Top 12 Pro Athletes Turned Actors
Published on July 2, 2008 - 203 Comments
Many have tried but only a handful of professional athletes are able to make the crossover into a successful acting career. We may not see them walk onto a stage and receive an Emmy or an Oscar but some have become very successful in their second careers and have also turned into some fairly respectable actors.
The criteria I used for this list is they had to have played a sport professionally. For the “order” criteria (which was not easy) I took into consideration their body of work in both their sports career and their acting career. I also considered their acting ability and their overall success as an actor. I am not including any professional bodybuilders or professional wrestlers in this list because stage presence and theatrics are already exhibited in these two sports.
Pro Sports Career: Played Baseball with Milwaukee Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies & Atlanta Braves from 1962-1967
It just seems fitting that Bob Ueker should come in at number 12 but at least he made the cut. After his lackluster baseball career Uecker made the most of it by making fun of himself and describing his experiences on the talk show circuit and then started appearing in several TV shows & movies. His line “Just a bit outside” from the move Major League is still a classic. He later was one of the main characters in the TV series Mr. Belvedere which aired from 1985 to 1990.
Pro Sports Career: Played Basketball with Boston Celtics & Las Angeles Lakers from 1991 to 2004.
It is may be a little too early to tell if Fox will have a really successful acting career but he has shown some real promise appearing in shows like HBOs Oz and in a couple of episodes of Ugly Betty.
Pro Sports Career: Professional skateboarder from the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Professional skateboarding is not exactly the sport you might think of when you hear about pro athletes becoming actors. However when you think of the skill level and the athletic ability involved along with the competitiveness I think it deserves to be here with the other sports.
Jason Lee is the youngest on the list and also probably the one with the brightest future as an actor. Lee is just perfect as the character Earl Hickey in the TV series My Name is Earl which started airing in 2005. Lee also recently appeared in the movie Alvin and the Chipmunks and was also the voice of Underdog which was released in 2007.
Pro Sports Career: Played football for the Detroit Lions from 1958-1962 & 1964-1970
Who can forget Karras’s great performance as Mongo in Blazing Saddles?
He later proved to be a successful actor as he appeared in more movies and many television shows including Webster in which he was one of the main characters along with his wife Susan Clark.
Pro Sports Career: Played football with Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets & Seattle Seahawks from 1972-1977 Marinaro was also the runner-up for the 1971 Heisman Trophy Award.
Ed Marinaro has appeared in several movies and television shows but is best known for the character Officer Joe Coffey on Hill Street Blues which aired from 1981 to 1987.
Pro Sports Career: Played baseball for the Chicago Cubs & Brooklyn Dodgers from 1949 to 1951. Connors also played basketball for the Boson Celtics from 1946-1948.
When watching old reruns of The Rifleman many people are not aware that Chuck Connors had another life as a professional athlete before his acting career. Although his athletic career was not exactly stellar Connor’s is one of only 12 people who played both pro baseball & pro basketball. Connor’s was also in dozens of movies besides his popular television show which ran for 6 years.
Pro Sports Career: Played football for the Los Angeles Rams from 1962-1976 and was known as one of the “The Fearsome Foursome”.
Merlin Olson is best known for his series Father Murphy which lasted from 1981 to 1983. He also appeared in many episodes of Little House on the Prairie as the character Jonathan Garvey from 1974 to 1983.
Pro Sports Career: Was a footballer (Soccer player) from 1984-1999 Football Clubs: Wimbledon, Leeds United, Sheffield United, Chelsea, Queens Park.
Not following English football I was not aware that Jones was a former professional athlete when I saw his solid performance in the movie Swordfish. Later I learned about his impressive soccer career. He seems to have great screen presence and continues to be a very busy actor and is now starring in most of his movies.
Pro Sports Career: Played football for the Oakland Raiders & the British Columbia Lions from 1970-1974.
Carl Weathers was perfect in the roll as Apollo Creed in the Rocky movies. He also has proven his acting ability in several TV series including Street Justice which aired from 1991 to 1993.
Pro Sports Career: Played football for the New York Giants & Los Angeles Rams from 1969-1981.
Fred Dryer is best known for his starring roll in the TV series Hunter as Det. Sgt. Rick Hunter which lasted for a very respectable 7 years from 1984-1991. Dryer also directed several of the Hunter episodes. He later produced and starred in another TV series called Land’s End.
Pro Sports Career: Played Football for Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders & Kansas City Chiefs from 1960-1967
Williamson kept busy in movies and TV for over three decades. Although many have criticized him for starring in several movies that are considered black exploitation (blaxploitation) films no one can argue that Williamson has made his mark on the film industry. Williamson also produces, writes & directs. Recently Williamson displayed good comedy instincts playing Captain Dobey in the movie Starsky & Hutch.
Pro Sports Career: Played football for the Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1965.
Sure it would be nice to see Jim Brown take on more versatile roles but when you consider he was one of the greatest football players ever along with his very successful movie career it is hard to deny him first place on this list. Everyone remembers his performance in The Dirty Dozen which launched his movie career. Since then he has starred in over 30 movies and also produces and directs.
Contributor: Blogball
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1. WarningDontReadThis - July 2nd, 2008 at 5:27 am
I didn’t know Jason Lee was a pro skateborder.
Shouldnt the rock be here? xD not that he is a good actor..
2. rushfan - July 2nd, 2008 at 5:29 am
I used to love watching Hunter late at night! And I did not know Jason Lee was a skater. Too cool. Great list, Blogball.
3. rushfan - July 2nd, 2008 at 5:39 am
Terry Bradshaw and Mike Ditka are coming along nicely with their acting careers now, also. I think we’re gonna see a lot more since everyone seems to cross over in between whatever their main talent is these days.
4. cparker - July 2nd, 2008 at 5:39 am
I had no idea Jason Lee was a skateboarder. He is definitely the best actor on this list. Great job on the List Blogball. I am anxious to see where Jesse the “Mind/Body” Ventura would be if you included wrestlers.
5. astraya - July 2nd, 2008 at 5:41 am
I’m not from USA, but how about OJ and Kareem?
Only one non-USA on the list? Eric Cantona in “Elizabeth”?
No 9 - Lions, not Lyons. No 5 - presence, not presents.
6. luckyjack2001 - July 2nd, 2008 at 5:53 am
I wonder why so many football players? Author’s bias or some other reason?
7. stevenh - July 2nd, 2008 at 5:56 am
Great Topic and List.
True about OJ - he did many, many films, TV and adverts.
Based on the stated criteria, he should have made the cut…
8. Vanamonde - July 2nd, 2008 at 5:57 am
What? No Johnny Weissmuller?!?
9. bucslim - July 2nd, 2008 at 6:11 am
I can’t understand why the Juice didn’t make the list. . . . maybe it was because he made his wife into a Pez dispenser. He was better at being a murderous thug than acting. I’ve gotta say though, every time I see the opening of the Naked Gun, I still laugh my ass off at that homicidal maniac.
And I hated Mallrats the first time I saw it, but I like it more every time I see it. The reason is because of Jason Lee. And because I’m a grizzled old bastard, I’m going to insert my rant in here about skateboarding not being a sport. Anything you can do after a night of blazing the Cambodian Hippie Lettuce shouldn’t be a sport. Downing a six of Dew and a bag of FunYuns after sparking up a blunt isn’t ‘training.’
Now that I read that two last sentences over again, I guess I’d have to eliminate the NBA.
10. AnotherEngine - July 2nd, 2008 at 6:15 am
Jason Lee’s first “acting” gig was in the Sonic Youth video for “100%,” as a skater. Take a look on You Tube for it.
And Carl Weathers was great as “Carl Weathers” on Arrested Development.
11. green - July 2nd, 2008 at 6:20 am
AnotherEngine- I just watched that episode getting ready for work this morning! It was great… you know that bone would make a great stew!
12. kowzilla - July 2nd, 2008 at 6:24 am
I definately agree that Johnny Weissmuller should have made the cut. He won five gold medals and starring in six films as Tarzan during the 30’s. He was the first to do Tarzan’s distinctive ululating yell.
13. Mac - July 2nd, 2008 at 6:24 am
No Eric Cantona? SHENANIGANS!
