Dwayne Johnson Was Never Told 'I Love You' by Dad Who Lived on the Streets — He Gifted Him a New Home Later

Dwayne Johnson endured a difficult childhood, and his father, Rocky Johnson, raised him with a stern hand. However, his upbringing still resulted in his success. Continue reading to find out more.

WWE superstar and famous actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson had a difficult childhood. According to him, growing up was incredibly complicated and challenging.

Between the ages of 10, 15, and 18, Dwayne revealed that many complicated things happened between him and his father, Rocky Johnson, and that their relationship was fueled by tough love. Nevertheless, the way Rocky treated Dwayne resulted from his difficult upbringing. The former was kicked out of the house as a 13-year-old on Christmas day.

Rocky had to live through the early stages of his life on the street, which influenced his compassion and love forged through the pain and toughness he endured. Living his teenage life as a homeless boy also influenced his fathering skills and how he raised his son, Dwayne. The actor's complicated childhood also resulted in the family moving a lot.

By the time Dwayne clocked 13, the same age his father got kicked out of the house, he had lived in 13 different states. Rocky grew up not just homeless but also fatherless in a small town in Nova Scotia. At the time, Black people faced heavy oppression, and he experienced every form of racism one could imagine as a young man.

Dwayne's parents also struggled financially. He was just 14 years old when they were evicted and forced off the island they lived on, Honolulu, Hawaii. The actor watched his mother and family crying due to the eviction notice.

The eviction led to Dwayne living in a motel outside Nashville, where he had to steal steaks from nearby grocery stores. However, the family's situation was so bad he would not even be able to cook the stolen meat.

Although Dwayne hated how Rocky used to beat him in the gym and on wrestling mats, he has grown to understand how those experiences shaped him into becoming a man. Rocky's upbringing and tough love in raising his son taught Dwayne the value of hard work and discipline. The actor said:

"My dad was kicked out of his house at 13, and he was homeless, so that then shaped the man who then raised me."

DWAYNE JOHNSON BUYS HIS MOM AND DAD A HOUSE

In March 2019, Dwayne took to his Instagram to announce he was buying his dad a house. In a video uploaded on his page, the actor explained the conversation he had just had with his father. The actor wanted to appreciate Rocky for his impact on his life and how he was raised.

So Dwyane called his father to inform him that he wanted to buy him a home wherever he wished to live. Rocky was speechless when he heard what Dwayne wanted to do for him. The former even felt a bit nervous because the gesture from his son was so touching and unexpected.

According to Dwayne, Rocky expressed how proud he felt for how far his son had come. The moment meant a lot to Dwayne because he had never heard his father express his love for him or how proud he made him feel. He disclosed:

"He was searching for words. 'No one ever called to tell me they were gonna 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.' I never heard my dad talk like that. It felt good to me and it felt good to my heart."

Dwayne also revealed that Rocky, a Florida boy, had informed him he would look at properties in North Florida. In addition to the house, Dwayne also bought his father a car as a Christmas gift. The actor revealed the older Johnson never asked him for much, and his needs had been the barest over the years.

Dwayne also confessed it felt good buying the car for his father because the latter had a hard life growing up. Not forgetting his mother, Dwayne showed love for her and bought her a house as a Christmas present.

In a video uploaded on his Instagram, the actor's mom was left surprised when a Christmas card she was reading revealed Dwayne had bought her a brand new home.

In the caption, Dwayne explained how he grew up living in little apartments across the country with his parents and how they lived like gypsies, constantly moving from one place to another. He further revealed that the first home his parents ever lived in was the one he bought them in 1999; however, they divorced just five years later.

After that, Dwayne became determined to provide them with everything they would ever need, including cars, houses, etc. Nevertheless, buying a house for his mother at that moment felt very meaningful.

He also told her to treat the Christmas card like a "Willy Wonka Golden Ticket" because she could pick any home wherever she wanted. Dwayne then concluded by declaring that anyone with a good mother has a pretty chance of becoming a decent human being.

ROCKY JOHNSON DIES

On January 16, 2020, news broke that Dwayne Johnson's father, Rocky Johnson, WWE Hall of Famer, died at 75. Rocky, who endured difficulties growing up in Nova Scotia, turned his life around when he started entertainment wrestling in the 1960s.

During his wrestling career, Rocky fought worldwide and even teamed up with Tony Atlas for tag team matches. The pair, known as "The Soul Patrol," made history in 1983 when they defeated "The Wild Samoans" to become the first African-American World Tag Team Champions in WWE hosting.

After Rocky's death, Dwayne revealed in an Instagram clip that the former had been feeling unwell and battling a cold and infection. However, that all changed when he was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot in the leg).

Dwayne revealed the blood clot traveled from his leg to his lungs and clotted the lung, which resulted in a massive heart attack that eventually killed him. Meanwhile, the actor revealed he did not get to say goodbye to his dad. Dwayne confessed:

"I'd give anything right now to give him a big ol' hug and a big ol' kiss before he crossed over and just say thank you and I love you and I respect you. But I didn't get a chance to say that. But such is life."

Afterward, Dwayne posted a tribute to his dad. He uploaded an old wrestling clip of Rocky and praised the late wrestler for breaking color barriers and becoming a wrestling legend.

As a child sitting ringside and watching his father perform, Dwayne became inspired by his exploits, and his dad became his hero. He also felt grateful for the love and hard hand he was raised with. Dwayne wrote:

"You lived a very full, very hard, barrier breaking life and left it all in the ring. I love you dad and I'll always be your proud and grateful son. Go rest high."

Although losing his father hurts Dwayne, he would carry on the late wrestler's hard work and ethics. Also, he will implement those qualities in providing for his family and achieving his goals.