Actors turned Athletes

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nondescriptive

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The only actor that I can think of who turned pro athlete is Vince Van Patten

"Van Patten was also a professional tour tennis player who in 1979 was awarded the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Rookie of the Year award. The highlight of his career came in 1981 when he defeated John McEnroe and two other top ten world ranked pros to win the Seiko World Super Tennis tournament in Tokyo. His career high ranking in singles was World No. 26, reached on February 11, 1982.

In singles, Van Patten reached the third round of the U.S. Open twice, in 1982 and 1983, and Wimbledon once, in 1985. In doubles his best Grand Slam event result was reaching the quarter-finals of the French Open in 1981, partnering with Mel Purcell. His highest doubles ranking was World No. 24, reached in September 1986."

Can anyone think of any other actors who have turned pro athlete?
 
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Geena Davis



"Davis has stated that she was not an athlete growing up, and that her introduction to archery was in 1997, two years prior to her tryouts.

In July 1999, Davis was one of 300 women who vied for a semifinals berth in the US Olympic archery team to participate in the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics.[6] She placed 24th of 300 and did not qualify for the team, but participated as a wild-card entry in the Sydney International Golden Arrow competition."
 
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shack

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nondescriptive said:
The only actor that I can think of who turned pro athlete is Vince Van Patten

"Van Patten was also a professional tour tennis player who in 1979 was awarded the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Rookie of the Year award. The highlight of his career came in 1981 when he defeated John McEnroe and two other top ten world ranked pros to win the Seiko World Super Tennis tournament in Tokyo. His career high ranking in singles was World No. 26, reached on February 11, 1982.

In singles, Van Patten reached the third round of the U.S. Open twice, in 1982 and 1983, and Wimbledon once, in 1985. In doubles his best Grand Slam event result was reaching the quarter-finals of the French Open in 1981, partnering with Mel Purcell. His highest doubles ranking was World No. 24, reached in September 1986."

Can anyone think of any other actors who have turned pro athlete?
Click to expand...
Tony Danza boxed then acted, then boxed.
Danny Bonaducci acted then boxed.
 
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shack

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Gabe Kaplan--professional poker tour (Hey, it's on the sports networks.)
Meg Tilly
 
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jost

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Paul Newman won several national championships as a driver in Sports Car Club of America road racing.

Steve McQueen considered becoming a professional race car driver. In the 1970 12 Hours of Sebring race, Peter Revson and McQueen (driving with a cast on his left foot from a motorcycle accident two weeks before) won with a Porsche 908/02 in the 3 litre class and missed winning overall by 23 seconds to Mario Andretti/Ignazio Giunti/Nino Vaccarella in a 5 litre Ferrari 512S. Mcqueen also competed in off-road motorcycle racing.
 
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Mr. T wrestled for the WWF in the 80s/90s after he became famous as an actor
 
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Samurai Joey said:
Wasn't Mr. T a professional wrestler before he became famous as an actor (in the A-team, specifically)?
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I remember him as Clubber Lang in Rocky III, then A-Team and then the wrestling..but you could be right, don't know much about his pre-acting history
 
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