- William Bendix, The Babe Ruth Story, 1948. “The laugh-by-laugh, tear-by-tear, cheer-by-cheer story of America’s most beloved guy…” When it came to biopic the famed baseball star (22 Major League Baseball seasons with the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees), George Herman Ruth (1895 -1948) was too ill to play himself. Rather than risk a newcomer, producer-director Roy Del Ruth checked real – and fat actors. From Jack Carson (Warner Bros would not loan him), Paul Douglas and Dennis Morgan to… Orson Welles!!! Babe however, also aka The Bambino and The Sultan of Swat, chose Bendix. He owed him! As a kid in the 20s, Bendix was a Yankee Stadium bat boy and got what The Babe wanted before one game – 15 hot dogs and sodas. Naturally, he was then in no condition to play ball. The Yankees lost. And Bendix was fired! Ruth died 21 days after attending the July 26th, 1948 premiere. Bendix didn’t resemble him until wearing a new nose. (How Welles would have loved that).
Birth year: 1895Death year: 1948Other name: Casting Calls: 1