Dwayne Johnson is one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, who despite all the fame and money is probably one of the nicest people around in the industry too. He’s chill, funny, cool, strong (if his muscles didn’t give it away), and smart. But the life he lives right now didn’t come as easy to him.
Before starting his career as a professional wrestler and subsequently becoming one of the highest-paid actors in the world, Dwayne Johnson was just a little teenager who liked to play rugby and a notorious kid who would frequent the attention of the police. But it was at this stage of his life that he claims to have learned one of the most important lessons.
Dwayne Johnson’s Harrowing Experience With His Parents
Every time you look at Dwayne Johnson, especially when he smiles, all you can see is sunshine and rainbows in that huge smile. This is kinda weird because if your family was comprised of a whole set of revolutionary wrestlers like Johnson’s family is, then you wouldn’t be so cheerful looking all the time.
The 50-year-old however has seemed to be able to keep that positive vibe up for this long even after all those years in the WWE spent fighting inside the ring. Those experiences, along with his current time in the movie industry must’ve taught him a lot of things, but there’s one lesson that he learned early on in his life.
During an appearance on Oprah’s Master Class, the San Andreas star shared a flashback story from when he was 15. Johnson narrates the story about the time when he was out with both of his parents, Rocky and Ata Johnson, to eat at a restaurant.
The Rock describes earlier that his parents had problems with their marriage, and a verbal fight broke out between his father and mother at the table they were sitting at in the restaurant.
Next, he describes that they were driving down an interstate in two separate cars when suddenly the car that his parents were in stars swerving and makes a hard right, clearly showing him that they were arguing, eventually coming to a stop.
His mom gets out of the car and into the road amongst the high-speed traffic on the interstate. Johnson eventually gets out of his car and saves his mom by wrestling her over to the side of the road, neither uttering a single word.
It was at this moment that The Rock says-
“In that moment one of the greatest lessons I’ve ever learned was how precious life is and how in an instant can all go away. It changed me.”
Dwayne Johnson’s Relationship With His Dad Was ‘Complicated’
“Growing up, and you know we specifically went with these timelines in my life that were very defining times at 10 years old, 15, and 18. There’s a lot of things in between those years that took place … but it was complicated, and the relationship that I had with my dad was incredibly complicated that was fueled by tough love.”
He further explains-
“My dad was kicked out of his house at 13 and he was homeless, so that then shaped the man who then raised me.”
“And in that complication came an extraordinary life that was full of travel. I lived in 13 different states by the time I was 13 years old, also lived in New Zealand.”
Rocky Johnson passed away 2 years ago at the age of 75 at a home that The Rock bought for him. It’s safe to say that at least he got to see his son perform well in life.
Source: YouTube
