Athletes Who Found Success in Hollywood

As children, we're often asked what we dream of being when we grow up. Many of us dream of being a doctor, a veterinarian, an author, or a teacher, and have people we aspire to be like. Others fantasize about being a movie star or a sports star, professions that allow someone to achieve both success in their field and win the adoration of fans worldwide.

Some have managed to achieve several of these dreams, and after making it big as a professional athlete, transitioned to the world of Hollywood. Most athletes understand that a sports career isn't something they can do until retirement age, and many look to a different career. They may have reached the pinnacle of their careers and are looking to the next chapter, perhaps retiring after injuries, and hope to try their luck on the big screen.

To compile a list of athletes who found success in Hollywood, 24/7 Tempo consulted a section on the subject on IMDb, an online movie and TV database owned by Amazon. Included on this list are several famous basketball and football players – and an infamous one. In some cases, the athletes have portrayed themselves on screen. In others, they've had brief cameos. Then there are those sports figures listed who have shifted to successful acting careers. (Several musicians have tried acting too. Here are 25 pop music stars who've played dramatic roles in movies.)

Here are famous athletes who have appeared in movies:

• Sports career: Shooting guard and small forward for the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards
• Memorable movie role(s): Himself in "Space Jam"

• Sports career: American wrestler and former judoka and mixed martial artist
• Memorable movie role(s): Kara in "Fast & Furious 7"

• Sports career: Quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers
• Memorable movie role(s): Al in "Failure to Launch"

• Sports career: Linebacker for the Oakland Raiders
• Memorable movie role(s): Al Dillon in "Predator;" Apollo Creed in the "Rocky" franchise; Jericho "Action" Jackson in "Action Jackson"

• Sports career: Right wing for the Vancouver Canucks and the NHL Boston Bruins
• Memorable movie role(s): Sea Bass in "Dumb and Dumber;" "Me, Myself & Irene;" and "Dumb and Dumber To"

Nicknamed "Bam-Bam," Cam Neely is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and executive. He played right wing for the Vancouver Canucks and the NHL Boston Bruins.

• Sports career: NFL defensive end for the Oakland Raiders, Houston Oilers, and the Kansas City Chiefs
• Memorable movie role(s): Lotney "Sloth" Fratelli in "The Goonies"

• Sports career: Center for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers
• Memorable movie role(s): Roger Murdock in "Airplane!"

• Sports career: Shooting guard, small forward, power forward and point guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Miami Heat, and (currently) the Los Angeles Lakers
• Memorable movie role(s): Himself in "Space Jam: A New Legacy;" himself in "Trainwreck"

• Sports career: Former fullback for the Cleveland Browns
• Memorable movie role(s): Robert T. Jefferson in "The Dirty Dozen;" "Dreems" in "Fingers;" "Fireball" in "The Running Man"

• Sports career: Catcher for the Milwaukee Braves/Atlanta Braves, the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Philadelphia Phillies
• Memorable movie role(s): Harry Doyle in "Major League"

• Sports career: Shooting guard for the Milwaukee Bucks, the Seattle SuperSonics, the Boston Celtics, and the Miami Heat
• Memorable movie role(s): Jesus Shuttlesworth in "He Got Game"

• Sports career: Center for Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics
• Memorable movie role(s): John Henry Irons ("Steel") in "Steel;" Kazaam in "Kazaam"

• Sports career: American professional figure skater and one-time star of the Ice Capades
• Memorable movie role(s): Alexis "Lexie" Winston in "Ice Castles;" Bibi Dahl in "For Your Eyes Only"

• Sports career: Center for the Washington Bullets/Wizards and the New Jersey Nets
• Memorable movie role(s): My Giant

• Sports career: Linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks
• Memorable movie role(s): Detective Joe Huff / John Stone in "Stone Cold"

• Sports career: Small forward for the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics
• Memorable movie role(s): Chick Deagan in "He Got Game;" Clyde "Sweet Feet" Livingston in "Holes"

• Sports career: Heavyweight boxer
• Memorable movie role(s): Himself in "The Hangover"

• Sports career: Center for the Harlem Globetrotters and the Philadelphia Warriors/San Francisco Warriors, the 76ers, and the Los Angeles Lakers
• Memorable movie role(s): Bombaata in "Conan the Destroyer"

• Sports career: American mixed martial artist turned fitness model
• Memorable movie role(s): Angel Dust in "Deadpool"

• Sports career: Defensive midfielder for Wimbledon, Leeds United, Sheffield United, Chelsea, and Queens Park Rangers
• Memorable movie role(s): Big Chris in "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels;" Bullet Tooth Tony in "Snatch"

• Sports career: Quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, and Minnesota Vikings
• Memorable movie role(s): Himself in "There's Something About Mary"

• Sports career: Defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions
• Memorable movie role(s): Mongo in "Blazing Saddles;" "Squash" Bernstein in "Victor/Victoria"

• Sports career: Running back with the Buffalo Bills and the San Francisco 49ers
• Memorable movie role(s): Detective Nordberg in all three installments of "The Naked Gun" (he was later charged with the murder of his wife – he was acquitted; he went to prison for armed robbery and kidnapping.)

• Sports career: New York Giants outside linebacker
• Memorable movie role(s): Luther "Shark" Lavay in "Any Given Sunday"

• Sports career: Defensive end for the Baltimore Colts, the Oakland Raiders, and the Houston Oilers
• Memorable movie role(s): Cadet Moses Hightower in the "Police Academy" franchise