Editing Dwayne Johnson (section)

=== Career beginnings (1999–2010) ===

He began his acting career on television while wrestling. In his first television acting job, in 1999, he portrayed his father [[Rocky Johnson]] in an episode of ''[[That '70s Show]]'' called "That Wrestling Show". Nearly a year later, he appeared in the ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'' episode "[[Tsunkatse]]" as an alien wrestler who fought against [[Seven of Nine]]. While Johnson was away from WWE, the company continued to sell "The Rock" merchandise, and he continued to be featured prominently in the opening montages of their television shows.<ref name="m&cbio" />

Johnson made his theatrical debut in ''[[The Mummy Returns]]'' (2001), playing the antagonist Mathayus "The Scorpion King". He reprised this role in the spin-off film ''[[The Scorpion King]]'' (2002), where he starred as the titular character. Johnson was paid {{USD|5.5 million|long=no}} for his leading role, putting him in the [[Guinness World Records]] for the highest salary for a first-time leading man.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/culture/entertainment/the-rock-cooks-up-124m-salary-highest-ever-for-any-actor/|title=The Rock cooks up a $124M salary, highest ever for any actor|website=CNET|accessdate=July 31, 2024}}</ref> The film was a commercial success and despite mixed reception, Johnson's acting was praised.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120805062744/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,231509~1~0~scorpionking,00.html Review by Owen Gleiberman], [[Entertainment Weekly]]</ref> Film critic [[Roger Ebert]] wrote, "I expect him to become a durable action star".<ref>{{cite web |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |date=April 19, 2002 |title=The Scorpion King |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-scorpion-king-2002 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720182552/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-scorpion-king-2002 |archive-date=July 20, 2023 |access-date=July 13, 2024 |website=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]}} {{Rating|3|4}}</ref>

In the following years, he worked in action films ''[[The Rundown]]'' (2003), and ''[[Walking Tall (2004 film)|Walking Tall]]'' (2004), but these films failed to gain success. He had a supporting role in the comedy ''[[Be Cool]]'' (2005) as a homosexual bodyguard hoping to become an actor,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/be-cool-2005 |title=Warmed-over Chili not cool |date=March 3, 2005 |website=Rogerebert.com}}</ref> and was the primary antagonist in the horror film ''[[Doom (film)|Doom]]'' (2005). He also worked in the sports drama ''[[Gridiron Gang]]'' (2006), comedy ''[[Reno 911!: Miami]]'' (2007), and thriller ''[[Southland Tales]]'' (2006). He had further success by playing an arrogant famous American football player in the sports family comedy ''[[The Game Plan (film)|The Game Plan]]'' (2007), Agent 23 in spy action comedy ''[[Get Smart (film)|Get Smart]]'' (2008), a cab driver in the science fiction film ''[[Race to Witch Mountain]]'' (2009), [[Tooth fairy|the title character]] in the fantasy comedy ''[[Tooth Fairy (2010 film)|Tooth Fairy]]'' (2010) and a police officer in buddy cop comedy ''[[The Other Guys]]'' (2010). Johnson returned to action genre in the unsuccessful ''[[Faster (2010 film)|Faster]]'' (2010). 

Johnson made his voice acting debut in the 2006 video game ''[[SpyHunter: Nowhere to Run|Spyhunter: Nowhere to Run]]'', originally intended as a tie-in for an unproduced film.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Spy Hunter: Nowhere to Run Review |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/spy-hunter-nowhere-to-run/1900-6157769/ |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}</ref> He also voiced [[NASA]] astronaut Chuck in the 2009 animated sci-fi comedy ''[[Planet 51]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Robert Z. Pearlman |date=2009-11-20 |title=NASA Recruits 'Planet 51' Actor Dwayne Johnson to Spread Message |url=https://www.space.com/7573-nasa-recruits-planet-51-actor-dwayne-johnson-spread-message.html |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=Space.com |language=en}}</ref> He presented the [[Academy Award for Best Visual Effects]] at the [[80th Academy Awards]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalhit.com/academy/80/winners.shtml |title=80th Annual Academy Awards Results & Commentary |date=April 22, 2008 |website=DigitalHit.com |quote=Dwayne Johnson a.k.a. The Rock, presents Visual Effects}}</ref>