While many of his teammates and fellow baseball players will be crowding your television screen vying for at least a half-inning of playing time during Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game tonight, New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez has his sights set on something bigger: Hollywood. Variety reports that Rodriguez has signed on to make his film debut in Friends With Benefits, starring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis. Directed by Will Gluck, the film focuses on “two friends as they come out of disastrous relationships.” Rodriguez is in good company; the film also stars Woody Harrelson, Patricia Clarkson, Emma Stone, and Andy Samberg.
Rodriguez has always come off as hungry for the spotlight, whether it was his shirtless sunbathing in Central Park or last year’s public relationship with Kate Hudson. As a Yankee fan, I was pleased to finally see him win a championship last fall, but cringe at the thought of more potential gossip column fodder. Plus, how will this affect the baseball season? According to Variety, “Screen gems will work around Rodriguez’s busy Yankees schedule by shooting his scenes on the players’ off days.” Last time I checked baseball players didn’t get many off days.
This will not be the first time a professional athlete tries his luck at acting. Boston Celtics’ Ray Allen starred in Spike Lee’s 1998 film He Got Game, giving what EW’s Owen Gleiberman described as “an unusually vivid acting debut for a professional athlete.” Who can forget Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as pilot Roger Murdock in Airplane!? Or Shaquille O’Neal in Kazaam?! Which athlete (if any) has made the most successful foray into acting?
If this movie thing doesn’t work out, there’s always the opportunity for making cameos on popular TV shows. Peyton Manning has gained a whole new fan base thanks to high-profile commercials for MasterCard and DirecTV. The Super Bowl champ has also hosted Saturday Night Live, just like Rodriguez’s teammate Derek Jeter (who’s got an upcoming cameo in The Other Guys). Kobe Bryant made Phil Dunphy nervous on Modern Family, and the list goes on…If the Lebron James story has taught us anything, it’s that the line between sports and entertainment is becoming increasingly blurred (L.A. Lakers’ Ron Artest already has an Oscar speech ready for goodness sakes!). Athletes are really just entertainers with bigger…shoes.
What do you think A-Rod’s chances are at film stardom? Do you think any of Rodriguez’s former/current flings — Madonna, Kate Hudson, Cameron Diaz — gave him some acting lessons?
Talking of The Other Guys, one of the people in it is an athlete turned actor. Dwayne “Artist Formerly Known As The Rock” Johnson has done quite well for himself.
Really, no mention of OJ Simpson?
After I posted that I thought of OJ. Was he ever a leading man though? Also Jim Brown deserves a mention.
I agree. I’ve always kind of had a soft spot of The Rock’s movies.
That’s who I first thought of. Well, him and the next guy.
Peyton Manning was terrific on Saturday Night Live. I’m a huge Colts fan, but he would still be the best, because he has real comic timing. Brett Favre was pretty good in There’s Something About Mary, if I remember correctly.
Definitely. The Rock is the first one who popped into my mind. The guy is legitimately talented.
I agree – Dwayne Johnson for sure.
The Rock’s movies are my guilty pleasure.
+1, The Rock!
If you consider professional skateboarding a sport, then Jason Lee.
Since I don’t, I’ll go with Carl “Baby, you’ve got yourself a stew” Weathers.
“Now, are you going to be an actor, or are you going to be a doctor?”
“Let me tell you a little story about acting. I was doing this Showtime movie, Hot Ice with Anne Archer, never once touched my per diem. I’d go to Craft Service, get some raw veggies, bacon, Cup-A-Soup… baby, I got a stew going”
Ya gotta go with Chuck Conners,
hands down.
Chuck Conners was my first thought.
I always enjoyed Fred Dryer on Hunter. Whatever happened to him?
I always enjoy Jim Brown, he plays basically the same role over and over again, but he’s pretty good at it.
Serena Williams on Avatar…heh heh, kidding. Um, are there ANY good athletes-turned-actors? They make for the worst kind and take away parts from the more talented nobodies. So wrong and unfair. Though while we’re at it, how come David Beckham never got a role?
That being said, Shaq in Kazaam? LOL
Yes, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is a good athlete-turned-actor. People may not like the kiddie fare he has leaned towards, but he is funny and always enjoyable.
He’s done some good things that weren’t kid-friendly too, like “The Rundown”. The man can be damned funny.
David Beckham has said repeatedly he has no interest in doing films. And also, have you heard his voice? He sounds like British Mickey Mouse.
Yeah, I can barely stand to listen to him in interviews – sure wouldn’t want to sit through a whole movie of that voice.
How about Terry Crews? He was a professional football player for a bit, and now, after popping up in a bunch of good films and having stolen some scenes, he’s starred on “Everybody Loves Chris” for several years and just recently launched the “Are We There Yet?” series.
Uh…..Terry Bradshaw?
Ummm…NOT a good actor!!!!
go make your balls shrink with steriods you stupid yankee
UGH! Get over it!
Vinnie effin’ Jones!!
Thank you! I love him. He is awesome in Snatch.
Abso-fing-lutely!
Yes I think Dwayne Johnson has had the best career out of any athlete turned actor
Not just yet. He’s got a ways to go before beating Jim Brown.
Arnold Schwarzenegger- no one can beat his career. Oh, and not as well known (anymore) but how about the original tarzan- Johnny Weissmuller
A guy by the name of Marion Morrison played football for USC in 1927. He went on to have a pretty good acting career under another name–John Wayne.
Isaiah Mustafa the guy from the old spice commercials signed with the Seattle Seahawks.
Also, what about Bob Uker?
O.J.?
Bob Uecker (former MBL player)
Rick Fox (former NBA player)
Alex Karras (former NFL player)
Ed Marinaro (former NFL player)
Merlin Olsen (former NFL player)
Vinnie Jones (former English footballer)
Carl Weathers (former NFL player)
Fred Williamson (former NFL player)
Joe Namath (former NFL player)
Andre the Giant (wrestler)
Hulk Hogan (wrestler)
Jesse Ventura (wrestler)
Oh, and the NBA’s Ray Allen (Spike Lee’s “He Got Game”)
You forgot Arnold Schwarzenegger… The most successful athlete turned actor for sure, but I don’t know if he’s the most talented. Still, I had to give him a nod.
My first thought as Alex Karras. Ed marinaro was great on Hill St Blues
Never make a list Brett, b/c people will keep commenting on who you forgot. Such as Gary Stevens (jockey) who played George Woolfe in Seabiscuit.
Howie Long was super great in those Radio Shack commercials
Don’t forget “Broken Arrow” with John Travolta & Christian Slater.