Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is a household name, synonymous with charisma, muscle, and box office hits. Fans worldwide are fascinated by his life, often leading to curious searches online. One such query that pops up? “Who is the Rock’s twin brother?” The truth is, Dwayne Johnson doesn’t have a twin brother. However, the story of his siblings is far more compelling and complex than a simple twin tale. Instead of a twin, “The Rock” has a larger family tree than many realize, branching out to include not just the half-siblings he knew growing up, but several more who emerged later in life, revealing a hidden chapter in the legacy of the Johnson wrestling dynasty.
This article delves into the real story of Dwayne Johnson’s siblings, shedding light on his family history and the fascinating connections that have come to define his life beyond the wrestling ring and Hollywood screen. Prepare to explore the extended family of “The Rock,” a narrative filled with unexpected discoveries, familial bonds, and the enduring impact of a wrestling legend father.
Dwayne Was Raised Knowing Only Two Half-Siblings
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Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson pictured alongside his parents, Ata Johnson and wrestling icon Rocky Johnson.
For many years, Dwayne Johnson was perceived and raised as an only child. Born in 1972, his early life revolved around his parents, Ata and Rocky Johnson. Rocky Johnson, a celebrated Hall of Fame professional wrestler, and Ata, daughter of wrestlers Peter Maivia and Lia Maivia, instilled a strong sense of family and the wrestling tradition in Dwayne.
However, Dwayne was aware of two older half-siblings from his father’s first marriage to Una Sparks: a sister, Wanda Bowles, and a brother, Curtis Bowles Johnson. Despite knowing of their existence, Dwayne’s upbringing was largely that of an only child. As he confessed in a 2019 interview with Fatherly, “I grew up an only child. So admittedly, I grew up selfish in a lot of ways.”
His childhood was far from stationary, mirroring his father’s nomadic wrestling career. Dwayne and his parents frequently moved, traversing 13 different states by the time he reached high school. This transient lifestyle, coupled with the demanding nature of professional wrestling in the ’70s and ’80s, meant Dwayne’s world was primarily centered around his immediate family, with limited interaction with Wanda and Curtis.
Wanda and Curtis: Growing Up Separate in Toronto
Wanda Bowles, born in December 1962, and Curtis Bowles Johnson, born in May 1965, were Rocky Johnson’s children from his first marriage to Una Sparks. Rocky and Una married in 1966, but the allure and demands of professional wrestling soon cast a shadow over their relationship.
As reported by Sports Illustrated, Una desired Rocky to leave the wrestling circuit and return to Toronto to be with her and their children. Despite having a job opportunity outside of wrestling, Rocky chose to pursue his wrestling dreams, leading to a separation and eventual divorce in 1978. Wanda and Curtis were primarily raised by their mother in Toronto, Canada, geographically and emotionally distanced from their father’s wrestling world.
Despite the physical distance during their childhood, Rocky publicly acknowledged Wanda and Curtis during his WWE Hall of Fame induction in 2008. In a heartfelt speech, while being introduced by Dwayne himself, Rocky thanked his “beautiful daughter, Wanda, [and] my son Curtis.”
While Rocky’s career might have limited his presence in Wanda and Curtis’s early lives, Curtis maintained a closer bond with his father as an adult. Following Rocky’s death from a heart attack in January 2020, Curtis shared an emotional tribute on Instagram, writing, “You were my super hero as a youngster, & my teacher as an adult. I will always carry with me the lessons you taught me & I cherish the time we had together on this planet.”
The Revelation: Five More Half-Siblings Come to Light
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Rocky Johnson being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2008, alongside his son Dwayne Johnson.
In a surprising turn of events, a Sports Illustrated article in June 2022 unveiled a significant expansion to Dwayne Johnson’s family. The investigation revealed that Rocky Johnson had allegedly fathered five additional children with five different women during the 1960s and 70s. Genealogical DNA testing confirmed these individuals as Dwayne’s half-siblings, paternal daughters and sons of Rocky Johnson.
This revelation introduced Paula Parsons, Trevor Edwards, Lisa Purves, Adrian Bowles, and Aaron Fowler into the Johnson family narrative. These newly discovered siblings, born across Canada, each have their own unique stories of growing up without knowing their famous father.
Paula Parsons, the eldest of this group, was born in May 1964 to Thema in Toronto. Thema and Rocky’s relationship lasted two years before Paula’s birth. Paula was raised by her grandparents in Nova Scotia.
Trevor Edwards was born in Montreal in March 1967. His mother, Doreen, an immigrant from the Caribbean, met Rocky while working in Ontario.