14. Poisie - July 2nd, 2008 at 6:26 am
what about Arnie? *g* is bodybuilding a sport? well, if not, he should at least be mentioned for his life-long wrestling match with the English language
15. Quiana - July 2nd, 2008 at 6:33 am
Wow I didnt know that about Jason Lee, I love his show. Jim Brown is so Cool!
16. Robeywan - July 2nd, 2008 at 6:37 am
Great list again! Not sure I agree with the order but the omission of OJ made my day. Weissmuller deserves to be here whereas Karem is a mannequin, Ditka and Bradshaw fair but not top 12 worthy. Fun read!
17. Robeywan - July 2nd, 2008 at 6:40 am
btw, comment #1, if you wanted to be first comment you succeeded but you should have taken the time to read the intro.
18. montechaz - July 2nd, 2008 at 6:41 am
how about the amazing performance given by Dan Marino in Ace Ventura:Pet Detective and Little Nicky, ha just kidding, I believe he just does a horrible job of playing himself in movies.
19. romerozombie - July 2nd, 2008 at 6:45 am
This list should be re-named Top 12 Indulgent, Greedy Bastards.
Vinnie Jones is an actor?
20. fishing4monkeys - July 2nd, 2008 at 6:52 am
Jason Lee is great as Earl Hickey! Man I wish Stereo Skateboards was still around…
21. Robeywan - July 2nd, 2008 at 6:52 am
romerozombie……not my beloved Bob Ueker , say it ain’t so!
22. pankhudi - July 2nd, 2008 at 6:54 am
Rename this list as Top 11 American Player turned actors and remove the only foreign entry. C’mon dude, wake up, world exists outside America too.
23. Lauren - July 2nd, 2008 at 6:57 am
Nice list… I’m not a sports person so I recognized maybe 3 people on here though.
#12 “His line “Just a bit outside” from the move Major League is still a classic.” Should be movie, not move.
24. Chris - July 2nd, 2008 at 7:10 am
Where’s Juice, Reggie Theus, and Dan Dierdorf. Some of these people from the turn of the century that most people have never heard of because they hadn’t even been born could’ve been excluded.
25. spacemanspiff - July 2nd, 2008 at 7:12 am
Not that he’s been in anything else really, but Ray Allen (Boston Celtics, formerly Milwaukee Bucks and Seattle Sonics) had a pretty notable performance alongside Denzel Washington in Spike Lee’s ‘He Got Game’ as (surprise!!) a basketball player. I think I remember an article saying that he’s interested in acting in the future once his playing days are done and that Lee thought he was a lot better than most athletes who try to cross over and took it seriously. Shaq should be noted for his hilarious attempts at acting (Steel, Kazaam anyone?)
26. bucslim - July 2nd, 2008 at 7:14 am
And I demand that Kurt Thomas be put on the list for his role in “Gymkata.” What about Shaq in “Steel” and “Kazzam?”
Dr. J in “The Fish That Saved Pittsburg.”
Mr. T was in pro rasslin, give him a nod too. And speaking of Rocky alums, Hulk Hogan was brilliant in a Love Boat episode.
27. stevenh - July 2nd, 2008 at 7:15 am
re: #8 Vanamonde & Weissmuller!
(slap myself upside the head)
True, true.
28. bucslim - July 2nd, 2008 at 7:16 am
uh, pankhudi, Vinnie Jones isn’t a yank. And after we take over the world, your last statement won’t matter.
29. Elsa - July 2nd, 2008 at 7:17 am
Bucslim,
I must take exception with your stereotype of professional skateboarders. It is most definately a sport that requires a great deal of athletic ability, agility and dedication. I am on the Board of an East Coast Surfing Foundation that runs into this type of mindset far too often. You don’t get to the top if you’re wasted all the time. What you are thinking of are what we call the 5%’ers. The spicolis and stoners. They are in the sport but are in a deep minority now. To say there is no skill involved is ludicrous. Sorry, but ya hit a nerve there. Ever tried either sport?
30. WarningDontReadThis - July 2nd, 2008 at 7:28 am
Robeywan: I did -_-
31. SoCalJeff - July 2nd, 2008 at 7:36 am
Not for nothing but Ed Marinaro’s “professional” career was considered largely unsuccessful and short by NFL standards. The recognition of his athleticism is based more on his non-professional career as a College football player. Using that standard, I’d add Burt Reynolds to this list who had a largely stressful pre-professional football career.
32. BishopWhiteT - July 2nd, 2008 at 7:39 am
OJ is one of the finest actors of all time. After all, he acted like he didn’t kill two people and apparently, many people found his performance quite convincing. Plus, he’s been playing the same recurring role as an amatuer golfer/private investigator for well over a decade.
OJ Dingo 4 life!
33. Robeywan - July 2nd, 2008 at 7:43 am
Warningdont, okay, my bad, but wasn’t (isn’t?)The Rock a pro wrassler?
34. SoCalJeff - July 2nd, 2008 at 7:44 am
David Prowse? Weightlifting is a sport right?
35. bucslim - July 2nd, 2008 at 7:47 am
Elsa,
I take exception to your exception of my stereotype -ilizing. I’d like to point out that I’m on the Board of the Old Fat Bald White Males Foundation (Midwest Chapter) who enjoy more traditional definition of sports and athletics and we like to make fun and ridicule things we don’t understand or think of as trivial. We generally drink beer, light our farts and try to depants each other while watching ESPN classic. We have it in our by-laws to poke fun at extreme sports whenever possible. I wasn’t trying to offend, I just have to keep up appearances so the fellas won’t think I’m a nancy-boy.
36. Robeywan - July 2nd, 2008 at 7:52 am
BishopWhiteT, yes, so true! (still leave him off though)
bucslim, why do so many veteran commenters miss the intro? I did once, got corrected, and then realized the intro was an important part of the list. avoids a lot of silly arguments
37. DiscHuker - July 2nd, 2008 at 7:56 am
rick fox is way too early to put him ahead of one of the best character roles in film for harry doyle (bob uecker) in major league, who by the way should be higher.
carl weathers in arrested development is brilliant.
Lucille #2 - do you like ham?
Carl - No….I love it
Tobias Fünke: Do you see me more as the respected dramatic actor or more of the beloved comic actor?
Carl Weathers: Whoa, whoa, whoa. There’s still plenty of meat on that bone. Now you take this home, throw it in a pot, add some broth, a potato. Baby, you’ve got a stew going.
Tobias Fünke: Yes, that’s fine, but I would like to focus on my acting, Mr. Weathers. I did give you my last $1, 100.
Carl Weathers: Let me tell you a little story about acting. I was doing this Showtime movie, Hot Ice with Anne Archer, never once touched my per diem. I’d go to Craft Service, get some raw veggies, bacon, Cup-A-Soup… baby, I got a stew going.
Tobias Fünke: [pause] I think I’d like my money back.
38. bucslim - July 2nd, 2008 at 7:59 am
Robeywan - I carefully read every word of the introduction and then start to contemplate how I can be an enormous pain in everyone’s ass. Whether by my pithy comments or by writing something that’s obviously already ommitted in the introductory paragraph. It takes a lot of wit and overt sarcasm to deliver the flow from my brain stem. Then I sit back and watch the carnage enfold.
Oh and they forgot Rowdy Roddy Piper in “Them!”
39. SoCalJeff - July 2nd, 2008 at 8:06 am
Former college standout, NFL player, activist, and actor Paul Robeson…wow…that’s a biggie not being on the list.
Tony Hawk, probably a better skateboarder than Lee.
And if you are looking for actors from the Asia-Pacific rim what about Aussie Ian Roberts? Rugby player and well you know the rest of the story. Jet Li, martial arts champion turned actor from China.
40. Winglock - July 2nd, 2008 at 8:08 am
Who can forget Michael Jordan and his critically acclaimed role in the animated masterpiece, “Space Jam?”
41. SocialButterfly - July 2nd, 2008 at 8:09 am
I was hoping Vinnie Jones would be on here but to see Jason Lee was awesome!!! I absolutely loved his performance as Buddy/Syndrome in THe Incredibles not to mention all the Kevin Smith movies.
42. Robeywan - July 2nd, 2008 at 8:10 am
bucslim, you midwest boys are too bad. I was born in Michigan, luckily for me my family escaped, eventually finding our way to New England where no one acknowledges your presence, they all drive like maniacs, distrust everyone, cheat, lie, steal and let their dogs poop in your yard. I have found my home.
