Dave Bautista on Shedding Weight, Wearing Pearls, People Trying to Fight Him & Having Long Hair

Jimmy Kimmel Live

11 Sept 202409:35

Summary

TLDRIn this engaging interview, former wrestler and actor Dave Bautista talks about his weight loss journey, fashion choices, and acting career, highlighting roles in films like 'Guardians of the Galaxy,' 'Dune,' and 'Glass Onion.' He shares fun anecdotes about his days as a bouncer, his experience screening 'Glass Onion' for the 'Dune' cast, and a humorous incident involving a confrontation at a restaurant. Bautista also discusses his latest role as a hitman in 'The Killer's Game,' blending action with romance. The conversation is filled with laughter and personal insights from Bautista's fascinating life.

Takeaways

😀 Dave Batista, a former wrestler, has starred in major films like Guardians of the Galaxy, Dune, and Blade Runner.
🏋️ Batista once weighed 315 pounds for a film role, but has since lost weight and now weighs 240 pounds.
💎 Batista wore expensive pearls at the Toronto Film Festival, embracing the trend of men wearing pearls.
🎬 He has worked with prestigious film casts, including Dune and Glass Onion, and screened Glass Onion for his Dune castmates.
😅 Batista felt nervous screening Glass Onion for his peers, but was validated by Javier Bardem's positive reaction.
🔒 Before his wrestling and acting careers, Batista worked as a bouncer and security guard for celebrities like Jamie Foxx and Marky Mark.
🤝 Batista had a surreal moment reconnecting with Jamie Foxx, who didn't remember him but appreciated his success.
💇 Batista shaved his head during his wrestling career and hasn’t had a full head of hair for over 15 years.
⚔️ His wrestling and martial arts experience make him comfortable with action scenes, though he doesn't consider himself better than others.
🥗 Batista once got into a bizarre fight at a Fuddruckers, where a man attacked him with a wet floor sign, leading to police involvement.

Q & A

Who is the guest in this interview?
-The guest is Dave Batista, a former wrestler and actor known for his roles in 'Guardians of the Galaxy,' 'Dune,' and 'Blade Runner.'
How much weight did Dave Batista lose from his peak weight?
-Dave Batista lost about 75 pounds, going from 315 pounds during the filming of 'Knock at the Cabin' to 240 pounds.
What is the latest movie Dave Batista is promoting in the interview?
-Dave Batista is promoting 'The Killer's Game,' where he plays a hitman. The movie opens in theaters on Friday.
What did Dave Batista say about wearing pearls?
-Dave Batista said he wore pearls at the Toronto Film Festival, something he had always wanted to do. He thought they were cool and edgy and bought them himself.
How did Dave Batista feel about being part of large movie ensembles?
-Dave Batista finds it surreal and still crazy when he sees it written out that he is part of these amazing casts, especially after coming from a wrestling background.
What was Dave Batista’s fondest memory during the screening of 'Glass Onion' for the cast of 'Dune'?
-Dave Batista's fondest memory was Javier Bardem’s reaction to 'Glass Onion.' Javier was laughing, dancing, and excited, which made Batista feel validated.
What jobs did Dave Batista have before becoming a wrestler and actor?
-Before becoming a wrestler and actor, Dave Batista worked as a bouncer in Washington, D.C., for 13 years and occasionally took security jobs for celebrities like Billy Idol, Marky Mark, and Jamie Foxx.
What was Batista’s interaction with Jamie Foxx after his time as security for him?
-Years later, Dave Batista met Jamie Foxx at the NAACP Awards and reminded him of the time he worked security for him. Jamie didn’t remember Batista personally but remembered the event.
Why did Dave Batista shave his head, and how long has it been since he had long hair?
-Dave Batista shaved his head when he was wrestling because his hair was too thick and hot. It’s been around 15 years since he last had long hair.
Has Dave Batista ever been involved in real-life altercations due to his size?
-Yes, even when he was massive, people tried to pick fights with him. He shared a story about a man attacking him with a wet floor sign at a Fuddruckers, which led to a scuffle.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 Dave Bautista's Journey: From Wrestling to Hollywood Stardom

In this segment, Dave Bautista is introduced as a former wrestler with major film roles in *Guardians of the Galaxy*, *Dune*, and *Blade Runner*. He talks about his new movie, *The Killers Game*, where he plays a hitman. Bautista discusses his physical transformation, having lost significant weight after a role in *Knock at the Cabin*. Despite being 6'4" and 240 lbs, he shares how people still view him as having lost too much weight. He also reflects on his evolving style, noting his decision to wear pearls at the Toronto Film Festival, inspired by the growing trend among men to wear such jewelry.

