Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Gets Closure from Father, Rocky Johnson, Shortly Before His Pasing

Gettyimages | Kevin Winter

The Jumanji star, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, has continued on his ascension up the ranks as one of Hollywood's favorite and highly successful actors. The former wrestler has been able to land role after role in some of the biggest films over the years, but like all of us, he's a human being and suffers the same setbacks and tragedies that we all do.

His father, Rocky Johnson, a wrestling legend that went by the nickname 'Soul Man', recently passed away, initiating the grieving process that Dwayne will undoubtedly be going through for quite some time. But for The Rock, he has a reason to be happy. Prior to his father's death, he wanted to gift his parents with a brand new house. The words he'd hear from his late father at that time would offer closure for a relationship that wasn't always one that he had enjoyed from the beginning.

Gettyimages | Kevin Winter

According to Entertainment Tonight, Johnson purchased a brand new house for his father in 2019. It was a generous gift that he gave from the heart. How the process unfolded was chronicled by Johnson in an Instagram post where he shared the details in what would be an emotional moment.

"I just got off the phone with my dad and, man, it was a great call and I just had to share this with you guys really quick," the star shared on Instagram. "So about two, three weeks ago, I called my dad and I said, ‘Look, you’re probably happy where you’re at but I want to do something for you. I want to buy you a brand new home, wherever you want to live, you can live."

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Dwayne's father was utterly speechless by the generous gesture but shared that he was also nervous about looking for new properties.

"He couldn’t believe it, he was speechless," Johnson continued. "So he just called me now. It’s a big weekend, he’s gonna go look at properties. He’s a Florida boy, so he’s going to go up to North Florida and look and he goes, ‘I’m so excited. I’m also so nervous.’"

For Johnson, he couldn't understand why his father would be nervous, explaining that he was a big-time wrestler who had been in the spotlight on a regular basis over the years. "My dad’s an old-school tough guy," he said about his dad. "I said, ‘What the hell are you nervous about?’ And he said, ‘Well,’ 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."

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Johnson had never heard those words mentioned to him by his father, which made the moment all the much better for the former wrestler. "I never heard my dad talk like that. It felt good to me and it felt good to my heart," he said. "You know, my dad used to beat my a—. Tough love, and I hated it back then, but I’m so grateful for it now. It just felt good to kind of give back to the ones who raised you. So, love you too, Pop," The Rock concluded in his Instagram video post.

WWE released a statement on Wednesday, January 15th, confirming the passing of Rocky Johnson, making this gesture mean so much more for the actor, especially with how his father expressed his gratitude. "WWE is saddened to learn that Rocky 'Soul Man' Johnson (born Wayde Douglas Bowles), a WWE Hall of Famer and former World Tag Team Champion, has passed away at age 75," the wrestling organization shared.

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Gettyimages | Kevin Winter

Although Dwayne, himself, hasn't made any public comments on the tragedy, people on social media platforms have been flocking to share their condolences and words of encouragement.

One fan on Twitter shared, "My condolences Dwayne about your fathers passing," with another writer. "I'm positive you were the apple of his eye and he passed in peace knowing the man you became. I wish the best for you and your family during these sad days."

It's never easy losing a parent or any family member, for that matter, but you have to believe the last several months with his father made up for a life where the two were always the closest.