43. Kreachure - July 2nd, 2008 at 8:19 am
Earl Hickey was a pro skater?!?
No, seriously, I had no idea Jason Lee could even skate!
The first person I thought of after reading the list title was OJ Simpson (and his misfortunes in the Naked Gun movies), but I guess his acting career wasn’t all that successful.
44. bucslim - July 2nd, 2008 at 8:22 am
Howie Long?
45. Elsa - July 2nd, 2008 at 8:27 am
Bucslim,
Gotcha
46. Robeywan - July 2nd, 2008 at 8:28 am
bucslim, do not try to drag me down to your level.
I thought Carlton Fisk and Herschel Walker gave award winning performances in their Skoal chewing tobacco adds. Who could forget diminutive Herschel shyly asking the girl on the beach “wanna play some touch?”
47. luckyjack2001 - July 2nd, 2008 at 8:30 am
How about Paul Newman? Um…no, wait, he was an actor turned Professional athlete (Racecar Driver). Hey, that would be a great list!
48. Kreachure - July 2nd, 2008 at 8:38 am
Elsa: I wouldn’t take too seriously the opinion of skateboarding from doddering ESPN-loving geezers who are probably afraid they’ll break their hip just from going out for a walk…
49. WarningDontReadThis - July 2nd, 2008 at 8:46 am
Robeywan: Was, not he just makes some shit movies for disney.
50. lyrebyrd - July 2nd, 2008 at 8:54 am
Kareem Abdul Jabbar was unforgettable in Airplane!
51. moonbeam - July 2nd, 2008 at 9:03 am
I agree with SoCalJeff, Paul Robson was a glaring miss for this list. Maybe because he isn’t a person of recent memory. He was multi talented, an excellent actor and also had an unbelievable singing voice. If he was born later he’d be number 1 on this list.
52. Blogball - July 2nd, 2008 at 9:13 am
Thanks for the comments everybody. Writing what is considered to be a subjective list is much harder because obviously you can’t please everybody. I wanted to include newer and up and coming actors as well as the ones that have already established their acting career.
Don’t forget to read the intro. I am not including any pro wrestlers or body builders.
I think it was Vanamonde & kowzilla who mentioned. Johnny Weissmuller. I also mentioned they had to have played pro sports. Weissmuller was an Olympian and that is not considered professional.
As far as not including OJ. I never thought he was anywhere near a decent actor from the movie Capricorn One to the Naked Gun series . I considered him more in the Rosey Grier category. (Sorry Rosey)
Plus who knows maybe I was influenced a bit from his post sports career behavior.
Pankhudi, I would have loved to include more people from countries besides the US.
What athletes turned actors did you have in mind?
SoCalJeff, yes I agree about Paul Robeson. Thank you for mentioning him.
JFrater, thank you for posting lhe list.
53. Spanner in the works - July 2nd, 2008 at 9:17 am
And here’s a delightful lady for the list.
Sonja Henie, Norway.
Who’d you rather have opposite you at an intimate table, guys, Sonja (at her lovliest) or Vinnie ‘Bites yer leg’ (at his lovliest)?
But was she a professional ice skater? If not, at least Wikipedia (i just checked) says at the height of her screen career she was one of the top-paid actresses in Hollywood.
Come on folks, think. There’s got to be other ladies in the frame: swimmers, at least. Or were any just amateurs?
O.K. Open the category to amateurs, or do another list for amateurs turned actors.
54. bucslim - July 2nd, 2008 at 9:18 am
Anything that Marty McFly can do isn’t a sport.
55. warrrreagl - July 2nd, 2008 at 9:25 am
I have to say it. I HAVE to say it. Ed Marinaro was runner-up for the Heisman in 1971 to (insert drum roll about here) PAT SULLIVAN of Auburn.
No connection whatsoever to the list, but I HAVE to say it.
56. Kreachure - July 2nd, 2008 at 9:35 am
Yes, Mr. Bucslim. (Everyone agree with him or he’ll start cursing our generation while hitting us on the head with his cane!)
57. Csimmons - July 2nd, 2008 at 9:37 am
great list, but shouldn’t Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson be on here?
58. Gravy - July 2nd, 2008 at 9:38 am
the rock?
59. Spanner in the works - July 2nd, 2008 at 9:40 am
Katarina Witt (East) Germany to U.S.A.
Amateur turned pro ice-skater
‘Carmen on Ice’. ‘Jerry MaGuire’.
Limited acting career but one big prizewinning role that eclipses many of the others above.
Wikipedia ackmowledged.
Another preferred dinner guest to dear old Vinnie too.
60. Spanner in the works - July 2nd, 2008 at 9:43 am
Anyone insults me and I’ll clobber them with my Zimmer frame (and a litle help from Vinnie). O.K.?
61. Vera Lynn - July 2nd, 2008 at 9:48 am
#5 Vinnie Jones It’s “presence” not presents”
#7 Chuck Connors He must be Michael Jordan’s hero. First basketball, then baseball. Very cool.
Mark Harmon, anyone? He would be my first choice. He’s cute, on top of everything else.
62. compwalla - July 2nd, 2008 at 10:04 am
roles, not rolls.
63. Christine - July 2nd, 2008 at 10:05 am
Cool list, didn’t know about most of these. Small typo though. It’s “Los Angeles Lakers” not “Las.” =)
64. LordCalvert - July 2nd, 2008 at 10:05 am
Anna Kournikova was on Me Myself and Irene
65. Randall - July 2nd, 2008 at 10:16 am
I will back up Spanner’s call for Sonja Henie to be included here. In her day, at the top of her form, her movies were #1 at the box office. No one remembers them today, but there it is.
In addition:
Mark Harmon. Pretty boy of the 80s. I believe he was a football player. Or baseball. Something.
And cute little Cathy Rigby did a lil’ stint of acting after her gymnast days–I believe she took over for Mary Martin as Peter Pan… and I distinctly recall her in an episode of “The Six Million Dollar Man” when I was wee.
And yeah, The Rock. While it’s not quite correct to call professional wrestling a “sport” per se, those guys *are* unquestionably athletes…
AND, having said that, how about some Andre The Giant? Did a hell of a job in “The Princess Bride” AND he was a hairy Sasquatch on the aforementioned Six Million Dollar Man thing.
And that other pro-wrestler… with the mullet… what the hell is his name? Had a reality TV show for a time… but he was in one of the Rocky pictures, and he’s all over TV.
And if you’re gonna include the pro-wrestlers, then you gotta include the bodybuilders, even though that’s no more a sport than bowling (but again, you’d surely call those guys athletes) so… the Schwarzenegger, and Lou Ferrigno (Hulk).
And how about John McEnroe? He’s a funny bastard… doing those commercials for cereal and whatnot.
66. Ashley - July 2nd, 2008 at 10:17 am
umm… where is Johnny Weissmuler??? Tarzan was groundbreaking!
and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson?? He’s been in great films!
67. Blogball - July 2nd, 2008 at 10:24 am
Hi Vera Lynn, I thought about Mark Harmon too but he never played pro football.
I didn’t include amature athletes because that would open up the flood gates to include people like Burt Reynolds’ and any other actor that was into college sports.
68. Randall - July 2nd, 2008 at 10:24 am
Buster Crabbe, too… Can’t forget Buster. Flash Gordon. Buck Rogers. An Olympic athlete if I recall…
69. Blogball - July 2nd, 2008 at 10:28 am
Hey everybody, please read the intro?
70. robeywan - July 2nd, 2008 at 10:28 am
I am guilty of suggesting Weissmuler, not a pro. Sorry, my mom wouldn’t let me watch the olympics that year.
71. Spanner in the works - July 2nd, 2008 at 10:37 am
‘Victory’ (1981) with Sty and Michael Caine was about using soccer as a cover for a prisoner-of-war camp escape. The great Pelé (greatest Assoc. football player ever, Maradona is a prat at a personal level and cheated professionally), Bobby Moore (captain of England’s World Cup winning team) and other pros took part in it as footballers. Other films have included professional sportsmen in sportsman roles, in flicks about tennis, for example. I don’t know if you can really count that as acting though.
Randall’s mention of acting in ads is good, but I think that’s a whole new ball game (sorry!). The examples are teen and legion. Our small screen is even swamped with them right now, and usually they are just using their actual skills in a manipulated way (Bend it like Beckham) to sell the product rather than really acting.
