An abundance of stars in the professional sports world have decided to bring their talents to the big screen at one time or another. Some of these attempts are average; maybe, they've done a few cameos or played an obscure side role. Other athletes have been "one-and-done" when it came to acting, possibly because they couldn't excel much at it.
Nevertheless, a few athletes have exceeded expectations in their acting, and have gone on to make several films. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson because everyone already knows he's great, and he played a "competitive" sport in football for only a brief period after college.
Loved: Gina Carano
Many movie-goers first saw Gina Carano as an actress in Haywire. She was the lead actress in the 2011 film, working alongside Channing Tatum and Michael Fassbender to deliver the violent, pulse-pounding action/thriller. Carano went on to take roles in Deadpool and Fast & Furious 6.
Carano's professional record in muay thai was 12–1–1, and 7–1 in women's MMA, competing in the leagues, Strikeforce and EliteXC. She continues to play Cara Dune in The Mandalorian heading into Season 3.
Not So Much: Ray Allen
Without the slightest doubt, Ray Allen is one of the greatest 3-pt shooters to ever put on an NBA uniform. Nevertheless, his marksman-like precision didn't translate into his acting performances, having his most predominant roles in Spike Lee's He's Got Game, then Harvard Man.
Allen didn't do much acting after these two attempts, most likely because he looked so rigid and uncomfortable on the screen. Props to Allen for trying, but what if they put Charles Barkley alongside Denzel Washington instead, or Stephon Marbury?
Love: Randall "Tex" Cobb
Randall "Tex" Cobb was a heavyweight boxer who had a considerable career stretching from 1977–1993. He retired from professional boxing with a record of 42–7–1; notably fighting Larry Holmes for the WBC heavyweight title in 1982.
Cobb was obviously a formidable foe between the ropes. He is also the only athlete listed to have starred in a Coen Brothers film, in Raising Arizona. He also was cast in Uncommon Valor, Ace Ventura, and several other feature films.
Not So Much: Howie Long
Long took a swing at Hollywood following his NFL career, starring in the 1998 firefighter action/thriller Firestorm, which lost money at the box office. Long didn't get another leading role after that. When he co-starred alongside Tom Hanks in That Thing You Do!, his entire par was cut from the theatrical release.
Long is a much better broadcaster and analyst than he was a movie star. He may be one of the best broadcasters out of all of the former NFL players currently doing it.
Love: Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan has to be listed because of his classic performance in the Looney Tunes family/comedy, Space Jam. The 1996 movie is ranked in the Top 850 for cumulative domestic, international, and worldwide box office gross; it's a historical megahit.
Jordan didn't star in another theatrical film after that. Although, The Last Dance docu-series, centered around Jordan's career with the Chicago Bulls, was wildly successful in 2020.
Not So Much: Ronda Rousey
Ronda Rousey was once the most popular fighter in MMA, retiring from the UFC with a 12-2 record. Rousey, a feisty, high-strung public figure/influencer, has found a home in the acting world, taking roles in 9-1-1, Total Divas, and The Expendables 3.
One cannot help but think Rousey's frequent inclusion in TV and film stems more from her massive fan base rather than her talents as an actress, as she was much more entertaining in the octagon.
Love: Carl Weathers
Before acting, Carl Weathers was a linebacker for the Oakland Raiders in the early 70s. Although his NFL career didn't blast off from there, Weathers excelled at acting when he started playing extras in 1973 while still playing Canadian Football.
His first main was in the blaxploitation film, Bucktown. Weathers is another member of the current Mandalorian cast, and many remember him as Apollo Creed in the Rocky franchise.
Not So Much: Kyrie Irving
Although Uncle Drew garnered moderately favorable reviews, it's difficult to think that Irving will be starring in another movie anytime soon, unless of course, it's Uncle Drew 2. Uncle Drew is a good franchise that brings a lineup of NBA players to the big screen, and that's certainly what the fans want to see.
Nevertheless, Irving may not be great at taking up a different character, or a serious role, based on his many off-putting interactions with the media over his NBA career. Give Damian Lillard a film!
Love: Lebron James
It's tough to admit, but LeBron James exceeded expectations with his fairly integral role in the Judd Apatow directed Trainwreck. James also took a hand in voice-acting in the family/comedy Smallfoot. He will star in Space Jam: A New Legacy, which is set to release in 2021.
James is the best NBA player of the century, and it's unclear if any future player will be able to reach the heights this man has over his career. Nevertheless, he needs to improve his hosting skills in his HBO talk show The Shop.
Not So Much: O.J. Simpson
O.J. Simpson remains as this nasty, unignorable stain whenever watching the comedy classics of The Naked Gun franchise. Simpson is one of the most despised men in the U.S.A. However, his famous murder trial has led to an abundance of entertainment in all forms, making him one of the most talked-about figures in history.
His inclusion in the finale of Sacha Baron Cohen's Who Is America? is rather bleak and shocking. People are tired of seeing and hearing about him.