Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Johnson in 2007
Birth Name: Dwayne Douglas Johnson
Place of Birth: Hayward, Alameda, California, United States
Date of Birth: May 2, 1972
Ethnicity:
*father – African-Canadian/Black Nova Scotian [including Beninese], small amount of Irish
*mother – Samoan, as well as 1/16th Scottish
Dwayne Johnson, also credited as The Rock, Flex Kavana, and Rocky Maivia, is an American actor, producer, businessperson, professional wrestler, and American/Canadian professional football player. He has starred in The Scorpion King, The Rundown, Doom, Gridiron Gang, Race to Witch Mountain, The Other Guys, Faster, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Hercules (2014), San Andreas, Moana, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Rampage, Skyscraper, Fighting with My Family, Jungle Cruise, DC League of Super-Pets, Black Adam, and the Fast and the Furious films, among many other productions; many of his films are among the most popular of the 21st century. He is 6′5″.
He is the son of Ata Johnson (born Feagaimaleata or Mataniufeagaimaleata Fitisemanu Maivia) and Rocky Johnson (born Wayde Douglas Bowles), a Canadian and American wrestler. His father was also billed as Sweet Ebony Diamond and Drew Glasteau. A picture of Dwayne at a young age, along with his parents, can be seen here. He is of Anoa’i family.
Dwayne’s father, who was black, African-Canadian, was born in Amherst, Nova Scotia, Canada, and had Black Nova Scotian heritage. Black Nova Scotians descend from African-Americans who left the U.S. after the American Revolution, having sided with the British. Dwayne’s paternal grandparents were both black, and Dwayne has stated that he also found out that he has some “strong Irish blood” on his father’s side. Dwayne has also been said to have First Nations (Native Canadian) ancestry, although it is not clear if that is accurate.
Dwayne’s mother is Samoan, and descends from Samoan royalty. She is the adoptive stepdaughter of Samoan professional wrestler Peter Maivia, and the daughter of wrestling promoter Lia Maivia. His mother is also of 1/16th Scottish descent. Dwayne spent some time growing up in Grey Lynn, New Zealand, where he was able to learn about his Pacific Islander heritage. He has a tribal “pe’a” chest-and-arm tattoo. He was also partly raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Hamden, Connecticut.
Dwayne was selected People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” in 2016. He is the second non-white man, and the second man of significant African ancestry, to have been given this title by the magazine (Denzel Washington, in 1996, is the first, and Idris Elba, in 2018, John Legend, in 2019, and Michael B. Jordan, in 2020, are the others, fitting both criteria). Dwayne is also the first Polynesian man to have been given the title.
Dwayne is married to singer and songwriter Lauren Hashian. He has a daughter, professional wrestler Ava (born Simone Garcia Johnson), with his former wife, businessperson, IFBB professional bodybuilder, and producer Dany Garcia, who works on many of his films; and two children with Lauren.
Dwyane’s paternal grandfather was James Henry A. Bowles (the son of John W. Bowles and Lila/Lilla/Lillian Jones). James was born in Amherst, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, Canada. John was the son of Stephen Bowles and Charlotte/Charlotta/Lottie Jones. Lila was the daughter of Henry Jones and Mary Jane.
Dwyane’s paternal grandmother was Lillian Gay (the daughter of Alfred Nathan Gay and Isabelle/Isabel/Isabell/Isabella Sickles). Lillian was born in Amherst, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Alfred was the son of Delia/Adelia. Isabelle was born on Prince Edward Island, the daughter of William Benjamin Sickles and Hannah Colecraft/Colecroft. Through this line, Dwayne is descended from Dembo Sickles, who was born, c. 1762, in Benin, and was sold as a slave to a man in Prince Edward Island.
Dwayne Johnson with his parents, 2015, photo by kathclick/Bigsotck.com
Dwayne’s biological maternal grandfather was John Sione Papali’itele Fitisemanu (the son of Malietoa Talavou Pe’a Fitisemanu and Alisa Jane Tuiloma Crichton). John was born on Vaisala, Samoa. Talavou was the son of Malietoa Fa’alata Talavou Fitisemanu and Salumalo Leilua. Fa’alata’s father was Malietoa Talavou Tonumaipe’a, King of Samoa. Alisa was the daughter of John Tuiloma Crichton, whose father was from Glasgow, Scotland, and of Talau’ula Malolo.
Dwayne’s maternal grandmother was Lia Maivia (born Ofelia Fuataga, the daughter of Sanitoa Aulaumea and Talaleu Soesa Fuataga). Lia Maivia was born in Lalomanu, Aleipata, Western Samoa, then under New Zealand rule, now independent. Sanitoa was the son of Aulaumea T. and Tulafono.
