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LeBron James -

NBA superstar LeBron James has taken on a few small acting roles over the years, but his starring role in the 2021 'Space Jam' reboot was a major score for the basketball player. 'Space Jam: A New Legacy' saw James take on a similar role to that of Michael Jordan in the original. He gets trapped in digital space and teams up with Bugs Bunny and the rest of the Looney Tunes to take on the villains in a high-stakes basketball game. James delivered a far better performance than his predecessor! 

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John Cena -

The famous wrestler has starred in numerous movies and TV shows over the years.

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Jean-Claude Van Damme - The "Muscles from Brussels" is a former karate champion. JCVD went on to become one of the biggest action stars of the '80s and '90s.

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Arnold Schwarzenegger -

This former bodybuilding champion needs no introduction. He won numerous titles in the sport and went on to become an accomplished actor (and later, a politician). 

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Michael Jordan -

Who can forget the great Michael Jordan in 'Space Jam' (1996)?

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Dolph Lundgren -

The Swedish actor might have become famous for playing the Soviet boxer Ivan Drago in 'Rocky IV' (1985), but he is a former Kyokushin karate European champion (1980–81).

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Carl Weathers -

Another 'Rocky' franchise alumnus, you probably remember him best as Apollo Creed, but his background is actually not in boxing. Carl Weathers was in fact a linebacker. 

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Chuck Norris -

Before he became the action star we all came to know and love, Norris was a karate champion. He won the Professional Middleweight Karate champion title in 1968 and held it for six years. 

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Jason Lee -

Before becoming an actor, the 'My Name is Earl' star was a professional skateboarder.

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Bruce Lee -

Lee Jun-fan, commonly known as Bruce Lee, started acting at a young age, though he became a martial artist before pursuing a career in Hollywood. Lee opened his own martial arts school and called it the Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute.

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Shaquille O'Neal -

Not only is Shaq a former NBA star, but he's also a successful actor. He started his acting career in 1994 with 'Blue Chips' and hasn't stopped since then.

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Jason Statham -

The British tough guy and star of 'Transporter,' among other action movies, was actually a professional diver! He even competed for England at the 1990 Commonwealth Games.

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Terry Crews -

You probably remember him from numerous movies and TV show such as 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine,' but Crews used to be a NFL player. 

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Vinnie Jones -

Talking about British bad boys, before Jones became one on the big screen, he practiced it extensively on the pitch. No wonder he's so believable!

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Lou Ferrigno -

You can catch a glimpse of Ferrigno's bodybuilding career in the 1977 documentary 'Pumping Iron.' Shortly after, he became known for his role in 'The Incredible Hulk' (1977-1982). 

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Ed O’Neill -

The 'Modern Family' actor used to be a football player. He managed to combine both passions in the 1994 movie 'Little Giants.'

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar -

You probably remember the legendary NBA player in the comedy 'Airplane!' (1980). 

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Jason Segel -

You might think the 'How I Met Your Mother' star is tall enough to be a basketball player, and you're absolutely right. He was indeed one in high school. 

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André the Giant -

The Frenchman started his career as a professional wrestler and became famous as both an athlete and as an actor.

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Ronald Reagan -

Arnold is not the only athlete-turned-actor-turned-politician in this list. Former actor and US president Ronald Reagan did the same. He used to be a football player. 

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Dean Cain -

You might remember him for playing 'Superman' on the TV show 'Lois & Clark,' but before he became an actor, Cain was a football player.   

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Mark Harmon -

Not only is Mark Harmon a former football quarterback, his father was also a famous football player—Tom Harmon. Though you probably know Mark best from shows such as 'NCIS.'

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Joel McHale -

The actor started his career as a football player at University of Washington, though reportedly not a very good one. He probably made the right decision in becoming an actor instead.

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Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson - "The Rock" first started as a football player and then found huge success as a professional wrestler. All this before becoming the famous Hollywood star he is today.

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Burt Reynolds -

The former Florida State University football player went on to become a famous actor, starring in movies such as 'Smokey and the Bandit' (1977) and 'Boogie Nights' (1997).

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Dave Bautista -

Before starring in the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' franchise, among others, Bautista was a very successful wrestler.

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Bubba Smith -

Before becoming Hightower in the 'Police Academy' franchise, Bubba Smith played nine seasons in the NFL. 

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Lawrence “L.T.” Taylor -

The football player can be seen in movies such as 'Any Given Sunday' (1999), 'The Waterboy' (1998), and 'In Hell' (2003).

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John Matuszak -

The former NFL defensive lineman became known for his acting in movies such as 'The Goonies' (1985).

Sources: (The Hollywood Reporter) (Men's Journal)

See also: These gorgeous celebrities hate working out

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