After five strangers learned that they are half-siblings through a DNA test, they are now coming forward to tell their story to the world. They are the children of Rocky Johnson, the father of Hollywood superstar Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
Speaking with Sports Illustrated, Lisa Purves, a 53-year-old filmmaker, said she originally wanted to do a documentary on abandoned children. But she realized her life story would also make for good material after discovering that she was not the only one Rocky fathered. She had three other half-brothers, Adrian Bowles, Trevor Edwards, and Aaron Fowler, and a half-sister, Paula Parsons.
Purves said that she first reached out to her biological dad when she was 18 years old and then again when she was in her 30s, but Rocky rebuffed her. Paula also had the same experience when she tried to meet Rocky when she was 16. Her father made promises, but nothing came true.
Between 2014 to 2020, the five strangers found each other after taking a DNA test that linked them to Jay "Ricky" Johnson, their 68-year-old uncle and Rocky's youngest brother. Trevor was the first to meet Ricky in person, who never hesitated to welcome him to the family.
Lisa was bolstered by the idea of a documentary about her and her half-siblings when she got in touch with their uncle, who was the one who told her about Adrian, Trevor, Aaron, and Paula. Ricky told Sports Illustrated that he was bent on reinforcing his love for his nieces and nephews because Rocky did not want to have a relationship with his biological children.
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Who Was Rocky Johnson?
Rocky Johnson, born Wayde Douglas Bowles, started as a professional wrestler in Canada. Before becoming a star, he married Una Sparks, and they shared two kids, Wanda and Curtis. He shot to popularity in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) around the '70s and established his famous stage name.
Because of the nature and the demands of his work at the WWE, Rocky and Una's marriage ended. By then, Rocky was a wrestling superstar who married his second wife, Ata Maivia, the daughter of another famous wrestler.
Rocky and Ata had one son, Dwayne, who would follow the same path as his father to become the more popular wrestler, The Rock. Eventually, Dwayne crossed over from wrestling to acting to become a Hollywood box-office superstar.
WWE Hall of Fame wrestler Rocky Johnson, father of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, has died. He was 75. https://t.co/wJes0C1rF9 pic.twitter.com/0nwaQkBiyC
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) January 16, 2020
Rocky died in 2020 of undisclosed causes at 75 without publicly recognizing his biological children, per The Sun. Because he never had a relationship with them, Dwayne was also not given a chance to have a relationship with his half-siblings.
Lisa, however, said that her superstar half-brother does not owe them anything, and she did not make the documentary to ruin Dwayne. All they want is the recognition that they are Rocky's biological kids.
"[Rocky] was our dad just as well as Dwayne's," Paula said, implying that Rocky was proud to have Dwayne as his son for most of his life. His other kids never felt this from their father.
Facing Their Shame
Lisa further said that she wanted to share their story because millions of children just like her and her half-siblings are looking for a connection with their biological parents. She said that their story would help other people heal and face their shame.
She also said that she reached out to Wanda and Curtis so they could be part of the documentary, but they declined her invitation. On the other hand, Dwayne's people did not reply to Lisa's correspondence.
Meanwhile, Dwayne has also been exploring his own relationship with his father via the comedy series "Young Rock," which has been renewed for season 3, per NBC. Trevor said he has been following the show and felt that the depiction of their dad, who was not perfect, was not sugarcoated.
