Dwayne Johnson had to relive some “incredibly tough” memories about his late father for his new sitcom, “Young Rock.”
The upcoming show — which is based on The Rock’s life and sees Joseph Lee Anderson playing Rocky Johnson — is largely lighthearted while still referencing some of his early struggles during his formative years.
Speaking during NBC’s TCA press tour on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021, he said: “I thought, well, let’s not take the easy route.
“But it was incredibly complicated and it was incredibly tough…
“Growing up, and you know we specifically went with these timelines in my life that were very defining times at 10 years old, 15 and 18 … there’s a lot of things in between those years that took place…
“But it was complicated and the relationship that I had with my dad was incredibly complicated — that was fuelled by tough love.”
Johnson noted how his dad was “kicked out of his house at 13,” which “shaped the man” who raised him.
He added: “And in that complication came an extraordinary life that was full of travel. I lived in 13 different states by the time I was 13 years old, also lived in New Zealand.”
The 48-year-old old former WWE superstar — who followed his father’s footsteps into the wrestling business before becoming a Hollywood star — also heaped praise on Anderson’s portrayal of Rocky in the sitcom.
He said: “My dad died one year ago this month last year, he died suddenly, and he’s obviously featured throughout the show and Joseph, he did a tremendous job playing my dad.
“He would have loved this, he would have loved this, and he would have been so proud because for the first time, certainly in prime time, we are showcasing this world, that he and all of his brothers of the rings, so to speak, of those men in the ’70s and the ’80s that they gave their life to.”
