Decades of Friendship: How The Rock Transformed Harvey Wippleman’s Life

Harvey Whippleman (Bruno Lauer) has been a good friend of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson for decades, and he recently discussed their friendship on the “Wrestling Then And Now” podcast.

Whippleman conversed about his lengthy association with The Rock, and revealed how The Great One changed his life.

Harvey Wippleman Says The Rock Changed His Life Through Decades Of Friendship

In 2020, Johnson named Lauer as the G.O.A.T. for assisting him early in his career and providing him with a roof over his head.

You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:

On his friendship with Rock: “I mean, he’s one of the five people in this world I would literally die for, you know? We’ve been best friends since — Christ, I don’t know, 40 years? Like I said, I’m the worst about that, I don’t remember what I had for breakfast. But he’s a guy that was just since he was like 13, 14 years old we were best friends. All those years.”

On being portrayed on Young Rock: “Now they’ve got an actor played me on Young Rock. I’m an executive consultant on that show. And how many people could say they got a primetime network show with an actor playing them every week? They’ve been filming them here in Memphis, the filming just wrapped for this season. God willing we’re renewed for another season. But I was up, until the filming wrapped, at a set on a regular basis. I made sure I always showed up at lunchtime, because that good food. [laughs] But I just enjoyed it, and it’s all because of Dwayne.”

On the Rock having such an impact on his life: “I mean, it all came full circle. And because Rocky Johnson really had a lot to do with me getting my start in this profession, and staying in the profession. And now Dwayne has just made my life, and bought me a brand new pickup truck for Christmas two years ago. And I mean, it just changed my life.

“He’s a wonderful person, he’s a great person. He’s the biggest star in Hollywood, no boubt right now. I’m not saying that because he’s my close friend, it’s the truth. Even if I didn’t like it, I’d have to say that, you know what I mean? He’s the biggest star in Hollywood. And he remembers my little Walls, Mississippi butt.”