Athletes Who Acted

Most famous role: "Police Academy" (1984) — After a Hall-of-Fame college football career, Smith spent nine years in the NFL, where he won a Super Bowl in 1971. Smith started acting regularly in 1978, with his most memorable role coming as Moses Hightower in six "Police Academy" films.

Most famous role: "Airplane!" (1980) — The all-time leading scorer in NBA history has also had a solid career in movies and TV. He appeared as himself in 1985's "Fletch" but Abdul-Jabbar played more sizable roles in "Slam Dunk Ernest" and, most notably, in the comedy classic "Airplane!"

Most famous role: "Space Jam" (1996) — The most popular and imposing athlete of his day, Jordan dominated the NBA before trying his hand at acting in 1996. His role as himself in the animated-live action comedy "Space Jam" still stands as Jordan's only movie role.

Most famous role: "The Naked Gun" (1988) — Before becoming one of America's most famous criminals, Simpson was arguably the country's most popular athlete. He was a Heisman Trophy winner and NFL Hall of Fame member, plus he had a solid 30-year acting career. Simpson's most famous role came as the hapless detective Nordberg in "The Naked Gun" film trilogy.

Most famous role: "X-Men: The Last Stand" (2006) — After a long career playing soccer in England's top league, Jones turned his tough-as-nails image on the pitch into a career playing tough guys in movies. He's been in nearly 100 films since 1998, including "Snatch," "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels," and as an unstoppable villain in "X-Men: The Last Stand."

Most famous role: "The Hangover" (2009) — After a boxing career that was as noted for controversy as it was for dominance, Tyson has turned into a bankable entertainer. After performances as himself in movies including "Rocky Balboa" and "The Hangover," Tyson has appeared in several TV shows, films and a one-man show on Broadway.

Most famous role: "He Got Game" (1998) — In addition to an 18-year NBA career that will likely land him in the Hall of Fame, Allen tried out acting for a brief period, appearing in two films from 1998 to 2001. His performance alongside Denzel Washington in Spike Lee's "He Got Game" shows he had real talent off the basketball court.

Most famous role: "The Running Man" (1987) — Brown, an NFL legend, has had a long acting career that includes performances in over 50 movies and TV shows since 1964. Hi performances in "The Dirty Dozen," "Any Given Sunday" and "The Running Man" stand out as some of his best work off the football field.

Most famous role: "Fast Break" (1979) — NBA Hall of Famer Bernard King took a break from his time playing with the New Jersey Nets to act in a 1979 movie with Gabe Kaplan. After his role in "Fast Break," King only acted once more, in a 1986 episode of "Miami Vice."

Most famous role: "Any Given Sunday" (1999) — In addition to being one of the greatest players in NFL history, Taylor was also one of its biggest iconoclasts. He has appeared as himself in movies including "The Waterboy" and "When in Rome," but he's also played legitimate acting roles in movies including "Any Given Sunday" and 2000's "Shaft."

Most famous role: "Kazaam" (1996) — One of the greatest and most beloved NBA players in history, Shaq also has appeared in his fair share of movies. After performances in "Blue Chips" and "Kazaam," Shaq appeared as himself in "Good Burger," "Scary Movie 4" and TV's "Curb Your Enthusiasm."

Most famous role: "Double Team" (1997) — This NBA Hall of Fame member was undoubtedly one of the most controversial professional athletes of recent memory. He co-starred in 1997's "Double Team" and later competed in Donald Trump's reality TV series "The Apprentice."

Most famous role: "The Naked Gun" (1988) — Jackson was one of the most beloved and controversial players in MLB history, depending on whom you ask. He followed a Hall-of-Fame baseball career with appearances in several movies and TV shows. His best roles came in comedies "The Naked Gun" and "BASEketball."

Most famous role: "The Longest Yard" (2005) — Irvin, an NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver, was one of the most flamboyant players in league history. He naturally followed up his playing career with an acting stint that included parts in Adam Sandler's "The Longest Yard" remake and in the TV series "Burn Notice."

Most famous role: "Broken Arrow" (1996) — This NFL Hall of Fame spent a dozen seasons with the Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders, where he won a Super Bowl. After playing, he became a commentator, product spokesperson and he also acted in a few movies. His biggest roles came in "Broken Arrow" and "3000 Miles to Graceland."

