Dwayne Johnson Reflects on His 'Complicated Relationship' With His Late Dad (Exclusive)

Dwayne Johnson on Season 2 of ‘Young Rock’ and How He Included L…

Tim McGraw & Faith Hill on Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford Joinin…

Watch Angelyne in Rare Interviews About Her Iconic L.A. Billboar…

David Oyelowo on Joining the 'Yellowstone' Universe With Bass Re…

Johnny Depp Not Dating His Attorney Camille Vasquez (Source)

BIBI on Her History-Making Coachella Performance (Exclusive)

Watch Johnny Depp's Testimony Claiming He Was Dropped From 'Pira…

Rob Kardashian Wants Daughter Dream to Feel ‘Secure and Safe’ Am…

Kourtney Kardashian's Kids Cringe Over Her PDA With Travis Barker

Prince William and Kate Middleton Go Hollywood Glam at ‘Top Gun:…

Ryan Reynolds Recalls 'Beautiful' Moment With His Brothers Prote…

Adam Demos on 'Sex/Life' Season 2 and His Girlfriend's Reaction …

Travis Barker and Kourtney Kardashian Arrive in Italy for Offici…

Zendaya and Tom Holland Show PDA in Boston

Ashley Graham Shows Off 'New Tummy' Months After Giving Birth

Megan Fox Details 'Blood-Drinking Ceremonies' With Machine Gun K…

Lil Jon on Why He Started Doing Home Renovations With New HGTV S…

Randy Jackson Reveals Which Celebs He’d Like to See on ‘Name Tha…

Abby Lee Miller Responds to the People Who Abandoned Her While S…
Dwayne Johnson looks back on the relationship he had with his late father and admits it had its share of complications. And even though Rocky Johnson died a little over two years ago, the 49-year-old actor says they've never been closer.
The Ballers star opened up to ET's Kevin Frazier about the life lessons his late father parted on him and how they resonated with him after his father passed away in January 2020. Johnson conjured up those memories while discussing his father's role (portrayed by Joseph Lee Anderson) in season 2 of Young Rock, which premieres Tuesday night on NBC.
"I was an only child and I had a complicated relationship with my dad, though he was my hero when I was a little boy," Johnson says. "And I have a loving, supportive relationship with my mom, but all the lessons that my mom was able to teach me over the years I didn't realize because I was running around getting arrested and being an idiot at some points in my life."
Johnson, who had lived in 13 different states by the time he was 13, said his father getting kicked out of his home at just 13 years old and becoming homeless proved to be a hardship that ultimately shaped the man who raised him with tough love.

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and his mom and dad at the hand/footprint ceremony honoring him held at TCL Chinese Theatre on May 19, 2015 in Hollywood.
"But some of the things and the lessons that I learned from my old man I didn't realize how critical those lessons were until years later," Johnson said. "And, to be honest with you, I didn't realize how important they were until he passed away."
Rocky Johnson, an iconic wrestling star himself, had what's called a deep vein thrombosis, his son would later reveal, which is essentially a blood clot in the leg. Rocky died quickly following a massive heart attack.
Johnson said he never got the chance to say goodbye to him and would have given "anything right now to give him a big ole hug and a big ole kiss before he crossed over and just say thank you and I love you and I respect you."
Looking back now on their relationship, Johnson takes solace in that their bond's never been stronger.
"You know, when we lose loved ones like that we have to go through our own process," Johnson explained. "But when my dad passed away you look back -- and I know a lot of people feel this way too -- it's that wild thing that happens where in life if you have a complicated, loving relationship like I did with my dad, then in death and in passing -- in this wild way -- you actually become closer."
It's no wonder Johnson feels a roller coaster of emotions while watching Young Rock.
"Young Rock continues to be the most surreal experience I have ever had in my very lucky and fortunate career," he says. "And I watch these scenes, after watching episodes and getting ready for tonight's premiere and I laugh. I get shook. I get teary eyed as I'm watching these experience that I have lived and now I get a chance to share them with the world."
With so much of his past being relived via a sitcom on network television, it's worth wondering if his wife, Lauren Hashian, has learned anything new about his tough upbringing and checkered past.
"I mean, she shakes her head all the time and, you know, these are all stories that we have talked about over the years," Johnson says. "It's one thing when we talk about them but it's another thing when you actually watch them play out on TV by other actors whom she knows and is very close to with my family. I met my wife back in 2007, but so much has happened in the 80s and 90s. So, there's so much for us to relive together."
And it's not just Johnson's wife traveling down memory lane with the sitcom based on Johnson's life. His three daughters are also glued to the TV, as is Johnson's mom, Ata. So, what does mom think of the show?
"She'll watch it and she'll laugh, she'll cry," Johnson says. "And she'll constantly say, 'You know, I really think J. Lo should have played me.' I was like, 'Uh. She's a little busy mom."
For the record, New Zealand actress Stacey Leilua portrays Ata in the sitcom.
RELATED CONTENT:
Dwayne Johnson Sends Love to Tyrese Gibson After Death of His Mom
Dwayne Johnson Introduces the Teams at Super Bowl LVI
Dwayne Johnson Rejects Vin Diesel's Plea to Return to 'Fast & Furious'
Dwayne Johnson Surprises His Mom With a New Car!
Dwayne Johnson Celebrates Daughter Jasmine's 6th Birthday
See Dwayne Johnson Surprise Deserving Moviegoer With a New Truck
Dwayne Johnson Wants to Be the Next James Bond