IF you like it then you should put a Rock on it – and that is exactly what Dwayne Johnson has finally done with his girlfriend of 12 years.
The megastar actor — formerly a wrestler best known by his ring name The Rock — got hitched in a secret ceremony in Hawaii on Sunday.
The Rock got hitched in a secret ceremony in Hawaii last weekendCredit: Instagram
The 47-year-old announced the news on Instagram to his 154million followers with a picture of the pair kissing in front of the sunset and the caption: “We do. August 18th, 2019. Hawaii. Pomaika’i (blessed).”
This marriage fits in well on Dwayne’s path to becoming the ultimate squeaky clean Hollywood hero — and even a potential US president.
A proven success as an actor, producer and wrestler, his marriage to glamorous singer-songwriter Lauren Hashian, 34 — mother to his daughters Jasmine, four, and Tiana, one — means he now has the picture-perfect family by his side. It is the icing on the cake for 6ft 5in, 17.5st Dwayne, who is — quite literally — one of the world’s biggest stars.
In his wrestling debut in 1996, he was originally cast as the bad guy, trash-talking and insulting his opponentsCredit: World Wrestling Federation
Movie bosses quickly learned that he performed well with all four “quadrants” of moviegoers — male, female, over-25 and under-25 — and last year he was second only to George Clooney in the list of Hollywood’s highest-earning leading men.
Ron Meyer, vice-chairman of US TV network NBC Universal, said: “He is as close to guaranteeing you butts in the seats as anybody can be.”
To date, his films have made 8.2billion dollars worldwide, making him one of the highest-grossing box office stars of all time.
Remarkably, he has also negotiated an additional seven-figure salary for posting about his films on his own social media pages.
The Rock and Lauren Hashian, 34 are parents to daughters Jasmine, four, and Tiana, one
It is worth it for movie studios because The Rock’s fanbase is so devoted that he has been dubbed “Beyonce for blokes”.
And unlike many other male A-listers, his reputation has never been sullied by drugs, affairs, messy break-ups or links to religious cults.
He is, in fact, the American dream — a self-made millionaire who now has his sights set on the White House.
Speaking on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2017 he said he was “seriously considering” running for president.
Dwayne shared this adorable photo with his youngest daughter Tiana last yearCredit: Instagram
Dwayne appears to have the golden touch when it comes to reviving ailing big-budget franchises – seen here in BaywatchCredit: © 2017 PARAMOUNT PICTURES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
After receiving public support for the idea, he said: “I can tell you with all honesty that the consideration comes at the desire from a large amount of people that would like to see this happen.”
In an interview last year, he admitted to holding “under-the-radar” meetings with political experts, including Republicans, Democrats, independents, mayors and strategists and said he is “just soaking it in and listening”.
He added: “Let me go to work and learn.”
But life has not always been so good for The Rock, who during his career as a WWF wrestler dubbed himself the “People’s Champion”.
Dwayne is also dad to 18-year-old daughter Simone with ex Dany
Now worth £136million, he had a chaotic childhood, travelling around America to accommodate the wrestling career of his father Rocky Johnson.
Rocky was part of the first black tag team champions in WWE history in 1977.
His mother Ata is of Samoan heritage and her father was also a professional wrestler. Meanwhile, his grandmother was one of the first women involved in professional wrestling promotion.
But despite this sports star pedigree, Dwayne grew up poor. And he has revealed that the memory of his family being evicted from a one-room apartment when he was 14 was the formative experience of his teenage years.
Dwayne had a chaotic childhood, travelling around America to accommodate the wrestling career of his father Rocky JohnsonCredit: Imgur
He said: “I know what it’s like to earn a dollar. I know what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck and wonder how you’re going to pay the rent. I know what it’s like to be evicted. Money doesn’t fall out of the sky.”
Last year, Dwayne revealed that Ata tried to commit suicide in front of him when he was 15.
He said in an interview: “She got out of the car on Interstate 65 in Nashville and walked into oncoming traffic.
“Big rigs and cars were swerving out of the way. I grabbed her and pulled her back on the gravel shoulder of the road. What’s crazy is that she has no recollection of it whatsoever. Probably best she doesn’t.
Dwayne and Jason Statham both star in the Fast and Furious franchiseCredit: AP:Associated Press
“We both healed but we’ve always got to do our best to pay attention when other people are in pain. We have to help them through it and remind them they are not alone.”
For Dwayne, being a nice guy is now a central part of his persona. But it was not always like this.
In his wrestling debut in 1996, he was originally cast as the bad guy, trash-talking and insulting his opponents. But this soon changed as he ended up drawing the biggest pay-per-view audiences in WWF history.
At the time, wrestling legend Hulk Hogan dubbed him the “biggest superstar in the business”.
The actor’s mother Ata is of Samoan heritage and her father was also a professional wrestlerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Success in the ring allowed Dwayne to cross over to Hollywood and his first major movie role in 2001 sequel The Mummy Returns. He was only in the film for ten minutes but was such a hit his character was given his own spin-off prequel The Scorpion King.
Dwayne appears to have the golden touch when it comes to reviving ailing big-budget franchises, a trick he repeated in 2011 when he was cast in the fifth instalment of The Fast And The Furious.
At the time the movie enjoyed the highest-grossing opening in the history of the series — and The Rock has since starred in four follow-ups, as well as spin-off Hobbs & Shaw, drawing crowds in cinemas now.
But a decade-long feud with The Fast And The Furious co-star Vin Diesel, 52, has been one of the few gentle hints of scandal to affect Dwayne.
Many predict Dwayne could now launch his bid to become President after tying the knotCredit: Instagram
The Rock triggered the argument during filming for the eighth movie in the series when he moaned on Instagram about the unprofessional behaviour of an unnamed male actor, quickly identified as Vin. The men traded social media blows with Dwayne claiming he had “zero tolerance for candy asses”.
In a magazine interview about the difficult relationship, Johnson said: “Vin and I had a few discussions, including an important face-to-face in my trailer. And what I came to realise is that we have a fundamental difference in philosophies on how we approach movie-making and collaborating.
“It took me some time, but I’m grateful for that clarity, whether we work together again or not. I wish him all the best, and I harbour no ill-will there, just because of the clarity we have.”
But he added: “Actually, you can erase that last part about ‘no ill will’. We’ll just keep it with the clarity.” The only other glimpse of possible bad behaviour was in 2007 after Dwayne split from first wife Dany Garcia, 50, after ten years of marriage.
Only shortly after, he began dating new wife Lauren — who he met while filming The Game Plan in 2006 — sparking rumours he may have cheated.
But the action movie hero has since remained on friendly terms with ex Dany, with whom he shares 18-year-old daughter Simone and co-founded his successful production company.
Now, with a new wife at his side, millions of dollars pouring in and the American public calling for him to run the country, Dwayne’s prospects look as solid as a rock