SI Vault: Famous Athletes from the Field to the Silverscreen

Sports Illustrated has compiled a list of famous athletes you know and their true stories that were transformed into famous films!

SI Staff | Apr 13, 2017

SI Vault: Famous Athletes from the Field to the Silverscreen /

SI Vault: Famous Athletes from the Field to the Silverscreen

The Fighter: 2010

Starring Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale based off of Micky Ward and his brother Photo of two exhausted boxers, Micky Ward (L) and Arturo Gatti (R) taken moments after their 10 round bout in Atlantic City, 06/07/03.

The Fighter: 2010

Starring Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale based off of Micky Ward and his brother Photo of Micky Ward land a righthand hook to the face of Arturo Gatti during the 10th. round of their bout in Atlantic City, NJ 06/07/03.

42: 2013

Starring Chadwick Boseman, T.R. Knight and Harrison Ford. This movie is about Jackie Robinson and his journey to becoming a Brooklyn Dodger and his life during that time. Portrait of Brooklyn Dodgers Jackie Robinson (42) posing during Camera Day photo shoot before game vs Philadelphia Phillies at Ebbets Field. Brooklyn, NY 8/12/1956

42: 2013

Starring Chadwick Boseman, T.R. Knight and Harrison Ford. This movie is about Jackie Robinson and his journey to becoming a Brooklyn Dodger and his life during that time. Brooklyn Dodgers Jackie Robinson, 1955 World Series

42: 2013

Starring Chadwick Boseman, T.R. Knight and Harrison Ford. This movie is about Jackie Robinson and his journey to becoming a Brooklyn Dodger and his life during that time. World Series: Brooklyn Dodgers Jackie Robinson (42) in action, on base vs New York Yankees at Ebbets Field. Game 3. Brooklyn, NY 9/30/1955

The Express: 2008

Starring Rob Brown, Dennis Quaid and Clancy Brown in a drama based on the life of college football hero Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. Cotton Bowl: Syracuse Ernie Davis (44) on the sidelines during game vs Texas at the Cotton Bowl. Dallas, TX 1/1/1960

The Express: 2008

Starring Rob Brown, Dennis Quaid and Clancy Brown in a drama based on the life of college football hero Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. Cotton Bowl: Syracuse Ernie Davis (44) in action during game vs Texas at the Cotton Bowl. Dallas, TX 1/1/1960

The Express: 2008

Bleed for This: 2016

Lane Stewart/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images

Starring Miles Teller and Aaron Eckhart, tells a story of the World Champion Boxer Vinny Pazienza who, after a near fatal car crash which left him not knowing if he'd ever walk again, made one of sport's most incredible comebacks. Portrait of Lightweight boxer Vinny Pazienza punching speed bag during training session photo shoot. Pazienza, 24, is 22-1 for his career, and is awaiting an IBF title bout vs Greg Haugen. Houston, TX 5/8/1987

Bleed for This: 2016

Starring Miles Teller and Aaron Eckhart, tells a story of the World Champion Boxer Vinny Pazienza who, after a near fatal car crash which left him not knowing if he'd ever walk again, made one of sport's most incredible comebacks. IBF World Lightweight Title: Vinny Pazienza (L) in action, hanging on ropes vs Greg Haugen during fight at Boardwalk Convention Hall in Atlantic City, NJ 2/6/1988

Bleed for This: 2016

Starring Miles Teller and Aaron Eckhart, tells a story of the World Champion Boxer Vinny Pazienza who, after a near fatal car crash which left him not knowing if he'd ever walk again, made one of sport's most incredible comebacks. Vinny Pazienza vs Greg Haugen, 1988 IBF World Lightweight Title at Boardwalk Convention Hall in Atlantic City, NJ 2/6/1988

Bleed for This: 2016

Starring Miles Teller and Aaron Eckhart, tells a story of the World Champion Boxer Vinny Pazienza who, after a near fatal car crash which left him not knowing if he'd ever walk again, made one of sport's most incredible comebacks. Vinny Pazienza (C) in ring with trainers Lou Duva (R) and Kevin Rooney (L) before fight vs Jake Carollo at Trump Plaza Hotel in Atlantic City, NJ 4/14/1989

Eddie the Eagle: 2016

Starring Taron Egerton, Hugh Jackman and Tom Costello in a story of Eddie Edwards, the notoriously tenacious British underdog ski jumper who charmed the world at the 1988 Winter Olympics. Unusual portrait of former Olympian Eddie the Eagle Edwards hanging on the side of a building while being supported by a harness and cables in Cheltenham, England 6/5/2000

Eddie the Eagle: 2016

Starring Taron Egerton, Hugh Jackman and Tom Costello in a story of Eddie Edwards, the notoriously tenacious British underdog ski jumper who charmed the world at the 1988 Winter Olympics. 1988 Winter Olympics: Great Britain Eddie The Eagle Edwards in action at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Canada 2/13/1988

American Gangster: 2007

Starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, story set in 1970s America, a detective works to bring down the drug empire of Frank Lucas, a heroin kingpin from Manhattan, who is smuggling the drug into the country from the Far East. World Heavyweight Title: View of Frank Lucas wearing Chinchilla coat and hat outside Madison Square Garden before Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier fight in New York, NY 3/8/1971

