Hollywood film star and football legend Vinnie Jones turns 58 years old today (January 5).
The actor combined both his talents when he appeared in the hit football comedy film Mean Machine, which saw him play a retired footballer who is sentenced to three years in prison.
However, during his time there, he plans to lead the prison football team to victory, along with the help of characters played by EastEnders icon Danny Dyer, Hollywood star Jason Statham and fellow Lock, Stock star Jake Abraham.
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To celebrate Vinnie's birthday, Daily Star has taken a look at where the cast of Mean Machine are now.
Vinnie Jones (Danny)
One of Vinnie Jones' most famous roles was in 2001 film Mean Machine, which saw him play a retired footballer who is sentenced to three years in prison.
However, as well as being a Hollywood film icon, Vinnie is also a footballing legend.
Between 1984 to 1999, Vinnie played as a defensive midfielder for teams including Wimbledon, Leeds United, Sheffield United, Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers.
That's not all, as he also played in 184 Premier League games, along with winning the 1988 FA Cup as part of Wimbledon F.C- before retiring from the sport in 1998 to forge an acting career.
Often playing the 'hard man' in the films, Vinnie has appeared in blockbuster hits including Gone In 60 Seconds, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch and X-Men: The Last Stand.
He also lent his voice to films such as Madagascar 3, as well as appearing in TV series Arrow, The Musketeers and Elementary.
It is no surprise that along with his footballing career and Hollywood film roles, Vinnie has an eye-watering estimated net worth of £8.2m ($10m) according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Vinnie has spoken openly about his battle with alcohol addiction, and in 2020, shared social media post to mark seven years of sobriety, saying: "Tomorrow is my seven year alcohol DRY anniversary , the worst drug on this planet will get found out one day!!!
"If I can quit, believe me; you can and your life will be a million percent better! I guarantee it."
Away from the limelight, Vinnie was married to his childhood sweetheart Tanya Jones.
The pair met when they were just 12 years old while living in Watford, with the couple later going on their first date at the age of 16.
Although romance did not initially blossom between the couple, they reunited when Vinnie was living in London after signing for Chelsea F.C.
He explained to The Guardian that his friends spotted Tanya roller-skating outside their flat, and that he could not believe his eyes when he realised who it was.
"I went: "Oh my God! I can't believe it!" said Vinnie.
"She was just getting divorced, so it was all meant to be. Do I believe in fate? It's all very spooky."
Vinnie and Tanya married in 1994, following Tanya's divorce from her first husband, and former footballer Steve Terry, with who Tanya had welcomed daughter Kaley.
Alongside Kaley, Vinnie and Tanya also welcomed a son called Aaron.
However, Vinnie suffered a heartbreaking loss when doctors told Tanya that her cancer had spread to her brain, with his wife sadly dying on July 6, 2019 at the age of 53 years old.
During an appearance on Piers Morgan's Life Stories in 2020, Vinny also broke down as she spoke about his late wife, after a clip of them together was shared as part of the programme.
"It's probably the memories…more than anything. She's such a beautiful person," Vinnie could be heard saying.
Jason Statham (Monk)
Jason Statham played prison inmate Monk in Mean Machine – but did you know that he fell into acting by accident?
The star originally had an interest in sports, particularly kickboxing and karate, before representing England as a diver at the 1990 Commonwealth games.
However, after working as a fashion model, he took on a job working on a market stall, where he was spotted by director Guy Ritchie.
Since then, Jason has become one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, appearing in films such as
It is no surprise then that the actor has an eye-watering estimated net worth of $90million (£68m).
Known for his action-packed films, some have come with their own dangers, after Jason reportedly nearly drowned while preparing for a stunt in Expendables 3.
Daily Star reported that Jason was driving a truck towards the sea when the brakes failed and he crashed over the wall.
He tried to get out of the vehicle — which was in five to 10 metres of water — through an open window, but panicked when his gun holster got stuck.
He described the incident as "a nasty, nasty experience" and said: "From that day on, I’ve been so appreciative of life and being able to walk on the ground. I think we all need [an experience] like that; one that puts things in perspective."
Away from the limelight, Jason has also had a number of relationships, including dating model Kelly Brook, who he was engaged to between 1998 to 2004, before they decided to part ways.
The actor is now engaged to blonde bombshell Rosie Huntington-Whitely, after the couple met on the set of Transformers: Dark Side of The Moon in 2010.
The couple have since welcomed two children and are reported to live in a £7.5m home in London.
Danny Dyer (Billy)
Long before he was EastEnders tough guy Mick Carter, Danny Dyer rose to fame in a number of huge Hollywood roles, including prison inmate Billy in Mean Machine.
He also played Moff in 1999 film Human Traffic, opposite Life on Mars actor John Simm, as well as appearing in High Heels and Low Lifes in 2001 and The Business in 2005.
From there he has not left our screens, appearing in A Touch Of Frost, Skins, Hotel Babylon and Highlander, as well as hosting BBC game show The Wall from 2019, to name a few.