Dwyane’s adoptive maternal grandfather was born Fanene Pita Anderson (the son of Rebecca Fanene). Fanene was born on American Samoa; he wrestled under the name Peter Maivia, and was also known as Peter Anderson. In Dwayne’s own early wrestling days, he was known as Rocky Maivia, a combination of the nicknames of his father, Rocky Johnson, and Peter Maivia. Peter himself was adopted by Ifopo F. Amituana’i, the father of The Rev. Amituana’i Anoa’i. Ifopo was the great-grandfather of professional wrestler and actor Roman Reigns and professional wrestler Rikishi, and the great-great-grandfather of professional wrestlers Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso. The family was from Utulei on American Samoa. Dwayne is also a fourth cousin, once removed, of actress Eliana Sua. Dwayne’s maternal great-great-great-grandparents, William Crichton and Uputaua Falemalu Lesa, were also Eliana’s paternal great-great-great-great-grandparents. Peter Maivia was also a cousin of Australian-born professional wrestler Nia Jax‘s father.
Sources: https://www.cbc.ca
Genealogies of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson – http://www.geni.com
https://www.wikitree.com
Family history of Dwayne’s father – http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com
Marriage records of Dwayne’s paternal great-grandparents, Alfred Nathan Gay and Isabelle/Isabel/Isabell/Isabella Sickles – https://www.familysearch.org
https://www.familysearch.org
Dwayne’s paternal great-grandparents, Alfred Nathan Gay and Isabelle/Isabel/Isabell/Isabella Sickles, on the 1901 Canada Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Alfred Nathan Gay and Isabelle/Isabel/Isabell/Isabella Sickles on the 1911 Canada Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Johnson with wife Lauren Hashian, 2013, photo by kathclick/Bigstock.com
he’s actually full SAMOAN. His mom already had him before the negro dad came in the picture, but was raised by him.
DuMBaSS for the last ime he is half African and half samoan…check wikipedia U retarded reject…
well actually anyone can write anything on wikipedia it isnt all true stuff. im just sayin..
thats his black dad rocky johnson
what are you talking
and he always says in interview im black and samoan
and proud
I remember watching a joke about this on “Family Guy”……pricless :D
Maybe a bit of philapino in there somewhere lol
I laugh when people think he is italian or of an hispanic race. That show’s that people still are not familiarize w/the Polynesian/Pacific island Samoan features. Yes Dewayne is half black and samoan. But, if you look at him he has the Strong Polynesian/Samoan traits the body, hair, eyes, built and face. His father does’nt look Full African/black. His father can pass to be Samoan as well. Samoan People look like mixed people but they are Full blooded. For ex: mixed asian and black, or hispanic/puertoricanish. Alot of Samoans are mixed w/German or chinese. But the Real full blooded race looks like how dewayne looks Gorgeous! look at troy polamalu frm the Steelers he’s a full Samoan. They have that thick Curly/wavy or can be straight Hair. thick strong bones, etc Rock reps for both his backgrounds. And i think thats a beautiful thang. On WWE he rep’d hard for his grandfather who is a Samoan legend in the WWE. Most people don’t know that Dewayne is very strong in his Samoan side as well. He visits Samoa often, and He also has a title meaning his family in Samoa honored him and gave him a title/a High Chiefs Name “SEIULI”. The King/high chief of Samoa at the time honored The Rock!. People don’t know that but in Samoa Rock has a title as well a HIGH CHEIF NAME! given to Dewayne Johnson. In Samoa he is SEIULI. It’s alot to explain but it’s the culture. important titles/names are given to certain people in the fam, etc. etc. but yeah! lol
THANK YOU DIMPLES! he definately is samoan and african american his mom is samoan and his dad is african american, I have his book and it states that he is so where are you guys gettin all these other races from and to the guy that said he and the rock were friends i dont find that to be very true cause you wouldve known that the rock is pure samoan and black, and in his book it never says anything about him bein from new zealand canada or cali only places he talked about was miami, bethleham pa., and theres another place but i forgot….i was so in love with the rock which made me wanna read up on him im over him now though lol but people should really read about a person instead of guessing what they are
Lol his Dad is African Canadian…
I know this is late, but I’ll assume you’re still just as ignorant. The Rock’s mother is Samoan. The Rock’s father is Black/African American, who happened to be born in Canada. Therefore The Rock is Samoan AND African American. “Afro-Canadian” is not a race. How is that hard for you (and others) to understand???
There’s now such race as African/American (or Afro-American) either it means someone of African ancestry born in the U.S.. African/Canadian (or Afro-Canadian) is someone of African ancestry born in Canada. You can’t have an African/American born in Canada. You can have someone with and African/American father born in Canada but they’re still African/Canadian. It’s like saying Asian/American is a race.
Dan Maloahaya,
Si dwayne es tu amigo,presentamelo!!! ; )