Dwayne Johnson turns 53: his frustrated dream of being spy, the origin of “La Roca”, his passage through American football, politics and business

On May 2, 1972, Dwayne Johnson was born, in Hayward, Californiawithout anyone imagining that this child, raised in a family of Samoan fighters and marked by adolescence with fights and bad notes, would become one of the most recognized and versatile actors in Hollywood.

To the 53 yearsJohnson is an actor, exluchador, entrepreneur, influential figure in sport and show.

Long before lifting champion belts in the WweI had a different dream. In his university years, he set out to work as a federal agent. “Curious fact: at university, my goal was to work for the CIA, eventually”, He wrote on an Instagram post.

The dream, however, collided with academic reality. According to Johnson himself Rolling Stone, Your criminology professor, Paul Cromwellhe recommended studying the right to access high positions in the INC or the FBI. But that idea was quickly discarded.

“I thought it was a great idea, until I realized that no respectable laws would accept me with my low grades. End of the story”, He wrote on Instagram in 2018

According to Rolling Stonethe young Dwayne got a Complete scholarship as a American football player for the Miami University,

During its first year, the team was undefeated national championbut he spent most of the time in the substitute bank.

In the interview with the media he recalled that stage with brutal sincerity: “He was an 18 -year -old beginner. I didn’t play, so we got drunk every night. They were crazy times. Miami Crazy”

After graduating, he was hired by the Calgary Stampedersof the Canadian League (CFL), but was fired at two months.

No place in professional football, Johnson was at a dead point. So, he did the same as so many members of his family: He returned to the ring.

In 1997, he debuted as Rocky Maiviaa combination of his father’s names, Rocky Johnsonand his maternal grandfather, Peter Maiviaboth fighters.

“I hated that name when Vince McMahon offered me. I accepted it because I respected my lineage, but I wanted to have my own space,” Johnson said in an interview with Wired.

That space came when he left the “good” character and became a villain.

“When I returned from an injury in 1997, I became a villain and joined The Nation of Domination. I left Rocky Maivia and I started referring to myself like The Rock“(” La Roca “), he explained to Wired.

The idea of ​​the final name, he said, came from Pat Pattersona key figure in your life: “What if we call you The Rock?“He said. And so it was.”That simple name change transformed me from a promise to a global entertainment icon”He said.

Johnson made the leap to the cinema with The Mummy Returns like him King Scorpiobut at first I doubted how to introduce himself: “I felt that if I wanted a real race in Hollywood, I had to use my name, Dwayne Johnsonbut I knew I was going to take time, ”he said in an interview with Digital Spy.

“I didn’t want to impose that now they called me Dwayne. Sand someone wanted to call me the rock, who did. There are no rules. The important thing was that if it failed, at least I did it in my way, ”he added.

According to The Guardian, in 2021, a survey to 30,000 Americans He revealed that he 46% He would support an eventual presidential candidacy of Johnson. That figure activated several political parties.

“At the end of the year, I received visits from the matches. They asked me if I planned to postulate, if I could do it. It was very surreal. It was never my goal to enter politics. There are many things that I hate politics”Johnson confessed in the podcast of Trevor Noah, “What now”

In 2016, I had already told GQ that the idea of ​​being governor or president was “seductive”And in 2017 he declared Variety that a campaign in 2024 was a “realistic consideration“

However, in 2023 it seemed to step back. “Being dad is the most important for me, especially in this critical moment in the life of my daughters”, He declared in an interview with CBS Mornings

According to CBS News, Beyond cinema and wrestling, Johnson consolidated a business emporium. He owns the Seven Bucks Productions producerthe brand of Teremana Tequilathe energy drink Zoa Energythe clothing line PROJECT ROCK and the United Football League

In January 2024, Johnson achieved something symbolically powerful: he signed an agreement with the Wwe that gives him Legal rights on the name “The Rock” And it includes it in the directory of the parent company Tko Groupthat also controls the UFC. “I owe everything to that name. Without him there would be no wrestling career, no career in Hollywood”Johnson said CNBC