20 Little-Known Details Surrounding The Rock And His Family

There's no denying that The Rock - now also commonly known as Dwayne Johnson - has had an insanely successful career. He got his start in the entertainment industry, if you want to call it that, when he made his debut as a pro wrestler. The athletic marvel spent quite a few years wrestling professionally before eventually throwing in the towel and retiring. However, unlike other wrestlers, who retire and basically just stay behind the scenes, The Rock stayed in front of the camera - but not as a wrestler.

He transitioned to the world of acting. Most people assumed he'd be absolutely awful at it, and that he'd never get a role beyond the occasional action role - and he's proven them all wrong in a major way. Sure, he's been in countless action movies - with a physique like that, how can you not be? - but he's also proven his skill at comedy over the years. He's definitely a versatile actor, and even better, he has the kind of personality that everyone just loves. On screen and off screen, he's totally killing it.

While he's an incredibly hard worker and spends countless hours on set and in meetings for his company, he also prioritizes his family in a major way.

Here are 20 things you may not have known about The Rock and his adorable family.

20 He's A Third Generation Wrestler

When The Rock first made his debut in the wrestling world, he wasn't going into it as blind as many of the other wrestlers on the circuit who had no idea what to expect. The Rock had a bit of an inside scoop on the wrestling world because he's actually a third-generation wrestler. His grandfather was an NWA Hawaii heavyweight championship, and his father, Rocky Johnson, was an NWA Georgia Champion. Wrestling is literally in his blood. Although, those are pretty big shoes to fill - when he first started out, he must have wondered if he'd be able to rise to the family legacy!

19 He Debated Becoming An FBI Agent

Before The Rock was an actor, he was a wrestler. And, before he was a wrestler, he was a professional athlete in the NFL and CFL, playing football. However, before any of that, he was debating exactly which career path to take growing up - and he debated becoming an FBI agent! The Rock spilled it all in an interview, saying that "when I got to college, I started studying criminology - I wanted to work for either the FBI or CIA." Unfortunately, a professor filled him in on the fact that he had to follow his degree with a law degree if that was his chosen path, and he wanted out of school for a while!

18 His Wife Lauren Hashian Has A Famous Rock Star For A Father

While she tries to keep a pretty low profile, The Rock's wife Lauren Hashian is no stranger to being close to someone in the limelight. Her father, John "Sib" Hashian, was a drummer for the band Boston back in the 1970s. He wasn't with the band for too long - just a few years before the original drummer re-joined the band - but it was enough to get a bit of a taste of the limelight. So, his daughter probably learned not to be that impressed by fame and fortune and everything that comes with it, which is useful when you end up married to one of the biggest stars in the business.

17 In High School, His Classmates Thought He Was An Undercover Cop

The Rock has a majorly impressive physique, and while it's certainly developed over the years, he was still pretty built, even as a high school student. As a matter of fact, because of his facial hair and physique, many of his fellow students thought he was a police officer working undercover. That's right - they thought, because of how he looked, he couldn't possibly be a regular teenager like them. We'd love if he could relive those days in a movie, but we're pretty sure no one would buy The Rock as a high school student now, even in a fictional world.

16 He Eats Seven Meals A Day - And A Ton Of Calories

Many people who don't know much about nutrition assume that someone who is as shredded as The Rock must eat very little every day. After all, if you want to look slim and toned, you have to eat less, right? Wrong! Just in order to maintain his muscle mass and physique, The Rock has to eat a truly astounding amount of food - but we're not talking about cookies and burgers, we're talking about fish and broccoli. In total, he eats around seven meals a day, consisting of things like eggs, broccoli, fish, potatoes and rice, and clocks in at around 5,000 calories a day. Crazy!

15 His Cousin Is His Stunt Double - And Has Been For Over 15 Years

The Rock is a man who is no stranger to physical exertion, so he likely does quite a bit of his stunt work himself - after all, it's not that much different from training in the gym, right? However, he does have a stunt double to help him out - and it turns out, it's his cousin! He's had the same stunt double for over 15 years now, his cousin Tanoai Reed, and the two obviously have a great relationship. We have to admit, we kind of love the fact that he's kept the same stunt double basically throughout his entire acting career.

14 He Wears A Different Cologne For Every Character He Plays

Actors are all very different in how they get into their roles. Some practice method acting, where they basically try to transform themselves into their characters for a while. Others can go from joking with the crew to in character with the snap of a finger. The Rock himself has a bit of a quirk when it comes to embodying a character - he tries to smell like them. Or, how he imagines they would smell. At the beginning of a project, he decides what kind of cologne a character would choose to wear, and that's what he rocks all movie long.

13 His Original Wrestling Name Was Flex Kavana

In wrestling, it's all about the name, and we have to admit - The Rock is a pretty darn amazing ring name. It's solid, vaguely threatening, and holds the promise that he'll roll right over and crush his opponents. What's not to love? However, did you know that he actually made his debut with a totally different name? When he first stepped into the ring back in 1995, he went by the name "Flex Kavana." Thankfully, someone helped him see the error of his ways and he got a cooler nickname. We don't think he'd be quite as successful if that's the name he had gone with long term.

12 In College, His Wife Lauren Built Her Own Recording Studio

It turns out The Rock isn't the only entrepreneurial one in his family - his wife was also quite an ambitious go-getter, even in her college days! Hashian got bitten by the musical bug when she was young, and when she was 19 years old, she decided to build her own recording studio so she could work on pursuing her passion. After all, she wasn't about to pony up for studio fees or worry about finding a space when she could just create the perfect space for herself! Given what a big part of his life she is now, we're surprised The Rock hasn't joined forces with his wife to enter into the musical world more.