Most famous role: "Failure to Launch" (2006) — An NFL Hall of Fame member, Bradshaw's stellar playing career has been matched by a long stint as an NFL commentator on television. He's also done some acting along the way, most notably as Matthew McConaughey's father in the comedy film "Failure to Launch."

Most famous role: "My Giant" (1998) — Standing at 7-feet-7-inches tall, Muresan was one of the tallest players in NBA history, spending six seasons in the league. During his playing career, he co-starred in the 1998 comedy "My Giant," with Billy Crystal. He later appeared in an Eminem music video.

Most famous role: "Major League" (1987) — With a baseball career that spanned three seasons as an MLB player and more than 45 years as an announcer, Uecker is arguably best known as the drunken announcer Harry Doyle in the "Major League" movies. But Uecker wasn't a one-trick actor, he also co-starred in TV's "Mr. Belvedere" for six seasons.

Most famous role: "From Dusk till Dawn" (1996) — Williamson spent seven years in the AFL, being named an all-star three times and winning a championship with the Kansas City Chiefs in 1966. He became an actor in 1970, with an appearance in the movie "M.A.S.H." He later appeared in "From Dusk till Dawn" and 2004's "Starsky and Hutch."

Most famous role: "Blazing Saddles" (1974) — Karras is one of the few athletes-turned-actors who was very successful at both. Karras followed a Hall-of-Fame college football career into a long stint in the NFL, where he was named to four Pro Bowls. He then acted in movies like "Blazing Saddles" and for six seasons on TV's "Webster."

Most famous role: "Deadpool" (2016) — This former MMA fighter turned her popularity, good looks and intimidating physique into a movie career. She went 12-1-1 as a professional kickboxer and 7-1-1 in mixed martial arts before acting in 2011's "Haywire." Carano has since appeared in big-budget blockbusters "Fast & Furious 6" and "Deadpool."

Most famous role: "Trainwreck" (2015) — One of the NBA's biggest stars, James has appeared in several movies as himself and has entertained audiences as host of the Espy Awards. James will act in the upcoming "Space Jam 2," following in the footsteps of his idol Michael Jordan.

Most famous role: "Furious 7" (2015) — Rousey is just starting her acting career, while continuing a record-breaking fighting career in the UFC. Since 2014, Rousey has co-starred in major movies like "The Expendables 3," "Furious 7" and "Entourage."

Most famous role: "Conan the Destroyer" (1984) — Chamberlain was one of the greatest players in NBA history but his acting career was much less storied. He only appeared in one movie, 1984's "Conan the Destroyer" with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Most famous role: "For Your Eyes Only" (1981) — Johnson was a serious figure skater in the 1970s, winning a silver medal at the 1974 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, at the novice level. Her first acting role came as a figure skater in 1978's "Ice Castles." After that, she appeared in the James Bond movie "For Your Eyes Only" and in episodes of "CHiPs" and "MacGyver" on the small screen.

Most famous role: "He Got Game" (1998) — After a stellar NBA career, most notably with the Los Angeles Lakers, Fox turned his leading-man looks into an acting career. Fox has acted in several TV shows including HBO's "Oz" and in a handful of popular movies including "He Got Game," "Holes" and "Dope."

Most famous role: "The Transporter" (2002) — Statham is one of the rare notable ex-athletes to become legitimate movie stars. As a young man, he was a member of Britain's National Diving Squad, competing for his native England at the Commonwealth Games. Since leaving the pool, Statham has become one of Hollywood's go-to action stars, leading movies like "The Transporter," "The Expendables" and "Snatch."

Most famous role: "Stone Cold" (1991) — One of the most controversial athletes of his day, Bosworth followed a Hall-of-Fame college football career with a notoriously short NFL stint. After leaving football, Bosworth starred in the action movie "Stone Cold." He would later appear in more popular movies like "Three Kings" and 2005's "The Longest Yard."

Most famous role: "Rocky" (1976) — Weathers is most well known as an actor but before he hit the big screen, he played professional football for four years in the NFL and Canadian Football League. He played eight games in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders. Weathers has been a steadily working actor since the 1970s, with sizable parts in "Rocky," "Predator," "Happy Gilmore" and TV's "Arrested Development."

Most famous role: "The Chamber" (1996) — One of the greatest all-around athletes of all time, Jackson played in both the NFL and MLB after a Hall-of-Fame college football career at Auburn. Jackson acted in TV shows like "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and "Married...with Children" before having a non-cameo role in the 1996 drama "The Chamber."