Dwayne Johnson Celebrates Late Father's Birthday with Heartfelt Post: 'Wish I Could Hug Him One More Time'

Mar. 15, 2025

Rocky and Dwayne Johnson.Photo:Dwayne Johnson/Instagram

Dwayne Johnson/Instagram

Dwayne Johnsonis celebrating his father’s birthday, more than four years after his death.

On Saturday, Aug. 24, Dwayne, 52, shared a series of photos onInstagramof himself and his father, the late WWE wrestlerRocky “Soulman” Johnson, to mark what would have been his 80th birthday.

“Happy heavy birthday to theSoulman🕊️❤️,” Dwayne wrote in his lengthy caption, before opening up about his father, whodied in 2020 at age 75.

“My old man was a real trailblazer as a pro wrestler coming up in the 60’s, 70’s & 80’s,” theMoanaactor continued. “As a black athlete he change a lot of people’s racial behaviors over the years with his in ring talent and his insane work ethic in the gym.”

Rocky Johnson (left) and Dwayne Johnson in 2008.MediaPunch/Shutterstock

MediaPunch/Shutterstock

“He taught me lessons - good and not good,” he continued. “Sometimes that father/son dynamic can be a complicated one, but in the end - it’s still love.”

Alongside his heartfelt message, Dwayne shared photos of his dad from decades ago training in the gym, posing with his championship belt, snapping a photo alongside bodybuilder Tony Atlas, holding up Dwayne as a kid, and posing with his son as an adult.

Dwayne concluded his caption: “I miss my old man, and wish I could hug him one more time. Happy Birthday Soulman 🥃❤️.”

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In the years since his dad’s death, Dwayne has been candid about the pair’s relationship — even expressing regret that he and Rockywere not on speaking terms at the time of his death.

Back in June 2023, Dwayne posted a video onInstagramin which he acknowledged that he felt “there was something I’d missed” in hisFather’s Day postshared a few days prior. He added at the time that he was sending his support to “all the fathers out there like me, who on this day, wedon’t have the privilege anymore of wishing our own dads a happy Father’s Day.”

“My dad taught me ‘respect is given when it’s earned, so get out there and earn it,’ " Dwayne also said in the video. “Actually, he would say ‘so get your a– out there and earn it.’ He made sure I was at the gym, even at 5 years old he was kicking my a– on the wrestling mats.”

Dwayne Johnson with his family in 2015.Albert L. Ortega/Getty

Albert L. Ortega/Getty

In March, Dwayne also reflected on his father’s life and legacy, opening up about Rocky’srecord-breaking milestones in the WWEand posting onInstagramthat he was “just delivering flowers to heaven to my old man.”

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“I regret not reconciling our complicated father/son s— before I lost him,” Dwayne added. “Raised me with tough fatherly love and an even tougher hand. The more I live life, the more grateful I am for it.”

source: people.com