11 As A Teen He Was Part Of Questionable Activities

The Rock seems like such a friendly, successful guy nowadays that it can be hard to believe he was once a bit of a troubled teen who struggled with authority. Back when he was just a teen, though, he was actually a member of a ring who would target stores in Waikiki. That's because he grew up in a family that was always struggling to make ends meet, and he took out that sense of hopelessness and anger through crime. Luckily, he's doing a lot better financially nowadays and can afford to help support his mom and any family members he wants to.

10 His Nickname In College Was "Dewey"

It's hard to imagine The Rock having a dorky nickname, but when he was a student-athlete at the University of Miami, many of his teammates actually called him "Dewey." Where exactly did the nickname come from? Apparently, when his parents were visiting once, his mother accidentally called him by that name in front of everyone, presumably because it's what she called him at home in private. His teammates found it hilarious and started calling him by the nickname constantly, and apparently, many of his former teammates still use the nickname when referring to the wildly successful wrestler turned actor. Crazy!

9 His Ex-Wife Dany Garcia Is Actually His Agent

Okay, are you ready for just how amazing The Rock's relationship with his ex-wife is? It turns out, she's actually his manager, and has been for over a decade now. And it's not just a situation of she became his manager during their marriage and stayed on once they split - she actually didn't become his manager until the year they divorced. And, she's taken him from an actor in a few action flicks and cheesy roles to an international superstar, so the woman has got some major talent when it comes to helping someone's career. Those two are absolute powerhouses when it comes to the entertainment industry.

8 He Once Held Two World Records

The Rock is not the kind of person who is willing to settle for second best - he wants to stand out from the crowd and make it to the top, always. So, it may come as no surprise that he actually held two world records at one point. The first was one he got very early in his acting career, when he became the highest paid first-time leading man in his role in The Scorpion King. Then, he brought his fans into the mix and set a record for the most selfies taken in three minutes when he was in London at the premiere of his movie San Andreas. Who knows which record he'll try to take on next?

7 His Divorce From Ex-Wife Dany Garcia Was Super Amicable, Especially In Hollywood Terms

There's no denying that divorce in Hollywood can get really ugly, really quickly. When you're making such huge salaries and have so many assets, and your entire relationship is under scrutiny, things can get really complicated. Many people didn't even know when The Rock and his first wife Dany Garcia got divorced because they were so mature about it, and things were so amicable, that it didn't make any headlines. They decided on a simple joint custody arrangement for their daughter Simone, they split whatever needed to be split, and are still a huge part of one another's lives. Talk about a mature couple!

6 He Genuinely Loves Working Out

The Rock has waxed poetic time and time again about how important fitness is to his life, and how his daily training is basically as much for his mental well-being as it is for his muscles. And, unlike many of us who moan and groan when it's time to head to the gym, The Rock absolutely lives for his gym visits. As his friend and producer Beau Flynn said, "some people like to socialize; he just really likes to train." Well, it's a good thing he enjoys it, given how much time he spends in his Iron Paradise! Talk about impressive.

5 He Went Through A Period Of Depression In His 20s

The Rock always seems so incredibly cheerful and positive, so you might assume that he's always been the kind of guy who looks at the silver lining of any situation. However, he actually struggled with depression in his 20s, after being cut from the CFL team he was playing on, as he wasn't sure where his life was going and how things would turn out. Eventually, he managed to pull himself out of that dark hole and start working towards his goals, but he's still passionate about mental health and sending out the message that everyone struggles and it's okay to not always be okay.

4 He Helped Bill Gates Introduce The X-Box

You wouldn't normally associate The Rock with technology, but he just might surprise you. Back in his wrestling days, just before he started to really jump into the acting scene full force, The Rock was a recognizable enough name that Microsoft gave him a call when it was time to introduce their new gaming console to the world, the X-Box. He took the stage with the legendary Bill Gates, offering some charm and charisma to the audience. He busted out some of his classic sayings, and sold the heck out of that new gaming console - it's no wonder Microsoft brought him on board for the presentation!

3 His Daughter Simone Was The First Golden Globes Ambassador

You may have seen The Rock sharing pictures of life with his youngest daughter, but he also has a gorgeous adult daughter from his first marriage, Simone. And, while she's walked quite a few red carpets alongside her parents over the years, she got her own moment in the spotlight as the first Golden Globes Ambassador this year. The position was previously referred to as either Miss Golden Globes or Mr. Golden Globes, and they decided, in the name of equality, to make it a more equal title that either men or women could take - and Simone was the trailblazing first individual ever to snag that new title!

2 He's A Big Country Music Fan

Many people assume that it's only rap and hip-hop being blasted in the Iron Paradise when The Rock is training, and while he enjoys that kind of music, he also has a soft spot for country. He spent some time in Nashville when he was a teenager, and apparently developed a love for country music, which he still loves to this day. However, we're not talking about modern country necessarily - he once revealed on Twitter that he's all about the classic country artists, including Merle Haggard, George Strait, and Jamey Johnson. We have to admit, we never would have pegged him for a country fan.

1 His Daughter Simone Is A Huge Wrestling Fan

We're not sure what career path Simone sees for herself quite yet, although she's been getting some work as a model thanks to her gorgeous looks. However, she's definitely not ruling wrestling out entirely - she's actually a huge fan, and has commented before about the immense respect she has for female wrestlers. We have to admit, if you're looking to break into the world of wrestling, having a wildly successful former wrestler for a father is probably an amazing tool in your arsenal. I mean, from how to master the camera angles to how to build a personality, The Rock is an endless source of wrestling tips.

References: nickiswift.com, refinery29.com, thrillist.com, rollingstone.com, simplemost.com