What do you think it means to be a hero?  To be honest, have integrity and courage and to be selfless.

What’s the most important quality that a hero must possess?  Heart.

 When did you first realize you have what it takes to be a hero?  I was born with all the components that make up a hero; it’s in my DNA.

What’s your biggest strength?  My confidence and tenacity.

What’s your biggest weakness? Lack of patience and standoffish demeanor.

You vs. The Rock: What would be the outcome?  I would get a sucker punch in, and then run away.

If your life was an action movie, what would it be called? “The Unbelievable Adventures of Chena.”

What are three things you couldn’t live without? Music, books, and the gym.

What’s your biggest fear?  Being stranded in the open ocean.

Describe your most hero-like moment. Waking up in the middle of the night without an adult present, knocking a charring pot off the stove at the age of three, saving my brother and myself from dying from smoke inhalation.

What’s your guilty pleasure?  White chocolate.

What accomplishment in life are you the most proud of? The completion of my first novel “Chena the making of an Orphan.”

What’s your biggest motivator? I am self-motivated. I am also motivated by a challenge or when someone says I’m not good enough or can’t do something.

Who’s your hero? Oprah, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.

What would be your theme song?  “I Will Survive.”

Why did you want to be on this show?  To prove to myself that I am a hero and to inspire others to be the best person that they can be.

What gets your adrenaline pumping (e.g. are you a skydiver? Whitewater rafter? Afraid of public speaking, etc.)  Adrenaline pumps when I have to face any challenge, whether that’s getting in the ring, or performing in front of others, I use that energy to deliver and succeed.

What do you think it means to be a hero? No matter what the situation at hand, a hero always puts their own needs to the side to accomplish and conquer the needs of others.

What’s the most important quality that a hero must possess? Compassion.

When did you first realize you have what it takes to be a hero? When I started my sneaker foundation for underprivileged and at risk youth (SNEAKS FOR DANCE FREAKS). I put brand new kicks on kid’s feet that take hip-hop but cannot afford sneakers to dance in.

What’s your biggest strength? I have a HUGE heart and ALWAYS put others before me.

What’s your biggest weakness? I don’t know the word “NO” and at times I take on too much and I overwhelm myself.

You vs. The Rock: What would be the outcome? Hmmmm.  Let’s just say the outcome would be interesting. Ha!

If your life was an action movie, what would it be called? BOO KITTY STRIKES BACK!

What are three things you couldn’t live without?
Family (especially my son)
music/dance
prayer/faith

What’s your biggest fear? Not being able to provide for my son.

Describe your most hero-like moment. When I brought Alijah into the world.

What’s your guilty pleasure? Chocolate, chocolate chip cookies and MORE chocolate.

What accomplishment in life are you the most proud of? The fact that I work a million jobs I never do anything for myself.  So when I made it on “The Hero” and beat out thousands of people… that was a HUGE accomplishment.  Not to mention getting to work with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

What’s your biggest motivator? Being a single mother. Instead of complaining, I get the job done.  Whatever it may be.

Who’s your hero? My son Alijah.

What would be your theme song? “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley. (“Don’t worry bout a thing cuz every little thing gonna be alright”)

Why did you want to be on this show? I wanted to show my son that no matter what you face in life and no matter how hard the challenges, if you put your mind, body and soul into it, you can conquer ANYTHING.

What gets your adrenaline pumping (e.g. are you a skydiver? Whitewater rafter? Afraid of public speaking, etc.) I am an adrenaline JUNKIE! When I’m about to run out on stage and dance in front of thousands of people…I LOVE that feeling. Also, stupid people get my blood flowing…lol CAN’T STAND THAT!!!!!

What do you think it means to be a hero? A hero never quits. A hero starts at the bottom and earns his/her way to the top. When a hero gets knocked down, they get back up. They are solid in their principles and their decisions and they never live their days with regret. A hero will give the shirt off of their back despite what they need at the time.

What’s the most important quality that a hero must possess? A hero must be self-sacrificing. A hero will always be willing to take a beating for the benefit of others.