I’d strongly back the earlier call to include Eric Cantona though, he can get well away from his on-field persona, and that’s without me being a Man U supporter.
72. Randall - July 2nd, 2008 at 10:40 am
Blogball:
Whoops. Sorry… I usually read those things. I blame my computer.
Well.. that leaves out everybody I suggested then. Silly me.
73. CK2005 - July 2nd, 2008 at 10:41 am
Thank god you didn’t put the Rock on here. That guy couldn’t wrestle or act worth a darn. You totally get a million cool points for leaving him off.
74. Vera Lynn - July 2nd, 2008 at 10:55 am
#67 Blogball You’re right. I thought he played pro after UCLA. He must have decided acting was WAY easier than Football. Plus, the chance for a longer career is greatly increased.
75. Exoduster - July 2nd, 2008 at 11:09 am
Honorable mention: OJ Simpson.
76. Blogball - July 2nd, 2008 at 11:20 am
SoCalJeff & moonbeam I just submitted a request and all of the information to jfrater to include Paul Robeson as a bonus so I’m, hoping he will add him. He deserves to be here because he was the original.
77. Crimanon - July 2nd, 2008 at 11:23 am
Bucslim: “Oh and they forgot Rowdy Roddy Piper in “Them!”… How Dare You! It was “They Live” Only the Greatest Crappy movie of all time! And people call me uncultured……
And really, How much acting ability does it take to play Juggernaut?
78. PT - July 2nd, 2008 at 11:32 am
for those not familiar with Vinnie Jones career prior to acting the picture below shows his finest moment
http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/.....wimbledon/
79. Mom424 - July 2nd, 2008 at 11:33 am
Blogball: Great list, I didn’t even know half these guys were pro athletes before they became actors. And you are most correct, Jason Lee is great in My Name is Earl. Fred Williamson was pretty damn funny in From Dusk ’til Dawn too. Bob Ueker always plays himself, so I understand why he is #12, but on my list I’d have moved him up anyway.
Exoduster: Dishonorable mention eh?
80. DiscHuker - July 2nd, 2008 at 11:37 am
forget vinnie jones as juggernaut, that was just screaming and running. check him out as big mike in lock, stock and two smoking barrels or bullet tooth tony in snatch. awesome tough guy.
81. Cedestra - July 2nd, 2008 at 11:40 am
Funny that a football player turned into a boxing actor. I, too, did not know Jason Lee was a skateboarder, just from all those Kevin Smith movies. And for being a Xenu-bitch :\
Again, if anyone wants to contribute to the Happy Listverse project, please contact me at nerikasne@hotmail.com.
82. Spanner in the works - July 2nd, 2008 at 11:51 am
The partner of my younger daughter is a semi-pro wrestler and body-builder. She is tiny, he is like a great hunk of tatooed testosterone. We were horrified when when we first heard. But he’s actually a really sweet, gentle guy, who only gets fired up at yobs attacking helpless people in the street, etc. He’s really intelligent too, knows a lot about a lot. Unfortunately he’s got himself a bit bent about over the years on-stage, and now spends most working time at his main profession … wait for it and laugh: a funeral director!
So I got to learn a lot. Those guys are actors, of course, but they ACT at seeming like no-holds-barred, which they ain’t. Most of the time it’s carefully orchestrated, as nearly everyone knows. But not all the time, he tells me. Every now and then one cheats or snaps, when it can get truly dangerous. Also when stunts go awry, as can happen. The fascinating thing is, the audience never knows the difference. In a way it’s a bit like a jazz jam session. There’s a sort underlying basic structure with a fair amount of improvisation on top.
Although he’s been in a number of minor films and TV parts, both in the States and the U.K., those guys don’t normally act as RADA-type “actors”, They’re closer to film stars. They develop a larger-than-life persona and play it the same all the time. If they act as if natural and “on the street” in films, it’s usually playing to type anyway, but just without the exaggeration.
That’s why those who get major parts can usually move every part of their body with astonishing power, accuracy and athleticism. Except for their facial expression that is, which either grimaces in a snarl of hatred, or moves even less than Buster Keaton’s. However, we might cite Jackie Chan and Arnie Schwarzenegger as exceptions, since they can bring real humour to the show.
I think this was inspìred by reaction to The Rock. So perhaps the conclusion here is to open the possibility of another list of the WORST athletes as “actors”. allowing every category such as amateur, kung fu and bodybuilding (Steven Seagal, couldn’t possibly be left out, could he?), male and female. I think there’d be a lot of reaction from the floor here.
83. Ernie The Wino - July 2nd, 2008 at 11:52 am
These submitters shuld lern to spel…
84. Spanner in the works - July 2nd, 2008 at 11:53 am
Oh, and I forgot.
Mightn’t OJ figure as one of the people who could be fitted into more different lists than almost anyone else? Another idea for a list
85. schiesl - July 2nd, 2008 at 11:57 am
Even though he never turned pro, John Wayne did play college football at USC
86. slipstick - July 2nd, 2008 at 12:05 pm
What about John Amos from Good Times, Vanishing Point, Roots, Coming to America, etc.? Semi-pro is good enough to be considered an athlete in my book. He played for the Norfolk Neptunes after being cut from the Kansas City Chiefs training camp in the late 60’s.
87. Spanner in the works - July 2nd, 2008 at 12:07 pm
78 PT,
Great pic, I’d clean forgotten it. Thanks for showing us all.
Vinnie was a player you’d have felt more comfortable to have on your own side, though that might not have guarateed safety. His main side, Wimbledon FC, now almost disappeared without trace, got called The Wombles after a childrens’ cuddly toy programme set in the same London suburb. Bizarre. Not a lot of people know that.
The victim of Vinnie’s attempted castration is “Gazza” Gascoigne, ex England player. Gazza was famous (notorious) for weeping copiously on the pitch when England lost in Italy, breaking his leg whilst trying to break someone else’s on pitch, beating up unknown girls in the street, being sectioned (i.e. taken into care when mentally disturbed), and inventing a practice called “The Dentist’s Chair”. This consisted of England footballers being seated in the likes of airliner seats after internationals and having as much alcohol poured straight down their throats as they could possibly stand. So why didn’t he become an actor?
88. segue - July 2nd, 2008 at 12:08 pm
First of all, I have to admit I am a rabid basketball fan. My team is, and always has been the Los Angeles Lakers for Pro ball, and UCLA for college ball.
That being said, Rick Fox is a *MAJOR* hunk.
My youngest daughter and I would watch the games together, but if her hectic schedule didn’t permit her to actually come over to my place we’d watch together by phone…and we both would salivate over Fox.
Frankly, I don’t care if he can’t act his way out of a paper bag, as long as I get to watch him do *something*.
BTW: the fan thing is real, until the price of tickets got so high, I held season tickets (as a single woman, I’d just take one of the kids). I still watch every game, and yes, my daughter still calls, but since it’s long distance now the calls are short, more along the line of WTF? when there’s a bad play or unbelievable ref call, or Did you *see* that? when Kobe does something physics tells us is impossible.
*But getting back on topic. The jump from Pro athlete to actor has been with us since the earliest days of movies. Especially in roles which required feats of strength and agility, things which regular actors were not trained to do, and athletes were, the good looking ones didn’t have a hard time finding work.
89. goof_ball - July 2nd, 2008 at 12:21 pm
i never knew jason lee was a pro skater.
learn something new everyday i guess
90. Nelia - July 2nd, 2008 at 12:29 pm
What? No Rock? Hehe… Just kidding, I read the intro, I swear! Interesting list, I always like reading a list on a subject that wouldn’t have occurred to me.
Now what is that movie with Vinnie Jones that has the same basic plot as The Longest Yard, only with English football rather than American football? I saw it once with an Irish friend of mine. I poked around imdb.com but I couldn’t find it. Actually a really fun flick.
91. kiwiboi - July 2nd, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Vinnie was a player you’d have felt more comfortable to have on your own side, though that might not have guaranteed safety. His main side, Wimbledon FC, now almost disappeared without trace, got called The Wombles after a childrens’ cuddly toy programme set in the same London suburb. Bizarre. Not a lot of people know that.
