Where was the wrestler and actor known as The Rock born? What can you tell me about his family?
—Chrishauna H., Arkansas
The Rock grew up in Miami, Fla., as Dwayne Johnson. His father, Rocky Johnson, and grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, were famous wrestlers. Johnson didn't become The Rock until 1996, using his 6-foot-5-inch, 275-pound bulk to play semipro football instead. Wrestling was in his blood, though, and he burst on the scene to an arena full of boos and hisses as Rocky Maivia. His charisma and bravado eventually won over the crowd, and he became a fan favorite. As he became more popular, Hollywood noticed, and he was cast as the Scorpion King in The Mummy Returns. The filmmakers were so impressed they put together a movie based on the character, written specifically for The Rock. The Scorpion King is slated for release April 19. The Rock, 29, splits his time between Miami and Los Angeles. His wife, Dany, a financial planner, gave birth to their first child, a girl, last August.
