Dwayne Johnson Honors Late Father on His Birthday: A True Trailblazer Shares a Heartfelt Post; Check it Out here
Dwayne Johnson became emotional as he remembered his late father on what would have been his 80th birthday. The versatile star took to social media to commemorate the occasion with a heartfelt post dedicated to his “Soulman.” On August 24, Dwayne, 52, shared a series of photos from various stages of his life with his father, the late WWE wrestler Rocky “Soulman” Johnson.
“My old man was a true trailblazer in the world of professional wrestling during the 60s, 70s, & 80s,” the Moana actor wrote in the caption. “As a black athlete, he changed many people’s perceptions through his in-ring talent and incredible work ethic in the gym.”
Reflecting on the complex relationship he shared with his father, Dwayne recalled learning both positive and negative lessons from him. Despite their complicated dynamic, love was always at the core. The photos included one of his dad training in the gym as a young man, one with his championship belt, one with a young Dwayne, and one taken decades later.
Since his father’s passing in 2020, the Jumanji actor has been open about the complicated relationship he shared with his dad, revealing that they were not on speaking terms at the time of his death.
In March, Dwayne reflected on his father’s life, legacy, and groundbreaking achievements in the world of WWE in an Instagram post. “He had a tough upbringing and paved the way for men of color in all sports and forms of entertainment. But above all, he wanted to pave the way for all men, regardless of color,” he expressed.
In the same post, he admitted that not being able to reconcile their complicated relationship before his father’s sudden passing was his biggest regret. “I regret not resolving our differences before I lost him,” he added. Despite Rocky’s tough love upbringing, Dwayne felt grateful for the lessons learned later in life.