05:01

🎥 Bautista's Star-Studded Movie Career and a Memorable Screening

Bautista reflects on his experience working with star-studded casts in films like *Dune* and *Glass Onion*. He recounts a memorable moment when he hosted an early screening of *Glass Onion* for the cast and crew of *Dune*, and how it was nerve-wracking to have such famous peers watching his work. His fondest memory was seeing actor Javier Bardem dancing with joy after the film, which made Bautista feel validated as an actor. This moment underscored Bautista’s journey from a wrestler to an actor recognized by his Hollywood peers.

💪 From Bouncer to Actor: Bautista’s Early Security Jobs

Before his wrestling and acting career, Bautista worked as a bouncer and took security jobs on the side. He reminisces about working with celebrities like Billy Idol, Marky Mark (during the Funky Bunch era), and Jamie Foxx. In a touching anecdote, Bautista recounts meeting Jamie Foxx years later at the NAACP Awards, where Foxx encouraged him, saying, 'Look at you now, brother.' This interaction reminded Bautista of his journey from being a security guard to a Hollywood star, creating a full-circle moment in his career.

👨‍🦲 Bautista’s Hair Journey: From Full Head to Shaved Bald

Bautista humorously reflects on his hair journey, showing a photograph of himself at 24 with a full head of hair. He explains that he started cutting it due to its thickness and heat, eventually transitioning to a completely shaved head while wrestling. He shares that he attempted to grow it back once, but it never grew the same. The segment wraps up with a light-hearted moment where they show an image of his 'lost' hair, playing on the nostalgia of his younger days.

🎞️ The Killer Game: A Unique Blend of Action and Romance

Bautista discusses his latest film *The Killers Game*, describing it as a romantic comedy disguised as an action film. In the movie, his character is a hitman misdiagnosed with a terminal illness just as he falls in love for the first time. Bautista mentions that his background in wrestling and martial arts makes him comfortable with fight scenes. He also enjoys performing action sequences, feeling they come naturally to him due to his experience in both physical combat and performance.

🥋 Real-Life Fights and Unexpected Brawls

Despite his massive size, Bautista shares how people still pick fights with him in real life. He recounts a bizarre story where a smaller man provoked him at a Fuddruckers restaurant, escalating the situation by hitting Bautista with a 'wet floor' sign before tackling him into a salad bar. Bautista notes that even though he doesn't seek fights, these encounters happen frequently, and he prefers to resolve conflict peacefully. In this particular instance, he choked the aggressor, leading to police intervention, though charges were eventually dropped.

🎥 Bautista’s Star Power and Upcoming Film Release

In this closing section, the host wraps up the interview by promoting Bautista's film *The Killer Game*, which is set to open in theaters on Friday. The segment ends with applause and a lighthearted tone, highlighting Bautista's growing stature in Hollywood as an actor with both comedic and action-packed roles under his belt.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Dave Batista

Dave Batista, also known as Batista during his wrestling career, is a former WWE wrestler turned actor. In the video, he is the guest on the show, where he discusses his career, weight transformation, and transition from wrestling to Hollywood, including roles in movies like 'Guardians of the Galaxy' and 'Dune'. His versatility and journey from wrestling to major film franchises is a core part of the conversation.

💡Guardians of the Galaxy

'Guardians of the Galaxy' is a popular Marvel superhero film series in which Dave Batista plays the character Drax the Destroyer. This franchise is one of Batista's major acting roles, showcasing his move from wrestling into blockbuster films. The video references this as one of the highlights of his acting career.

