Big Sexy. Big Daddy Cool Diesel. Oz. Call him what you will but there is no denying Kevin Nash has been one of the biggest and most influential names in professional wrestling over the last 20 years.
Some people love his straight-forward honesty (he was in it for the money and makes no attempt to hide it). He has no qualms about using the 'f' word to describe the wrestling business. Others loathe him for his selfish attitude and cite him as one of the key factors in the demise of WCW.
A controversial figure then. His quads also tear easily.
That's by the by for this blog though as we will be delving into his not particularly glittering film career.
The first point of call is the one most people know about: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Secret of the Ooze. After the turtles give Shredder a kicking to the sounds of Vanilla Ice, they end up under a dock where Shredder takes the ooze to become 'Super Shredder'. This is where Nash steps in as Shredder gains a foot in height (Nash is a legitimate 6'10"). He bashes some supports until the dock collapses on him. And that's it.
That was in 1991. You have to wait until 2004 to find his next significant film role. He had played a couple background roles in between but nothing of any real note. He had also been smart enough not to get involved in WCW's Ready to Rumble debacle.
He came back in Marvel's The Punisher movie as The Russian. Marvel hadn't quite worked out their movie format yet but this was ok. The Russian is just a big brute who dresses as a 1930's sailor, turns up to kill The Punisher, fails and is killed falling down stairs.
2005 though and Nash is back in the Adam Sandler remake of The Longest Yard (which also featured fellow wrestlers Bill Goldberg, 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin and The Great Khali). It's a chance for Big Sexy to bust his comedy chops. He plays a prison guard who has his steroids replaced with oestrogen pills before the big game. He becomes a lot more effeminate as a result (make of that what you will). To be fair to Nash, he is one of the funnier performers in the movie. On the other hand, this is an Adam Sandler movie so the competition isn't fierce.
Video game movies, they are always good aren't they? Kevin Nash took one on in 2006 when he starred in the adaptation of fighting game, Dead or Alive. His character is an interesting one as Bass Armstrong is clearly based on Nash's friend Hulk Hogan. More specifically, 'Hollywood' Hulk Hogan from the NWO-era of which Nash was a founding member. I guess the real Hogan was unavailable. The Dead or Alive games were chiefly known for their shapely female characters (yes, they were. Don't even try to deny it. Dead or Alive: Beach Volleyball, anyone?) and the film is no different. Nash's role is to get his ass kicked by on-screen daughter Tina, played by Jaime Pressly. It's not a good film, though he takes his beating well.
For the next few years, Nash done some independent movies. Most notably, River of Darkness (oh, we will get to that one day). Couple of background roles. He's done some TV work, appearing in episodes of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and The Love Boat amongst other things. And nothing else.
What's that? Ok, fine. Kevin Nash is also in both Magic Mike movies. So, if you have a desire to see Nash as a male stripper, there you go. It's quite funny actually because he has no dancing ability...not that I've seen them of course. Oh look, he's done another of his shoot interview things...
