Dwayne Johnson’s Mark Kerr transformation showcased his full dedication to portraying the MMA warrior in the biographical film The Smashing Machine, released in 2025. Known for his WWE superstar status, Johnson committed extensively, undergoing hours of prosthetic makeup daily to authentically capture Kerr’s appearance and persona.
Johnson’s meticulous approach involved applying more than a dozen prosthetics, a process that took three to four hours each day. This physical change was crucial to embodying the former fighter not just visually, but emotionally and mentally, allowing Johnson to fully immerse himself in the role.
Immersing Into Mark Kerr’s Life and Career
The transformation extended beyond looks; Johnson adopted Kerr’s mannerisms, voice, and attitude to deeply connect with the complex life of the MMA star. Johnson explained that by the time filming began,
“I was Mark Kerr and I felt it, from how he walked to how he talked and how he looked at life.”
His close friendship with co-star Emily Blunt, who portrayed Kerr’s then-wife Dawn Staples, created a foundation of trust and vulnerability. Johnson remarked,
“If Emily [Blunt] and I weren’t best friends, I don’t know that we could’ve gone to the places we went to.”
Ryan Bader, a professional mixed martial artist who worked alongside Johnson on the film, applauded the WWE star’s commitment to the role. Bader noted,
“He walked like Mark Kerr, he talked like Mark Kerr. He had his mannerisms, his soft voice.”
He recalled seeing Johnson preparing for scenes in a locker room, remarking on Johnson’s intense focus and realism:
“He’s in his own head. Thousand-yard stare. I’m like, ‘This feels real. This man feels like he’s about to go fight.’ I got the chills because I’ve been there 43 different times.”
A Look at Mark Kerr’s Fighting Legacy
Mark Kerr, originally from Ohio, made a name for himself as a wrestler in high school and college before transitioning into mixed martial arts. His debut came in 1997 at the World Vale Tudo Championship 3, where his aggressive style and commanding presence earned him the nickname The Smashing Machine from a Brazilian media outlet after defeating three opponents in a single event.
Following his success in Brazil, Kerr joined the UFC later that year and competed professionally until his retirement in 2009. His MMA record was 15 wins and 11 losses, and he fought in two UFC Heavyweight Tournaments, cementing his status as a notable figure in the sport’s history.
Recognition and Honors in MMA
In June 2025, Kerr was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, a moment made even more poignant as Johnson presented him with the award in Las Vegas. The honor symbolized Kerr’s lasting influence on mixed martial arts and celebrated his contributions to the sport.
Personal Life and Marriages
Mark Kerr’s personal story includes two marriages. He was first married to Dawn Staples, a former Playboy model and interior decorator, in 2000. Their marriage produced one son, Bryce, before they separated in 2006. Staples attended the Toronto Film Festival premiere of The Smashing Machine in September 2025, alongside Johnson, Blunt, director Benny Safdie, and Blunt’s husband John Krasinski. She expressed her excitement on Instagram, captioning photos from the event with
“Feeling like a star at the Toronto film festival!”
Kerr married Franci Alberding in 2023, a partnership that extends beyond their marriage to entrepreneurial efforts. Together, they run Absolute Wellness, a company focusing on holistic health programs. Their offerings range from group fitness led by experts to personalized coaching and wellness practices such as meditation and massage.
Health Challenges Faced by Mark Kerr
Kerr has openly shared his struggle with peripheral neuropathy, a condition he revealed in 2016. This ailment involves damage to peripheral nerves, which are nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, resulting in symptoms like numbness, weakness, and pain commonly affecting the hands and feet. The condition may also interfere with other bodily functions such as digestion and urination, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Confronting Substance Abuse and Recovery
Kerr has been candid about his battles with drug and alcohol abuse, issues that affected his marriage to Dawn Staples and his life during his fighting career. In a September 2025 interview with Time Magazine, he reflected:
“What I was doing at the time was incredibly selfish. Dawn just wanted my love. She wanted to feel important.”
He acknowledged how his priorities were skewed by his fighting career and substance use, admitting,
“The only thing important at the time was me fighting, then the second thing that came in importance was the drug and alcohol use.”
His reliance on painkillers began as a way to cope with physical injuries sustained in the ring. Kerr explained in a 2019 YouTube clip,
“The genesis of all this for me starts back when I was fighting and just the amount of pressure I was putting on myself to perform and, you know, not to seek healthy ways to do rehab for my body.”
He shared how he took Vicodin to mask pain and continue training:
“Take a couple Vicodin, I can train later on that day. Take a couple Vicodin, I can go to the gym later on.”
After stepping away from fighting, Kerr committed himself to sobriety for the sake of his son’s well-being. He shared,
“I’ve been sober for seven years now, and that took me a minute, because that’s a reckoning. I recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of body and mind.”
A moment of clarity came when his son asked,
“Dad, do you think you can stop drinking?”
Kerr recounted how this propelled him forward:
“It just wasn’t clear that I have, as an individual, so much more to offer than just this little tiny parcel of me that I was giving out to the world.”
For those struggling with substance abuse, resources such as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline are available at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Impact of the Film and Public Reception
The Smashing Machine has drawn considerable attention for Johnson’s intense and faithful portrayal of Mark Kerr. His dedication has sparked Oscar buzz and revived interest in Kerr’s real-life journey through the sport of mixed martial arts. The film sheds light on the brutal physical and emotional challenges fighters face, as well as the personal battles beyond the ring.
Johnson’s commitment to embodying Kerr’s spirit, coupled with the story’s raw depiction of the fighter’s struggles and triumphs, highlights the human cost of combat sports. This role has reinforced Johnson’s reputation as an actor willing to undertake demanding transformations while drawing public and critical acknowledgment.
