The Hockey News
Slap Shot: Where they are now
By Ken 'Toe' Blake
April 8, 2002
Followers of the hockey
cult movie classic
Slap Shot may or may not
be dismayed to learn
most of Hollywood considers
the 1977 film
a dud. After all, what
does Hollywood know
– about hockey, anyway.
A Paul Newman Biography
on A&E referred
to his movie Slap Shot
in far less glowing
terms than the thousands
who watch and re-watch
the story about the Charlestown
Chiefs over
and over again.
In this, the 25th anniversary
of this hockey
classic, Slap Shot expert
Ken 'Toe' Blake
put together this collection
of where-are-they-nows
on the movie's actors.
Watch for future stories
related to the movie's
25th anniversary.
Guido Tenesi, 47, Toronto
Then: Chiefs defenseman
Billy Charlebois
who hailed from Moose Jaw,
Sask. He never
speaks in the movie, but
his devilishly handsome
good looks attracts all
the ladies, especially
the Sparkle Twins. He's
completely crestfallen
after he receives a black
eye in the championship
game against the Syracuse
Bulldogs.
Now: Tenesi retired from
pro hockey after
finishing his career in
the Italian National
League in 1988. He is currently
a service
technician for one of the
largest swimming
pool dealers in Ontario.
Louise & Janet Arters,
56, Pennsylvania
Then: The Sparkle Twins.
The Federal League's
hottest blonde groupies
who were never far
from Billy Charlebois.
Fashion setters in
their time with the classic
T-shirts proclaiming
'Aggressive Hockey is Back
in Town.'
Now: Both actresses were
also in the movie
The Great Gatsby with Robert
Redford. Louise
contracted Multiple Sclerosis
in 1985. She
currently attends physical
therapy five days
a week to remain strong.
She is upbeat and
determined to deal with
her illness straight
on. Janet is married and
the proud mother
of twin daughters.
John Gofton, 58, Tillsonburg,
Ont.
Then: Nick Brophy, inebriated
center for
the Hyannisport Presidents,
who proceeded
to empty his bladder after
a crushing check
from Ned Braden.
Now: Retired from pro hockey
in 1977, Gofton
currently owns and operates
Tillsonburg Rent-Alls
in Tillsonburg, Ont.
Christopher Murney, (claims
he hasn't aged
a bit), New York
Then: Tommy Hanrahan, rival
goalie unmercifully
taunted by Reggie Dunlop
regarding his wife's
sexual activities.
Now: Still performing in
television, movies,
and on- and off-Broadway
stage productions,
as well as successful voice
over promotional
work for organizations
including PBS, HBO,
Cinemax, ESPN, NBA, and
CBS. You can also
hear Murney as the voice
of Chester the Cheetah
in Cheetos commercials.
Murney's website
is: http://www.christophermurney.com/
Paul D'Amato, 54, New York
Then: Tim 'Dr. Hook' McCracken,
who not only
commented on Reggie Dunlop's
taste in the
human anatomy, but could
also "carve
out a man's eye" with
the flick of a
wrist.
Now: D'Amato continues
to act in off-Broadway
productions frequently,
as well as in movies
and television. He most
recently appeared
in a television episode
of Law & Order,
Criminal Intent. When he's
not acting, D'Amato
supervises the ski shop
at Paragon Sports
in Manhattan. If you like
to ski and want
to say hello to D'Amato,
e-mail him at: plydp@netscape.net
Allan Nicholls, 56, New
Jersey
Then: Johnny Upton, Chiefs'
captain. He was
best known for clearing
out a room full of
women during a fashion
show, thereby ruining
another one of Joe McGrath's
public relations
schemes.
Now: No, he's not working
at the Chrysler
plant! Nicholls is still
acting and also
honing his craft behind
the camera these
days. His acting as well
as directing and
producing credits include
films such as What's
the Worst That Could Happen?,
The Crew, Cradle
Will Rock, and Dead Man
Walking.
Yvon Barrette, 55, Quebec
Then: Denis Lemieux, crazy
goaltender for
the Chiefs who had the
enjoyable habit of
butchering the English
language and had such
a severe "allergy"
to the fans
that it made him want to
puke.
Now: Barrette is one of
five owners of the
'coop de Travail L'Ancedre'
Cedar Mill in
Quebec. Barrette and wife
Nicole have one
son and are the proud grandparents
of two.
He still does some occasional
acting as well.
most recently in the new
Pierre Falardeau
production 15 Fevrier 1839.
Brad Sullivan, 70, New
York
Then: Morris 'Mo' Wanchuk,
who was constantly
on the prowl for women
and frequented a little
bar, called the Palm Isle.
Now: Sullivan has retired
after a successful
motion picture acting career
that included
such films as: The Untouchables,
Sister Act
2, The Sting, Canadian
Bacon, The Fantasticks,
and Tin Men. Sullivan also
had recurring
roles in television shows
including Law &
Order, and NYPD Blue. He
currently devotes
his time and effort into
his Christian Ministry
with the Asian Community
in New York.
Michael Ontkean, 56, HI
Then: Ned Braden, college
graduate and leading
scorer in the Federal League.
Ned refused
to "goon it up"
and was ultimately
benched by player/coach
Reg Dunlop. Best
known for his scoring ability
and his embarrassing
skate around the ice with
the championship
trophy.
Now: Ontkean continues
to act and his film
and television work include:
Summer of the
Monkeys, Green Sails, The
Stepford Husbands,
Twin Peaks as Sheriff Harry
S. Truman, The
Outer Limits, and a starring
role on The
Rookies. You can see Ontkean
in the 2002
Animal Planet movie, Bear
With Me.
