From Jason Statham to Jim Brown – which Hollywood stars were once professional athletes?
The Transporter and Expendables star once represented Britain in the Commonwealth Games – which other sportspeople made a successful transition to the silver screen?
While athletics and acting are two very different careers, there are many great sportsmen and women who have successfully made the transition to the big screen. Here are the stories of three famous stars you should know.
Jim Brown
Jim Brown was once considered the greatest American football player to have ever lived, but that didn’t stop him from trying something new. His first successful acting role was in The Dirty Dozen in 1966. Leading acting roles began to come in several years later, and Jim Brown went on to become a successful actor in dozens of films from various genres. His latest appearance is in the 2014 film Draft Day.
Wyatt Russell
Given the fact that Wyatt Russell is the son of world-famous actors Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, it would seem that acting would be his first career choice. But it wasn’t. Instead, he became a pro hockey player. His successful career as a professional goaltender led him to work with independent hockey teams not just in the US but also in Canada and the Netherlands.
Sadly, sports injuries cut his career short and Wyatt Russell turned to acting. Not surprisingly, he’s been a great success. Recent movies and TV shows he has starred in include Blaze, Overlord, Table 19, Black Mirror and Lodge 49.