The Rock Battles Mysterious Illness for Years
Actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson recently revealed that he has been struggling for years with unexplained gut health issues, at times fearing that his condition might impact his work.
On The Mark Hyman Show aired on June 11, Johnson opened up to Dr. Mark Hyman about his journey to identify and treat the illness. Dr. Hyman has been assisting him in his recovery in recent times. According to The Rock, he had consulted many specialists over the years, but none could determine the cause of his chronic digestive problems. As a result, he has been unable to completely cure the condition.
Toward the end of 2023, The Rock shared his health concerns with his longtime agent and business partner, Ari Emanuel. Although he felt physically strong on the outside, something felt off internally. Emanuel suggested he meet Dr. Hyman, who specializes in functional medicine. That led to a virtual consultation between Johnson and the doctor.
According to the Institute for Functional Medicine, this approach aims to help patients identify and systematically address the root causes of health imbalances rather than just treating symptoms.
The Rock on Dr. Hyman’s talk show, June 11. Photo: YouTube/Mark Hyman MD
The Fast & Furious star began treatment in early 2024, around the same time he was preparing for his Final Boss campaign at WrestleMania 40. Simultaneously, he had a packed film schedule, promoting Red One and Moana 2, while filming his new project The Smashing Machine. “At that time, I was about to enter a grueling nine-month work period. I remember thinking: ‘How am I going to get through this when my gut is constantly off? I can’t even digest food,’” he recalled.
Eventually, Dr. Hyman discovered the root cause after extensive testing. Years of antibiotic use had disrupted Johnson’s gut microbiome, resulting in a deficiency of Akkermansia—a beneficial bacteria that helps protect the gut lining and prevent inflammation and leaky gut syndrome.
The actor stated that he now feels healthier than he has in years, thanks to consistent treatment. On the show, he chose to share his experience to raise awareness about often-overlooked or misunderstood health issues. He also echoed Dr. Hyman’s belief that many men neglect their health, avoiding doctor visits to avoid appearing weak.
“For us men, real strength begins with self-awareness. Sometimes, checking in on your health is the smartest move,” The Rock shared on Instagram, quoting the show’s intro.
The Rock at the Moana 2 premiere in the UK, 2024. Photo: Lapresse
Next up, The Rock returns to the big screen with The Smashing Machine, set for release on October 3. In the film, he plays legendary MMA fighter Mark Kerr, co-starring Emily Blunt. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Johnson underwent hours of prosthetic application to physically transform for the role and trained to adopt Kerr’s Ohio accent. In June 2024, he injured his elbow while performing intense fight scenes.
Outside of acting, The Rock is active in business and highly engaged on social media. He frequently shares videos promoting his men’s skincare brand, along with candid family moments and behind-the-scenes clips.
Currently, The Rock has nearly 400 million followers on Instagram. In January, a viral video of his daughters Jasmine (10) and Tia (7) giving him a makeover garnered over 390 million views.
At 53, The Rock remains one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, known for action-packed roles in franchises like Fast & Furious, San Andreas (2015), and Skyscraper (2018). According to Forbes, he has frequently topped the list of highest-paid actors in the world. Before entering Hollywood, Johnson was a legendary wrestler, winning 10 world championships. Though he no longer competes regularly, he still makes appearances in the wrestling world.
In 2012, he married singer Lauren Hashian, with whom he shares two daughters, Jasmine and Tia. He also has a daughter from a previous marriage to producer Dany Garcia—24-year-old Simone Alexandra Johnson, who debuted as a professional wrestler under the ring name Ava Raine in 2022, following in her father’s footsteps.
