Dave Bautista Unveils Incredible Weight Loss As He Sheds 4 Stone To Achieve 19-Year-Old Physique At 55

Dave Bautista has undergone a remarkable transformation after shedding an impressive four stone to achieve his lightest weight since his teenage years.

The WWE star's weight loss comes as he prepares to take on the role of a veteran assassin in his latest film, "The Killer's Game."

Dave Bautista had a troubled childhood and some run-ins with the law but escaped poverty in his 30s after launching his successful career in pro wrestling and MMA.

The professional wrestler-turned-actor was known for his bulky and muscular frame as he trotted the rings of WrestleMania and MMA.

However, he has now lost four stone, revealing a very trimmed-down physique that rivals his youthful appearance ahead of his starring role in his new film.

Bautista showed off his massive weight loss during a red carpet appearance on September 6 at the Toronto Film Festival premiere of "The Last Showgirl."

"I'm getting super trimmed, this is probably the lightest I've been since I was 19 years old," he told YouTuber Chris Van Vliet, per the Daily Mail.

"The heaviest I've ever been is 370lbs (26st). When I started Deacon, I was about 325lbs (23st)," he continued. "Throughout most of my wrestling career, I was about 290lbs (21st). Now I'm about 240lbs (17st)."

Bautista added, "And I went a year and a half ago for Knock at the Cabin, I went 315lbs (23st). And that's when the nightmare started."

Bautista's weight loss has caused quite a stir online as fans took to social media to react to photos of his slimmed-down look.

A fan said, "Been a fan of yours literally since the day you first debuted on SmackDown. So happy for you and the success you've had! You've definitely earned it!"

"Love your work and your advocacy Dave," another said.

A third person noted, "Dave- a lot of people running their suck about your physique. First I see the work you're doing in BJJ and I applaud you as another Gen X grappler. Second, you're off the unnatural, much better for you long term. Kudos bro. Stay safe. Respect."

Some other fans were caught off guard by Bautista's body and didn't hesitate to pen down their shock.

"Dang. What happened to you? Is it too much soy," a fan wondered.

Another person asked, "Why do you look so small? Ozempic got you too?"

The "Guardians of the Galaxy" actor has previously discussed his troubled upbringing, which led to several jail stints.

Bautista grew up in the more dangerous areas around Washington, DC, and had to witness several disturbing scenes as a young boy.

In his memoir, he narrated how he and his sister, alongside some other children in the neighborhood, witnessed a shooting victim die in front of his home.

The actor noted that they were "all standing around looking at this poor guy who was dying," adding that he thought "some of us were even telling jokes."

"By the time I was 13, I started getting in a lot more trouble for skipping school. I also got arrested for petty stuff. I'd get detention or juvenile hall, but the punishment wasn't severe; I never spent more than a day in jail," Bautista said of his upbringing.

He claimed that he "wasn't stealing or breaking the law to get back at anyone or because I was mad or anything like that. I was stealing because all my friends were doing it. It was no big deal. It just wasn't out of the norm. It was what you did."

"It wasn't that I was stealing cars or doing dope or anything really, really bad. But I was definitely a thug, and everyone was afraid of where I was headed," he added.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Bautista explained why he accepted the scripts for his upcoming movie, "The Killer's Game."

In the film, which is based on "The Killer's Game" novel by Jay Bonansinga, Bautista plays lovestruck assassin Joe Flood, but it wasn't the action that first drew him to it but the chance to play a proper romantic lead for the first time.

The film has gone through years of development, with names like Wesley Snipes, Jason Statham, and more initially linked to it. However, it wasn't until 2023 that work on it got the green light after Lionsgate acquired distribution rights and attached J.J Perry as its director.

"When we first talked to each other, before I said anything, [Perry] was like, 'Look, man, the greatest thing about this, and what's going to set us apart, is the romance at the heart of this story.' And I then let out this huge sigh of relief. I was like, 'Thank, God,'" Bautista told the news outlet.

The book, "The Killer's Game," follows the story of Flood, who gets diagnosed with a neurodegenerative brain condition and has only a few months to live.

He's left with the option of taking out a contract on his life so that his love affair, Maize (Sofia Boutella), can collect his life insurance policy.

For the movie adaptation of the novel, Bautista was quite involved with the casting process, especially when it came to his lead co-star and love interest, Boutella.

Speaking on how he made sure the actress got the role, Bautista said, "They brought forth other actresses, and I just kept turning them down, saying, 'No, I just can't wrap my head around anybody else other than Sofia.'"

"So then I said, 'Let's not look for another actress. Let's just try to move schedules around so we can make Sofia work,'" he continued. "It took a lot of doing from producers and agents and managers, and Sofia being willing to fly back and forth from Budapest to London while she was on two projects."