Ron Shelton | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ronald Wayne Shelton (1945-09-15)September 15, 1945 (age 80) Whittier, California, U.S. |
| Occupations | Film director,screenwriter |
| Spouse(s) | Lois Shelton (divorced) |
| Children | 4 |
Ronald Wayne Shelton (born September 15, 1945) is an Americanfilm director andscreenwriter[1][2] and former minor league baseballinfielder. Shelton is known for the many films he has made aboutsports. His 1988 filmBull Durham, based in part on his own baseball experiences, earned him anAcademy Award nomination forBest Original Screenplay.
A former minor leaguebaseball infielder in theBaltimore Orioles' farm system, Shelton played with theBluefield Orioles,Stockton Ports,Florida Instructional League Orioles,Dallas–Fort Worth Spurs, andRochester Red Wings from 1967 through 1971.
After working on the scripts for a number of films, including co-writing theNick Nolte andGene Hackman political dramaUnder Fire, Shelton made his directorial debut withBull Durham[3] in 1988. Set in the world of minor league baseball, the romantic comedy starsKevin Costner,Susan Sarandon andTim Robbins. Shelton's screenplay netted him multiple awards, including Best Original Script from the Writers Guild of America and Best Script from the US National Society of Film Critics. It was also nominated for an Academy Award. In 2022, Shelton's bookThe Church of Baseball: The Making of Bull Durham: Home Runs, Bad Calls, Crazy Fights, Big Swings, and a Hit was published by Vintage Books.[4]
In 1990, Ron Shelton received a three-year first look writing and producing deal with20th Century Fox.[5]
Shelton worked with Costner again on the 1996 golf-themed romantic comedyTin Cup.[6] Other films as writer and director included the boxing comedyPlay It to the Bone, a critical and commercial flop, and the acclaimed 1992 comedyWhite Men Can't Jump,[3] starringWoody Harrelson andWesley Snipes as two basketball hustlers. Calling the latter film "very smart and very funny," and "not simply a basketball movie," criticRoger Ebert wrote that Shelton "knows how his characters talk and sound, and how they get into each other's minds with non-stop talking and boasting."
Shelton has also written and directed two biopics:Cobb, in whichTommy Lee Jones portrayed record-breaking baseball playerTy Cobb, andBlaze, which starredPaul Newman as Louisiana GovernorEarl Long.[2] Parts ofCobb were filmed atRickwood Field, leading to its restoration.[7] Shelton wrote or co-wrote other sports-themed films includingThe Best of Times, starringRobin Williams andKurt Russell as former football teammates; the basketball dramaBlue Chips, starringNick Nolte, and a boxing comedy,The Great White Hype, starringSamuel L. Jackson.
He also directed two Los Angeles-based crime films,Dark Blue, a drama starringKurt Russell,[3] andHollywood Homicide, a comedy withHarrison Ford andJosh Hartnett.
In 2022, Shelton received theLeonard Maltin Award at theCoronado Island Film Festival.[8]
Shelton grew up inMontecito, California, the oldest of four brothers. He is an alumnus ofSanta Barbara High School and of theUniversity of Arizona andWestmont College. Shelton's brother is architectJeff Shelton.
Shelton is married to Canadian-born actressLolita Davidovich, who has appeared in several of his films, including taking the title role ofBlaze Starr inBlaze.[2] The couple have two children and reside in Los Angeles and Ojai, California. Shelton has two daughters with his first wife, filmmaker Lois Shelton.
On July 7, 2017, Shelton was inducted into theRochester Red Wings Hall of Fame.[9]
| Year | Title | Director | Writer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Under Fire | 2nd unit | Yes |
| 1986 | The Best of Times | 2nd unit | Yes |
| 1988 | Bull Durham | Yes | Yes |
| 1989 | Blaze | Yes | Yes |
| 1992 | White Men Can't Jump | Yes | Yes |
| 1994 | Blue Chips | No | Yes |
| Cobb | Yes | Yes | |
| 1996 | The Great White Hype | No | Yes |
| Tin Cup | Yes | Yes | |
| 1999 | Play It to the Bone | Yes | Yes |
| 2002 | Dark Blue | Yes | No |
| 2003 | Hollywood Homicide | Yes | Yes |
| Bad Boys II | No | Yes | |
| 2011 | Hound Dogs | Yes | Yes |
| 2017 | Just Getting Started | Yes | Yes |
Associate
Executive producer
Special thanks
