5 NFL Football Players Who Became Successful Actors
Just in time for the start of the NFL season
(by AM Staff)
NFL football has produced many successful businessmen, politicians, educators and, yes, actors. In honor of the start of the new NFL season, we give you our list of the top 5 professional football players-turned-actors.
#5: Bubba Smith
The late Bubba Smith (February 28, 1945 – August 3, 2011) was drafted in the first round in 1967 by the Baltimore Colts. In his nine-year career, Smith also played for the Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers and made two trips to the Pro Bowl.
Smith’s acting career included a role as the gentle giant, Office Moses Hightower, in the Police Academy film series of the 1980’s, as well as a memorable role as “Spare Tire” Dixon on Fox’s Married with Children.
#4: Carl Weathers
Carl Weathers signed-on as an undrafted free agent for the Oakland Raiders in 1970. He would appear in seven games as a linebacker before being released and finishing his football career in the Canadian Football League.
Weathers’ most memorable role came when he played Apollo Creed in the Rocky film series of the 1980s. He also appeared in movies like Predator, alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Action Jackson (1988).
#3: Alex Karras
(Alex Karras [right] with the cast of Webster)
Alexander George Karras (July 15, 1935 – October 10, 2012) had quite a career on the gridiron. This nine-time Pro Bowler for the Detroit Lions was inducted into both the College Football Hall of fame, as well as, the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Karras broke into acting by playing himself in the film version of the book, Paper Lion. From there, Karras made appearances on television shows like M*A*S*H and in films like Porky’s (1981), before landing his signature role of George Papadopoulos, the title character’s adoptive father, on the ABC television show, Webster.
#2: Terry Crews
Football player and actor, Terry Crews, was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the 11th round of the 1991 draft. He played defensive end and linebacker for the Rams, San Diego Chargers and Washington Redskins before establishing himself as a major player in Hollywood.
Crews’ breakout role came as “Damon Pearly” in Friday After Next, starring rapper-turned-actor, Ice Cube. His career took off from there, with notable roles in television shows like Everybody Hates Chris, Are We There Yet? and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
#1: Jim Brown
Jim Brown is considered by many to be the greatest running back to ever play in the National Football League. He was drafted with the 6th overall pick by the Cleveland Browns in 1957. Brown lead the NFL in rushing in eight of his nine seasons and was enshrined into the Hall of Fame in 1971.
Brown cut his illustrious career short when he was bit by the acting bug. Brown’s acting career soared in the 1960’s and 1970’s, during Hollywood’s Blaxploitation era, with leading-man roles in movies like Riot (1969), …tick…tick…tick (1969), Slaughter (1972), and Three the Hard Way (1974).
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