Thanks to his genes, actor Dwayne Johnson was already looking like a bodybuilder by the time he reached high school. The actor graduated from Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township in the Lehigh Valley, however, the actor initially faced frequent expulsions before finally enrolling in Freedom High School. The actor was caught up in the world of pretty crimes and struggled to leave it behind.
As a kid, the actor faced a lot of discrimination because of his race and ethnicity. However, in high school, other kids had a different perception of the actor.
Dwayne Johnson’s peers thought he was a policeman
When Dwayne Johnson was in high school, other kids thought that he is an undercover policeman because Johnson was already 6 foot 4 inches and weighed 225 lbs by the time he reached high school. His distinctive physique often fooled everyone.
By the age of 17, the actor was arrested multiple times for fighting, theft, and check fraud. Finally, his American football coach at his high school saw potential and recruited him to play for the high school’s football team. Given his physique, the actor performed really well.
That’s when Johnson saw a change in his life, he managed to leave his illegal activities behind and worked towards his goal.
The actor faced discrimination when he was young
Dwayne Johnson once opened up about the discrimination he faced as a kid because of his race and ethnicity. He said,
“Discrimination, yes, growing up. I lived in the south, at that time, I was a 70s baby, in those areas, in the world of wrestling, your wrestling in small towns, living in trailer parks. And kids are looking at me like, what are you? Are you Mexican, black, something? So yeah, that happened.”
The actor’s father, Rocky Johnson was a Black Nova Scotian and his mother is a Samoan. The actor is proud of his roots for giving him his god-like physique.
Dwayne Johnson started out as a wrestler
Just like his father, Dwayne Johnson planned to become a wrestler and joined WWF in 1996. Johnson quickly rose to fame as “The Rock,” known for his sharp attitude and catchphrases. He went on to become one of the best wrestlers in the history of WWE.
In the 2000s, the actor focused on his acting career. His first major role came in 2001’s The Mummy Returns, in which he played The Scorpion King. Since then, the actor has delivered box-office hits. He has showcased his talent in the Fast & Furious franchise, Jumanji franchise, San Andreas (2015), Central Intelligence (2016), Moana (2016), and DC franchise.
Today, he is one of the biggest stars in the entertainment industry, known for his work ethic and strong on-screen presence.
Source: IMDb