Most people would say that a triple threat is someone who can sing, dance, and act. But some famous people have a different kind of triple threat–they have accumulated fame and prestige, a recognizable talent that earned said fame, and athletic pasts beyond the studio. We've gathered some of the best actors, comedians, business people, and other famous folks that played sports in college.
1. Dwyane “The Rock” Johnson
Sure, the legendary actor is famous for many hit movies now, but before he was speaking at the Superbowl, he played college football for the Univerisity of Miami. During his time on the team, the Hurricanes secured an NCAA championship. It looks like his role in “The Game Plan” may not have required as much acting as we thought!
2. Terry Crews
Like Johnson, most people wouldn't be surprised to hear that Terry Crews had athletic talent as a kid. Before starring in Fox's, and later NBC's, highly-watched sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine Crews was playing football for Western Michigan.
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3. Leslie Jones
Before becoming a household name, Saturday Night Live cast member Leslie Jones's name was being announced at Chapman University's women's basketball games. Jones received a scholarship to play, and then transferred to Colorado State University, but ultimately left school to pursue comedy before completing her degree.
4. Josh Dunhamel
Dunhamel played quarterback for Minot State University prior to making it big. The now famous actor, whose major movies include Safe Haven and Transformers had to balance his classes and athletics just like today's NCAA athletes. He dropped out before he could complete his degree.
5. Walter Rob
The CEO of Whole Foods, Walter Rob, was successful in the world of college soccer before going on to run the grocery-store chain. Rob played both midfield and center back during his four years on the Stanford Soccer Team.
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6. Brian Moynihan
Walter Rob is far from the only major CEO with a college sports background. Brian Moynihan, CEO of Bank of America, also played during his college years. While never trying out soccer, Moynihan played football for a year at Brown University before deciding to switch to rugby also at Brown.
7. Emma Watson
Emma Watson also attended Brown for her undergraduate degree, but years after Moynihan was starring on the rugby field. Watson played field hockey for the Bears, a far cry from the Quidditch-filled series she's most well known for on-screen.
While these former college athletes may be known for their success off the field and court, they're far from the only successful former student-athletes. Whether you're an aspiring player, a current one, or a former one, the skills you learn as an athlete can translate to big things that have nothing to do with sports or all-college requirements.
For reviews of schools and athletic programs like the ones these famous people competed for check out our collection of ratings and reviews.
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* Originally published on March 30, 2022, by Peyton Wright
