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Dwayne Johnson better known as The Rock has brought smiles to millions through his wrestling and acting careers.Now, he’s bringing smiles to wish kids as part of the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s National Advisory Council.
Dwayne Douglas Johnson was born in Hayward, Calif. to Rocky Johnson and Ata Johnson on May 2, 1972. While growing up, Dwayne traveled a lot with his parents and watched his father perform in the wresting ring. During his high school years, Dwayne began playing football and received a full scholarship from the University of Miami, where he had tremendous success as a football player. During his senior season in 1995, Dwayne suffered a back injury that cost him an opportunity to play in the NFL. He then signed a three-year deal with the Canadian Football League but left after a year to pursue a career in wrestling.
Dwayne made his wrestling debut in the United States Wrestling Assiciation under the name Flex Kavanah, and he won the tag team championship with Bret Sawyer. In 1996, Dwayne joined World Wrestling Entertainment and became Rocky Maivia. He joined a group known as The Nation of Domination. Rocky eventually took over leadership of the Nation and began taking the persona of The Rock. After the Nation split, The Rock joined another elite group of wrestlers known as the Corporation and began a memorable feud with Stone Cold Steve Austin. Soon The Rock was kicked out of the Corporation.He turned face and became known as "The People’s Champion."
In 2000, The Rock took time off from WWE to film The Mummy Returns. He returned to wrestling in 2001 during the World Championship Wrestling/Extreme Championship Wrestling invasion and joined a team of WWE wrestlers in The Scorpion King, a prequel to The Mummy Returns. His most recent feature film, Gridiron Gang, opened No. 1 at the box office in September.
In addition to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Dwayne and his wife support children through The Dwayne Johnson Rock Foundation, which brightens the lives of hospitalized children by giving them gifts they can enjoy while receiving medical treatment.
Dwayne is married to Dany (Garcia) Johnson, and they have a daughter named Simone Alexandra, born in 2001. | 