When did you first realize you have what it takes to be a hero? My brother was diagnosed with a brainstem tumor at the age of 4. He was not supposed to live past the age of 9… He turned 26 this year. He fought; he fights every day. I became his guide; his stability. I’ve always been my brother’s protector and guardian. When my brother suffered a stroke a couple months ago, I realized at that point that I needed to be his hero. I proved to myself that I had what it took to stay strong; to not cry in front of him. I had what it took to feed him and help him walk again. His entire life, he’s looked up to me, expecting me to show him the ways and lead him, but he has taught me more than he will ever know about life & bravery. He is the most solid man I know. I realized I was a hero when the hero in my life needed aid from me.

What’s your biggest strength? My selflessness.

What’s your biggest weakness? My inability to love myself judgment free. I am my own worst enemy.

You vs. The Rock: What would be the outcome? He’d give in and fall in love with my charming personality and witty sense of humor, and if that didn’t happen, I’d willingly throw myself into his big man arms.

If your life was an action movie, what would it be called? “Fist of Fashion.”

What are three things you couldn’t live without? Love, Family & Music.

What’s your biggest fear? Being abandoned; left alone.

What’s your guilty pleasure? Ben and my main man, Jerry!

What accomplishment in life are you the most proud of? I am most proud of my retirement from the NFL. At times, I never thought I’d be able to get through my years as a New England Patriots Cheerleader, but when I received my retirement ring, I knew I had done it!

What’s your biggest motivator? I never give up because my brother, mother & grandparents taught me to never give up. I am motivated by family, love (the most complete and important emotion) and education. The thought that you can never stop learning is pure amazement to me.

Who’s your hero? My big brother, Dhosi, is my hero.

What would be your theme song? “TNT” by AC/DC

Why did you want to be on this show? I wanted to be my big brother’s legs & voice on The Hero. He is the most heroic man I know, and after he suffered from a brainstem tumor, medical complications & a stroke before the age of 26, I knew I had to do this for him.

What gets your adrenaline pumping (e.g. are you a skydiver? Whitewater rafter? Afraid of public speaking, etc.) New love gets my adrenaline pumping. You can’t beat that on-top-of-the-world feeling.

What do you think it means to be a hero? To put someone else before yourself.

What’s the most important quality that a hero must possess? Selflessness.

When did you first realize you have what it takes to be a hero? I'm still not sure I’ve come to that realization.

What’s your biggest strength? Loyalty to those I love.

What’s your biggest weakness? Sometimes I overreact too quickly.

You vs. The Rock: What would be the outcome?  In a game of chess I'll whoop his ass!

If your life was an action movie, what would it be called? “Fighting The Good Fight.”

What are three things you couldn’t live without? Family, Sports, Music.

What’s your biggest fear? Spiders.

Describe your most hero-like moment. Every day when I come home from work and my girls are happy to see me!

What’s your guilty pleasure? Greasy and fried food.

What accomplishment in life are you the most proud of? Getting married and starting a family.

What’s your biggest motivator? Wife and kids.

Who’s your hero? My Pops was and still is my hero.

What would be your theme song? “Sunshine” by Lupe Fiasco.

Why did you want to be on this show? To step outside of my comfort zone.

What gets your adrenaline pumping (e.g. are you a skydiver? Whitewater rafter? Afraid of public speaking, etc.)  Watching and playing sports.

What do you think it means to be a hero? A kind, selfless act or gesture that is given without the thought of receiving any praise or gratitude. 


What's the most important quality that a hero must possess? A hero must be willing...

When did you first realize you have what it takes to be a hero? I still struggle with this answer because I cannot put myself in the "hero" category. That is for others to identify me with. I think that word is too awesome for me to say I belong there.

What's your biggest strength? The O'Neil Family Motto! "O'Neil's are not Quitters." I love that I never give up.

What's your biggest weakness? MY PASSION! Tears flow way too easily from me and that can be looked upon as a weakness.

You vs. The Rock: What would be the outcome? NO QUESTION! The Rock! He is an Epic Hero! I don't stand a chance!