Spanner - I live just south of Wimbledon and watched Wimbledon FC on numerous occasions at both Plough Lane and Selhurst Park. I met Vinnie on two occasions in the Players Lounge at Selhurst. He was also a far better footballer than many people give him credit for (being, of course, also a Welsh international player).
And, strictly speaking, Wimbledon FC have never disappeared; they moved to Milton Keynes and were renamed the MK Dons.
Actually, I’m very surprised at your comment about Wimbledon FC being nicknamed the Wombles (”Not a lot of people know that”); in fact, every man and his dog knows that! It is probably the most well-known fact about the Dons.
I’m guessing that you are not in the UK…
92. Clantargh - July 2nd, 2008 at 12:38 pm
What about athletes who play themselves a la Brett Favre in There’s Something About Mary and Babe Ruth in The Pride of The Yankees? Joe Namath had a moderately successful acting career as well.
93. dave4248 - July 2nd, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Good list but you forgot Dwight Hicks..(”Jack”…”The Rock”…”Amegeddon”…”Passions”) He may not be the best known actor, but he’s the only one who was part of a sports dynasty…The San Francisco 49ers of the 1980’s
94. PT - July 2nd, 2008 at 1:01 pm
#90 Nelia the film your looking for is Mean Machine (2001)
95. bucslim - July 2nd, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Crimanon - sorry about the mix-up - brain fart. I’m old, rembember?
96. kiwiboi - July 2nd, 2008 at 1:10 pm
The victim of Vinnie’s attempted castration is “Gazza” Gascoigne, ex England player.
Spanner, I’m not picking on you, but your comments here are also somewhat misleading. Gazza was one of the greatest ever English footballers. However, he also has a very long history of mental issues (not least being OCD but, more notably, severe depression). The depth of his problems may be judged by the fact that he has (allegedly) attempted suicide on more than one occasion, the most recent being only a couple of weeks ago. There is some general background here :
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7435086.stm
What is also sad is that the army of “friends” that surrounded Gazza in his glory years (many of whom are minor celebrities themselves) are no longer there for him.
As for the “Dentist Chair”, Gazza did not invent this. It was most of the England football team who, en masse, in a Hong Kong nightclub were taking turns lying in a dentists’ chair whilst their teammates poured liquor down their throats; an episode that they got absolutely slaughtered for in the British press (and rightly so, as they were in HK for a pre-tournament warmup tour). This didn’t stop the England team reliving the incident whilst celebrating a Gazza goal at a later date :
http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/p.....15;380.jpg
Gazza was always a party-animal, but underling the troubles he got into was his fragile mental state. Note, too, that he is well-known for his kind nature and generosity; he would literally empty his wallet for a stranger who is down on his luck.
Oh..and as for the “weeping on the pitch”…you make him sound like a poor blubbering loser. It wasn’t because England lost that he wept; Gazza had received a booking (caution) from the referee that guaranteed that he could not play in England’s next match - the 1990 World Cup Final (the absolute pinnacle of a footballer’s career). As it turns out, England lost that match anyway, and didn’t get through to the final :
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3674504.stm
97. Teri - July 2nd, 2008 at 1:39 pm
What about Ahh-nold?
98. amber - July 2nd, 2008 at 1:51 pm
I LOVE that OJ Simpson is NOT on here!
99. SpookyMulder - July 2nd, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Carl Weathers was awesome on Arrested Development!
100. Spanner in the works - July 2nd, 2008 at 1:54 pm
97. kiwiboi,
Of course, you’re right, and taking an admirably decent, humane viewpoint that perhaps might apply to almost anyone in the public limelight who goes ga ga (OJ?), but whom the press and the public also take apart. I think a lot of England managers deserve as much sympathy as Gazza or more for the utterly vicious psychological treatment they have received at the hands of the media. And the hordes of sportsmen too who have been adored one minute then slagged off, chucked on the scrap heap and forgotten the next. A Chilean correspondent wrote a perfect letter on the point in the press about their often successful tennis players. “When they win, its ‘WE won, WE won, Chile won!’. When they lose its, ‘Bloody useless idiots, they’ve gone and lost and let US and the country down again’”
I’m sorry to hear Gazza’s still in trouble. I wish him no ill. As to his so-called friends, weren’t a lot of them his worst enemies? I seem to recall vaguely that one died of an overdose of alcohol after a joint night on the tiles. And again, I’ll certainly not argue with you about his technical ability. But an international player is a symbol, a representative of his country (if not, why not?), and an idol and role model for countless kids. Witness: someone has a drug problem and they’re out, no appeal, however good, or however badly needed, or however much in mental trouble. I think he should have been removed and helped far earlier, not least for his own good. My objection to Maradona is similar. He became an idol to millions of kids, a God in his country (There is an official religion and churches), was gifted as one of the best technical players ever, and lived the example of a selfish little shit. That’s why he can’t hold a candle to Pelé, even though Pelé is now known to have “put himself around” too. At least that was discreet.
As to my piece, you’ve ruined what was essentially intended to use Gazza as a prop for a bit of tongue-in-cheek fun. I got called away from the screen, but would have added that Vinnie was alleged in some quarters to be auditioning for The Terminator, that is terminating “villain” Gazza’s reproductive career. And that as he squeezed Gazza’s vulnerable wedding testimonials in his vice-like grip, it’s even rumoured he was muttering, “Hasta la vista, Baby”, a phrase later immortalized by he who did end up with the part of the Terminator, of course.
101. copperdragon - July 2nd, 2008 at 2:07 pm
based on your criteria, OJ Simpson should be included, despite what he did otherwise.
also, if skateboarding is a “sport”, then bodybuilding/ weightlifting should be as well. Therefore, Arnold should have gotten a mention.
102. Spanner in the works - July 2nd, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Just picked up on your other comment, 91, kiwiboi.
My remark that ‘Not a lot of people know that’ was only intended to apply to the Wombles being cuddly childrens’ TV characters. One often hears and uses names without having the faintest idea of their origin. I’m sorry you lost your local team. NW soccer is so strong, the south needs all it can get. You’re right, I do live abroad, but I’m still a Charlton Athletic supporter and will be to the end of my days. Some say the Milton Keynes Dons isn’t Wimbledon, but the Arsenal isn’t Woolwich Arsenal either. They moved from being Charton’s neighbours to better things in north London. They got Herbert Chapman. We got WW2 the very season we might have become League Champions. C’est la vie.
I LOVE Vinnie’s career(s), and quite agree, he was a far better player than given credit for, like most of the Crazy Gang. But like most London clubs bar two or three, there’s a lot of fragile easy come, easy go in the league movements. I should know.
Well, most of the folks here won’t even know what Wimbledon F.C. or Charlton F.C. are, let alone the Wombles or the Addicks. We’d better give them a break.
Where I am we have Premiership live every Saturday morning on an OPEN channel. I watched every match in the recent EURO Championship, plus the two club competitions, on FREE TV here. I find results on the net within minutes of matches finishing. No trouble at all keeping in touch. Oh, and local topmost ranking teams cost me about a quarter of entrance fee cf Charlton current prices. Sorry the rest of you guys, that really is it for now.
103. Y - July 2nd, 2008 at 2:21 pm
You could also count in Jack Palance, who was a professional boxer, before having a considerable success and an Oscar as an actor.
104. TerranRich - July 2nd, 2008 at 2:23 pm
“I am not including any professional bodybuilders or professional wrestlers in this list because stage presence and theatrics are already exhibited in these two sports.”
Speaking as a wrestling fan, that was very well put.
105. Crimanon - July 2nd, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Buc: No Excuses! You’re just trying to misdirect us. You’re with them!
106. bucslim - July 2nd, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Y - Oh my gawd! You made me think of Tony Danza and Mickey Rourke - both boxers and both ‘actors.’
107. bucslim - July 2nd, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Crim - I saw ‘Them’ before I put on my special glasses and realized it didn’t say what I thought it did.
108. Blogball - July 2nd, 2008 at 2:32 pm
copperdragon, I excluded Bodybuilding because you are on a “stage” when you are “performing” your skills and your overall stage presence enters into the scoring. Pro wrestling because it is a Choreographed Show. I have respect for the shape you have to be in for both but with Skateboarding you are on a course with obstacle, jumps, etc. you make the jumps or you don’t. That is quite different don’t you think
109. Spanner in the works - July 2nd, 2008 at 2:33 pm
I’m back public now.
