For Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, a divorce wasn't in his game plan.
However, everything changed in 2007 when he and Dany Garcia broke up after 16 years of marriage. And for the Smashing Machine actor, it was difficult to see not just his relationship end but seeing how the family dynamic would change for his daughter Simone, now 24.
"When you guys get married, as a few of you may know, you sign up for the long haul, but then it doesn’t always work out like that," Dwayne shared during the Nov. 6 episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast. "And then it rocks you like it rocked me. And we had a baby, and what kind of father was I going to be?"
As he navigated these changes, he began to struggle with his mental health.
"At that time I was really going through it," he reflected. "That was another bout of depression."
And the challenges in his personal life led the Fast Five star—who wed Lauren Hashian in 2019 and welcomed daughters Jasmine, 9, and Tiana, 6—to seek out happier roles, including family movies like The Game Plan and Tooth Fairy.
"I was trying to figure my stuff out, and that was the only thing that I really wanted to do artistically," he explained. "I didn’t want anything that was going to challenge me to rip my guts out, I wanted stuff that has a happy ending, and so that’s what that was."
But even if his divorce is what led him to seek those lighter roles, Dwayne still thoroughly enjoyed them, nonetheless.
"I loved making those movies," he emphasized. "I also think I manifested those because I don’t think I was ready for anything other than easy, light, family films that made me feel good."
While leaving his marriage behind was difficult, it ultimately had a positive outcome. Dwayne and Dany—who went on to marry Dave Rienzi in 2014—ultimately kept up their positive co-parenting journey and even built a successful working relationship. After all, beyond her serving as his manager, they’ve spent more than a decade as producing partners through their production company Seven Bucks Productions.
"While marriage wasn’t in our cards, we did realize, ‘Well, wait a second, we’re building something that’s pretty cool,'" the 53-year-old noted. "'Marriage may not be in our cards but building business can be.' And that took time."
For some of The Rock's best family moments, read on.
Leaving a Legacy
"Proud of you and as you go down the road, I'll always have your back," Dwayne wrote on International Women's Day 2020 alongside a photo of him and his daughter Simone, who is now the fourth in the family to train to become a WWE Superstar.
Think Pink
The Rock channels Marvel's Vision with a colorful makeover, courtesy of daughters Jasmine and Tiana.
Tea Party
The Rock and daughter Tiana enjoy a bunny tea party.
Go Fish
The Rock documented daughters Jasmine and Tiana's first fishing trip in May 2021.
Play Time With Dad
Tiana plays with her dad and introduces him to "Pupples," her plush cat.
Happy New Year From the Spaghetti Fairy
The Rock's youngest daughter Tiana blames a magical being for a pasta spill over the New Year's weekend.
Christmas 2020
Dwayne and his little girl Tiana watch The Lion King on Christmas 2020.
Batting Practice
Dwayne may have another little fighter in the family when he shared a photo of his daughter Jasmine swinging her hardest at a Peppa Pig piñata.
A Future Fierce Female
"Blessed, strong and the world will hear from you one day," Dwayne captioned a selfie of himself and Jasmine on International Women's Day this year.
Proud Papa
"The world will one day hear from you too, my strong little love," Dwayne wrote in dedication to his daughter Tiana for International Women's Day.
"And I can't promise you I'll love you for the rest of your life," he continued. "But you have my word I'll love and protect you for the rest of mine." Aww.
Stuffed
"1130am, already tired and our butts kicked on the bedroom floor and we haven't even eaten our Thanksgiving meal yet," Dwayne wrote on Instagram on Thanksgiving this past year while relaxing with his little one.
Easter Bunnies
Dwayne took on the role of Easter Bunny as his daughter Jasmine hunted for eggs last spring.
Tiana Turns One!
Just like that, little Tiana (Johnson's youngest daughter) celebrated her first birthday in 2019 and boy is she getting big!
Dad and His Daughters
Tiana and her big sister Jasmine rang in Christmas 2018 in matching red.
Painted Dad
In November 2018, Jasmine showed off her art skills using her dad's face as a canvas.
Horsing Around
Well, isn't this just the cutest?
Muscle Man
The actor held Jasmine in his arms in the fall because she wanted him to and that's a good enough reason for us.
Smiling Skeletons
Halloween got a million times more adorable thanks to this family.
Work It Out
Clearly, Jazzy is just as stunned by her dad's arm muscles as we are.
Hawaiian Getaway
The Rock shared this photo on Women's Equality Day in 2018 showing that his daughters (all three of them) can do anything they want...including shoving croissants into his mouth while he's on a diet!
Swimming Princess
In case you needed a little more cuteness in your life, Jasmine is ready to give it to you.
Like Father, Like Daughter
Twining! The actor got an adorable smile out of his littlest one in spring 2018.
Mommy's Girls
What's cuter than a mama and her girls enjoying a movie all together?
Dinner Time
The star sweetly gave his wife, Lauren Hashian, a hand eating while she breastfed their little one.
Hi Tiana
The former wrestler got to spend some quality time with the newest member of the family in April 2018 and shared this sweet snap with his fans about it. "Skin to skin. Our mana," he wrote. "Blessed and proud to bring another strong girl into this world."
Welcome to the World
The longtime couple welcomed their second daughter together on April 17, 2018. "Tiana Gia Johnson came into this world like a force of nature and Mama @laurenhashianofficial labored and delivered like a true rockstar," the proud dad announced on social media at the time.
Christmas Cuties
In December 2017, Johnson was all smiles as he celebrated Christmas with his oldest daughter.
Plus-One
Dwayne had the perfect plus-one for his Baywatch premiere when he brought daughter Simone along.
Super Star
The sun was shining bright in LA when the Jumanji actor received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in December 2018.
View from the Top
In June 2017, Johnson shared this adorable picture with his middle daughter for Father's Day and it's just so sweet.