Dave Bautista last May 2023 vs Sept 2024 | Image: Instagram/@davebautista, Kayla Oaddams/Getty Images/AFP
Wrestler-turned-actor Dave Bautista surprised fans with his latest appearance as he became “unrecognizable” following his drastic body transformation.
During the Toronto Film Festival (TIFF) over the weekend, Bautista graced the red carpet wearing a sleek black suit paired with pearl necklaces and dark sunglasses to promote his new movie, looking slimmer than his usual body build.
His red carpet photos became a discussion among netizens on X (formerly Twitter) as they pointed out the noticeable weight loss of the actor.
In a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet, The Filipino-Greek actor revealed that he’s lost 75 pounds in the past year and a half.
“I’m getting super trimmed; this is probably the lightest I’ve been since I was 19 years old. The heaviest I’ve ever been is 370 lbs. When I started Deacon, I was about 325 lbs,” he shared.
“Throughout most of my wrestling career, I was about 290lbs. Now I’m about 240 lbs. And I went a year and a half ago for Knock at the Cabin; I went 315lbs,” continued the actor.
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The 55-year-old stated that he’s “contented” with his current appearance and is planning to maintain it.
“Getting that weight off, which has been a challenge. Now I’m really particular about my diet,” he declared.
Before his retirement in 2019, Bautista has been regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time for his stint at World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
Amid his 20 years as a wrestler, Bautis made several appearances in television shows as both himself and his wrestling character. But he gained more popularity when he played Drax the Destroyer in the 2014 Marvel Studios film “Guardians of the Galaxy.”
Over the years, he appeared in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” (2017), “Avengers: Infinity War” (2018), “Avengers: Endgame” (2019), and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” (2023).
Aside from his Marvel stint, he’s also known for his role as Mr. Hinx in the James Bond film “Spectre” (2015). He was also widely praised for his supporting role in “Blade Runner 2049” (2017).
Some of his film credits include in the martial arts film “Kickboxer,” “Army of the Dead,” “Dune,” and “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” among others.