The Top 10 Best Athletes Turned Actors

5. Carl Weathers

Notable Works: Rocky, Predator, and Happy Gilmore

Carl Weathers might have actually had one of the shortest sports careers of the athletes turned actors on this list, but he turned out to be one hell of an actor. You probably remember him going toe-to-toe with Sylvester Stallone or teaming up with Arnold Schwarzenneger to take on one of the scariest aliens ever to grace the big screen (maybe even from Happy Gillmore). He’s even appeared in several TV series as well, such as Arrested Development and, more recently, The Mandalorian with Gina Carano. No matter where you might know him from, Weathers has always been an actor that stands out in his roles with the kind of screen presence that makes him one of the most memorable entries on this list.

4. Vinnie Jones

Notable Works: Snatch, Mean Machine, and The Condemned

Few of the athletes turned actors on this list have been as busy as Vinnie Jones. Since his feature film debut in Guy Richie’s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels in 1998, he’s appeared in over 100 roles. Before becoming an actor though, he was known as one of the bad boys of soccer bringing the violence of hooliganism to the pitch where he gained a reputation for unsportsmanlike behavior (including one instance where he grabbed another player by his testicles during a league game). Since coming to Hollywood, he’s continued that reputation by mostly playing anti-heroes and villains over the years. However, he’s been known to play the hero from time to time as well, most notably in one of the best soccer films ever made, Mean Machine. 

3. Terry Crews

Notable Works: The Expendables, Idiocracy, and Get Smart

Despite all appearances to the contrary, Terry Crews wasn’t too successful as a football player. In fact, he used to supplement his income by doing portraits for his fellow players. Luckily, he found more success as an actor where he started out playing tough-as-nails and vaguely terrifying figures in films like Friday After Next and The Expendables. However, it quickly became clear after playing one of the best movie presidents of all time, his real talent lay in comedy. Since then, he’s consistently been one of the more delightful actors to see on both the big screen and small screen. Not only that, but he’s also proven himself to be an incredibly kind and supportive guy off-camera as well. Of all the athletes turned actors on here, he’s easily one of the most likable. 

2. Jason Statham

Notable Works: The Transporter, The Expendables, and Crank

You’ll probably never guess why Jason Statham is appearing on this list of athletes turned actors. Most might think he was a famous fighter before becoming one of the best big-screen martial artists of all time since he grew up learning kickboxing, kung fu, and karate. However, he was actually a member of Britain’s National Swimming Squad as a diver. While his athletic career might not have been as impressive as some of the others on this list, his film career more than makes up for it. Statham got his feature film debut alongside Vinnie Jones in Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Since then, he’s gone on to be one of the biggest leading men in Hollywood and has appeared in tons of big-screen blockbusters such as The Meg, Hobbs & Shaw, and The Transporter. Besides, how many other divers do you know working in the movies these days?

1. Arnold Schwarzenegger 

Notable Works: Terminator, Predator, and Commando

When it comes to athletes turned actors, no one is bigger than Arnold Schwarzenegger. The man changed the world of bodybuilding during his career from 1965 to 1980 and is considered one of the most influential figures in the sport’s history. He competed in several powerlifting competitions during that time as well. Even today, he’s considered a huge figure in the industry and keeps close ties to the community. However, there’s no denying that as big as he was in bodybuilding, Schwarzenegger was even bigger on the silver screen. He’s played some of the most iconic roles in movie history and could potentially be considered the most successful actor in the industry’s history as well. Because of that, there’s no denying that he deserves the top spot when it comes to athletes turned actors.  

Honorable Mention: Kareem Abdul- Jabbar

Notable Works: Airplane!, The Game of Death, and Fletch

Starting off his career as one hell of a basketball player, Kareem Abdul- Jabbar gained cinematic fame going toe-to-toe with Bruce Lee in Game of Death and starring as one of the best co-pilots of all time in Airplane. However, while his film career wasn’t enough to earn him a spot above, his writing on film has gained him my full respect as a fellow cinephile. That’s why he’s getting a well-deserved shout out.

Those are my picks for the best athletes turned actors, but over the course of my research, I discovered there are dozens of others out there. If your favorite didn’t earn a spot, let me know in the comments below. As always, I’ll be updating this list as more athletes become actors on the big screen. So, be sure to check back from time to time to see how the rankings might change.