From the Football Field to the Silver Screen: Some of Hollywood’s Brightest Stars got their Start on the Gridiron
Ever since its humble beginnings, the motion picture industry and the game of football have been a match made in proverbial cinematic heaven. In the early days, Harold Lloyd and the Marx Brothers both contributed early classics with the football movies like The Freshman and Horse Feathers. The Three Stooges even got in on the football act in several of their shorts.
On the screen, Red Grange, Crazylegs Hirsch, and Sammy Baugh all became stars of their own movies, setting the stage for years to come of athletes making the transition from the gridiron to the silver screen. With the movie-award season right around the corner, here is a look at some of the biggest stars.
Played football: Michigan State University
Starred in: The Godfather, Rollerball, Brian’s Song, Thief, The Program, Honeymoon in Vegas
Bio: One of the most popular actors of his generation, James Caan got his start playing football for one season for the Michigan State University Spartans. He would use his football skills to earn acclaim playing the late Brian Piccolo in the made-for-TV-movie Brian’s Song and as a beleaguered Head Coach in The Program. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in The Godfather.
Played football: Western Michigan University, Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, Rhein Fire, Washington Redskins
Starred in: The Longest Yard, The Expendables, Get Smart, Terminator Salvation, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
Known as one of the hardest-working and most energetic people in Hollywood, Terry Crews starred as a high-motor defensive end for the Western Michigan Broncos before going to on to a respectable career as a role player in the NFL for numerous teams before getting his big break in entertainment on the TV show Battle Dome. He starred as one of the convict/football players in the remake of The Longest Yard.
Played football: Columbia University
Starred in: Semi-Tough, First Blood, Cocoon, Tommy Boy, Ratatouille
Known for being a gruff tough guy in film, Brian Dennehy started out as an offensive lineman for the Ivy League Columbia Lions. With both a background in the military and on the football field, he has easily slipped into roles ranging from a no-nonsense sheriff to a high-priced lawyer. He got his first acting job in movies playing football player T.J. Lambert in the comedy Semi-Tough.
Played football: Pierce College, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Starred in: Comes a Horseman, Summer School, The Presidio, Wyatt Earp, Freaky Friday
Son of Heisman Trophy winner Tom Harmon, Mark Harmon was a star quarterback for the UCLA Bruins in the early 1970s. He was a star on the hit TV series St. Elsewhere before landing the role of SSA Jethro Gibbs on NCIS. He would showcase his football “chops” in the comedy Summer School portraying high school coach/teacher Freddy Shoop.
Played football: University of Miami, Calgary Stampeders
Starred in: The Scorpion King, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Fast Five, San Andreas, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
There is arguably no bigger movie star working today than Dwayne Johnson. An eight-time WWE World Champion, the man formerly known as “The Rock” got his start as a piston-powered defensive lineman for the Miami Hurricanes. His natural charisma and chiseled frame made him a natural for both professional wrestling and the big screen. He would show off his football skills in The Gridiron Gang and The Game Plan.
Played football: Harvard University
Starred in: Love Story, Lonesome Dove, JFK, The Fugitive, Captain America: First Avenger
Few people have defined the term “movie tough guy” more than San Saba, Texas’ own Tommy Lee Jones. He started for the Harvard Crimson as an offensive guard and took place in the legendary Harvard-Yale tie/win of 1968. He has been one of the most prolific and successful actors in recent years and has been nominated for an Academy Award for his performances JFK, In the Valley of Elah, and Lincoln and won for his role in The Fugitive.
Played football: Arizona State University, Eastern Arizona College
Starred in: The Deep, North Dallas Forty, 48 Hrs., Cape Fear, Tropic Thunder
One of the most versatile actors of his generation, Nick Nolte got his start in football as a tight end for both the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Eastern Arizona Gila Monsters. The noted tough guy actor has played everything from police detectives and soldiers in World War II to a Marvel super villain and a talking gorilla. He showed off his football skills in the gritty North Dallas Forty. He has been nominated for multiple Academy Awards for his work in the films The Prince of Tides, Affliction, and Warrior.
Played football: Eureka College
Starred in: Knute Rockne, All American, Santa Fe Trail, Bedtime for Bonzo, The Winning Team, Hellcats of the Navy
Easily the most-accomplished member on this list, our nation’s 40th President was an all-around athlete was started as a football player for the Eureka College Red Devils, where he was also captain of the swim team, before heading out to Hollywood where he was a working actor for over 30 years before breaking into politics. A lifelong football fan, the former U.S. Army Air Forces Captain showed off his football abilities starring as the tragic George “The Gipper” Gipp in Knute Rockne, All American in 1940.
Played football: Florida State University
Starred in: Deliverance, The Longest Yard, Smokey and the Bandit, Semi-Tough, The Dukes of Hazzard
There were few bigger movie stars on the planet in their heyday bigger than Burt Reynolds was in his. The top box office draw of the 1970s, Burt was a star halfback – and college roommate of ESPN’s Lee Corso – for the Florida State Seminoles before a knee injury ended his playing career. At the height of his popularity, he was co-owner of the USFL’s Tampa Bay Bandits (named in his honor). He drew upon his football heritage numerous times in film, starring in both versions of The Longest Yard and Semi-Tough. He would earn an Academy Award nomination for his performance in Boogie Nights.
Played football: University of Southern California (USC)
Starred in: Stagecoach, Flying Tigers, The Longest Day, The Alamo, True Grit
Truly one of the most iconic film actors of all-time, John Wayne – born Marion Morrison – got his start in Hollywood after an injury he sustained playing for the USC Trojans. He would be a bit-part actor in numerous Westerns before he became a massive box office star. He showcased his love of football in early films like Brown of Harvard, The Drop Kick, The Forward Pass, and in a starring turn as a coach in Trouble Along the Way. The Duke would nominated for the Academy Award twice for Best Actor (in The Sands of Iwo Jima and The Alamo) before winning in 1969 for his portrayal of Rooster Cogburn in the original True Grit.
Played football: San Diego State University, Oakland Raiders, BC Lions
Starred in: Rocky, Force 10 from Navarone, Predator, Action Jackson, Happy Gilmore
As a speedy, athletic defensive end for San Diego State Aztecs, Carl Weathers looked to be headed toward a lengthy career in professional football. Even while in the NFL and CFL, Weathers was taking Drama courses at San Francisco State University. He would breakout with his role as Apollo Creed in 1972’s Rocky and appear in three sequels. He also appeared in the seminal football comedy Semi-Tough.
Played football: California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Starred in: Fast Times at Ridgemont High, The Color of Money, Platoon, The Last King of Scotland, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
The gravely voiced and imposing Forest Whitaker got his start on the college gridiron with the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos. While in college, he sang in the choir and took drama classes prepping for his career in acting. He got his big break playing star high school linebacker Charles Jefferson in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. He would win the Academy Award for Best Actor for h is portrayal of dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland.