Can you give me names of athletes that have entered show business occupations -- acting, music, etc.?

Which athletes, if any, do you think have had real talent for those fields?

Also, which athletes do you think are good sports broadcasters?

The reason I ask is because I always get a chuckle out of listening
to John Daly's song "You Don't Know Me."
Click here and then click "Listen" to hear part of the song. (RealPlayer required.)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Big Grin
08-23-04, 10:44 PM
juanruiz
Ed Marinaro, Alex Karras, O.J. Simpson, Fred Williamsom all did movies or tv. I always thought Pat Sumerall was good as a play by play man.

08-23-04, 11:13 PM
coldfuse
Fred Dryer has had a long career as an actor. We all know him as Hunter. But to show his versatility, he has also played Hunter in made-for-TV movies. I think he stepped way over the artistic edge by playing a cop in something else once or twice.

08-23-04, 11:37 PM
MsSueM
This could turn into a long list, now that I think about it. Smile

I think Shaquille O'Neal has made rap albums. Cathy Rigby played Peter Pan onstage.
Merlin Olsen was on "Little House on the Prairie."
Did Rosey Grier act, too? Was that him in an old movie or TV-movie about a guy with two heads? Big Grin

Oh, and I can't forget my governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

08-24-04, 12:57 AM
DorianGreyed
The list of former athletes to turn to acting is endless. Quite a few Olympic athletes played Tarzan in movies, and Johnny Weissmuller may have had the most success in movies of all the former Name athletes, at least based on numbers and longevity. But noted American gymnast Cathy Rigby is the only one I can think of that was nominated for a major acting award. Cathy Rigby was nominated for Best Actress (on Broadway) for her performance as "Peter Pan" in 1991.
And, if you want to count body-building as a sport, former Mr. Universe competitor (third in the tall man's division, 1953) Sean Connery has had some success.

08-24-04, 01:26 AM
DorianGreyed
A few names and their sport
Kirk Douglas - college wrestler

Bruce Bennet ( ne'Herman Brix) - Silver Medal in the Shot Put, 1928 Olympics - Tarzan, other leading roles in the 40s

Muhammad Ali - Starred in two movies (Yes, Starred.)

Buster Crabbe - Bronze Medal 1928 Olympics 1500 meter free-style, Gold Medal 932 Olympic 400-meter free-style Swimmer - only actor who has played Tarzan, Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon, Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion" (1955) TV series

Jack Planace - boxed professionally

Robin Williams - wrestled in high school, played soccer in college

Victor McLaglen - Lightheavyweight boxer, fought heavyweight champion Jack Johnson to a no decision, won Best Actor Oscar for "The Informer", nominated for Best Supporting Oscar for "The Quiet Man"- Often played a Sgt. busted down to Cpl. in John Wayne cavalry movies.

Woody Strode - one of the first blacks to play pro in the NFL (Rams) after the color bar was broken in the 40s - Wrestled professionally - Best known as black gladiator who fought Kirk Douglas in "Spartacus." Noted for his heavily muscled (for the time) body

08-24-04, 09:21 AM
dogspit
Here is a corny ESPN 2 article on the
best acting performances by athletes
that I enjoyed --- > Athletactors

And, of course, I would be remiss in not
mentioning the ultimate job in switching
from athletics to acting. Kurt Thomas'
Oscar-worthy turn at acting in the critically
acclaimed epic picture Gymkata

08-24-04, 12:01 PM
FredPuli
Being an actor is a major part of the skills of some top soccer players on the field never mind about in films. Only a top man like the Brazilian, Rivaldo, could get hit on the hip by the ball and collapse writhing on the ground clutching his face.The purpose of this was to con the referee into thinking that his opponent had deliberately kicked the ball into his face (not merely lobbed it over to him politely on a stoppage, as was the case ) so the player would get dismissed from the game. Pros regularly fall dramatically to the ground, rolling about in feigned agony, for no valid reason; sometimes when they've not even been touched by the challenging opponent; in the hope that the ref. will think there's been a foul tackle . It's really quite an art form Big Grin.

08-24-04, 02:01 PM
juanruiz
Neither let us forget the superb thespian effort of Wilt the Stilt in "Conan the Unintelligible."

08-24-04, 03:10 PM
teeceeum
I'll never foget the image of Jim Brown in The Dirty Dozen as he sprinted down a row of ventilation shafts dropping in grenades as he went. And what about Danny Glover? He co-starred in one of the most popular movie series ever produced.

08-24-04, 09:27 PM
jusork
Don't forget the Micheal Jordan/Looney Toon movie Space Jam.

And soccer player Alexi Lalas I think it is is in a band.

08-24-04, 10:43 PM
juanruiz
Oh, I forgot, Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch in the film "Unchained Melody." The first movie in which that song appears.

08-25-04, 12:00 AM
MsSueM
dogspit - The Number 6 "Athletactor" is also the Number 1 "Criminathlete" on my list. Wink

~~~~~
Country singer Toby Keith played semi-pro football.

Bernie Williams of the New York Yankees Cool released a jazz-guitar album last year.

08-25-04, 07:43 PM
Jelp01
John Matuzsak had what I consider a role perfectly suited to him: Sloth in the "Goonies".

11-13-06, 09:59 PM
DorianGreyed
Michael Warren, nominated for an Emmy on "Hill Street Blues" - All-American basketball star at UCLA under the legendary John Wooden, and served as the team's captain for two years. His Bruins teammates would include Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar (then known as Lew Alcindor), Lynn Shackleford, and Lucius Allen. His strong leadership and prowess on the court as a guard helped propel UCLA to two NCAA national championships during the years 1966-1968.

The aforementioned Ed Marinaro, "Hill Street Blues" - All time Ivy Leading Rusher New Milford High School, Class of 1968 Cornell University, Class of 1972, 1971 Heisman Trophy finalist, inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1991, runner-up for the 1971 Heisman Trophy Award, losing to Pat Sullivan, a quarterback from Auburn. In his three seasons as Cornell's tailback (1969-70-71), Marinaro set an NCAA season record of 1881 yards and a season per-game average of 209.0, three time All-American, first player in college football history to gain over 4000 yards in a career (4,715) as well as set 16 other NCAA records. His career average of 174.6 is also an NCAA record. Prior to acting, Marinaro played in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings (4 seasons), New York Jets (1 Season) and the Seattle Seahawks (1 season).

Cathy Lee Crosby, TV Movie "Wonder Woman" - accomplished tennis player in her youth, she played Wimbledon twice and at one time was ranked #7 in singles and #4 in doubles in the United States.

Heavyweight Champion Joe Louis played himself in a WWII Army training movie, and (gasp!) a boxer in both "It Takes a Thief" and "Quincy, M.E.".

Heavyweight Buddy Bear madre several movies, and was the Giant in Abbot & Costello's "Jack and the Beanstalk".

His brother, Heavyweight Champion Max, played himself in a few movies, and had over 22 film/TV roles. (His son, Max Baer, Jr, was Jethro in "The Beverlty Hillbillies".

Canadian heavyweight George Chuvalo got his arm broken (in film) arm wrestling Jeff Goldblum in "The Fly". (Chuvalo wasn't a good boxer, but he was one of the toughest guys ever to fight. Joe Frazier broke his cheekbone, and George's eye was sagging almost out of its socket. The ref stopped the fight, and Chuvalo argued with him, almost hitting him. He was later quoted as saying that he didn't need two eyes to see somone in front of him. NOT the man you want to meet in a dark alley, and you with only a gun.)

Bob Seagren, Olympic Gold Medalist, 1968. (Pole vault) - recurring role on "Soap" and a doen or so movie/TV roles

Middleweight Champion Vito Antuofermo played Anthony 'The Ant' Squigliaro, Joey Zaza's bodyguard in "The Godfather, Part III", and has about 8 other roles to his credit.

André the Giant played Bigfoot in a "6 Million Dollar Man " episode, and also played Fezzik the Giant in "The Princess Bride". (What a stretch!)

Boxer Art Aragon had about a dozen movie roles..

There were several boxers in the movie "Fat City".

Billy Conn was one of Johnny Friendly's men in "On the Waterfront", as was Two Ton Tony Galento, a saloonkeeper who boxed a bit, and floored Joe Louis with a left hook. Tami Mauriello, who had Louis on the rope, hurt, in the first round of their title fight, but was shocked that he did, and couldn't follow up, was also one of Friendly's mob. Tiger Joe Marsh, a wrestler, was in the movie as well. He was better known as the first "Mr. Clean" on TV ads. Abe Simon, who also fought Louis, was in Waterfront as well.

Chuck Connors playedhe Dodgers and also layed in the NBA with the Celtics before he became "The Rifleman" on TV. Connors was also the first man to break a backboard during an NBA game.

Heavyweight boxer Oscar Bonavena was never off his feet until Ali knocked him down 3 times in the last round to win by a KO. He made 2 movies as Ringo Bonavena in his native Argentina.

Richard Boone boxed early in his acting career, as did Rory Calhoun.

William Christopher (Lt./Capt. Father Francis J. Mulcahy in MASH) boxed as an amateur.

Randall 'Tex' Cobb fought Larry Holmes for the title. He has about 30 acting credits. He may be best known for his role as a bad guy (the really dumb one) in Eddie Murphy's "The Golden Child".

Lou Costello was an amateur boxer. He and Bud Abbott are the only two non-sportsmen honored in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, USA, for their "Who's On First" routine. However, they are not members of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Tony Danza got paid to box, but I don't know why. Mickey /Rourke boxed professionally, too.

William Demarest (Uncle Charley O'Casey in "My Three Sons") boxed as a pro.

Stooge Larry Fine was also a boxer. Really.

Former heavyweight Champion George Foreman (one of the youngest to hold that title and also the oldest to hold that title) has several acting credits, as well as his own series, "George".

Jackie Gleason was a pro boxer, too.

Rocky Graziano ha several roles on TV and a few movie roles.

Bob Hope boxed under the name Packy Est.

Lightheavyweight Champion Archie Moore had several acting roles. He debuted as Jim in "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn".

Billy Joel was once a successful Long Island boxer, winning 22 out of 24 fights. He had taken boxing lessons because he was frequently beaten up by neighborhood bullies. He left his boxing career and went into music when his nose was broken in his 24th fight.

Comic actor Edgar Kennedy was a professional boxer, claiming to have gone 14 rounds against The Manassas Mauler, Jack Dempsey.

Kris Kristofferson boxed in the Golden Gloves.

The Fight Judge Mills Lane was a 2 time NCAA Welterweight Boxing Champion. Amateur record 60-4, and narrowly missed 1960 Olympic Team. He refereed over 100 title fights, was a court room judge in Nevada, and may be bestr known as TV's Judge Mills Lane, or for his, "Let's get it on" instructions to fighters after the ref's instructions. He has also done voice work in TV and video games.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed, 11-14-06 12:21 AM

11-14-06, 02:57 AM
FredPuli
The British boxer Bombardier Billy Wells was the man who wielded the hammer to hit the enormous 'gong' at the opening of every J Arthur Rank film.(The gong was a fake)

Someone had that as the million pound ($2 million) question on the 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire ?' quiz here. He answered correctly, to a million or so boxing fans at home yelling 'Far too easy ! A million pounds ???? Everyone knows that!' Big Grin

11-14-06, 04:44 AM
Colin, Paris, France

quote:
Can you give me names of athletes that have entered show business occupations -- acting, music, etc.?

Which athletes, if any, do you think have had real talent for those fields?

Also, which athletes do you think are good sports broadcasters?



There are dozens - hundreds - who've had a go at acting, singing, etc, and hundreds more who have moved on to sports commentary after retiring from their particular sport. Some have done it for years (with varying degrees of success ranging from the abysmal upwards).

In terms of a successful switch from a sporting career to music, consider Yannick Noah. Tennis Grand Slam winner, Ryder Cup player and captain, he is currently one of France's highest earning singing stars. He performs in French so won't be too well known outide the French-speaking world, but check out the Internet and you'll see what I mean.

As for the transition from playing sport to commentating on it, the list includes many people in the UK who don't quite make it as quality broadcasters in my opinion, but who have been recruited to the job because of their undoubted knowledge of the game they used to play. A glowing exception and a "natural" broadcaster is Peter Alliss, one of Britaian's best-ever golfers who won more than 20 tournaments as a professional and represented Britain (as the US's opponents then were in the event) umpteem times in the Ryder Cup matches. He's the BBC chief golf commentator now and used to (still does?) commentate also in the US. He's so good as an imparter of what's really happening out on the course. Ewen Murray (his opposite number on Sky Television in the UK) was was a good golfer though not in Alliss's class, but he's an equally skilful commentator.
As for cricket, examples of fine commentators are Richie Benaud, one of Australia's best Ashes captains before moving to the 'box', onathan Agnew (BBC radio) who played county cricket for long years and also a couple of times for England, Fred Trueman and Geoffrey Boycott. The next "tip for the top" is Nick Knight of Warwickshire and England - I said that first remember Smile

In the UK, there are so many illustrious ex-players also commentate on sport but less successfully. I'm talking about real ability as both sportsman AND broadcaster.

Oh, and I think John Virgo is a fine snooker commentator.

11-14-06, 08:37 AM
BobLaz
Used to like former NFL defensive end Fred Dryer in "Hunter"--a legitimate, good actor...

11-14-06, 01:08 PM
Colin, Paris, France
This could run and run. The wrestling star Tosh Togo played Oddjob in the Bond movie, then ressurected his wrestling career under his screen alter ego.

11-14-06, 01:25 PM
DorianGreyed
Toshiyuki Sakata was born on July 1, 1920 in Holualoa, Hawaii, of Japanese descent; when he moved to mainland America he began to go by the more Western name "Harold." He spent his early life training as a weightlifter and won a silver medal for United States at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, lifting a total of 380 Kg (836 lb) in the Light Heavyweight division. He also did a stint as a professional wrestler under the name Tosh Togo from the early 1950s until the early 1960s.

Bond producers Harry Saltzman and Albert Broccoli took notice of Sakata because his heavy build - he stood 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) and weighed 284 lb (129 kg) - coupled with his intimidating gaze made him the perfect choice for the part of Oddjob. He had no acting background at all, but the character was mute and required little theatrical skill.

As Oddjob, he was bodyguard to Bond villain Auric Goldfinger and his sharpened, steel-brimmed bowler hat became a famous and much-parodied trademark of the Bond series. He appeared in several other movies in similar roles and took on "Oddjob" as a middle name.

He also appeared in a series of TV commercials for cough syrup in the 1970's. The ad showed Sakata demolishing his house and frightening his family as the cough spasms grew worse and worse. The ad premise was, of course, that a spoonful of the stuff would quiet the worst of coughs.

Sakata died on July 29, 1982 in Honolulu, Hawaii, of cancer. - Wikiedia

11-15-06, 12:10 PM
VelvetVoice
Don't Quit Your Day Job
How about the women?

Esther Williams' youth was spent as a teenage swimming champion. She eventually was spotted by a MGM talent scout while working in a Los Angeles department store. She made 22 movies and countless TV appearances.

Sonja Henie was an Olympic ice skater, winning the gold medal three times. She made 12 films. He movie career would wind down during the mid 40's, but she would continue skating until she retired in 1960. An astute businesswoman, Sonja would be one of the ten wealthiest woman in the world when she died of leukemia in 1969.

Both of these are references from IMDB.com

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,