Dwayne Johnson

Biography:

Johnson was born on May 2, 1972, in Hayward, California, to Mataniufeagaimaleata “Ata” Fitisemanu (née Maivia) and former professional wrestler Rocky Johnson (born Wayde Douglas Bowles). During his upbringing, he briefly resided in Grey Lynn, Auckland, New Zealand, with his mother’s relatives, where he engaged in rugby and attended Richmond Road Primary School before returning to the United States.

His father, Rocky Johnson, was of Black Nova Scotian descent with a trace of Irish heritage, while his mother is Samoan. Notably, his father and Tony Atlas were the inaugural black tag team champions in WWE history in 1983. Furthermore, his maternal grandfather, Peter Maivia, was a professional wrestler, and his maternal grandmother, Lia, was a pioneer female wrestling promoter.

Johnson’s educational journey took him to various locations, including Montclaire Elementary School in Charlotte, North Carolina, Shepherd Glen Elementary School, and Hamden Middle School in Hamden, Connecticut, President William McKinley High School in Honolulu, and later, Glencliff High School and McGavock High School in Nashville, Tennessee. He eventually graduated from Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania, in 1990.

During his time at Freedom High School, Johnson initially faced challenges and was involved in minor criminal activities. However, his life took a positive turn when he joined the school’s football team under the guidance of coach Jody Cwik. Football provided Johnson with a sense of purpose and direction, prompting him to reevaluate his goals and aspirations.

Despite limited experience in football, Johnson’s talent caught the attention of recruiters, earning him a full athletic scholarship to the University of Miami. He continued to play as a defensive tackle for the Miami Hurricanes, contributing to the team’s national championship win in 1991. Although he faced stiff competition from other players, including future NFL star Warren Sapp, Johnson remained dedicated to the sport throughout his college years.

After graduating from the University of Miami with a Bachelor of General Studies degree in 1995, Johnson pursued a brief stint in Canadian football with the Calgary Stampeders but was released after two months. Subsequently, he transitioned to professional wrestling, making his debut in 1996 under the name Rocky Maivia, a homage to his father and grandfather’s wrestling legacies.

Initially met with fan resistance, Johnson persevered and quickly rose through the ranks of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), capturing the Intercontinental Championship within months of his debut. Despite early setbacks and audience backlash, Johnson’s determination and resilience laid the foundation for his future success in the world of professional wrestling.

Johnson made his foray into Hollywood and the film industry, leveraging his wrestling fame and renowned work ethic to ascend to stardom. Throughout his acting career, he emerged as one of the most highly-paid and accomplished actors in Hollywood.

His journey into acting commenced on television while still active in wrestling. His debut in television acting occurred in 1999 when he portrayed his father in an episode of That ’70s Show named “That Wrestling Show”. Not long after, he appeared as an alien wrestler challenging the popular character Seven of Nine in the Star Trek: Voyager episode “Tsunkatse”. Despite his absence from WWE for a while, the company continued to market “The Rock” merchandise, and he remained prominently featured in their television show introductions.

Johnson’s film career took off with notable roles in The Mummy Returns (2001), The Scorpion King (2002), The Rundown (2003), and Walking Tall (2004). He played supporting roles in Be Cool (2005) and the antagonist in Doom (2005), alongside appearances in Gridiron Gang (2006), Reno 911!: Miami (2007), and Southland Tales (2006). He portrayed diverse characters, including a football player in The Game Plan (2007), Agent 23 in Get Smart (2008), and a cab driver in Race to Witch Mountain (2009), among others. Additionally, he presented at the 80th Academy Awards.

His breakthrough came in 2011 with his portrayal of Luke Hobbs in Fast Five, which became one of the highest-grossing films of the year. He continued to cement his status as a box office draw with roles in G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Fast & Furious 6, and true-story films like Pain & Gain and Empire State. Johnson’s success led to hosting the reality competition series The Hero and being named the top-grossing actor of 2013 by Forbes.

Further successes followed with his portrayal of Hercules in 2014 and hosting the reality series Wake Up Call. He reprised his role as Luke Hobbs in Furious 7 and starred in San Andreas (2015), Central Intelligence (2016), and the Disney animated film Moana (2016). He continued to feature prominently in blockbuster films like The Fate of the Furious, Baywatch, and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.

Johnson expanded his endeavors by founding Seven Bucks Productions in 2012. He ventured into producing films like Fighting with My Family (2019) and embarked on various upcoming projects, including The Janson Directive and John Henry & The Statesmen. Additionally, he ventured into television with series like Young Rock and involvement in the DC Extended Universe film Black Adam.

Beyond entertainment, Johnson ventured into business with ventures like “Project Rock” with Under Armour and his YouTube channel. He also announced plans for a competitive bodybuilding show, “Athleticon”, alongside his business partner Dany Garcia. Additionally, he collaborated with rapper Tech N9ne on the song “Face Off” from the album Asin9ne in 2021.

Johnson participated in the 2000 Democratic National Convention as part of WWE’s “Smackdown Your Vote” campaign, which aimed to encourage young people to vote. He also had a speaking role at the 2000 Republican National Convention.

During the presidential elections, Johnson voted for Barack Obama in both 2008 and 2012. However, he abstained from voting in the 2016 election and has identified as an independent voter since 2017. He publicly endorsed Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. Expressing interest in a potential presidential run himself, he stated in a February 2021 interview with USA Today, “I would consider a presidential run in the future if that’s what the people wanted.” Following an online poll indicating that 46% of Americans would consider voting for him in a presidential election, he reiterated his openness to the idea in an April 12, 2021, interview on Today, saying, “I do have that goal to unite our country, and I also feel that if this is what the people want, then I will do that.”

In 2006, Johnson established the Dwayne Johnson Rock Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to assisting at-risk and terminally ill children. He and his then-wife, Dany Garcia, donated $1 million to the University of Miami on October 2, 2007, to support the renovation of its football facilities, resulting in the renaming of the Hurricanes’ locker room in his honor. Over the years, Johnson has made various charitable contributions, including a $1,500 donation to a GoFundMe campaign for an abandoned dog’s surgery in 2015, a $25,000 donation to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts in 2017, and the donation of a gym to a military base in Oahu, Hawaii, in 2018. Following the 2018 Hawaii floods, he collaborated with the nonprofit organization Malama Kauai to assist in repairing flood damage. Additionally, Johnson has collaborated with the Make-A-Wish Foundation on multiple occasions.

In July 2023, during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, Johnson made a substantial seven-figure donation to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, which Courtney B. Vance, the foundation’s president, described as “the largest single donation that [the foundation] has ever received from one individual at one time.”