Sova banner
Mummyfique Sample July 2021

Dad Crush Monday: Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson

By Samantha Jong
October 10, 2016

Dwayne Johnson is a familiar face to many. Better known as The Rock, he’s a loving dad to daughters Simone and Jasmine. He doesn’t let his fame get to him, remains down to earth, and has even shared his experience battling depression which really impressed us.

We came across a video (posted late last year) that has recently been making its rounds on social media where he shares his experience overcoming the illness and how the lowest points of his life — being passed over by the NFL and cut from the Canadian football team — got him to where he is today. His inspiring story is precisely why he’s our dad crush of the week.

Sova banner
Mummyfique Sample July 2021

The Rock was recently named by Forbes the world’s highest paid actor of 2016, earning an amazing $64.5 million so far.

He has a line of films and television productions coming out this year and next, including Baywatch, Jumanji and Rock The Troops.

Of course, as a famous personality, Dwayne counts numerous A-listers as friends, including Pamela Anderson, Charlize Theron and Kevin Hart. He never fails to pay recognition to his fellow actors and colleagues, no matter how young or old.

We want to say THANK YOU to all the MTV fans around the world who made our 2016 #MovieAwards are HUGE hit. Over 1million more fans turned in from last years show and almost 50million streams! Huge thank you to EVERYONE behind the scenes who worked tirelessly on the show and who showed up ready to battle Mother Nature's rain just so we could deliver for fans! Congrats to the best partner, trailblazer, visionary and brilliant ass kicker Executive Producer @caseypattersontv. We're juuuuust getting started! Congrats MTV family. Couldn't ask for better partner who stepped up to the plate ready to swing for the fences. We came, we conquered, and you'll always remember where you were when Leo got f*cked by a bear! Finally, to my ace, brother and partner in grind @kevinhart4real. Keep pushing each other to chase that greatness. I'll rock the fanny pack, while you keep puttin' your dick in cake. Chemistry is rare, too bad we don't have any. #Brothers #MTV #MovieAwards #FansComeFirst #MicDrop?

A photo posted by therock (@therock) on

By the looks of it, his fans adore him as well.

We love how he has a good heart. He is often seen visiting hospitals with special needs kids. He has a way with little ones and knows how to brighten these kids’ days up tremendously, making them feel special.

We were touched by the story he shared on his Instagram about little Tater, a little warrior who has been battling cancer for the last four, coming five years.

Been a long time coming, but I finally met the one and only "Tater". This very special lil' 7yr old boy has been battling cancer for 4yrs now. Multiple surgeries, chemo, radiation treatments and stem cell transplants. You name it, this lil' boy has gone thru it. He's had one request. Meet me. He spent the day with me on our #Baywatch set. Watched me film and in between scenes we'd hang out, have some laughs and have some good talks. One of the good talks we had was about every time he goes into the hospital for treatments he takes two things: his Rock action figure (which I'm holding) and his stuffed animal, appropriately just named "puppy". He even made these shirts for us. "Strong As The Rock" and "Live Like Tater". He told me every time he gets treatments he wants to be strong like me. I told him he's already way stronger I'll ever be. He just giggled not really knowing what I meant. One day he will. Spent all afternoon with Tater and his beautiful family. Lots of tears were shed among us. Joyful tears. Grateful tears. I don't know why things happen the way they do in this life. Gotta have faith that there's a bigger reason or lesson for us. Sometimes I'm not sure. But I can tell you this with all my heart and soul that meeting lil' Tater and all these little kids over the years who for some reason far unbeknownst to me, look at me as their hero – is a thousand times way more important than any movie or any "thing" I could ever do or accomplish in my life. Having this platform to shine a little light on the path that these brave children walk – is by far the best part of fame. LIVE LIKE TATER this lil' 7yr old says. Strong. Loving. Happy. You stay strong big man. Me and puppy always got your back ~ Rock

A photo posted by therock (@therock) on

I mean there's cool dudes, and then there's COOL dudes. My buddy Larry Orozco-Chavez from Make-A-Wish is THAT cool dude. Such a pleasure getting to hang with him and his family today. We chopped up talkin' about video games (he's a hard core gamer), my WWE matches, movies, took selfies, shot videos on our phones of each other and his mom even asked me to bounce my pecs up and down! I mean don't threaten me with a good time, so I was pec poppin' all over the place much to the amusement of Larry's mama and much to the embarrassment of Larry himself?. When I sat down with Larry, he said something to me that struck a chord. He said, "Dwayne Johnson (he often called me by my full name today which was awesome) when you walked in today my heart was beating so fast I didn't know what to do. Then you started talking to me and it slowed down and everything was good". I shared with him that that happens to me sometimes. I get so worked up before something big happens (shooting an intense scene, performing in front of 100,000 people at WrestleMania) that my heart feels like it's beating out of my chest, BUT the moment I realize "I got this" then all the angst goes away and I'm ready. So next time something like that happens with him, I told just remember "you got this", be calm, cool and you'll be ready. Made me think of everything this kid has been thru up to now – making him more stronger than many of us could ever imagine. We wrapped up our visit, I gave him a lil' gift and said our goodbyes. It was a real pleasure kickin' with you today, Larry. I can't begin to tell you what it means to me. Just know how grateful I am to share your time, your laughs and definitely grateful to have been able to pop my pecs for your family.? Stay cool and remember… you always "got this". #OnSet #Baywatch #MakeAWish #LarryOrozcoChavez #AndOneVeryLuckyBigBrownBaldDude

A photo posted by therock (@therock) on

When he found out he had a special needs fan who visited the Baywatch set in the hopes of meeting him, he put production on hold just to and say hi and chat with the family.

