Dwayne Johnson is reflecting on his complicated relationship with his late father, wrestling legend Rocky Johnson, while also addressing serious issues with the 2019 autobiography Soulman: The Rocky Johnson Story.
In a recent interview with The New York Times Magazine on September 21, Dwayne shared details of his final conversation with Rocky before his passing in January 2020 at age 75. The actor revealed that their last exchange stemmed from the book, which included a foreword falsely credited to him. According to Dwayne, he never wrote or approved that foreword, and the book’s content misrepresented the truth about their life together.
“Growing up with my dad, I know the truth to all these stories. And they’re not in this book,” he said. For him, the unauthorized use of his name crossed a serious line. He later took steps to have the book removed from shelves, highlighting how personal the matter was.
Reports at the time noted that the book’s co-author admitted to never speaking with Dwayne directly and instead relied on taped interviews with Rocky. Permission to use his son’s name was allegedly given, but the actor strongly disputes that claim.
Now, at 53, Dwayne is channeling those emotions into his career. He is preparing for the release of The Smashing Machine, where he portrays former MMA champion Mark Kerr. Calling it his most vulnerable role yet, the star explained that the project allowed him to “rip himself open” emotionally, showing a side of him audiences have rarely seen.
With hours of daily makeup and full immersion into Kerr’s world, Johnson says this role is not just about physical transformation—it’s about exposing a raw and deeply personal side of himself, shaped in part by his complex bond with his father.