Meme icons: The Rock
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has a fairly legit claim to being the most successful athlete-turned-megastar the world has ever seen. At one point the highest paid actor in the world, the multi-hyphenate icon is already a bestselling author, rapper and official Sexiest Man Alive (2016).
One day, whisper it, he might even run for president.
Let’s look at the life, work and cultural impact of The Rock, and analyze some of the best Dwayne Johnson memes with a little help from the custom GIF maker at Memix.com
THE ROCK FAMILY
You may already know that The Rock’s dad was a wrestler called Rocky Johnson – truly the apple don’t fall far from the tree.
What you might not know is that Dwayne’s grandpa was also a stalwart of the WWF canvas. Peter Maivia was known as the ‘Flying Hawaiian’ and – fun fact fans rejoice – was also a movie star.
Maivia appeared in the fifth old school James Bond film, You Only Live Twice, where he played the part of a driver who transports Bond (Sean Connery), in disguise, to Osato headquarters.
Marvia’s character also fights Bond, is hit with a sofa, wields a katana sword, and is hilariously incapacitated when a statue is smashed over his head.
THE ROCK MOVIE ROLES
Controversial WWE proprietor Vince McMahon actually owned the rights to the name ‘The Rock’, and as such was granted executive producer credits on Dwayne Johnson’s early movie roles. Although The Rock eventually (teehee) wrestled them back.
Apparently Johnson was director Tim Burton’s second choice to play Willy Wonka after Johnny Depp. He also earned a Guinness World Record for highest-paid actor in his first leading role after signing on for The Mummy franchise spin-off The Scorpion King. He was paid $5.5 million
And in 2015, the Rock broke another Guinness World Record for most selfies taken – 105 selfies in a span of 3 minutes, all with his fans on the red carpet of the premier for San Andreas.
Whatever happens to his film career – Black Adam was kind of a flop, though you wouldn’t say that to his face – those Fast and Furious movies will guarantee The Rock makes an eyebrow-raising amount of money from now until the end of time.
THE ROCK DIET MEMES
At 6′ 5″ and 245 pounds, he is, physically, a fracking giant. Look at him working out on Instagram. He’s the hunk’s hunk.
His daily diet, at the height of his bodybuilding regimen, apparently amounts to more than 5,000 calories spread over seven meals. The includes a dozen eggs, a bunch of cod and regular infusions of steak.
Partly it’s genetics though, of course. By the time he was 15 years old Dwayne Johnson was already 6’4” with a full moustache.
THE ROCK WIFE
A natural hustler – he actually studied criminology at university in Miami, before becoming a wrestler – Dwayne Johnson is hyper aware of his own commercial power and potential.
Remember that rap he did with Tech N9ne?
ITS ABOUT DRIVE🏎 / ITS ABOUT POWER 🔥 / WE STAY HUNGRY😈 / WE DEVOUR 👹 / PUT IN THE WORK 💪 / PUT IN THE HOURS ⌚ / AND TAKE WHATS OURS
Anyway, his manager is his ex-wife. Even though they couldn’t keep their romantic life going, he nonetheless recognizes that ex Dany Garcia – who ran off with Dwayne’s personal trainer, by the way – is the smartest bet business-wise. What a king.
DWAYNE JOHNSON FOR PRESIDENT
Rumour has it, since watching the ascent of Donald Trump last decade, The Rock is contemplating a shot at the ultimate hustle – running for president.
Some clever people surmise ‘Young Rock’ – the tv show that dramatises his origin story – is a non-too-subtle bid for popularity among America’s divided electorate.
Can the most electrifying man in sports entertainment go all the way? Will his movie choices help or hinder him? Has he ever contemplated hair transplants as part of his never-ending quest for self-improvement?
We’ll find out, surely, in the fullness of time. But whatever happens, we’ll always have the memes.
Hey, IS STEALING MEMES ILLEGAL?
While we’re here, does anybody know IS IT PRONOUNCED GIF OR JIF?