Danny also had a stint hosting documentaries, including 2007's The Real Football Factories and Danny Dyer's Deadliest Men between 2008 to 2009.
Since 2013 he has also played Mick Carter in EastEnders, before the character bowed out during an explosive Christmas Day episode in 2022.
Speaking on his podcast Sorted With The Dyers, which he does with daughter Dani, the actor shared the reason behind his soap exit, saying: "There's no big story around it, really. Other than the fact I've decided to go off and try some other stuff.
"I'm 44 now, and I've had nine years of playing Mick and I think he needs to be rested. I'm still looking for that defining role. Maybe it is there, maybe it isn't.
"But I've always been quite ambitious, and I had quite a long career before I went into EastEnders.
"I know the landscape has changed slightly but I want to go out there and have another go, and the only way I can do that is if I decide to walk away from the job."
Like Mean Machine co-star Vinnie, Danny also married his childhood sweetheart Joanne Mas in 1992.
The childhood sweethearts first met at school and have been together for more than 30 years, during which time they have welcomed three children – Dani, Sunnie and Artie.
Danny is not the only famous star in his family though, as his daughter – also called Dani – has made waves in the limelight after appearing on the 2018 series of ITV reality programme Love Island.
They have also hosted the TV series True Love or True Lives together, as well as entertaining fans on Celebrity Gogglebox.
The actor also has an interesting family history too, as he discovered on BBC series Who Do You Think You Are? in 2016 that he was related to William The Conqueror and King Edward III.
Danny also has links to King Henry VIII's right-hand man, Thomas Cromwell, who was his 15-times great-grandfather.
He also discovered that Thomas Cromwell had married his son to Elizabeth Seymour, meaning that he was the 22-times great grandson of King Edward III.
During the programme, the actor was clearly taken back by his ancestral links, as he could be heard saying: "I can't believe it. I don't know what to say. I need a moment to digest this. A kid from Canning Town is related to Edward III."
Jason Flemyng (Bob)
Jason Flemyng played prison inmate Bob in Mean Machine – but it was not the first time he had appeared alongside Vinnie Jones.
The two stars had appeared in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels together, before going on to star opposite one another again in Snatch.
Jason has since been a staple fixture on our screens, appearing in TV series and films such as From Hell, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, X-Men: First Class, The Musketeers and Pennyworth.
He most recently appeared in Boiling Point, alongside Stephen Graham, and The 355.
Away from the limelight, Jason had had a number of high-profile romances, including dating fellow star Lena Headey for nine years, until the pair decided to part ways in 2001.
Jason later married Elly Fairman in 2008, with who he shares two children called Noah and Cassius.
The star also gushed about his wife during an interview with The Mirror, saying: "My lovely wife and I have been together for 17 years and I still look at her and love her."
David Hemmings (Governor)
David Hemmings played the Governor of the prison in Mean Machine – but did you know he was previously a child star and teen idol too?
The actor worked first as a boy soprano in several productions, before making his on-screen debut in 1954's The Rainbow Jacket.
From there, he became a teen idol in films such as Be My Guest and Two Left Feet opposite comedy and musical theatre legend Michael Crawford.
David later appeared in TV series and films such as Blow Up, The Charge Of The Light Brigade, Barbarella, Tales From The Crypt, The A-Team, Airwolf, Gladiator, Gangs Of New York and Equilibrium – to name a few.
That's not all, as he also went back to his musical roots by providing the narration for Rick Wakeman's progressive rock album, Journey To The Centre Of The Earth, in 1974.
Away from the limelight the actor had six children and was married four times – first to Genista Ouvry from 1960 to 1967 and then to Gayle Hunnicutt from 1968 to 1975.
He later married Prudence de Casembroot from 1976 to 1997 and then Lucy Williams until 2002.
However, David suffered a heart attack while working on the set of the film Blessed, and died on December 3, 2002 at the age of 62 years old.
His death was confirmed by his agent Liz Nelson, who said in a statement: "He had just finished his final shots of the day and was going back to his dressing room, as far as we know.
"He had only recently returned to acting. He opted for a number of years to work on his own projects, directing and producing."
Friends and stars from the world of entertainment later paid tribute, with film director Michael Winner saying in a statement: "He was very charismatic, beautiful smile, beautiful eyes, rather small and he had just an enormous impact in the ’60s.
"He was wonderful company, David. Very witty, very charming, very light, bright."
Vas Blackwood (Massive)
Vas Blackwood played fast-talking contraband dealer Massive in Mean Machine.
He already had a long and successful acting career before appearing in the film, after making his acting debut in TV miniseries Annika in 1984.
From there, he played Lenny Henry's sidekick on The Lenny Henry Show, before appearing in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Creep and comedy Only Fools and Horses.
He most recently appeared in Original Gangster and lent his voice to the animated series, Thunderbirds Are Go.
Vas is not the only famous star in his family however, as his cousin is none other than EastEnders icon and Hollyoaks actor Richard Blackwood.
The actor tends to keep his personal life private though, and it is not known whether he is single or in a relationship.
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