Top 10 Best Acting Performances by Athletes

“Space Jam” (1996)
“Space Jam” is the “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” of sports movies, and it is both glorious and endlessly silly. NBA legend Michael Jordan stars as himself, and to the surprise of mostly everyone, he was actually really good! Acting with cartoon characters is a challenge, of course. But Jordan also had to contend with screen legend Bill Murray, which is a tall task for any actor, let alone a basketball player in his first acting role. He also wasn’t afraid to make light of himself and his questionable performance in Double-A baseball, which was always good for a laugh. Jordan’s performance helped make “Space Jam” a children’s classic, and it undoubtedly turned many kids on to professional basketball.

“Fast Five” (2011)
The Rock has enjoyed a steady and prosperous acting career since 2001, when he appeared as The Scorpion King in “The Mummy Returns.” And while he starred in a few decent movies throughout the 2000s, it always seemed like a novelty; we were still watching a popular wrestler act in action movies. That all changed with “Fast Five,” when Johnson entered the “Fast and Furious” franchise as Luke Hobbs. Following the wild and surprising success of “Fast Five,” Johnson would star in a string of popular and acclaimed blockbusters, becoming the biggest movie star of the 2010s. With his performance as Hobbs, audiences finally bought The Rock as a genuine actor, and he became the Dwayne Johnson we know today.

“They Live” (1988)
Rowdy Roddy Piper was a popular wrestler who performed in the WWF and WCW throughout the 80s and 90s. In 1987, writer/director John Carpenter met Piper at Wrestlemania III, where Piper defeated Adrian Adonis in a Hair vs. Hair match. Carpenter reportedly believed that Piper had a “life” that other actors didn’t, so he hired him as protagonist Nada. Piper brought a certain coolness to the role, and many of his scenes have become classics. For example, his hilariously droll delivery of the iconic “bubble gum” line and his alleyway brawl with Keith David, which is considered by some to be one of the best fight sequences in movie history. It’s tough to act under John Carpenter and alongside Keith David, but the inexperienced Piper pulled it off.

“The Princess Bride” (1987)
Apparently the late 80s were a great time for wrestlers to get into acting. André the Giant, real name André Roussimoff, was a fan favorite of the WWF and also appeared in Wrestlemania III, where his fight with Hulk Hogan served as the main event. Roussimoff did a bit of TV acting throughout the late 70s and early 80s, but his most popular work is that of Fezzik in “The Princess Bride.” His is one of the most charming performances in a movie chock full of them, and he lends the film a very warm atmosphere that few other actors, professional or otherwise, could accomplish. And by all accounts, Roussimoff was just as much fun behind the camera as he was in front of it.

“He Got Game” (1998)
While “He Got Game” didn’t make a lot of money, it is often considered one of Spike Lee’s best movies. Denzel Washington stars as Jake Shuttlesworth, an inmate who convinces his son Jesus to play basketball for the governor’s alma mater. Lee considered many basketball stars for the role of Jesus, including Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, and Allen Iverson before deciding on Ray Allen. Allen had never acted before, so working with the likes of Spike Lee and Denzel Washington should have overwhelmed him. But eight weeks of training prepared him, and Allen respectably held his own onscreen alongside the Oscar-winning Washington. His performance was widely praised by critics, including Roger Ebert.

“Uncut Gems” (2019)
The entire plot of “Uncut Gems” revolves around basketball star Kevin Garnett, his strong spiritual connection to the opal, and the seemingly-magical effect it has on his performance. Put simply, Garnett has a lot of heavy lifting to do. He also needed to share the screen with the likes of Adam Sandler and Lakeith Stanfield. But Garnett makes it seem effortless. He displays a wide range of emotions, including wonder, jovial friendliness, and deep frustration, and his characterization allows the audience to sense the opal’s majesty and power. And that is very important indeed, considering its importance to the story and characters.

Marvel Cinematic Universe (2008-)
Dave Bautista is a pure physical powerhouse, wrestling under the stage name Batista and briefly dabbling in MMA in 2012. And while he had dabbled in acting, his breakout role was that of Drax the Destroyer in “Guardians of the Galaxy,” a role he would continuously reinhabit through to “Endgame.” And unlike other martial artists-turned-actors, he didn’t even have to do any martial arts in the movie! This is one of those perfect casting decisions that result in fans wondering if anyone else could have possibly portrayed the character. Bautista inhabits Drax, from his immense physical frame to his naivete and blunt forwardness to his hilarious deadpan delivery. His comedic timing is impeccable, and it allows him to fit snugly in among far more experienced actors.

“The Terminator” (1984)
Schwarzenegger has been a prolific actor for so long that most people forget that he was a world-famous athlete. Schwarzenegger was a professional bodybuilder, winning three Mr. Universe contests and seven Mr. Olympia’s throughout the 60s and 70s. His first big role came in 1982 as Conan the Barbarian, but it was “The Terminator” that made him a world-famous star. Schwarzenegger exuded pure villainy, and he could make something as simple as walking down the street look menacing. It’s an incredibly hard task for an actor to come across as legitimately scary, and Schwarzenegger pulled it off without much speaking or emoting. And the speaking he did do was eerily terse. In short, it’s one of the greatest villain roles and performances in movie history.

“Trainwreck” (2015)
“Trainwreck” stars Amy Schumer as the hard-partying Amy Townsend, who is assigned to write an article about a sports doctor named Aaron Conners, played by Bill Hader. One of Conners’s closest friends is none other than the hilariously cheap LeBron James. James had done a small bit of acting prior to “Trainwreck” but this was his big screen acting debut, and what a debut it was. James is one of the high points of the movie, serving up countless laughs with his incredible comedic timing and line delivery. Never in a million years would people think that LeBron James could match Bill Hader in a scene, but now we all know better.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Jason Lee, “Chasing Amy” (1997)
Professional Skateboarder Jason Lee Showed Off His Award-Winning Acting Chops

Vinnie Jones, “Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels” (1998)
Professional Soccer Player Vinnie Jones Began His Acting Career in This Guy Ritchie Classic

Mike Ditka, “Kicking & Screaming” (2005)
Football Player Mike Ditka Holds His Own Against Will Ferrell

Terry Bradshaw, “Failure to Launch” (2006)
Former Quarterback Desperately Wants Matthew McConaughey Out of His House

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, “Airplane!” (1980)
6x NBA Champ Secretly Moonlights as an Airplane Co-Pilot for Some Hilarious Reason

“Rocky” (1976)
Mostly everyone today knows Carl Weathers as Apollo Creed, Rocky Balboa’s nemesis turned best friend. But before “Rocky,” Weathers was a professional football player. He played for San Diego State, the Oakland Raiders, and eventually the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. He eventually retired in ‘74 to pursue acting, and just two years later was starring as Apollo Creed. Weathers crafted arguably the most memorable villain ever depicted in a sports movie. Apollo is confrontational and grossly arrogant without being outright hateful, and Weathers expertly toes the line through his performance. It helped launch Weathers’ successful movie career, and before long, everyone had forgotten the whole football thing. He was a natural on the screen.