worst pro athlete turned actor

[Johnny Z]

Who is the worst pro athlete turned actor in your opinion? I can't recall his name for some odd reason, but the guy that played the sheriff in the Porky's movies comes to my mind.

[Ash]

I don't know if he was a bad pro athlete or not but the only person I can think of is Brian Bosworth in "Stone Cold"

He was a linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks.



Post Edited (04-25-04 20:32)

[Johnny Z]

Sorry Ash and others, they can be good athletes, but bad actors.

[Bgrade]

This list could be very long. In fact I can't think of an athelete that was a good actor. (maybe Arnold Schwarzenegger)

Sticking with an athelete in more than just bit parts.

My pick for bad over acting goes to
Lyle Alzado (Ernest goes to camp)

Non-honorable mention goes to
Densis Rodman.
Wilt Chamberlin
Shaq
OJ simpson.
Chuck Norris
Lou Ferrigno (he was actually good at times)

Do professional wresters count as athletes? (loaded question)

[Eirik]

Johnny Z - The sheriff from Porkys I believe was Alex Karas.  As bad as you might think he was in that and later on the TV show Webster, I think his turn as Mongo in Blazing Saddles is enough to immunize him from being labelled the worst.

My vote goes to Brian Bosworth.  Most athletes (OJ, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Karas) had sense enough to try to become comic actors and not take themselves too seriously.  Bosworth tried to become the next Schwartzeneggar and instead became the next Van Damme minus the martial arts skills.

[Johnny Z]

Point well taken about Karras and Blazing Saddles.

[Brother Ragnarok]

Although his role wasn't big enough to tell how bad an actor he is, the worst movie ever starring a pro-athlete would have to be "Mitchell", which featured Merlin Olsen as the butler.
"You're a lousy butler!"

Brother R

[Dunners]

mitchel definitely.

[AndyC]

Lyle Alzado would probably be a good candidate for worst - just going by his brief TV series and better still, his big starring role in The Destroyer. Not just a crappy horror flick, but dull too.

I agree that the smart athletes are the ones who take on the smaller roles(generally playing the big, tough guy), and usually wind up being fairly well liked. Bubba Smith comes to mind.

Put the athlete in the starring role, and unless he's pretty special, he's going to suck.

[Mr. Hockstatter]

That football player, the one who did the commercials wearing women's nylons, I think he was the QB for Miami.  I saw him in some movie where he grabbed a terrorist and jumped out of a train.  Only a few seconds worth of his acting, but it was enough.

[raj]

Joe Namath did a pantyhose commercial, while he was QB'ing the (New York) Jets.

Bosworth has to be the biggest bust as both a pro athlete and an actor.

[George]

How about Howie Long in that fire jumper movie?

I think a better question here might be who is the BEST former athlete turned actor.  The best I can tell, there are almost none.

Jim Brown - Dirty Dozen
Chuck Connors - tons of flicks

[Mr. Hockstatter]

As far as best, Bruce Lee was pretty good.

[Ken Begg]

Clearly Bruce Jenner earns the trophy for his amazing turn in Can't Stop the Music.

[raj]

As for best, I thought OJ's performance in that Nicole Brown murder miniseries was so bizarre that it had to be good.  I mean, no one would act like that in real life, would they?