M. Emmet Walsh, 67, California
Then: Reporter Dickie Dunn
who gets duped
by Reg Dunlop about the
Florida deal. Dickie
is best known for his keen
and insightful
writing prowess that truly
"captures
the spirit of the thing."
Now: Walsh continues to
have a successful
acting career that has
spanned more than
30 years in both film and
television. He
can currently be seen on
HBO in the series
The Mind of a Married Man.
Jerry Houser, 49, California
Then: Dave Carlson, best
known for the mess
he made of himself in the
fight with Barclay
Donaldson while defending
Reggie Dunlop's
honor. After choosing the
nickname 'Killer,'
he then aggressively pursued
the $100 bounty
on the head of Tim McCracken.
Now: Houser is also well
known for his portrayal
of Wally Logan (Marcia
Brady's husband in
the Brady Bunch specials
and series The Brady
Brides). Along with an
impressive resume
of other roles in films
and television, Houser
has now turned his focus
to radio, film,
and TV voice over work.
Over the past several
years, he formed his own
production company,
Bastille Productions Inc.,
which specializes
in radio commercials and
corporate promotion.
His clientele includes
CBS, Walt Disney Pictures,
Upper Deck, Budweiser,
ESPN, Wal-Mart, Frito-Lay,
Purina, UPN and The WB,
among others. Houser
may also be heard as the
Keebler Elf in commercials.
Strother Martin, (1919-1980)
Then: Joe McGrath, hapless
GM of the Charlestown
Chiefs who was best known
for putting together
fashion shows, radiothons,
and other failed
marketing schemes in an
attempt to draw fans.
Now: Martin passed away
Aug. 1, 1980 leaving
an outstanding legacy of
film and television
work that spanned 30 years.
Included in that
legacy, were six films
with Paul Newman.
Mark Bousquet, 50, Massachusetts
Then: Andre 'Poodle' Lussier,
Syracuse Bulldogs
player brought back from
semi-seclusion for
the championship game against
the Chiefs.
Details are still unclear
regarding his involvement
in the "unfortunate
Denny Pratt tragedy."
Now: Bousquet retired from
pro hockey in
1980 and currently works
as business manager
for a Ford dealership in
Chicopee, Mass.
He is also the local high
school hockey coach.
Ned Dowd, 51, California
Then: Ogie Ogilthorpe,
a cementhead with
a big afro who in spite
of being suspended,
somehow found himself traded
from the Lancaster
Gears to the Syracuse Bulldogs
for the championship
game against the Chiefs.
Canada's refusal
to take him after he was
deported may have
something to do with it,
but we cannot be
sure.
Now: Dowd retired from
pro hockey in 1975,
and after his appearance
in Slap Shot, he
appeared in several films
before embarking
on a successful career
in Hollywood behind
the camera. Over the past
25 years, his directing
and producing credits include
such films
as Let It Ride, The Last
of the Mohicans,
The 13th Warrior, Wonder
Boys, Shanghai Noon,
Reign of Fire, I'll Do
Anything, Hoffa, Other
People's Money, Angels
in the Outfield, Houseguest,
While You Were Sleeping,
Before and After,
First Kid, Grosse Pointe
Blank, G.I. Jane,
Washington Square, and
Rocket Man.
Steve Carlson, 47, Jeff
Carlson, 49, and
Dave Hanson, 48
Then: The Hanson Brothers.
Trusting the word
of his scout, GM Joe McGrath,
acquires these
boys from the old Iron
League. This bruising
trio of bespectacled brothers,
Steve, Jeff
and Jack quickly become
the terrors of the
Federal League. Playing
with their toys shows
an almost childlike demeanor
off the ice,
but once they were "foiled
up",
no opposing player or unruly
fan was safe.
Now: The Hanson Brothers. They continue to
make personal appearances at a variety of
venues around the country, to the delight
of sports fans young and old. When they are
not "on the road", Dave manages
a Sports Complex in Pennsylvania, Jeff works
as an electrician in Michigan, and Steve
manages the Hanson Brothers business interests
and also runs a hockey school in the summer.
You can also catch the Hanson Brothers in
Slap Shot 2 which was recently released on
video and DVD.
Paul Newman, 77, New York
Then: Reggie Dunlop, Chiefs'
player/coach
who somehow, although spending
all his spare
time trying to win back
his ex-wife Francine,
manages to turn his lackluster,
third-rate
team into champions. Best
known for duping
everybody about the non-existent
Florida
deal, his fashionable leather
wardrobe, and
his disdain for the timeless
musical classic
Lady of Spain.
Now: Newman continues an
acting career that
has spanned more than 50
years. Some of his
best films include Butch
Cassidy & The
Sundance Kid, Where The
Money Is, Absence
Of Malice, Fort Apache,
The Bronx, The Towering
Inferno, The Sting, The
Life and Times of
Judge Roy Bean, Cat on
a Hot Tin Roof, Hud,
Blaze, and Cool Hand Luke.
When he is not
acting, Newman is very
involved with his
love and passion of auto
racing. You can
check out his racing team
at http://www.newman-hass.com/
Yvan Ponton, 57, Montreal
Then: Jean-Guy Drouin,
assistant captain
of the Chiefs who could
not speak a lick
of English.
Now: Ponton continues to
enjoy a successful
acting career in Canada,
most recently reprising
his role of Jean-Charles
in the upcoming
Les Boys IV. |
|
|
