Laffer: Best Athletes turned Actors

Seriously, this link in a NY Daily News sidebar:

Leads to this pictorial: ACT-letes: Sports stars who've hit the big screen

Obviously, lies in advertising. Cause the ones mentioned in the teaser are the best examples of the worst outcomes. Though OJ was an outright thespian compared to Shaq. And at least Andre had a background in 'acting' as a Pro Rassler.

Footy reference: Vinnie Jones, # 28. I recognize him from the pic and remember he was believable in his roles.
So who was GOOD?!!
I know Merlin Olsen is on the list and so is Ed Marinaro. Marinaro was excellent in Hill Street Blues. His 'retirement' from acting had nothing to do with acting range and skills, had everything to do with he was a troublesome egotistical shithead.
Jim Brown was fair.. sorta like Arnold and the Rock. But Arnold's best movie was True Lies. Therein tells the tale. None of 'em's a Vin Diesel, more like Steven Seagal.

Not on the list is Mark Harmon, star of NCIS. For good reason. Excelling in Collich Football as UCLA QBack was good for him but he decided to get on with his life. Apparently people below a certain age never think of him as a 'former athlete

 

Who was the guy that played for UCLA under John Wooden and went to star in Hill Street Blues?

 

Mike Warren.. he was very good actor, also. In fact, IIRC, his character, Bobby Hill, was partnered with Marinaro's.

 

Thanks fog -- you're right, their characters were patrol partners

 

- it's what I do :wink:

 

Brian Bosworth - "Stone Cold"

 

Alla which preceding, shows how pointless the photogallery thing was..

I was trying to hi-lite the successes, then Nevzter weighed in. And john Wayne?!!! Couldnt get much more conflicted than about his 'acting'. Only became cool when playing John Wayne was cool.

BTW: Why is so much hate foisted on Ben Affleck? At least he TRIED to vary his roles.
To those who insist he didnt have the chops for it, one word: 'Ishtar'

 

Too bad for the Boz there were no steriods to make him a better actor (and I use that term loosely).

How about Katarina Witt? She had me at hello in Jerry McGuire, of course I think "hello" was her only line, but hell if it didn't sound believable 8)

 

You really have to use the term "actor" loosely for some of these guys, don't you? I mean, Lawrence Taylor playing a crazy drugged-up football player isn't really acting, is it?

 

How could they forget Cam Neely?

 

Don, since you mentioned him, Ronnie was a fair athlete and played college football and started at guard for 2.5 seasons at Eureka College in IL.

Also, Kurt Russell played double A baseball for the Angels organization.