Blogball, I THINK I’ve read you through carefully, and I THINK I’ve skimmed everyone else before writing this.
Correct me if I’m wrong. I cannot see you’ve excluded pro boxing, though.
If not, most of you people are transatlantics, and you haven’t entered Jack Palance, for God’s Sake!!! He’s one of your sporting-turned-acting national treasures. A great career. A total standout in ‘City Slickers’ without a long and distinguished celluloid career from 1950 to 1999. And like Arnie and Chan, he brought nice touches of humour to his roles. Anita and I LOVE him.
110. Spanner in the works - July 2nd, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Sorry, pressed Submit tit before checked and ready. Should have read ‘WITH a long and distinguished, etc.”
111. kiwiboi - July 2nd, 2008 at 2:40 pm
I’m sorry you lost your local team.
Spanner - actually, I’m a Fulham season-ticket holder, along with my wife and son
Unfortunately, my daughter was “got at” by her school friends; she is a Chelsea fan.
But I, too, am sorry that the Dons were allowed to be “kidnapped” away from Wimbledon. BTW, like Fulham, Charlton is still one of the few big London clubs with a “village”-like character; a friendly club - good luck in the coming season.
112. Spanner in the works - July 2nd, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Victor McLaglen. 1886-1959.
British pro boxer with a few notable wins.
Over 100 films including ‘The Quiet Man’
2 Academy Awards and a Nomination.
Worth a whirl?
Thanks Wikipedia
113. Blogball - July 2nd, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Hi Spanner in the works, I just looked up Jack Palance on Wik. He did have a pretty good run as a boxer
It said “15 consecutive victories with 12 knockouts before fighting the future heavyweight contender Joe Baksi in a “Pier-6″ brawl. Palance lost a close decision”
I’m a Jack Palance fan and I knew he did some boxing but I didn’t know he was a pro. Thanks for mentioning him. Poor guy would only win 200.00 a fight. A lot more money back then I’m sure
114. Jogball - July 2nd, 2008 at 3:01 pm
I would have included Jason Statham before Jason Lee. Statham was an olympic swimmer and is now A-list.
115. Spanner in the works - July 2nd, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Good luck to you too, kiwiboi.
Congrats on missing the drop last season, I must admit I had you mentally pencilled in for it. I’ve been scratching my head as to whether it’s better to live in constant fear of relegation, or with the slightly more relaxed hope of possible promotion, even if goofed up, as we did!
I see you have at least a couple of our ex-players in your squad.
I think the outsiders view of Fulham F.C. is probably presently unfairly tinged by assocation with your owner, the “fugger” Al Fayed, as ‘Private Eye’ likes to call him. Him being one of the most hated and despised of British residents to many, not excluding altogether yours truly. Although I have to be honest and admit the story might be different had he chosen to pour his dosh into SE dockland (and I’m not talking Millwall!).
But don’t worry. I can also let my mind drift right back to the glory days of the great Johnny Haines.
116. Spanner in the works - July 2nd, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Kiwiboi,
Tell your daughter we wept for John Terry. I almost walked out of the room I was so sure he’d net it. I suppose people don’t want to feel, poor guy, poor Chelsea. I’m glad a British team won anyway after that terrible cock-up when all three lost out last year. And in their favour, Man U do field a number of Brits. But it’s healthier if there’s a mixture of winners. Over ten year periods it’s been getting down more and more down to “the usual suspects” both nationally and internationally. It was wonderful Zenit, Pompey and Spain won this year. I’m so glad Italy didn’t win Europe. For my money their negative style made them one of the worst World Cup Winners ever, and their after-the-event results certainly bore that out.
117. MPW - July 2nd, 2008 at 3:39 pm
lets see, good list but you incorrectly spelled Los Angeles, you spelled it “Las” Angeles.
I’m glad you didn’t include Shaq or OJ
Terry Bradshaw is a decent actor, very energetic
and how about Yogi Berra for his Aflac commercial. “and they give you cash which is just as good as money”. hilarious
118. Spanner in the works - July 2nd, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Blogball,
I get your point. It’s sportsmen turned actors, so you need a big enough sports profile.
In that respect I can’t speak for others, but can say we’ve ALWAYS known Jack Palance as a pro boxer from the year dot.
Victor McLaglen I only remebered as a boxer after I had clued him out of Wiki. But people keep asking for a few non-Americans, and he, like Bob Hope, was a ntive-born Brit.
119. segue - July 2nd, 2008 at 3:47 pm
****
but OJ didn’t convince those juror’s of his innocence.
32. BishopWhiteT - July 2nd, 2008
OJ is one of the finest actors of all time. After all, he acted like he didn’t kill two people and apparently, many people found his performance quite convincing…
****
Bishop, I hate to burst the bubble in whatever world you live in
They were simply 12 scared people who didn’t want to be the cause of another major riot, the Rodney King, jr. verdict riot being still so fresh a scar in everyones mind.
I know you were just joking, but I lived in L.A. most of my life. I remember the Watts riots, the Rodney King riots…it’s something so awful, so “other”. It makes people who have been friends for decades, friends of different skin color, look at each other differently…and that is something you just have no control over.
It doesn’t last forever, but it does last for a long while.
It’s not a joke. It’s dead serious.
I’ve always believed that we are all exactly the same underneath the outer dermal layer of skin and type of hair. I don’t just *believe* this, i *know* this.
So when these jokes get started, I get edgy.
I don’t get angry. People can’t help how they were raised, or otherwise indoctrinated, but it’s like a burr under my skin.
I can’t find it, but it sure does make me uncomfortable.
120. Blogball - July 2nd, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Spanner in the works, Nice information on Victor McLaglen.
I do remember him in some old movies he was in Around the World in 80 Days!
121. Cedestra - July 2nd, 2008 at 4:13 pm
119. Still sad that we still in a society that lets people get off the hook purely based on the color of their skin. Usually it’s the other way around, but this time we learned if you have enough money, allow a court to be made into a three-ring circus, and live in an area still reeling from the effects of racial rioting, then you can get away with murder. Literally. Apologies for the illiterations.
122. dick shoes - July 2nd, 2008 at 4:25 pm
no oj?!?!!
no bodybuilders? that’s the hardest sport there is bub!
123. otay - July 2nd, 2008 at 4:57 pm
OJ is a professional murderer…. cancels out his athletic career
124. segue - July 2nd, 2008 at 5:23 pm
#121. Cedestra - July 2nd, 2008
119… this time we learned if you have enough money, allow a court to be made into a three-ring circus, and live in an area still reeling from the effects of racial rioting, then you can get away with murder. Literally.
****
The Rodney King riots (or “civil unrest” as the politically correct would have us call it. It was neither “civil” nor “unrest”. It was flat out rioting, destroying both public and private property, the loss of life, the horrific beating of *one* man by a mob, bearing bricks, rocks, bats, and bars, while police WATCHED without doing a thing to stop it, so they couldn’t be accused of “over-reacting”.
People I knew who had always been anti NRA went out and bought arsenals for their homes.
Working in a multi-racial environment, as I did, the usual casual friendships became strained…not a very productive workplace.
Yes, it was money and fear which played the largest part in the verdict, but to be honest we can’t forget two other important aspects:
1 - many of the jurors were not highly educated and much of the evidence was based on (then new) DNA.
2 - the trial was televised, and some of the attorneys (whom I refuse to name) played well to both the jury and the cameras.
There’s a lot more, but it’s not for this List.
Sorry.
125. Tervuren - July 2nd, 2008 at 5:53 pm
I cannot believe you forgot Arnold!
BTW, although I grew up watching johnny Weissmiller as Tarzan; he was an Olympian, not professional.
126. segue - July 2nd, 2008 at 5:59 pm
****
125. Tervuren - July 2nd
I grew up watching johnny Weissmiller as Tarzan
****
I *wanted* to add Johnny, but that last name of his just threw me for a loop.
127. andy - July 2nd, 2008 at 6:19 pm
glad to see jim brown topping the list, he was exceptional in the film ‘fingers’.
128. Vera Lynn - July 2nd, 2008 at 6:35 pm
segue I am always taken by your perceptions. You raised some very valid points I hadn’t considered. I always thought the verdict was a joke. “If the glove don’t fit, you can’t convict.”
