Who says jocks and theater types don't mix? With the eyes of the sports world fixed on Super Bowl 43, we at RT figured it would be a good time to look at the former pigskin standouts who've made their mark on the world of cinema. We've got a surprisingly diverse roster of pigskin stars that traded their helmets and shoulder pads for SAG cards. In filling out our starting lineup, we decided to stick to a game plan; thus, everyone below has at least several significant screen credits to their name, and we omitted cameos, no matter how memorable (sorry, Dan Marino in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective).
Lyle Alzado
You could probably field an entire squad of former Raiders who've gone on to have movie careers. The silver and black attack is known for cultivating outsized personalities and bad boy swagger, and Lyle Alzado certainly fit the bill. The Pro-Bowl defensive end was known as one of the NFL's most intimidating defenders; he brought his brawn and good humor to roles in Ernest Goes to Camp, Destroyer, and Tapeheads, as well as the sitcom Learning the Ropes. Alzado came clean about his extensive steroid use shortly before his death in 1992, making him one of the first sports stars to do so.
Bubba Smith
Two-time Pro-Bowler Bubba Smith had an outstanding career with the Colts (where he was part of the 1971 championship team), the Raiders, and the Oilers. Upon retiring, Smith has made a number of supporting appearances on television and starred in a series of memorable Miller Light commercials with numerous other ex-jocks. On the silver screen, though, Smith's most memorable role was Moses Hightower in the critically-derided but enduringly popular Police Academy movies. A florist before entering the academy, Hightower has the strength of a superhero, but is one of the most soft-spoken of the recruits.
|
tomwaitsjr writes: on Jan 28 2009 06:42 PM This seems to be in no discernible order. (Reply to this) |
|
JUDGE DREDD writes: on Jan 28 2009 07:07 PM SLY STALLONE in the film ESCAPE TO VICTORY, Where the americans called football "Soccer" and they call whats essentially "RUGBY" football. HUH!??? Whats with that? Oh well, great FOOTBALL film. (Reply to this) |
|
ARTaylor writes: on Jan 28 2009 07:19 PM The whole time I was reading this I was trying to think of an OJ joke. Until I found out you beat me to it. I wonder how different things would have been if he actually did get the role as the Terminator. (Reply to this) |
|
Vic V. writes: on Jan 28 2009 08:29 PM You forgot to add Brian Bosworth! Stone cold kicks the crap out of Ernest Goes to Camp. (Reply to this) |
|
Jen Yamato writes: on Jan 28 2009 09:47 PM The Boz is on the list, my friend. And his mullet. (Reply to this) |
|
Scottie R. writes: on Jan 28 2009 09:49 PM I made a RT account right now just to point out that you forgot Dan Marino. Ace Ventura is a classic amongst immature people who were 10 years old in 1994... (plus I'm a lifelong Dolphins fan...) (Reply to this) |
|
ARTaylor writes: on Jan 29 2009 12:05 AM In reply to this comment (#2289062) Scottie, Read the first paragraph. "thus, everyone below has at least several significant screen credits to their name, and we omitted cameos, no matter how memorable (sorry, Dan Marino in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective)." Now beam me up. (Reply to this) |
|
rucknrun writes: on Jan 29 2009 05:14 AM You missed a big one. Bernie Casey. I always remember him as the guy who directed the training in Spies like us. He beats up all the ninja in the beginning, he played in the NFL for 7 years and is in tons of movies. LAME!! (Reply to this) |
|
Scottie R. writes: on Jan 29 2009 06:13 AM In reply to this comment (#2289109) Oh, sorry, I didn't read the first paragraph. My eyes are only drawn to bold lettering and purdy pictures. It's a gift and a curse. (Reply to this) |
|
arendr writes: on Jan 29 2009 08:44 AM Glad you guys put Woody Strode on here! (Reply to this) |
|
Funkmaster Flex writes: on Jan 29 2009 10:29 AM In reply to this comment (#2289166) And Bernie Casey was even on an episode od SeaQuest! (Reply to this) |
|
rucknrun writes: on Jan 29 2009 11:18 AM I know he is everywhere!! (Reply to this) |
|
ColinTheCimmerian writes: on Jan 29 2009 01:40 PM Wow, there's a lot of them. Didn't expect to see Tommy Lee Jones on there. Carl Weathers is the man. (Reply to this) |
|
ck100 writes: on Jan 29 2009 08:57 PM You can possibly add former WCW pro wrestler Bill Goldberg. Goldberg had a decent career with the Atlanta Falcons before joining World Championship Wrestling as a wrestler. He is most noted in the acting world for starring in "Universal Soldier: The Return" with Jean-Claude Van Damme. (Reply to this) |
|
BILL M. writes: on Jan 29 2009 09:07 PM INTERESTING NOTES ABOUT JOHN WAYNE. I DOUBT EVEN THE BIGGEST FANS OF HIS MOVIES NEVER KNEW ABOUT HIS COLLEGE SPORTS CAREER OR THAT HE EVER EVEN ATTEMPTED SURFING. IT IS KIND OF HARD TO IMAGINE "BIG JAKE" HANGING TEN ON A WAVE. BUT THEN, HE WOULDN'T BE "BIG JAKE". HE'D BE "BIG KAHUNA". (Reply to this) |
|
BILL M. writes: on Jan 29 2009 09:27 PM THERE ARE MANY UNTOLD STORIES THAT WE'LL NEVER HEAR ON EXTRA,ACCESS HOLLYWOOD,& ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT. ONE OF THOSE IS THE ACTING AND ATHLETIC CAREER OF WOODY STRODE.HE SHOULD BE CELEBRATED ALONG WITH DENZEL,WILL SMITH,SAM JACKSON,& MANY OTHER OF TODAY'S WELL-KNOWN FIGURES. PRESENT & FUTURE GENERATIONS COULD LEARN MUCH FROM THIS MAN. (Reply to this) |
|
m2dad writes: on Jan 30 2009 08:08 AM It is puzzling that "Deliberate Stranger" was not mentioned as one of Mark Harmon's credits. He plays the role of Serial Killer Ted Bundy. If you haven't seen it, do so, and you will look at Mark Harmon in a whole new light. It was an amazing, and frighteninly real performance. (Reply to this) |
|
josuepilk writes: on Jan 30 2009 09:04 AM For the hell of it, you should have included Pele on this list. Who could forget his role alongside Sly Stallone and Michael Caine in Victory? (Reply to this) |
|
Binh Ngo writes: on Jan 30 2009 01:36 PM How about OJ? (Reply to this) |
|
Gay Moses writes: on Jan 31 2009 09:15 AM Dean Cain, but no Ward Bond. You know: the actor who has been in the most Academy Award Best Picture-Nominated movies in history. Whatever. This thread needs to be burned with whale oil. Tim Ryan and Jeff Giles: do us a favor and never post in the Off-Topic Forum. (Reply to this) |
| You must be registered to post comments. Login or Register. |











