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The Washed-Uppiest Actor-Athletes in Professional Sports Films

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Seriously Random Lists | Comments (28)

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Neither golf nor pool counts (or bowling). They are not real sports. Moreover, the list is limited to professional sporting events.

1. Sylvester Stallone, Rocky Balboa, Real Age 60
2. Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler, Real Age 57
3. Paul Newman, Slap Shot, Real Age 52
4. Dennis Quaid, The Rookie, Real Age 48
5. Robert Redford, The Natural — real Age 48
6. Michael Caine, Victory, — Real Age 48
7. George Clooney, Leatherheads — Real Age 47
8. Tom Selleck, Mr. Baseball, — Real Age 47
9. Dennis Quad, Any Given Sunday — Real Age 45
10. Tom Berenger, Major League II, — Real Age 45

(Note: I am not passing judgment on the performances of any of these actors or suggesting that they were inappropriately cast. I am merely noting — for posterity — the ten oldest actors (to my knowledge) to play a professional sport in a film.)









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Comments

What. the. FUCK? I get that you are going by age, but DAYUM!! Paul Newman in Slap Shot OWNS it!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reggie Dunlop: Jesus Christ, what a friggin' nightmare...

Posted by: dammitjanet at June 18, 2010 10:04 AM

Boo! Golf counts.

Rodney Dangerfield, Caddyshack, age 174.

Posted by: BWeaves at June 18, 2010 10:04 AM

IMDB doesn't show Costner in "The Perfect Game". It does, however, show him in "For Love of the Game", 1999, in which he plays a pitcher who throws a perfect game.

Perhaps?

-Ralphie

Oops. Apologies. But he did throw a perfect game. -- DR

Posted by: Ralphie at June 18, 2010 10:06 AM

Paul Newman can wash me up any time.

Posted by: mswas at June 18, 2010 10:08 AM

Wasn't the point of The Wrestler that he was an old man in a young man's game?

Also, many baseball players have played into their 40's.

Jaime Moyer, Omar Vizquel, Kenny Lofton, Randy Johnson, etc.

Posted by: Dangerous Dave at June 18, 2010 10:14 AM

John Goodman, The Babe- (40?)
Warren Beatty, Heaven Can Wait- (41?)
Randy Quaid, Kingpin- (46?)
Bill Murray, Kingpin- (46?)
Antonio Banderas, Play it to the Bone- (39?)
Dwayne Johnson, Tooth FairyI- (38?)

Posted by: DeistBrawler at June 18, 2010 10:26 AM

Mr. Quad was fantastic in Any Given Sunday, but I can't seem to find him on IMDB...

Posted by: logar at June 18, 2010 10:27 AM

You added bowling? I see what you did there.

(Apologies, Deist. I thought bowling was a given. -- DR

Posted by: DeistBrawler at June 18, 2010 10:38 AM

Fuck this, I'm putting on the foil.

Posted by: admin at June 18, 2010 10:44 AM

Dennis Quaid, The Rookie- (48)

I see your Any Given Sunday and raise you then.

Posted by: DeistBrawler at June 18, 2010 10:45 AM

It's been awhile since I've seen it, but I think Christopher Lloyd's character in "Eight Men Out" was actually a retired athlete.

Posted by: ... at June 18, 2010 10:53 AM

BWeaves FTW

Posted by: , at June 18, 2010 10:57 AM

In the spirit of the World Cup, Michael Caine (48) and Pelé (41) in Victory.

Also, George Clooney (47) in Leatherheads, which I'm assuming fits as a "sports film"?

Posted by: branded at June 18, 2010 11:05 AM

William Fichtner, The Longest Yard-2005 (49)
Kevin Nash, The Longest Yard-2005 (46)
BURT REYNOLDS, The Longest Yard-2005 (69)

Technically Burt does have a scene during which he plays.

Fine...I'll stop now.

Posted by: DeistBrawler at June 18, 2010 11:08 AM

The list evolves ... thanks branded, comma, and Deist. By the end of the day, perhaps the entire list will consist of 50 year olds. (I hadn't see it in a while, either, comma, but I'll take your word for it on Lloyd.

Posted by: Dustin Rowles at June 18, 2010 11:10 AM

If my recollection is correct, Deist, The Longest Yard was a game between inmates and guards, and does not specifically count as a professional event, and the list is meant to only include 'professional sports'.

Posted by: Dustin Rowles at June 18, 2010 11:13 AM

You consider wrestling to be a 'professional sport?'

Bah!

Posted by: DeistBrawler at June 18, 2010 11:20 AM

Martin Landau, Ready to Rumble (72)

Oliver Platt was 40 and got his ass handed to him. Hey, you included pro-wrestling.

Posted by: DeistBrawler at June 18, 2010 11:29 AM

HONORABLE MENTION:

Sinbad (35) and Scott Bakula (36) in Necessary Roughness, playing college athletes (!!).

Posted by: Caroline at June 18, 2010 11:59 AM

DeistBrawler hit the nail on the head. Wrestling is now a sport?

Where exactly is the professional competition in what amounts to half-naked, testosterone-infused, Kabuki theater?

Posted by: TheBoy at June 18, 2010 12:09 PM

ALSO HONORABLE MENTION:

Muhammad Ali played HIMSELF when he was 45 in The Greatest.

Posted by: Caroline at June 18, 2010 12:33 PM

It's really hard for me right now, because I know when I say this I'm going to feel like a massive tool, but I can't hold it in: I'm pretty sure the team from Slap-Shot is, at best, semi-professional.

Shit, since I'm letting it out: If you're counting professional wrestling as a sport, you have to remember Oliver Platt in Ready To Rumble.

Posted by: ChristianH at June 18, 2010 12:41 PM

Ric Flair, who was an ACTUAL fake wrestler, was still wrestling in 2009, making him 60. Just sayin...

Posted by: EJ at June 18, 2010 1:24 PM

Ain't nothin' washed up about Newman in that picture.

Posted by: PaddyDog at June 18, 2010 3:35 PM

IMDB doesn't show Costner in "The Perfect Game". It does, however, show him in "For Love of the Game", 1999, in which he plays a pitcher who throws a perfect game.

TIN CUP, motherfuckers! TIN CUP!!!

Posted by: elzupasmonkey at June 18, 2010 7:47 PM

Burt Lancaster as 'Moonlight' Graham in Field of Dreams. He was 75.

Posted by: greg at June 18, 2010 8:33 PM

Re: Paul Newman as Reggie Dunlop in 'Slap Shot': it's believable, for sure!

Gordie Howe played professionally from 1946 until age 52; 80 games for the Hartford Whalers - in 1979-80 & had 15 goals!

Chris Chelios is now 48 & is still considered to be one of the best conditioned athletes in the world & has yet to retire from the NHL.

Posted by: oskar at June 18, 2010 11:06 PM

Ric Flair...Whooooooooooooooo!

Whether you like it or you don't like it, learn to love it. Cuz its the best thing going today! Whooooooo!

Posted by: Eric at June 20, 2010 1:24 AM