Woodrow Wilson Woolwine Strode navigated an unconventional professional path that transitioned from world-class track and field competition to the integration of the National Football League and finally to an enduring career in Hollywood film. Born in Los Angeles in 1914, he established early prominence as a multi-sport athlete before wartime service and the subsequent dismantling of racial barriers in professional sports.
UCLA and the Gold Dust Gang
Strode attended Thomas Jefferson High School before enrolling at UCLA, where he joined the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. His collegiate athletic achievements included shot putting, for which he finished fourth at the 1938 NCAA championships, and high jumping. As a member of the 1939 UCLA Bruins football team, he played alongside Jackie Robinson and Kenny Washington. This trio, frequently referred to as the Gold Dust Gang, anchored an undefeated squad that played to a scoreless tie against USC in a contest with significant national implications. Despite this prowess, the players faced limited professional prospects and subsequently performed for the semi-professional Hollywood Bears.
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Following service in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II, where he worked in Guam and the Marianas, Strode entered the modern National Football League in 1946. Joining the Los Angeles Rams alongside Kenny Washington, he helped end a thirteen-year absence of Black players in the league. He later played for the Brooklyn Dodgers of the All-America Football Conference in 1948 and finished his gridiron career with the Calgary Stampeders, securing a 1948 Grey Cup victory before retiring due to shoulder and rib injuries.
Transition to Cinema and Wrestling
Strode’s acting career gained momentum after producer Walter Mirisch observed his professional wrestling matches. Between 1949 and 1962, Strode balanced acting roles with part-time wrestling appearances, occasionally competing as the Pacific Coast Heavyweight Wrestling Champion. His cinematic debut occurred in the 1941 film Sundown, followed by roles in projects including The Lion Hunters and Demetrius and the Gladiators. His performance in the 1960 film Spartacus earned him a nomination for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Fast facts
- Born: 1914, Los Angeles
- Died: 1994, Glendora, California
- College: University of California, Los Angeles
- NFL Team: Los Angeles Rams (1946)
- Grey Cup Winner: 1948, Calgary Stampeders
- Fraternity: Alpha Phi Alpha
- Burial: Riverside National Cemetery
Questions readers ask
Was Woody Strode one of the first Black players in the NFL?
Yes, he was among the first Black players in the modern National Football League, joining the Los Angeles Rams in 1946 after a period where no Black men played in the league.
Did Strode have a professional wrestling career?
Yes, he wrestled part-time between 1949 and 1962, and was recognized as the Pacific Coast Heavyweight Wrestling Champion.
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