Friday Night Lights director didn’t know who Tim McGraw was when he auditioned
before friday night lights became a fan-favorite TV show in 2006, and HG Bissinger’s book, published in 1990, became a blockbuster. Starring Billy Bob Thornton as Coach Gary Gaines, this film became a critical and commercial success in the fall of 2004. But prior to its production, director Peter Berg had never heard of Tim McGraw, who ended up getting a role in the film.
Tim McGraw plays Charles Billingsley in Friday Night Lights
McGraw, of course, had been a popular country music star many years before friday night lights. The singer released his self-titled debut studio album in 1993. One of the best-selling artists of all time, he reportedly sold 80 million records worldwide. And eventually McGraw would become an actor too.
in the friday night lights, he plays Charles Billingsley, the abusive father of Garrett Hedlund’s Donny Billingsley. Inspired by the film, the TV series features various characters, including Billy Bob Thornton as coach Gary Gaines. Donny becomes the basis for Tim Riggins, who played Taylor Kitsch on NBC throughout the show’s five seasons. So it’s easy to see that McGraw plays a central role in the film.
“Friday Night Lights” director Peter Berg did not know Tim McGraw
Although McGraw made a lasting impression friday night lights, he had essentially no acting experience prior to meeting Berg. In fact, his only acting credits were a guest role The Jeff Foxworthy Showan appearance as himself Sesame Streetand a supporting role in the 2004 indie film black cloud. But McGraw was intrigued by the prospect of continuing to work friday night lights.
“When I read that friday night lights script, I called Pete Berg who was directing and he didn’t know me from Adam,” McGraw told Esquire. “He told me he had already cast the role with another musician. I went and did my audition. We had to go to Paris, and as soon as we were in the hotel room, the phone rang. It was Billy Bob Thornton: “I just got a call from Pete Berg saying, ‘A country singer just walked in and blew me away.’ It was a good vote of confidence. But on the other hand, I thought, “How the hell don’t you know who I am?”
Most recently, Tim McGraw starred in the Yellowstone prequel, 1883
With everything that McGraw had previously achieved in music friday night lights, his question as to how Berg would not know him is justified. Despite this, McGraw has made several other appearances in films and on television since playing Charles Billingsley. His film roles include 2008 Four Christmases2009 The blind sideand 2015 tomorrowland.
On the TV side, McGraw has hosted Saturday night liveappeared on several reality shows and served as a key advisor in The voice Season 11. But perhaps his most notable acting role is as James Dutton yellowstone and its prequel spinoff 1883. The latter show premiered on Paramount+ in 2021, although it ended its limited 10-episode run the following year.
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