Professional wrestlers have been appearing in high-profile movie roles ever since the 1980s, with the likes of Rowdy Roddy Piper in They Live and Kevin Nash in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze. However, not all wrestlers-turned-actors have achieved equal levels of greatness on the silver screen.
Some former wrestlers have been criticized for their lackluster performances on film — take Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in last year’s Black Adam, just to name a recent notable example. However, others like Dave Bautista and John Cena have managed to garner widespread acclaim for their acting chops in movies like Blade Runner 2049 and The Suicide Squad. Here are just five examples of other wrestling icons who have left their mark on film history.
André the Giant in The Princess Bride
One of the most iconic movie roles ever portrayed by a pro wrestler is without a doubt Fezzik in The Princess Bride, as played by André René Roussimoff — better known as André the Giant. Fezzik is introduced early in the film as one of the two henchmen of the criminal mastermind Vizzini. But like his coworker and friend Inigo Montoya, Fezzik is clearly not the villainous type, and is reluctant to go along with Vizzini’s schemes. Over the course of the film, the gentle giant Fezzik goes from a good-natured antagonist to a steadfast ally of our heroes Westley and Buttercup, and plays a crucial role in the movie’s climactic rescue.
Not only does Fezzik’s fight with Westley allow André to show off his mighty physical prowess, he also gets some of the funniest moments in the movie — and in a film like The Princess Bride, that’s saying something. Whether he’s making up rhymes with Inigo, lamenting Vizzini’s unsportsmanlike tactics, or posing as the Dread Pirate Roberts, Fezzik is sure to inspire a smile every time he’s on-screen. While much of this is due to the impeccable work of screenwriter William Goldman and director Rob Reiner, Fezzik wouldn’t be half as fun without the warm, easygoing charm that André the Giant brings to the role. He may look intimidating, but this giant is all heart.
Hulk Hogan in Rocky III
While Rocky III is best known as the movie where Rocky Balboa faces off against Clubber Lang — famously played by Mr. T — he also takes on another 80s pop culture icon earlier in the film. The movie’s opening fight sees Rocky engage in an exhibition match for charity against the wrestling champion Thunderlips, played by Hulk Hogan. But unlike the all-American good guy persona Hogan typically portrayed in the ring, Thunderlips is one hundred percent heel. He’s vain, arrogant, and disdainful towards both Rocky and his fans. And once the fight begins, he’s a vicious berserker, brutally demolishing Rocky. Thunderlips’ ruthless onslaught is downright frightening at points, thanks in no small part to Hogan towering nearly a full foot over Sylvester Stallone. He even attacks the referee and security guards when they attempt to get in his way.
However, Rocky refuses to go down without a fight, and the match ultimately ends in a draw. The moment the match is over, Thunderlips completely changes his demeanor, becoming friendly and relaxed as he congratulates Rocky on a great fight. His earlier cruelty wasn’t anything personal — it was all just part of the show. It’s clear from this sequence that Stallone was fascinated by pro wrestling, particularly the interplay between the performers and the wrestling personas they inhabit. As such, even a minor one-off fighter like Thunderlips is characterized with some degree of nuance despite his short screen time, and Hogan plays the role to perfection.
Randy Savage in Spider-Man
Shifting gears from Hulk Hogan to his Mega Powers tag team partner, it’s time to take a look at “Macho Man” Randy Savage’s most notorious movie appearance. While he’s better remembered for selling Slim Jims than starring on the big screen, there is one film role by Savage that’s earned him a place in cinema history — Bonesaw McGraw in the original Sam Raimi-directed Spider-Man film. In a scene taken straight out of Spidey’s comic origin in Amazing Fantasy #15, a newly-superpowered Peter Parker tries his hand at pro wrestling to earn a quick buck. In an amusing coincidence, the wrestler in the comic was known as Crusher Hogan, but this was naturally changed for the movie to avoid any confusion with the Hulkster.
While Bonesaw is hardly a nuanced antagonist compared to the likes of Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, or the Sandman, he’s still managed to become one of the most memorable parts of the movie through Savage’s stage presence alone. Thanks to his unforgettably hammy delivery, lines like “Bonesaw is ready!” and “I got you for three minutes! Three minutes of playtime!” have become the stuff memes are made of. He may not have been in the movie for long, but Bonesaw’s brawl with Peter Parker made for a perfect first showcase of Spider-Man’s fighting ability. Sadly, this was Savage’s last major film appearance before his death in 2011. However, his legacy lives on, thanks in part to his role in Spider-Man’s movie debut.
Jesse Ventura in Predator
Blain Cooper, played by Jesse Ventura, isn’t exactly a major character in the original 1987 Predator. In fact, he’s the second member of Dutch’s team to be killed by the Predator, after Shane Black’s Hawkins. However, he still manages to leave an impression despite his brief role in the movie. While most fans of the film likely remember Blain for his boast of being a “sexual Tyrannosaurus”, his real significance to the story is something more subtle. One major thematic motif in Predator is the way that typical action hero behavior is punished by the titular monster. Those who brag about their machismo and rush in blindly are met with quick, grisly deaths, while those who act with cunning and humility — like Arnold Schwarzenegger as Dutch — survive the longest. He may not have been around for long, but Blain definitely helped set the tone for the rest of the film.
The Rock in Moana
It may seem strange to end this list with one of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s numerous film roles, considering he was brought up earlier as an example of a wrestler-turned-actor with more misses than hits. However, a spotty track record doesn’t mean he’s delivered no good performances at all. And the best role of his career is arguably his turn as the Hawaiian demigod Maui in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Moana. An animated musical from the directors behind The Little Mermaid and Aladdin is certainly a far cry from the usual action fare that the Rock typically stars in, but this is a benefit rather than a flaw.
Unlike Black Adam, Johnson’s role as Maui plays to his strengths — namely, playing himself. While his range as a performer may be lacking, Johnson is a master of embodying his own persona as the Rock, and Maui’s characterization is essentially a variant on said persona. He’s brash and braggadocious, but you still want to root for him. Plus, he gets one of the catchiest songs in the movie. The Rock may not always be cooking up the best performances, but Maui is one big exception.
