Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson found a memorable way to thank his father, Rocky for all the love he received growing up. (Getty images)
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson might be one of the biggest Hollywood stars to date, but he is proving to be an even better son after opening up about buying his tough-guy dad a special surprise that turned into a tender moment he’ll never forget.
Johnson, 46, said he called his father, former pro-wrestler Rocky Johnson and told him he was gifting him with a brand new home of his choice and location, PEOPLE reports.
“I just got off the phone with my dad and man, it was a great call,” the actor shared in a IG video on Sunday.
“About 2-3 weeks ago, I called my dad and I said, ‘Look, you’re probably happy where you’re at.’ I said, ‘but I want to do something for you. I want to buy you a brand new home, wherever you wanna live, you can live.”
“He couldn’t believe it, he was speechless,” Johnson continued.
His reaction was even more shocking since Johnson said it’s rare that his father shows a tender side.
“And he goes, ‘I’m so excited, and I’m also so nervous. My dad’s an old school tough guy, I said, ‘What the hell you nervous about? He said, ‘Well, no one,’ he was searching for words, and he’s like, ‘no one ever called to tell me they were going to buy me a house before and the fact that it’s you, it’s my son, I’m so proud of you, and I love you so much.”
That unexpected response warmed his heart.
“I’ve never heard my dad talk like that.”
“It felt good to me, and it felt good to my heart,” he continued.
“My dad used to beat my ass, tough love, and I hated it back then, but I’m so grateful for it now and it just felt good to kinda give back to the ones who raised you so, love you too, pop.”
Johnson explained more in the caption along with the video about his appreciation for his tough, but tender, dad.
“He’s a weathered soul and like all weathered souls, there’s often a harsh storied path that got them there. Well for my pops that path started at 13yrs old when his mom kicked him out of his house on Christmas day and forced him to live on the streets (very true and f—ed up story) so his reality of compassion and love was forged thru pain and toughness,” he wrote. “He raised me with that tough physical love and used to beat my ass in the gyms and on wrestling mats. I hated it then as a little boy, but grateful for it today as a man.”
“It’s shaped my DNA and helped inform how I raise my own babies (minus the ass kickings) but always instilling the value of hard work and discipline. For that I’m grateful and this one felt good. Crazy how full circle life can come. Enjoy your new house pop – what a storied path and thanks for the ass kickings,” he continued.
A house for his mama, too.
Just a few months ago, Johnson extended the same kindness to his mother Ata Johnson when he surprised her with a “golden ticket” that gifted her a new home of her choice.
“Surprise! Bought my mom a new home for Christmas,” the actor said.
His 70-year-old mom was beside herself with excitement.
“Guess what?” she says to her 3-year old granddaughter, Jasmine. “I get a brand-new house!”
You have to love a man who does right by his parents.
Great chat with my old man. Felt good to my cold 🖤 to hear him express his love. He's a weathered soul and like all weathered souls, there's often a harsh storied path that got them there. Well for my pops that path started at 13yrs old when his mom kicked him out of his house on Christmas day and forced him to live on the streets (very true and fucked up story) so his reality of compassion and love was forged thru pain and toughness. He raised me with that tough physical love and used to beat my ass in the gyms and on wrestling mats. I hated it then as a little boy, but grateful for it today as a man. It's shaped my DNA and helped inform how I raise my own babies (minus the ass kickings;) but always instilling the value of hard work and discipline. For that I'm grateful and this one felt good. Crazy how full circle life can come. Enjoy your new house pop - what a storied path and thanks for the ass kickings 😉💪🏾🏠 #weathered
1.6m Likes, 18.4k Comments - @therock on Instagram: "Great chat with my old man. Felt good to my cold 🖤 to hear him express his love. He's a weathered..."
Over the holidays, the action star also surprised his mother, Ata, with a new home. Days after Christmas, Johnson shared his mom's emotional reaction on his Instagram.
"This one felt good. Surprise! Bought my mom a new home for Christmas," he began, before explaining that his childhood was full of moving from little apartment to little apartment across the country as his parents tried to make ends meet. "The first home my parents ever lived in was the one I bought for them in 1999. They divorced about 5yrs later and as with life, stuff happens and things got a little complicated. Since then I always made sure my mom and dad have everything they’ll ever need."
This one felt good. Surprise! Bought my mom a new home for Christmas. All our lives growing up we lived in little apartments all across the country. Lived like gypsies on the road from one state to another. The first home my parents ever lived in was the one I bought for them in 1999. They divorced about 5yrs later and as with life, stuff happens and things got a little complicated. Since then I always made sure my mom and dad have everything they'll ever need - houses, cars etc. But the house this time is a special one and the timing is very meaningful. I told her to treat this card like it's "Willy Wonka's Golden Ticket" because she gets to choose any home she wants - anywhere she wants. I always say, if you got a good mama, then you gotta pretty good shot at becoming a decent human being. And somehow, somewhere along the line I became one lucky SOB to be able to make stuff like this happen. Merry Christmas Ma and WOOOHOOO enjoy your new home. Dwanta 🎅🏾
2.8m Likes, 59.8k Comments - @therock on Instagram: "This one felt good. Surprise! Bought my mom a new home for Christmas. All our lives growing up we..."