Rush: 2013

Tony Triolo/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images

Starring Daniel Brühl and Chris Hemsworth, story of the merciless 1970s rivalry between Formula One rivals James Hunt and Niki Lauda. Portrait of Formula One driver James Hunt jogging on the beach during photo shoot near his home in Costa de Sol, Spain September of 1976

Rush: 2013

Starring Daniel Brühl and Chris Hemsworth, story of the merciless 1970s rivalry between Formula One rivals James Hunt and Niki Lauda. US Grand Prix West: Great Britain James Hunt of McLaren-Ford team on the sidelines, bare-chested, shaking hands with racer Arturo Merzario before race on temporary street course. FIA Formula One World Championship in Long Beach, CA 3/28/1976

Rush: 2013

Starring Daniel Brühl and Chris Hemsworth, story of the merciless 1970s rivalry between Formula One rivals James Hunt and Niki Lauda. Dutch Grand Prix: Portrait of James Hunt before race at Circuit Park Zandvoort in Zandvoort, Netherlands 8/29/1976

Million Dollar Arm: 2014

Starring Jon Hamm, tells a story of a sports agent staging an unconventional recruitment strategy to get talented Indian cricket players to play Major League Baseball. Portrait of Pittsburgh Pirates prospect pitchers Rinku Singh (L) and Dinesh Patel (R) from India in locker room during spring training at Pirate City. Bradenton, FL 2/18/2009

Million Dollar Arm: 2014

Rush: 2013

Starring Daniel Brühl and Chris Hemsworth, story of the merciless 1970s rivalry between Formula One rivals James Hunt and Niki Lauda. US Grand Prix West: Closeup of Austria Niki Lauda of Ferrari team with hands in his ears before race on temporary street course. FIA Formula One World Championship in Long Beach, CA 3/28/1976

Rush: 2013

Starring Daniel Brühl and Chris Hemsworth, story of the merciless 1970s rivalry between Formula One rivals James Hunt and Niki Lauda. Portrait of Niki Lauda (11) in car before race at Autodromo Nazionale di Monza in Monza, Italy 9/11/1977

Rush: 2013

Secretariat: 2010

Starring Diane Lane and John Malkovich, Penny Chenery Tweedy and colleagues guide her long-shot but precocious stallion to set, in 1973, the unbeaten record for winning the Triple Crown. Kentucky Derby: Ron Turcotte in action, winning race aboard Secretariat (1A) at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY 5/5/1973

Secretariat: 2010

Starring Diane Lane and John Malkovich, Penny Chenery Tweedy and colleagues guide her long-shot but precocious stallion to set, in 1973, the unbeaten record for winning the Triple Crown. Belmont Stakes: Ron Turcotte in action, looking to the infield teletimer while winning race aboard Secretariat (2) with 50 feet to go at Belmont Park in Elmont, NY 6/9/1973

Secretariat: 2010

Starring Diane Lane and John Malkovich, Penny Chenery Tweedy and colleagues guide her long-shot but precocious stallion to set, in 1973, the unbeaten record for winning the Triple Crown. Portrait of Ron Turcotte, jockey for Secretariat (2), victorious after winning race and Triple Crown in Jockey Room at Belmont Park in Elmont, NY 6/9/1973

Secretariat: 2010

Starring Diane Lane and John Malkovich, Penny Chenery Tweedy and colleagues guide her long-shot but precocious stallion to set, in 1973, the unbeaten record for winning the Triple Crown. Secretariat owner Helen "Penny" Chenery Tweedy victorious with trophy after winning race and Triple Crown at Belmont Park in Elmont, NY 6/9/1973

Secretariat: 2010

Starring Diane Lane and John Malkovich, Penny Chenery Tweedy and colleagues guide her long-shot but precocious stallion to set, in 1973, the unbeaten record for winning the Triple Crown. Canadian International Championship Stakes: Eddie Maple victorious aboard Secretariat (12) after winning race at Woodbine Racetrack. Final race of Secretariat's career in Toronto, Canada 10/28/1973

Hands of Stone: 2016

Starring Edgar Ramírez, Usher Raymond and Robert De Niro, the legendary Roberto Duran and his equally legendary trainer Ray Arcel change each other's lives. WBC Welterweight Title: Roberto Duran in corner with trainer Ray Arcel (L) during fight vs Sugar Ray Leonard at Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, LA 11/25/1980

Hands of Stone: 2016

Starring Edgar Ramírez, Usher Raymond and Robert De Niro, the legendary Roberto Duran and his equally legendary trainer Ray Arcel change each other's lives. WBC Welterweight Title. Sugar Ray Leonard (blue stripe) in action, throwing punch vs Roberto Duran (red) at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada 6/20/1980

Hands of Stone: 2016

Starring Edgar Ramírez, Usher Raymond and Robert De Niro, the legendary Roberto Duran and his equally legendary trainer Ray Arcel change each other's lives. WBC Welterweight Title: Roberto Duran victorious with promoter Don King after winning fight vs Sugar Ray Leonard with unanimous decision at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada 6/20/1980

Published Apr 13, 2017

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