Jim Brown was once considered the greatest American football player to have ever lived, but that didn’t stop him from trying something new. His first successful acting role was in The Dirty Dozen in 1966. Leading acting roles began to come in several years later, and Jim Brown went on to become a successful actor in dozens of films from various genres. His latest appearance is in the 2014 film Draft Day.

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Wyatt Russell

Given the fact that Wyatt Russell is the son of world-famous actors Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, it would seem that acting would be his first career choice. But it wasn’t. Instead, he became a pro hockey player. His successful career as a professional goaltender led him to work with independent hockey teams not just in the US but also in Canada and the Netherlands.

Sadly, sports injuries cut his career short and Wyatt Russell turned to acting. Not surprisingly, he’s been a great success. Recent movies and TV shows he has starred in include Blaze, Overlord, Table 19, Black Mirror and Lodge 49.

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Jason Statham

Jason Statham is best known as an actor and film producer, but it wasn’t always that way. In the 90s, he was an accomplished professional swimmer who competed as a diver in the Commonwealth Games as part of Britain’s National Swimming Squad.

He competed in the 10-metre platform, three-metre springboard and one-metre springboard competitions and later reported that his time in the sports world not only kept him out of trouble but also taught him focus and discipline. It also brought about a career in sports modelling, which later led to a meeting with British film director Guy Ritchie, who cast Statham in his breakout role in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. The film, which earned praise from critics and the general public alike, set Statham on the path to Hollywood stardom.

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It’s amazing to think what can happen when – whether by choice or by an unexpected turn of events – someone is willing to step out of their comfort zone and try something new. While many great sportsmen and women are content to stick to their careers and make the most of them, others have found that the most rewarding path in life comes from expanding their horizons. These stars have excelled in their new careers while, at the same time, bringing joy and amusement to fans of all ages and walks of life.

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