Dwayne Douglas Johnson, born May 2, 1972, in Hayward, California, is an American actor, producer, former professional wrestler, and former football player. He initially pursued a football career, earning a full scholarship to the University of Miami, where he played defensive tackle and was part of a national championship team. After injuries curtailed his football prospects, including a brief stint with the Canadian Football League’s Calgary Stampeders, Johnson transitioned to professional wrestling, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather[1][2][7]. He debuted in WWE (then WWF) in 1996 as "Rocky Maivia" before evolving into "The Rock," a charismatic and highly successful wrestling persona. Known for his mic skills and electrifying presence, Johnson won multiple WWE championships, including eight world titles, and became one of the most popular and influential wrestlers in history. He retired from full-time wrestling in 2019 but made significant returns for special events, notably headlining WrestleMania XXVIII in 2012 against John Cena, contributing to WWE’s record pay-per-view sales[2][4][6][8]. Johnson launched a prolific acting career beginning with a role in *The Mummy Returns* (2001) and his first lead in *The Scorpion King* (2002). He became a major Hollywood star through roles in action and family films such as *Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle* (2017), *Fast & Furious* franchise (as Luke Hobbs), *Hercules* (2014), and *Black Adam* (2022). He also voiced Maui in Disney’s *Moana* (2016) and its 2024 sequel. Johnson has produced and starred in television series including HBO’s *Ballers* and the autobiographical *Young Rock* (2021-2023)[3][5]. Recognized by *Time* magazine as one of the world’s most influential people in 2016 and 2019, Johnson remains a prominent figure in entertainment and popular culture. His recent work includes starring as MMA fighter Mark Kerr in the 2025 biographical drama *The Smashing Machine*[3][5].