Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is still cooking. A look back at his career.
Sept. 30, 2025Updated May 1, 2026, 12:31 p.m. ET

From football and wrestling to Hollywood mega-star, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is still cooking. A look back at his career, starting with the Berlin premiere of his 2025 movie "The Smashing Machine."
Gerald Matzka, Getty Images
Miami Hurricanes defensive tackle Dwayne Johnson in a 1993 portrait during his freshman year.
Imagn Images
Miami Hurricanes player Dwayne Johnson during the 1994 season at the Orange Bowl in Miami.
Imagn Images
No. 94 takes the bench at the Orange Bowl in Miami.
Imagn Images
World Wrestling Federation champion The Rock speaks at the Republican National Convention on Aug. 2, 2000, in Philadelphia.
Mark Wilson, Getty Images
WWF star The Rock poses in 2000 in Los Angeles.
Getty Images, Getty Images
The Rock is ready for action on June 12, 2000, in LA.
Getty Images, Getty Images
Dwayne Johnson and his co-star Brendan Fraser arrive for the premiere of "The Mummy Returns" in 2001 in LA.
Rose Prouser, REUTERS
The Rock accepts the Choice Sleazebag award for his role in "The Mummy Returns" at the 2001 Teen Choice Awards.
Fred Prouser, REUTERS
Bill Gates of Microsoft greets The Rock after unveiling the new Xbox console during his keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show in 2001.
JEFF CHRISTENSEN, AFP Via Getty Images
Johnny Knoxville (left) and Dwayne Johnson in "Walking Tall."
BOB AKESTER, MGM
The Rock greeted fans and journalists at a photocall for "Southland Tales" at Cannes Film Festival in 2006.
Eric Gaillard, REUTERS
Dwayne Johnson and his young co-star, Madison Petis, photographed in 2007 for "The Game Plan."
Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY
Dwayne Johnson presents the visual effects Oscar to "The Golden Compass" during the Academy Awards in 2008.
Jack Gruber, USA TODAY
Anne Hathaway announces the winner for best comedic performance with Dwayne Johnson and Steve Carell at the 2008 MTV Movie Awards.
Mario Anzuoni, REUTERS
Dwayne Johnson in "Get Smart."
Tracy Bennett, Warner Bros. Pictures
Dwayne Johnson addresses the crowd at the 2009 Grammy Awards.
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY
USA TODAY photographs Dwayne Johnson at the Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake Village , California, in 2009 to promote his movie "Race to Witch Mountain."
Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY
Dwayne Johnson and wife Dany pose on the red carpet for the black-tie White House Correspondents' Dinner in 2009.
Mike Theiler, REUTERS
Vin Diesel (as Dom Toretto) and Dwayne Johnson (as Luke Hobbs) face off in 2010's "Fast Five."
Jaimie Trueblood, Universal Pictures
Dwayne Johnson presents the award for best pop solo performance at the Grammys in 2023.
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY
The Rock and director Peter Berg collaborated on a "Got Milk?" ad in 2013.
Milk
Dwayne Johnson, ripped and ready to rumble in "Hercules."
Kerry Brown, Paramount Pictures/MGM
Lifelong fanboy Jon M. Chu's "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" stars Dwayne Johnson, a muscular, larger-than-life action figure himself. Photographed at the Four Seasons Hotel in LA on March 23, 2013.
Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY
Dwayne Johnson and Mark Wahlberg star in 2013's "Pain and Gain" as two steroid-using body builders who get involved in a botched kidnapping plot.
Tim Rue For USA TODAY
Dwayne Johnson and Carla Gugino in 2014's “San Andreas.”
Jaimie Trueblood, Warner Bros
The Rock, photographed by USA TODAY for his 2014 film “Hercules."
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY
Zoe Saldaña and Dwayne Johnson present best animated film at the Oscars in 2015.
Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY
Dwayne Johnson takes on "Lip Sync Battle" in 2015.
Scott Gries, Spike TV
Dwayne Johnson as photographed on the rooftop pool deck at The Ritz-Carlton in LA for his 2015 disaster movie "San Andreas."
Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY
Dwayne Johnson rides a Los Angeles Fire Department engine as he arrives at the premiere of "San Andreas."
Mario Anzuoni, REUTERS
Kevin Hart is an easy armful for Dwayne Johnson in 2015's “Central Intelligence.”
Claire Folger, © 2015 Warner Bros.
The Rock suits up as Maui, opposite Auli'i Cravalho as the voice of Disney's "Moana."
Disney
Dwayne Johnson, star/producer of “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle," photographed at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood in 2017.
Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY
Dwayne Johnson and Lauren Hashian on the Oscars red carpet in 2017.
Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY
Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron are hard-bodied lifeguards in the big-screen "Baywatch."
Frank Masi, Paramount Pictures
Dwayne Johnson and Tom Hanks during the opening monologue of "SNL" on May 20, 2017.
Will Heath, NBC
Jack Black (from left), Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan and Kevin Hart arrive for the London premiere of "Jumanji: The Next Level" in 2019.
YVES HERMAN, REUTERS
Dwayne Johnson receives the Generation Award at the 2019 MTV Movie and TV Awards.
MIKE BLAKE, REUTERS
Portrait of Dwayne Johnson, who stars in 2019's "Hobbs and Shaw," a spinoff of the successful "Fast and Furious" franchise.
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY
Dwayne Johnson speaks during Super Bowl 56 on Feb. 13, 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Albert Cesare, The Enquirer Via USA TODAY Network
Dwayne Johnson plays the title role in 2022's "Black Adam," which has taken the wrestler-turned-actor more than a decade to bring to theaters.
WARNER BROS. PICTURES
Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson arrive at the 95th Academy Awards in 2023.
Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY
Dwayne Johnson obligingly snaps selfies with fans on the red carpet at the 96th Oscars in 2024.
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY
Dwayne Johnson stars as Callum Drift, head of security for Nick (J.K. Simmons) in 2024's "Red One."
FRANK MASI/AMAZON MGM STUDIOS
Dwayne Johnson arrives at Golden Globe Awards in 2025.
Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY
Dwayne Johnson stars as UFC champ Mark Kerr in the 2025 biopic "The Smashing Machine."
Eric Zachanowich, A24 Films
Co-stars Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt react on the red carpet during arrivals for "The Smashing Machine" at Venice Film Festival.
Remo Casilli, REUTERS
Co-stars Kevin Hart, Dwayne Johnson and Jack Black promote the upcoming film "Jumanji: Open World" during CinemaCon on April 13, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Ethan Miller, Getty Images
"Moana" co-stars Dwayne Johnson and Catherine Laga'aia attend CinemaCon 2026.
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