How good a pitcher was Hobbs in those days? It's hard to tell — he never made it to the Chicago tryout, and Simpson died before the year was out. Before he died, he did tell sportswriter Max Mercy that he was a “slam-blam pitching prospect,” and that he would be the “coming pitcher of the century.”

Was Roy Hobbs a real person?

Roy Hobbs, fictional character, the ambitious and talented but flawed baseball player who is the protagonist of The Natural (1952), the first novel by American writer Bernard Malamud. The character was portrayed by Robert Redford in the 1984 film version of the novel.

Who was the pitcher in The Natural?

The Natural (1984) - Christopher B. Rehbaum as Pitcher John Rhoades - IMDb.

Did Robert Redford do his own hitting in The Natural?

I loved playing baseball and I loved the Boston Red Sox and Ted Williams and I wanted to go in that direction [as a ballplayer] if I could, but never could until this.” Johnson confirms that Redford did all of his own batting for the film, and made some solid hits.

Why did Roy Hobbs get shot?

Roy was a big shot as a teenager, and he believed he had a promising future ahead of him. Harriet thought so, too, which is why she only shot Roy after he answered her question about whether being the “best there ever was,” was an accurate assessment. Roy doesn't hesitate, confirming he would be the best in baseball.

The Natural (3/8) Movie CLIP - Batting Practice With Wonderboy (1984) HD

Is Roy Hobbs baseball based on a true story?

According to Wikipedia, Author Malamud, supposedly not a baseball fan himself, created “the Natural” story and his Roy Hobbs character from the real life of Eddie Waitkus, a major leaguer in 1941 and 1946-55.

How old was Robert Redford in The Natural?

Robert Redford was 46 during filming, but he played Roy Hobbs at 19 and 35. In Reel Life: When Roy makes it to the majors, he's 35 years old. In Real Life: Redford was 46 when the film was made, and even plays Roy as a 19-year-old in the movie.

Was Robert Redford good at baseball?

When he was young, Redford didn't love school, so he pursued his interests in art and sports. He had a great talent for baseball and spent his years at Van Nuys High School on the baseball team, where his teammate was future pitching legend, Don Drysdale.

Did Robert Redford quit acting?

'That's enough': Robert Redford announces his retirement from acting. Robert Redford is calling it a career after nearly 60 years as one of his generation's most iconic actors. Redford, 81, announced to Entertainment Weekly on Monday that his upcoming film, "The Old Man & The Gun," will be his final acting job.

Why did Robert Redford leave Hollywood?

He said he was retiring after two final movies.

"Never say never, but I pretty well concluded that this would be it for me in terms of acting," he told Entertainment Weekly (via The Guardian), "and [I'll] move towards retirement after this 'cause I've been doing it since I was 21. I thought, 'Well, that's enough.

How old was Roy Hobbs supposed to be in The Natural?

The two eras of the film show Roy Hobbs at age 19 and age 35. Robert Redford was 47 at the time of filming. The filmmakers scouted the country for a stadium to use in game scenes.

How old is Roy Hobbs in the beginning of The Natural?

Now 19 years old, Hobbs heads to Chicago for a tryout with the Chicago Cubs, leaving behind his girlfriend, Iris.

Why was Darren McGavin uncredited in the movie The Natural?

Despite playing a significant role in the baseball film The Natural (1984), due to a contract dispute, McGavin was uncredited for his portrayal of a shady bookie, Gus Sands.

How far was Roy Hobbs home run?

Hobbs' homer is not humanly possible. According to the Home Run Distance Calculator, a hit at 13 degrees and 150 miles per hour would hit our rightmost light bank at its apex and would go on to land around 550 feet from home plate.

Where did Roy Hobbs get shot?

Roy Hobbs was a rookie in the Majors when he was 35.

On his way to Chicago for his tryout, Roy was shot in a hotel room. The next time you see him, Hobbs is walking into the dugout of the (fictional) New York Knights. He was 35 years old and a right fielder.

What happened to Eddie Waitkus?

Remarkably, Waitkus returned to play with the Phillies in 1950, where he was the leadoff hitter for the National League pennant winners. He went onto play through the 1955 season. Waitkus died in 1972 of esophageal cancer at age 53.

How much older was Paul Newman to Robert Redford?

The Reason Paul Newman And Robert Redford Never Got To Make A Third Movie Together - IMDb. Though 11 years apart in age, hailing from entirely different parts of the country, Paul Newman and Robert Redford were a big-screen match made in movie heaven.

What autoimmune disease did James Redford have?

While Completing his MA in literature at Northwestern University, James was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, a rare auto-immune disease affecting the liver In 1993, James received two liver transplants.

What are some cool facts about Robert Redford?

Other Facts

Redford had polio as a child. After losing interest in baseball at the University of Colorado, he worked in the California oil fields to earn money before moving to Europe to study painting. Founder of Sundance Village, Sundance Institute, the Sundance Film Festival and the Redford Center.

How many Oscars did Robert Redford get?

Robert Redford Awards. Robert Redford has won 1 award - Oscars in 1981.

How many kids did Robert Redford have with his first wife?

On top of being one of the most iconic actors of all time, Robert Redford is also an avowed philanthropist, environmental activist and filmmaker — and he's passed on his passion for film to his family. He and his first wife, Lola Van Wagenen, had four children together: Scott, Shauna, James and Amy Redford.

How old was Robert Redford when he had polio?

Redford was about 11 years old when he was stricken by the disease, which left him temporarily paralyzed. This story is from the December 30, 2019 edition of National Enquirer.