Lisa Purves, born in Vancouver in October 1968, is the fifth of Rocky’s children. Her mother, Vera Pinter, lived with Rocky until he left for a wrestling show when she was four months pregnant, never to return. Vera last heard from Rocky just before Lisa’s birth and later discovered he was married with other children.
In 1970, Rocky fathered two more sons: Adrian Bowles, born in April and raised by his mother Carolyn in Nova Scotia, and Aaron Fowler, born in June and raised in Nova Scotia and British Columbia by his mother.
Dwayne Johnson has not publicly commented on the emergence of these five half-siblings. However, the siblings, in their Sports Illustrated interview, expressed no expectations from their famous younger brother. As Lisa Purves stated, “Dwayne doesn’t owe us anything.”
Lisa Purves’ Documentary: Unveiling Their Family Story
Lisa Purves, a filmmaker based in Vancouver, has taken a proactive approach to exploring her newfound family. Since 2018, she has been working on a documentary titled Just Call Me Lisa, chronicling her and her half-siblings’ journey of discovering their shared paternal lineage and grappling with their father’s legacy.
Initially conceived as a documentary about children abandoned by their parents, Just Call Me Lisa evolved into a deeply personal project. Lisa realized her own life mirrored the themes she was researching, prompting her to turn the lens inward. The title reflects her personal struggle with identity and the absence of a paternal family name.
Four of Lisa’s half-siblings – Paula, Trevor, Adrian, and Aaron – have participated in the documentary, sharing their individual experiences and collectively forging a new family bond. Lisa describes the documentary as transformative, stating, “My life has changed completely since we found each other and not only have we formed a loving and caring family, their stories are also being told alongside mine in this film.”
Rocky’s Death and Unresolved Emotions
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Rocky Johnson at Wrestle Reunion in 2012.
Rocky Johnson’s death in January 2020 at the age of 75 from a heart attack triggered a complex wave of emotions for all his children. Dwayne Johnson had openly discussed his “[complicated]” relationship with his father. He revealed that they had a significant argument just weeks before Rocky’s passing and did not have a chance to reconcile.
“We weren’t talking, or I wasn’t talking, and three weeks later, he dropped dead, and that was it,” Dwayne shared in a video, expressing regret for the lack of closure.
For Lisa and her newly found siblings, Rocky’s death also stirred unresolved feelings. Lisa wrote about her anger at his passing, as she had intended to confront and forgive him face-to-face for her own healing. His death abruptly closed that chapter, leaving a void. She also highlighted the profound impact of Rocky’s death on her brothers and sister, emphasizing her commitment to helping them heal.
A New Family Bond Through Uncle Ricky
Despite the complex relationship with their father, Dwayne’s half-siblings have found connection and support in Rocky’s younger brother, Ricky Johnson. Trevor Edwards was the first to meet Ricky in person in 2017, a meeting followed by a DNA test confirming their uncle-nephew relationship.
Ricky embraced Trevor and, subsequently, the other newly discovered siblings, welcoming them into the family. He played a crucial role in connecting Lisa with Paula, Trevor, and Adrian in 2018, leading to a family reunion in Toronto. Adrian described Ricky as the linchpin, stating, “We’re all close because of [Ricky].”
Ricky and his wife Jeanie have cultivated strong relationships with Rocky’s children and their families, maintaining regular communication and organizing virtual calls. Ricky openly acknowledges his disapproval of his brother’s approach to fatherhood and is actively striving to compensate for Rocky’s shortcomings by offering love and support to all his nieces and nephews.
The Search Continues: Could There Be More Siblings?
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The Johnson family, including Simone Johnson, Dwayne Johnson, Lauren Hashian, Ata Johnson, and Rocky Johnson in 2015.
The story of Dwayne Johnson’s siblings may not be fully written. Lisa Purves believes there may be more half-siblings yet to be discovered. She continues her search, fueled by rumors and a desire to fully understand her father’s extensive family.
On her blog, Lisa wrote about the ongoing search, stating, “So far there are five of us. All of us DNA tested and proven to be family. And rumors of several more, all of whom I am currently trying to find.”
Ricky Johnson confirmed that Rocky was aware of some of the children he had fathered. Despite this awareness, Rocky chose a path that kept these families separate for decades. Ricky, in contrast, is actively working to build bridges and foster connections within this expanded Johnson family.
In conclusion, while Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson doesn’t have a twin brother, his real-life family story is far richer and more intricate. It’s a tale of wrestling legacies, hidden family branches, and the ongoing journey of discovery and connection. The search for “who is The Rock’s twin brother” might lead to a dead end, but exploring the narrative of his siblings reveals a compelling human story about family, identity, and the enduring power of connection, even in the most unexpected of circumstances.