If your life were an action movie, what would it be called? Love this question! It would be called (especially after this adventure) The Mummy Returns!

What are three things you couldn't live without? My family, who I adore, my friends who mean the world to me, and my lipstick!

What's your biggest fear? HEIGHTS!!!

Describe your most hero-like moment. Before this show, I would have to say I have never had a hero-like moment. I have never done something great. I have always tried to make everyone's life wonderful, but that meant making a great cup of coffee for someone, or remembering to iron all his work shirts on a Sunday. Never, never, never have I done anything awesome until this show. My most hero-like moments happen during this show.

What's your guilty pleasure? An ice-cold beer with Bobby on a summer night, on our front stoop with great conversation and lots of laughs.

What accomplishment in life are you the most proud of? For sure Connor, Alex and Madeline.

What's your biggest motivator? Bobby! He will always be able to make me do more than I thought I could.

Who's your hero? Any man or woman who serves in the US Military. I also want to say any Mom or Dad, who gets up everyday and does the same job, over and over again, day in and day out, but can manage to come home at night, still with a spark of energy and create a wonderful evening whether it's a dinner made from love, or helping with the homework, or asking about "their" day, and actually just loving to be a part of the family. That person is my hero. They can make the "regular" extra ordinary!

What would be your theme song? This was so tough for me. "Glitter In The Air" by Pink, especially the live version that was on the Grammy Awards in 2010. If you want to know who Patty is, this song and version of it will tell you.

What do you think it means to be a hero? People often describe a hero as courageous. I think a hero is more someone who is self-sacrificing, cares about people, and puts other people before themselves.

What’s the most important quality that a hero must possess? Compassion for other people.

When did you first realize you have what it takes to be a hero? I don't know if I’m a hero but I think what I do is heroic. I have dedicated my life to taking care of the most critically injured people.

What’s your biggest strength? My drive and determination. I never quit.

You vs. The Rock: What would be the outcome? Well the Rock is bigger and stronger but I’m fast, agile and smart so it would be good competition.

If your life were an action movie, what would it be called? “Trauma Drama.”

What are three things you couldn’t live without? Women (I love the ladies lol), coffee I can't get going with out it, good friends - my friends are like my family.

What’s your biggest fear? Being average- I always want to excel in whatever it is that I do.

Describe your most hero-like moment. 0n July 4, 2002 I tackled a gunman that was shooting people at LAX airport then I helped take care of the victims.

What’s your guilty pleasure? Popcorn and chocolate chip ice cream.

What accomplishment in life are you the most proud of? Building the St. Elizabeth Trauma Center from the ground up. This trauma center has saved thousands of lives.

What’s your biggest motivator? My biggest motivator is myself. I put more pressure on myself than anybody. I NEVER want to fail at anything.

Who’s your hero? Anyone in the military is my hero. They put their lives on the line everyday so we can be free; they are the true heroes.

What would be your theme song? "Right Where I Need to Be" by Gary Allen.

Why did you want to be on this show? First of all being on a show with The Rock is cool enough but at age 50 and after four surgeries over the last year-and-a-half I wanted to see if I still had it. I wanted to challenge my body and my mind - see if I could still kick some ass.

What gets your adrenaline pumping? My job being a trauma surgeon there is nothing that gets your adrenaline pumping more than when a critically injured patient comes in and you take over and pull that patient from the grips of death and save their life.

What do you think it means to be a hero? To persevere through troubled times, make decisions that others are not willing to make, and to be willing to fail in order to ultimately succeed.

What is the most important quality that hero must possess? A level head.

When did you first realize you have what it takes to be a hero?  I have always wanted to be a hero and always believed I could be. I never got in fights as a kid unless it was to defend somebody who was being picked on, and that’s carried over to adulthood. I’m levelheaded and I realized I had what it takes to be that hero when I apprehended a man who was beating another man and stealing his belongings. I was able to wrestle him down and detain him until the police arrived.

What's your biggest strength? Belief in myself.

What's your biggest weakness? Impatience.

