8 Actors You Didn't Know Were Wrestlers

4. Woody Strode

Sabretooth X-men
Universal International/Brian's Drive-In Theater

Ric Flair told Jim Herd where to shove his galea when the new-WCW honcho asked him to assume the role of Spartacus back in 1991. Three decades earlier, Woody Strode had no such qualms about taking the gig.

Strode, wonderfully christened with the forenames Woodrow Wilson Woolwine, was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor on the strength of his turn in Stanley Kubrick's epic, though he was a relative neophyte treading the sets.

The film depicted the 6'4" Strode as towering Ethiopian gladiator Draba, who bests Kirk Douglas' Spartacus in a fight to the death, only to spare the eponymous hero his fate. A fight scene such as this came naturally to Strode; he'd spent a good chunk of the '50s in the squared-circle, grappling with the likes of Gorgeous George and alongside Bearcat Wright and Bobo Brazil.

Despite his critical recognition, Strode continued to wrestle part-time following Spartacus. Sort of like The Rock, whose Golden Globe nomination is surely just around the corner.

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Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.