Whitaker focused solely on his acting career, earning an Academy Award for his starring role in The Last King of Scotland.(Photo: Kevin Abosch/PictureGroup)

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Dean Cain - Though better known as an actor, Dean Cain had a storied career as a high school and collegiate athlete. At Santa Monica High School in Southern California, Cain was a baseball teammate of Charlie Sheen and Rob Lowe. Later Cain attended Princeton University where he was the captain of the volleyball team and played free safety on the football team.

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Dean Cain - Though better known as an actor, Dean Cain had a storied career as a high school and collegiate athlete. At Santa Monica High School in Southern California, Cain was a baseball teammate of Charlie Sheen and Rob Lowe. Later Cain attended Princeton University where he was the captain of the volleyball team and played free safety on the football team.

Carl Weathers - Before he took on the film character Rocky Balboa in the ring, Carl Weathers was a real-life college linebacker at San Diego State University. Following a brief career in the National Football League and Canadian Football League, Weathers retired in 1974 and turned to acting. His performance as Apollo Creed in the Rocky franchise is the stuff of legend. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Carl Weathers - Before he took on the film character Rocky Balboa in the ring, Carl Weathers was a real-life college linebacker at San Diego State University. Following a brief career in the National Football League and Canadian Football League, Weathers retired in 1974 and turned to acting. His performance as Apollo Creed in the Rocky franchise is the stuff of legend. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Bubba Smith - Bubba Smith spent nine seasons in the NFL as a defensive end before retiring in 1976. The former Super Bowl champion is probably best known for the role of Moses Hightower in the Police Academy, series and for his two cameos on Married… with Children.(Photo: Reuters/John Gress /Landov)

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Bubba Smith - Bubba Smith spent nine seasons in the NFL as a defensive end before retiring in 1976. The former Super Bowl champion is probably best known for the role of Moses Hightower in the Police Academy, series and for his two cameos on Married… with Children.(Photo: Reuters/John Gress /Landov)

Arnold Schwarzenegger - Arnold Schwarzenegger was one of the most influential athletes in the bodybuilding world. Nicknamed “The Austrian Oak,” Schwarzenegger won Mr. Olympia seven times between 1970-1980. Following his retirement from the sport in 1980, Schwarzenegger focused solely on acting until he was elected as Governor in California. (Photo: Allsport)

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Arnold Schwarzenegger - Arnold Schwarzenegger was one of the most influential athletes in the bodybuilding world. Nicknamed “The Austrian Oak,” Schwarzenegger won Mr. Olympia seven times between 1970-1980. Following his retirement from the sport in 1980, Schwarzenegger focused solely on acting until he was elected as Governor in California. (Photo: Allsport)