You vs. The Rock: what would be the outcome? In the ring? That’s something I look forward to and plan on making happen, and I’ll tell exactly how it would go down. It would be very competitive. We both have that incredible spirit to be the best at what we do. He’s already there. I’m hungry to get there. After a long, competitive match up, Shaun Ricker is coming out on top, if ya sme-….  Ah, never mind. That’s not an insult. THAT…  is just a fact of life.

What are three things you couldn't live without? Meat, water, personal interaction.

What's your biggest fear? (For lack of a better answer) Suffocating to death.

Describe your most hero-like moment. My most hero-like moment is when I detained a man who was beating a smaller man and stealing his stuff. I pulled my car over and chased the guy. As I grabbed him, he swung a punch and missed and started to run. He then stopped about 20 yards away from me and just looked at me for a second. He then started walking back toward me and reached into his pants and motioned as though he had a gun pointing at me under his sweatshirt. Naturally, I ran, unaware whether he had a gun or not and ducked behind my car. He figured his job was done, yelled some things at me and then walked back toward the victim’s bike. I quietly snuck behind a van next to the bike and waited for him to get on the bike and get his balance. The second he got his balance, I ran and clotheslined him off the bike. He went over the front handlebars and as he came up, I reached around his throat with my left forearm, chicken winged his arm behind his back with my other arm and slammed him to the ground face first. I proceeded to choke him until he didn’t move and held him till the police got there. It was really a crazy experience.

What's your guilty pleasure? Pumpkin pie.

What's your biggest motivator? Competition.

Who is your hero? Arnold Schwarzenegger. If you remove all the recent controversy surrounding him, his accomplishments are astounding. He did not aspire to be just a bodybuilder, he wanted to be the greatest bodybuilder of all time and that’s exactly what he did. From there, he wanted to become an actor, to which many people told him he could never do because of his accent and his size. Well, he proved all of them wrong and became one of the highest grossing actors of the 80s and 90s. From there, after being a bodybuilder and an actor, he became involved in politics and became the governor of California. His entire story is the embodiment of the American Dream and persevering through being told “No you can’t.”

What would be your theme song? “Diamonds are Forever” Kanye West & Jay-Z

Why did you want to be on this show? My initial interest in the show was due to The Rock’s involvement, and then when I found out the format of the show with the challenges, it sounded like an exciting combination. I love to challenge myself.

What gets your adrenaline pumping? Every time I step into a ring… off the charts.

What do you think it means to be a hero?  The ordinary person doing the extraordinary act. A total disregard for self for the sake of another person, especially a stranger.

What’s the most important quality that a hero must possess?  One part courage with a heaping scoop of selflessness.

What’s your biggest strength?  The heart to say, "I can" when my mind says, "I can't."

What’s your biggest weakness?  Technology.

You vs. The Rock: What would be the outcome?  The bigger they are, the harder they fall.  My foot, his Mr. Winky, pant lollipop, baby cannon...whatever he calls it. You get the picture.  Charles:1 Rock:0. Enough said.  (and then I get the hell outta Dodge!)

If your life was an action movie, what would it be called?  "DodoCop (1987)" or "Kinda Braveheart (1995)." Depends on what kind of a day I'm having.

What are three things you couldn’t live without?  Wife. Surf. In n Out Burger.

What’s your biggest fear?  Not coming home to take care of my wife.

Describe your most hero-like moment.  Evacuating children and families from a school/houses during a brush fire.

What’s your guilty pleasure? Haagen Dazs Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, In N Out Double Double and New York style pizza.

What accomplishment in life are you the most proud of? It has yet to come.

What’s your biggest motivator? Belief in myself. 

Who’s your hero?  The men and women of law enforcement and the military who have sacrificed their lives for the public.  Eddie Aikau.

What would be your theme song? “Don't Worry, Be Happy.”

Why did you want to be on this show?  To test myself against the ideals of what I think a hero is.

What gets your adrenaline pumping (e.g. are you a skydiver? Whitewater rafter? Afraid of public speaking, etc.): Surfing big, fast waves and a juicy In N Out Burger.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
Executive Producer/Mentor and Motivator