10 of the best wrestlers turned actors

Everyone on the planet is familiar with Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson, but he's not the only wrestler turned movie star!

Being an actor requires several attributes. First of all, there needs to be charisma. Second, they have to be able to take whatever material they are given and elevate it--or live up to it. Third, they should be physically memorable enough that the audience can recognize them on sight.

These also sound like the perfect attributes for a pro wrestler. With its drama, showmanship, and larger than life characters, pro wrestling seems custom made for a Hollywood intrusion.

Here are ten wrestlers who managed to make it into Hollywood films.

#10 El Santo

Poster for El Santo vs. The Vampire Women.

We start off the list with one of the first wrestlers to make the big screen transition, El Santo.

El Santo is perhaps the most famous, beloved luchador of all time. He never cheated, never lost, and never, EVER removed his mask, even when dining in fine restaurants!

He made over thirty movies during and after his wrestling career. The most famous is probably his foray into horror when he took on vampires. El Santo would pave the way for future wrestling stars to follow the path to movie stardom.

#9 Ox Baker

Ox Baker has a short, but memorable role in Escape from New York.

Fact: 80s cult classic Escape from New York was filmed almost entirely in St. Louis, Missouri! Perhaps that's why they snagged 1970s wrestling icon Ox Baker for the production. Baker was active in the St. Louis wrestling territories and had a great look for the ring or the screen.

Allegedly, he nearly killed star Kurt Russel with his stiff shots until Russel tapped Ox in the crotch with a baseball bat.

"Settle down, Ox," Russel said sweetly.

Ox Baker laughed and started going much easier on the much smaller man. While Baker would have other small roles, this was his most famous appearance.

#8 Randy Savage

While the wrestler Spider-Man squashed in the comic books was called Crusher Hogan, filmmaker Sam Raimi feared copyright issues and comparisons to Hulk Hogan.

Instead, he went to longtime Hogan rival and wrestling icon, Randy Savage. Savage portrayed the ruthless Bone Saw McGraw (c'mon, that's a GREAT wrestling name!) in the first Toby McGuire Spider-Man movie.

Though a small role, it's a critical scene as it establishes two important things; Spider-Man is more than a match for even a peak physical specimen of humanity, and Peter's greed and inaction lead to his Uncle's death.

Randy Savage brought his usual aplomb to the role, and his appearance is one of the few bright points in an otherwise dreary movie. Savage has also voiced numerous cartoon voice-over roles, like Rass Lor in Dexter's Laboratory.

#7 George the Animal Steele

In his Oscar-nominated film Ed Wood, there was only one person director Tim Burton could turn to. George the Animal Steele was his first, last, and only choice to play 1940s wrestling star, Tor Johnson.

It was a surprise to many of George's fans that he was so articulate in the film, given his monosyllabic vocabulary during his long wrestling career. Still, it's a treat to see a pro wrestler rubbing shoulders with Hollywood heavyweights like Johnny Depp, Bill Murray, and Martin Landau (who won an Oscar for his portrayal of Bela Lugosi.)

#6 Terry Funk

Terry Funk played a rough and tumble bouncer in late 1980s action flick Roadhouse. While his character on screen didn't get along with Swayze, the two were friends on the set. Funk even helped Swayze choreograph the film's final fight scene.

Alas, there is no rumble between Swayze and Funk, though Funk gets to beat up a few folks. But let's face it; Swayze's roundhouse kick vs. the running Piledriver and spinning toe hold? That's no contest at all!

#5 The Great Khali

The Great Khali (and some indy star named Gold-something)

Not only does Khali stand out as the most intimidating fellow in a movie full of intimidating fellows, he has The Longest Yard's best line!

The film also featured Kevin Nash and Stone Cold Steve Austin as guards, and Goldberg as a fellow prisoner known for his, ahem, manhood.

#4 Jesse Ventura

Jesse "the Body" Ventura made a lot of forays into Hollywood, starring in The Running Man and tv show Tag Team (Where he co-starred with Roddy Piper.)

However, it was his role in Predator that is the most memorable. His character Blaine Cooper easily has the best lines in the movie, especially the often memed "I ain't got time to bleed!"

Supposedly, there was a friendly rivalry between star Arnold Schwartzenegger and Jesse. They would compete to see who could get the most jacked up on set. Once Jesse showed up at the gym right before Arnold and poured a bucket of water over his head, so it would look like he'd been working up a sweat for hours.

Jesse Ventura was in quite a few films, but it was his performance in this movie that most people remember.

#3 Hulk Hogan

The less said about Hogan's film career, the better.

Though he started off promising in Rocky III as Thunderlips, his starring efforts have always been underwhelming.

From the deplorable 'drama' of No Holds Barred to the attempted humour of Suburban Commando Hogan's films are best avoided. Arn Anderson--who holds back to back victories over Hogan on consecutive Monday nights--had this to say after he beat Hogan a second time.

"While Hulk Hogan was off in Hollywood making those cheap, grade Z movies, that went straight to the video store and ended up on the shelf next to Ishtar, Arn Anderson was wrestling!"

That pretty much sums it up.

#2 John Cena

John Cena has a rapport with kids, which might be why he was cast in an animated film.

John Cena's movie career got off to a slow start. He was underwhelming in the Marine and failed to get much box office for 12 Rounds, but he finally found his niche working with Amy Schumer.

As her beefed-up lover in Trainwreck, John proved that he had good comedic timing and charisma. Sensing that comedy might be his forte rather than action, the wrestling star has chosen his projects more carefully. Most recently he was cast as the lead in Ferdinand, an adaptation of the classic kid's book about a peaceable bull.

#1 The Rock

Without a shadow of a doubt, the most successful wrestler turned actor is the Rock. El Santo may have made more films, but they were never high-grade material. The Rock stars in--and often carries--big tentpole movies.

He's even set to get a spin-off movie of his Fast and Furious character and is the highest paid actor in the world. Not bad for a man who the fans booed out of the building in his early career!

Ten wrestlers, ten great film roles!