Dwayne Johnson Recalls Parents’ ‘Explosive and Volcanic Relationship,’ Watching Their Marriage ‘Decline’

Recent News
Chelsea Handler Mentions Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA at 2026 Critics Choice Awards
Kourtney Kardashian Shares Rare Family Photos of Son Rocky, 2, Alongside Husband Travis Barker
Jeon So-nee and Lee Yoo-mi's Intense Collaboration Triumphs: 'You Killed Me' Reaches Global Netflix Peak
Kate Winslet Recalls 1st Meeting King Charles III While Wearing a ‘Transparent Lace Outfit’: ‘Oh My Goodness’
Zach Bryan Shares He Has Been Sober for Two Months Following Mental Health Challenges: ‘I Feel Complete’

The actor from Smashing Machine, who is 53 years old, was raised in an environment steeped in the world of professional wrestling. He is the son of the late wrestler Rocky Johnson and Ata Johnson, who is the daughter of wrestler Peter Maivia and his spouse, Lia Maivia, who was a wrestling promoter.

In an interview that appeared in Variety on Sunday, January 4, Johnson reminisced about his childhood experiences of traveling across the country with his parents as his father pursued a career in wrestling.

“My parents had a volatile and tumultuous relationship,” he stated. “My father was a professional wrestler during an era that resembled the Wild West. There were no million-dollar deals; it was living from paycheck to paycheck just trying to get by.”

The actor and former wrestler remarked, “My father wrestled with his addictions and prioritized his career and himself, while my mother stayed home to raise me. She sacrificed her aspirations to support the man she loved. All she desired was recognition, but she felt invisible.”

“I observed the deterioration of their relationship as my father fought his personal struggles. I witnessed their arguments. The echoes of their conflicts were even more distressing,” Johnson elaborated.

Johnson’s parents were married from 1978 until their divorce in 2003. Rocky passed away from a pulmonary embolism at the age of 75 in January 2020.

In a recent conversation with Good Charlotte’s Joel Madden on the “Artist Friendly” podcast, Johnson reflected on the complicated bond he had with his father before Rocky’s passing.

“We had a major argument on Christmas 2019 … it was terrible,” he recounted during a December 2025 episode of Madden’s podcast, according to EWrestlingNews. “It was one of the worst fights we had over something trivial … and about a month later, he was gone. We had stopped talking.”

The Jumanji star revealed that his father attempted to reach him shortly before his death, but he missed the call.

“He called me, and I didn’t answer … I was at my child’s game. I thought I would return the call later. Then a day or two later, he passed away,” he recounted.

Johnson had previously honored his father on Instagram following his death in January 2020.

“I love you,” he captioned a video compilation showcasing his father’s wrestling highlights. “You shattered racial barriers, became a legendary figure in the ring, and paved your way through this life. I was that boy in the audience, watching you and admiring you from a distance, my hero. You raised me to take pride in our cultures and in who I am. You instilled in me the hardest lessons with love, through your diligent work and firm hand. I adored the qualities I saw in you. As I matured, I recognized the more profound, complex aspects of your character that needed to be understood. That’s when my admiration evolved into respect, and my empathy transformed into gratitude.”

He stated, "I am experiencing discomfort. However, we understand that it is merely pain and it will fade away. I will take your spirit and determination with me, as it is time to progress since I have a family to support and tasks to complete. Ultimately, I wish for you to find peace for your pioneering spirit, Soulman. May you be free from pain, free from regret, fulfilled and at peace. You led an incredibly rich, challenging, and groundbreaking life, giving everything in the ring. I love you, Dad, and I will forever be your proud and thankful son. Go and rest in peace."