💡Knock at the Cabin

'Knock at the Cabin' is a film where Dave Batista gained a significant amount of weight to play a role. In the video, Batista mentions reaching 315 pounds for the movie and how he has since lost weight to get to his current 240 pounds. This film marks another step in his diverse acting career.

💡Dune

'Dune' is a major science fiction film based on the novel by Frank Herbert. Batista appears in both 'Dune' and its sequel. In the video, he reflects on being part of an ensemble cast of talented actors, demonstrating his transition into more serious, dramatic roles in big Hollywood productions.

💡Glass Onion

'Glass Onion' is another film Batista starred in, which is part of the 'Knives Out' mystery franchise. In the video, Batista describes a special screening he hosted for the cast and crew of 'Dune', sharing how nervous he was to be judged by his peers. This anecdote highlights the importance of validation and peer recognition in his acting journey.

💡Wrestling

Wrestling refers to Batista’s former career as a professional WWE wrestler, where he became famous under the ring name Batista. His experience in wrestling shaped his physicality and comfort with action scenes in films. The video discusses his transition from wrestling into acting and how it still influences his action roles in films.

💡Toronto Film Festival

The Toronto Film Festival is an international film festival where Batista was seen wearing pearls, sparking a discussion about fashion and men's jewelry. This scene reflects his evolving personal style and confidence in breaking traditional masculine norms. It showcases how Batista’s image has changed from a wrestler to a more fashion-forward public figure.

💡Action scenes

Action scenes are a significant part of Batista’s acting career, particularly because of his background in wrestling and martial arts. In the video, he explains how his experience has made him comfortable with performing action scenes, and he enjoys doing them. These scenes have become a key feature of his roles in films like 'Guardians of the Galaxy' and 'The Killers Game'.

💡The Killers Game

'The Killers Game' is an upcoming action film in which Batista plays a hitman. The movie is described as a romantic comedy disguised as an action film. This marks another instance of Batista expanding his range as an actor, moving beyond action films into roles that blend genres and emotions.

💡Bodyguard and Bouncer

Before his wrestling career, Batista worked as a bodyguard and bouncer, including for celebrities like Billy Idol and Marky Mark. In the video, he shares stories from this period of his life, including humorous anecdotes about working security. This reflects his humble beginnings and how his life has dramatically changed since becoming a famous wrestler and actor.

Highlights

Dave Batista discusses his weight transformation, losing from 315 lbs to 240 lbs after filming 'Knock at the Cabin'.

Batista talks about evolving his style and his decision to wear pearls at the Toronto Film Festival.

The host comments on Batista being a part of notable ensemble casts in films like 'Dune' and 'Guardians of the Galaxy'.

Batista shares a memorable moment where Javier Bardem danced after watching 'Glass Onion', giving Batista a sense of validation as an actor.

He recalls his early days working as a bouncer and bodyguard, mentioning famous people he worked for, including Billy Idol, Marky Mark, and Jamie Foxx.

Batista reminisces about meeting Jamie Foxx years later at the NAACP Awards, where Foxx recognized how far Batista had come.

A nostalgic moment is shared when the host shows a photo of Batista with long hair at age 24, and they discuss his decision to shave his head later in life.

Batista reflects on his comfort with action scenes due to his wrestling and martial arts background.

He shares a story about a man picking a fight with him at a Fuddruckers restaurant, where Batista was surprisingly hit with a wet floor sign.

Despite his size, Batista prefers not to fight and would rather resolve conflicts peacefully, even though some people still challenge him.

Batista talks about his upcoming film 'The Killer’s Game', in which he plays a hitman diagnosed with a terminal illness who falls in love.

Batista humorously mentions that people often talk about him like he's anorexic, even though he still weighs 240 lbs.

The host jokes about Batista’s imposing size and the thought of challenging him to an arm-wrestling match.

Batista recounts how his bouncer experience helped him navigate the film industry, building discipline and toughness.

In a light-hearted closing, Batista laughs as the host jokingly presents him with a 'surprise'—a photo of him with his full head of hair from years ago.