129. Vera Lynn - July 2nd, 2008 at 6:36 pm
And I thought it was Weissmuller with a “u”
130. dofnup - July 2nd, 2008 at 7:23 pm
What, not even a mention of OJ Simpson or Arnold Schwarzenegger? Is body building not athletic? Was OJ not a pro athlete turned actor?
Sorry if this has been said before, in my shock I didn’t even read the comments >_>
131. Spanner in the works - July 2nd, 2008 at 7:37 pm
You’re spot on, Vera,
Johnny Weissmuller it is.
To be pedantic, the Germanic origin is Weissmüller, which means “white miller”, so it’s kind of half translated in 125 above. Anglophones often spell Müller as Mueller, because it comes closer to preserving the German sound and even in these globalised days not all keyboards have an umlaut (= ¨) like mine. But for all that, pronunciation is often ambiguous. If I write Wagner here, you’re not going to know how to say it until I add something like Robert, film star, or Richard, divine opera and wedding march composer and nasty little racist shit.
132. delspecies - July 2nd, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson played professional football in Canada as well as being an NCAA champion in 1999. Everyone knows that college football players are paid, thus making them professional.
133. Vera Lynn - July 2nd, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Spanner in the works: Richard Wagner was a “nasty little racist shit?” Really? Anti-semetic, or what? What does Spanner in the works mean, if I can ask. I know you knw who the “real” Vera Lynn was (is?) but she is mentined in a song by my favorite band Pink Floyd “Does anybody here remember Vera Lynn? Remember how she said that we would meet again some sunny day. Vera…Vera…What has become of you? Does anybody else in here feel the way I do?”
134. anthony p - July 2nd, 2008 at 7:58 pm
wrestling may not be a sport but they are still athletes and the rock aint a half bad actor, surely if skateboarding counts…..
135. MPW - July 2nd, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Remember Brett Favre in “There’s Something About Mary”.
I love Brett Favre but he should definitely stick to football and not acting
Although he is decent in the Wrangler Jeans and Prilosec commercials.
136. Vera Lynn - July 2nd, 2008 at 8:05 pm
MPW Some one brought that up already. Did you not read all the comments? Teasin. Lots of talk about Farve today *wink wink* We overlap. Haha
137. Spanner in the works - July 2nd, 2008 at 8:06 pm
And while side-tracking on the subject of racism, thanks for your fascinating if horrifying expansion and context for the whole OJ thing, segue. You most certainly haven’t failed to register in this column, judging from the reaction. Perhaps a list of 10 facts about OJ might be in order?
I always supposed it was pure money that got him off. Isn’t there supposed to be some attourney in your Land of the Free who tells anyone to pre-plan and commit a murder, and then he will guarantee they get found not guilty … provided they can meet his fee?
In fact I’ve always considered it particularly sickening that O.J.’s verdict was hailed as a triumph for Afro-Americans, when any POOR black would probably have ended up guilty, perhaps even including where there remained a smidgeon of doubt. It always appeared to me as nothing more or less than a triumph for wealth and privilege, regardless of whose.
Now, thanks to you, the panorama is much more complex, dark and frightening. Although I’m no longer resident in U.K., it stirs up the unease I feel about racial and cultural mixes there. They should result in inter-tolerance and “hybrid vigour”, but … In many ways they are essentially a volatile mix that remains tranquil so long as things go well. But what happens if there is a (say fundamentalist Muslim) explosive focal point, as at Watts, or the economy starts to melt down and there aren’t enough jobs and welfare to go around? I read about a lot of that potential tension in much of Europe. It worries me, and I just hope it can be contained for the sake of my family who still live there, and of course for everyone else.
But how scarey if the price for containing it is letting people get away with murder, literally. That shows how brittle the glue holding society together really can become at times in places.
138. MPW - July 2nd, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Vera Lynn,Favre is always worth mentioning more than once:)
how about Jim Palmer’s infomercials
139. slipstick - July 2nd, 2008 at 8:37 pm
As long as we’re looking at people who were in the ring as athletes, how about martial artists?
I know that I’ll be lambasted for this one, but I prefer Dolph Ludgren’s Punisher to the Tom Jane version. He was a full-contact karate champion of Europe and Australia before going to acting.
Bruce Lee’s skills were barely capturable on the film because of his amazing speed. Enter the Dragon is still one of the best action films out there.
140. Vera Lynn - July 2nd, 2008 at 8:37 pm
MPW Jim McMan’s commercials for scooters “Outrageousness” was his tag line for them.
Hi (smilie with big teeth) YATB
141. Vera Lynn - July 2nd, 2008 at 8:39 pm
I meant “McMahon” Sorry
142. MPW - July 2nd, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Jason Taylor from the Miami Dolphins wants to act after his football(the manly version)is over
143. MPW - July 2nd, 2008 at 8:48 pm
^^Career
144. pankhudi - July 2nd, 2008 at 8:48 pm
@bucslim (28): Take over the world….I hope you were joking, otherwise all I have to say is - ‘grow up man’
145. phunx - July 2nd, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Arnold Schwarzenegger. hehehehe… his name very difficult..
146. jfrater - July 2nd, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Hey - thanks everyone for all the additions
147. Spanner in the works - July 2nd, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Starting with the last posting, 145, I’ll take on the rather reluctant task of philologist, but happily hand it over to anyone better qualified than my long-since, half-forgotten schoolboy German.
Arnie, baby?
No problem with the root schwarz. It means black, as a lot of people know.
Now we might have Schwarze Negger, which could be taken as black negro. That is not only over the top, but a curious ancestry for a guy who is pretty obviously Caucasian and from central Europe. But German for negro is Neger, anyway. O.K., so perhaps it’s Austrian dilect for negro then?
Well, interestingly, there is a pair of mountains in the Austrian Alps called Grosse (greater) Scheidegge and Kleine (lessser) Scheidegge. Now I’m fairly sure Scheid-egge means ’split plough’ (sorry ‘plow’, youse from the U.S.A.) and gives us what is probably a defining clue.
Schwarzenegger is Schwarzen Egger, in my opinion, almost certainly meaning dark ploughman/plowman, and it’s not unreasonable to suppose that dark perhaps refers to his hair in a country of so many blonds, rather than a skin colour.
After that I tried out Schwarze Negger and Schwarzen Egger with ‘translate’ on Google, and was directed to Dr Weevil. Interestingly, his first posting mumbled on vaguely about black negroes too, and speculated how Arnie might possibly have got that moniker.
But by the next posting someone had caused him to reconsider it as exactly the same conclusion of black ploughman/plowman that I had, so that seems pretty conclusive.
What a shame generation difference has deprived us of Weissmuller and Schwarzenegger together in a film!
Inconsequential footnote. Our plant geneticist neighbour where I live recently went to a high-level co-operative conference in L.A. Last weekend he showed us digitals of himself chatting away to Arnie (the Governor). Just like Forrest Gump, but this was the real Arnie, not some clever newsreel image manipulation.
148. Spanner in the works - July 2nd, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Now for your questions at 133, Vera.
whether literal or figurative, a spanner in the works is anything that buggers up something which was running smoothly before. Imagine an engine ticking over and you suddenly drop a spanner into all the whirling cogs, chains, belts and pistons. A spoke in the wheel is a kind of similar metaphor. I suppose I could have taken it a mite further and called myself Shitstirrer, but that’s not really my style. The idea is that if someone says anything I consider or know is wrong, or I disagree with, I’d hope to pick them up, drop a spanner in their works. John Lennon published a small book of poems, reflections and puns. Its title was a pun on my nom de plume: ‘A Spaniard in the Works’. Of the great Beatles I sadly find John a mite in the mould of Richard Wagner. I like his music one whole heap better than the vibes I pick up of the man himself. He strikes me as often having been pretty cruel, selfish and arrogant. O.K. so now I’ve lit the blue touch paper under a secular god, and I’d better stand clear of the back-blast.
