Entertainment

Dwayne Johnson

Cut from professional football in 1995; moved from wrestling into film.

Dwayne Johnson was born in 1972 in Hayward, California, US. Dwayne Johnson's background is described as Black Nova Scotian and Samoan descent. Growing up, the family was working class — a wrestling family with unstable income; evicted from their apartment when he was 14. Cut from professional football in 1995; moved from wrestling into film.

Born: 1972 · Hayward, California, US
Roots: Black Nova Scotian and Samoan descent
Family: Working class; A wrestling family with unstable income; evicted from their apartment when he was 14.
Education: University of Miami (football scholarship, criminology)
Started with: $7; What he had after the CFL released him in 1995.
Affiliations & societies: None documented.; Information only — claims like these are often unverifiable and may be wrong.

The pathway

1991 · age 18
College football
Backup defensive lineman on Miami's national-title team.
1995 · age 23
Released by the CFL$7
Cut from Calgary's practice squad; returns to his parents' apartment.
1996 · age 24
WWF debut
Debuts as Rocky Maivia; the character is poorly received by crowds.
1998 · age 26
“The Rock” persona
Switches to a villain character; becomes one of the promotion's top-drawing performers.
2002 · age 29
First film lead$5.5M
The Scorpion King; the fee is reported as a record for a first leading role.
2011 · age 38
Fast Five
Joins the franchise; the film's box-office performance restarts his film career after several underperforming releases.
2012 · age 40
Seven Bucks Productions
Founds a production company, named after the $7.
2016 · age 44
Forbes' highest-paid actor~$87M/yr

Frequently asked questions

Where is Dwayne Johnson from?

Dwayne Johnson was born in 1972 in Hayward, California, US. Their background is described as Black Nova Scotian and Samoan descent.

When was Dwayne Johnson born?

Dwayne Johnson was born in 1972, in Hayward, California, US.

What is Dwayne Johnson's background or ethnicity?

Dwayne Johnson's roots are described as Black Nova Scotian and Samoan descent. These are broad categories drawn from public sources, not statements about how the person identifies.

Where did Dwayne Johnson go to school?

Dwayne Johnson's education: University of Miami (football scholarship, criminology).

What was Dwayne Johnson's family background growing up?

At birth the family was working class. A wrestling family with unstable income; evicted from their apartment when he was 14.

How did Dwayne Johnson get started?

Dwayne Johnson started with $7. What he had after the CFL released him in 1995.

Sources

Compiled from these references and contemporaneous press reporting. Figures are approximate; verify before relying on them.