Thank you universe. I was on set this morning ready to start our shooting day when I got word that there was a family with a special needs young man named RYAN who was hoping to meet me. They understood that they travelled in unannounced but they were willing to wait all day until I wrapped to meet. That would've 12hrs. Way too long. So I asked production to hold and walked across the beach to the barriers where they were waiting. When I walked down the stairs, Ryan's mom (pictured here) was waiting with a huge hug! Her tears started to come as she whispered, "Thank you, thank you". I met Ryan, his brother and his nurse. What a great and cool kid. Without getting into the details, this kid has waaaaaay more heart, is stronger and tougher than I could ever imagine. He can't talk much, but he did tell me, "I love you" in sign language. I thanked him so much for that love. I walked away from this family so grateful to have met them and Ryan. I don't ever take meetings like this for granted and when that mama hugged me today and I felt her start to cry… that stuff gets me every single time I hug a parent in these situations, because I'm a parent too and will do anything to make my babies happy and put a smile on their faces. I know I'm a lucky guy to be in this position and have this platform. I'm grateful and moments like this will always, ALWAYS be the best part of my job. Stay strong Ryan and thanks for teaching me how to sign language buddy. Great meeting you and your family. Thank you universe.

A photo posted by therock (@therock) on

He never forgets his roots, or where he came from.

Every hard core gym around the world has one "OG" of the gym. The man everyone knows and respects 'cause after all these years, he still "gets after it" daily. 73yr old, Vietnam vet, John Henderson is that man. I was leaving the gym after my early morning workout and he was coming in and said "At some point I'd like to snap a pic with you before you leave our town". I said "Well how bout we do it right now!?" He took out his phone and we took the pic. He said "God bless you and thank you". I said "You're welcome and have a good day John". I got in my truck and started to drive off. Buuuut then I thought "You know what let me go back and grab a pic with my phone with that OG who paved the way for so many of us". When he came back out he said, "Ya know I've been around this world my whole life and been inspired by a lot of things. This really makes me happy". I said "I appreciate you and all you do. You inspire all of us to keep on keepin' on". The best part was once we took this pic, he started to walk away and I got back up in my truck.. and he turned back and said "Dwayne… nutrition. Don't forget your nutrition. It's the most thing we can do." I smiled and said "Yes sir, I won't!" and I drove off. Made me think that no matter where they come from – military, the streets, sports etc.. there ain't nothin' like that OG wisdom that can only come from years of experience. #OGWisdom #MrHenderson #ThatsThatGooooodShit

A photo posted by therock (@therock) on

The Rock is also a mama’s boy!

Asked my mom to text me one of her fav pics of us and I get this. Thanks mom I was hoping for a pic where I'm less dork and not needing a puberty bra. Ah what the hell, it's funny. Happy Mother's Day Mom! I'm a lucky son to have a mom like you. And I'm a grateful son as well to watch you inspire all of those around you with your love, kindness and strength. Thank you.. for everything. To all the moms out there – who have grown up kids who are out of the house to teens drivin' you crazy to babies on the hips.. enjoy your day today. We honor you. We thank you. We love you. I was raised by and still to this day, I'm surrounded by (literally surrounded;) strong, beautiful women. My respect and love is boundless. Happy Mother's Day. ~ DJ aka Kid Puberty Bra

A photo posted by therock (@therock) on

Of course, now that he has his own little ones to take care of, we’re sure his girls are definitely the apples of his eye. We don’t envy guys who would be dating them in the future though!

After we feed her, Jasmine just loves looking at daddy's tattoos. I think it helps her digest?. Can't wait to one day explain to her what all this means. Chat about her cultures (Samoan, Armenian, African American and Italian). And while these symbols may appear to be primitive, unsophisticated and crude – they're extremely sacred, thousands of years old and very powerful. My mana (strength). Ironically enough the symbol she's fixated on is our ATUA (our God) protected by the small building blocks of my life and then by shark teeth. Yuuuuup, we gonna have some good daddy/daughter chats. Until then she'll continue to use daddy's tattoos as a place to scratch, drool and spit up. #Tatua #PolyCulture #FaaSamoa #Respect #SpitUpOnDaddy #Yay

A photo posted by therock (@therock) on

For last weeks dad crush, click here