One of the all-time greatest ironies in classical music is experienced unknowingly by nearly every bride married in church. She walks one way down the aisle to Richard Wagner and back to Felix Mendelssohn (whose delectable incidental music to ‘A Midsummernight’s Dream’, from which the Wedding March originates, deserves to be heard in full). Two great pieces of music. Yet had both composers been around in the middle of the following century, I don’t have the faintest doubt Richard would have volunteered to shovel Felix (a Jew) personally into the gas chambers. He hated Jews, and he hated Jewish musicians and composers even more. To him the race was responsible for everything wrong with the German-speaking world, and the musicians for everything wrong with German music. The ironies continue. One who was a direct inheritor of Wagner’s musical development was the Jewish Gustav Mahler. And no one could seem more Hunnishly Teutonic than the contemporary Johannes Brahms, who yet had more beloved Jewish musician and artistic friends than you could shake a stick at.
In fact I’ve laid this out as a fairly personal and musical thing, but it isn’t. Anti-semitism both has deep roots (in York, England, in the 1400s, for example, and read ‘The Merchant of Venice’) and bursts out like boils at points through history. Bismark’s united, nascent, imperial Germany was brewing up profound racism long before Hitler arrived on the scene, even though many Jewish Germans fought bravely and loyally for Kaiser Bill in WW1. But Wagner was particularly odious, and one of many examples of a divinely gifted genius whose personality just doesn’t seem to square with his output. Some can’t accept that, others can. The Argentine-Jewish conductor, Daniel Barenboim, courageously was the first to play Wagner in Israel. He met A LOT of opposition. By the way, Barenboim has set up a mixed symphony orchestra of young Jewish and Arab musicians. How about that?
Let me make finally clear`though: I cant resist what appeals to me of either John Lennon’s or Wagner’s music, and I don’t try or want to.
It’s very late where I live. Not sure if I’ve still got time for Vera Lynn, Vera Lynn, so I’ll post this now in case.
149. Spanner in the works - July 3rd, 2008 at 12:01 am
Look up you pen-namesake in Wikipedia, Vera.
Just type VERA LYNN WIKIPEDIA in the GOOGLE box (or whatever search engine you have: I promise not to drop a spanner in it) press search and then activate the entry. She’s nicely profiled there.
And everything I wrote to you before (over in Top 10 Conspiracies?) is true. She is still alive (in her 90s). We did hear her live in 1995 at the WW2 50 anniversary ceremony in London (but not by the Thames, as I thought. That’s where the fireworks were). And her voice was still amazingly strong, clear and fresh too. We do have about 5 CDs with a lot of her output, and certainly all the wartime and just postwar favourites. And I did reply “We’ve met again some sunny day” to you at another of jfr’s sites). And I was around when she was in her prime. Though not quite old enough to fall in love with her. Judy Garland was my first. Followed by a younger crooner than Vera called Carole Carr. After that it was Julie Christie, and I’ve been faithful to her (and Anita) ever since. I claim to have “discovered” Julie on an old Brit B.& W. TV science fiction series before the world had even heard of her. OK. so I told you I’d belt the shit out of anyone with my Zimmer frame who took liberties. What do I care who knows. You lot don’t know me. I’m old. As f***ing old as f***ing Jack Nicholson, so there. Anyone want to f***ing make anything of it?
You’re as old as you feel, anyway, and I feel about 100 right now, ‘cos its longpast my bedtime. So Goodnight, Vera.
150. Winglock - July 3rd, 2008 at 12:38 am
No doubt there’s a heap of cricketers that have gone on to star in Bollywood movies - not that I’m into Bollywood movies…or cricket.
151. Spanner in the works - July 3rd, 2008 at 12:38 am
Vera,
I’ve just popped back to say I’m glad you like Pink Floyd. I do too, but my rock has become so neglected these days because I have so much classical stuff that I can’t stop listening to and not enough life to live for it all. Because one doesn’t do something doesn’t mean one wouldn’t like to.
I had a friend who every time he picked up a magazine in a doctor’s or dentist’s waiting room found another fascinating subject that he said needed another whole lifetime to explore. He thought cloning oneself might be the answer. The whole mass of these lists and all their varied subjects here is like that anyway.
152. Phillies - July 3rd, 2008 at 2:17 am
Roman Gabriel, anyone?
153. fivestring63 - July 3rd, 2008 at 5:42 am
If you’re including martial artist you guys missed a big one. CHUCK NORRIS
Regarding Vinnie Jones… I never thought of soccer players as body building types like Vinnie looks. Seems it would make it hard to run up and down the field with all the extra muscle mass.
154. robneiderman - July 3rd, 2008 at 5:44 am
The first name I thought of was Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and he wasn’t even on the list?! He’s the most electrifying man in sports and entertainment! Also, he was just on the cover of Entertainment Weekly.
155. trojan_man - July 3rd, 2008 at 5:57 am
Great list…what about Brian Bosworth. He got run over during his football career (Bo Jackson, huh, warrrreagle) and then got run down by critics in his film career.
156. segue - July 3rd, 2008 at 7:53 am
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137. Spanner in the works - July 2nd, 2008
And while side-tracking on the subject of racism, thanks for your fascinating if horrifying expansion and context for the whole OJ thing, segue. You most certainly haven’t failed to register in this column, judging from the reaction. Perhaps a list of 10 facts about OJ might be in order?
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Spanner - When I read the beginning of your comments, I thought you were mocking me (there is something about the total absence of vocal and facial clues which can so easily lead one astray), but as I read on, I became convinced your concerns for your family were real.
I could easily do a list like the one, but the emotional cost would be too high. I was reacting (over-reacting? to some comments re: OJ in the posts), and I apologized for go so far afield.
Everything I posted was true, factual, as it happened.
But enough is enough. Besides, now we have even larger worries.
So back to happier List topics!
Now!
157. segue - July 3rd, 2008 at 8:19 am
147. Spanner in the works - July 2nd, 2008
plough’ (sorry ‘plow’, youse from the U.S.A.) and gives us what is probably a defining clue.
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Us poorly educated Americans, well, some of us, know a ‘plough’ is a ‘plow’. I had only 6 weeks of German in school, but kept it up myself, along with the languages required of me (Latin and French, along with ancient Greek roots et al).
**
148. Spanner in the works - July 2nd, 2008
Now for your questions at 133, Vera…
whether literal or figurative, a spanner in the works is anything that buggers up something which was running smoothly before. Imagine an engine ticking over and you suddenly drop a spanner into all the whirling cogs, chains, belts and pistons…
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just in case that didn’t give you the perfect picture (though it was beautiful!)
a spanner is an adjustable-angle head wrench.
Your basic wrench.
158. miller - July 3rd, 2008 at 8:23 am
anything you can break your bones in is a sport. Thats what I always say
159. segue - July 3rd, 2008 at 8:28 am
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151. Spanner in the works - July 3rd, 2008
I’ve just popped back to say I’m glad you like Pink Floyd. I do too, but my rock has become so neglected these days because I have so much classical stuff that I can’t stop listening to and not enough life to live for it all.
****
Spanner, II have managed to overcome that problem by keeping my iPod filled with a mixture of my favorite music at all times.
Since my favorites include Classical, Jazz (the real stuff, not Kenny G), 60’s-mid70’s Rock (pick ‘n’ choose), African tribal music, Celtic…you can see the problem re: time, so I reload my iPod at least once a week and listen to it a few hours a day.
manohman, are we off topic.
160. luckyjack2001 - July 3rd, 2008 at 8:31 am
miller: I think of a sport as a physical competition between either individuals or teams which results in a winner and a loser. Which eliminates, let’s seee…. chess and pro wrestling!
161. Vera Lynn - July 3rd, 2008 at 8:38 am
Spanner in the works Thank you. I had no idea. This stuff is not routinely taught. Until recently, history was my least favorite subject. Now I love it and soak it up. Thank you for the thumb-nail sketch. And I’m sorry you stayed up so late.
BTW You and segue are going to have a lot of fun here. She’s terrific.
162. Spanner in the works - July 3rd, 2008 at 9:01 am
segue
I.m just up and refreshed.
Oh dear,
I do need to add voice tone and facial expression. I see how easily my blundering attempts to be inclusive of what I know are different phrases or spellings in USA (recognising how many of your countrymen fill these columns) might be taken as mocking, facetious, f***ing superior Brit attitude, etc.
So for any from Oz reading, Good on yer.
And kiwis, don’t drag yer dags.
Your language history puts my level of Spanish (needed for everyday here) to shame.
163. Spanner in the works - July 3rd, 2008 at 9:17 am
Vera,
I’m not going to clog up here telling you my dism