Dot-Marie Jones

Did you know?!

1. First role

   Dot-Marie Jones had no acting aspirations until Shirley Eson, known from American Gladiators, discovered her at a bodybuilding competition. Eson encouraged her to try out for Knights and Warriors, and Jones won the part as one of the few female warriors.

2. Big break

   Jones had worked with Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy on Nip/Tuck and Pretty/Handsome, and was a fan of the show. She ran into co-executive producer Brad Falchuk at a supermarket and asked to be on Glee, so the character Coach Beiste was created for her.

3. A role that slipped away

   Jones received an offer to join professional wrestling, but she declined it. Her reason, as she put it, was that the sport was "too fakey."

4. A first

   Jones took up arm wrestling on a whim. She was 19 when she won her first world championship in the sport, and she went on to win 14 more.

5. A first

   Jones threw 56 ft in the shot put, past the 55 ft qualifying mark, to reach the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials, where she placed sixth.

6. Beyond film

   On Glee, Jones showcased her singing, recording "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer" with Matthew Morrison plus versions of Taylor Swift's "Mean" and Dolly Parton's "Jolene" for the show's soundtracks.