{"id":214786,"date":"2026-01-05T08:38:20","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T08:38:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/05\/dwayne-johnson-recalls-parents-explosive-and-volcanic-relationship\/"},"modified":"2026-01-05T08:38:20","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T08:38:20","slug":"dwayne-johnson-recalls-parents-explosive-and-volcanic-relationship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/05\/dwayne-johnson-recalls-parents-explosive-and-volcanic-relationship\/","title":{"rendered":"Dwayne Johnson Recalls Parents’ ‘Explosive and Volcanic’ Relationship"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Dwayne Johnson<\/strong><\/a> is opening up about his parents\u2019 rocky marriage.<\/p>\n

The Smashing Machine<\/em><\/a> actor, 53, grew up surrounded by the professional wrestling business as the son of the late wrestler Rocky Johnson<\/strong> and Ata Johnson<\/strong>, herself\u00a0the daughter of Samoan-American wrestler Peter Maivia<\/strong> and his wife, wrestling promoter Lia Maivia<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In an interview with Variety<\/em><\/a> published on Sunday, January 4, Johnson recalled moving around the country at a young age with his parents due to his dad\u2019s wrestling career.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy own mom and dad had an explosive and volcanic relationship,\u201d he said. \u201cMy dad was a pro wrestler at a time when it was the Wild West. There wasn\u2019t million-dollar contracts. It was paycheck to paycheck and just trying to survive.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>Celebrities Who Have Complicated Relationships With Their Parents<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tOver the years, stars including Jennette McCurdy and Macaulay Culkin have discussed hitting rock bottom with their parents. Jennette broke down the abuse she faced because of her mother, Debra McCurdy, in her memoir, I Am Glad My Mom Died. \u201cOf course, there are moments where I fantasize that my mom would\u2019ve apologized or that [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The professional wrestler turned actor added, \u201cAnd my dad struggled with his addictions and focused on his career and himself, while my mom was at home, raising me. She had to give up her own dreams and support the man that she loves. All she wanted was to be seen, and she was never seen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I grew up watching that kind of decline in a relationship when a man battles his own demons. I watched their fights. I heard their fights, which is even worse,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n

Johnson\u2019s parents were wed from 1978 to 2003, when they divorced. Rocky died aged 75<\/a> of a pulmonary embolism in January 2020.<\/p>\n

Johnson recently recalled his own fractured relationship with his father before Rocky\u2019s death in a recent interview with Good Charlotte\u2019s Joel Madden<\/strong> on the latter\u2019s \u201cArtist Friendly\u201d podcast.<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>Happy Birthday, Dwayne \u2018The Rock\u2019 Johnson! His Biggest Moments<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tDwayne \u201cThe Rock\u201d Johnson has laid the smackdown on the WWE and Hollywood for nearly 30 years. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters Please enter a valid email. Subscribe By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly Deal of the Day This [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cWe got into this huge fight Christmas 2019 \u2026 it was awful,\u201d he said during a December 2025 episode of Madden\u2019s podcast, per EWrestlingNews<\/a>. \u201cOne of the biggest fights we ever got into about some just some stupid [stuff] \u2026 and then about a month later, he passed away. And we weren\u2019t talking.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Jumanji<\/em> star said his father tried to call him days before he died, but he didn\u2019t take the call.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe called me and I didn\u2019t take the call \u2026 I was at my kid\u2019s game. I thought, \u2018I\u2019ll call him back.\u2019 And then like a day or two later, he\u2019s gone,\u201d he shared.<\/p>\n

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