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Time of India
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Guido Tenesi dead at 71 — Slap Shot star who lived the role before Hollywood ever wrote it
Photo byGuido Tenesi, a former professional hockey defenseman best known for his role in the 1977 cult classic Slap Shot, has died at the age of 71. His passing was announced on Thursday, June 20, with tributes pouring in from across the hockey world. Tenesi's career bridged two unique worlds—he was a Calder Cup champion with the Hershey Bears and later gained pop culture recognition for his portrayal of Billy Charlebois in Slap Shot. While a cause of death was not immediately disclosed, his legacy as both an athlete and actor continues to resonate. Guido Tenesi was a Calder Cup champion, hockey enforcer , and the real-life force behind Slap Shot's most unforgettable role Tenesi's hockey journey began when he was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the fifth round of the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft. He spent two seasons with the Penguins' then-affiliate, the Hershey Bears, where he contributed to the team's 1974 Calder Cup title. The Bears, now affiliated with the Washington Capitals, issued a statement on Thursday via social media: 'We're saddened to learn of the passing of Guido Tenesi, a member of our roster during the 1974 Calder Cup championship, and was known to many more for his role as Billy Charlebois in the classic hockey film Slap Shot,' the organization wrote. 'Our hearts are with his family, friends, and teammates.' Tenesi also played for the Johnstown Jets, where he won the 1975 Lockhart Cup during the franchise's North American Hockey League championship run. It was during his time with the Jets that he became indirectly involved in the creation of Slap Shot. In a 2016 interview with the Utica Observer-Dispatch, Tenesi explained how the movie was born out of real team experiences: 'I played on the same team as Ned Dowd, Dave Hanson, and the Carlsons,' Tenesi said. 'Ned would walk around with a tape recorder, taking notes on everything that happened on one of our road trips. If someone tripped on the ice, or if a player broke their stick and threw it over the glass, Ned recorded it.' Dowd's sister, Nancy Dowd, wrote the script, and Tenesi was cast in a supporting role alongside Paul Newman, who played player-coach Reggie Dunlop. The 1977 film became a cult favorite, cementing Tenesi's place in hockey pop culture. Steve Carlson, who starred as one of the Hanson brothers, shared a tribute on June 20 on X, writing: 'RIP Guido Tenesi 'Pretty boy.' Good guy gone too soon. On behalf of myself and Vicki, we send our heartfelt condolences. He always had HONOR and Class. Prayers for comfort to the entire family and my fellow teammates and co-actors who experience yet another loss of a teammate.' Remembering Guido Tenesi: a true hockey original who left a mark on the game and the screen After retiring from professional hockey in 1987, Tenesi stepped away from the public eye. His only acting credit remained Slap Shot. He later worked as a swimming pool technician in Toronto and occasionally reflected on his time in film and hockey. In a 2020 retrospective, Tenesi called those years 'the good old days' and described filming as 'a time to remember.' Carlson, writing again on Friday, June 21, said Tenesi was 'forever a Chief' — a nod to the fictional team in Slap Shot. 'Whether you remember him for his on-ice grit, his international pride, or his silver-screen cool… Guido Tenesi stood for something rare: authenticity,' Carlson wrote. Tenesi's name may never have been the most famous in the game, but his presence left a distinct impression on every arena he entered—whether it was on skates or on screen. Also Read: Rob Gronkowski shocks fans with unexpected hockey skills at Fanatics Fest NYC Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
New York Post
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
‘Slap Shot' actor, hockey player Guido Tenesi dead at 71: ‘You're forever a Chief'
Former professional hockey player Guido Tenesi, who starred in the 1977 sports classic 'Slap Shot,' died at 71 years old. 'We're saddened to learn of the passing of Guido Tenesi, a member of our roster during the 1974 Calder Cup championship, and was known to many more for his role as Billy Charlebois in the classic hockey film 'Slapshot,' the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League posted Thursday. 'Our hearts are with his family, friends, and teammates.' A cause of death was not announced. Advertisement 3 Guido Tenesi played Billy Charlebois in the 1977 sports movie 'Slap Shot.' Guido Tenesi/IMDB Tenesi, a defenseman, was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the fifth round of the NHL Draft in 1973 and played for minor-league affiliate Hershey for two years. He played across several pro hockey leagues over the next seven seasons. Advertisement It was his time on the Johnstown Jets, where he helped lead the team to the North American Hockey League championship in 1974-75, that landed him a role in the Paul Newman comedy. 'I played on the same team as Ned Dowd, Dave Hanson, and the Carlsons. Ned would walk around with a tape recorder, and taking notes on everything that happened on one of our road trips,' Tenesi told the Utica Observer-Dispatch in 2016. 'If someone tripped on the ice, or if a player broke their stick and threw it over the glass, Ned recorded it.' 3 Actors from Slapshot Guido Tenesi and Jean Tetreault attend the Sports Card Expo at the International Centre on November 12, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Getty Images Dowd's sister Nancy was writing a hockey movie and Ned would play Chiefs' opponent Ogie Ogilthorpe. Advertisement 'It was neat, being in a movie,' Tenesi said. 'How they made it, is what was so interesting to me.' Slap Shot tells the tale of a failing minor league hockey team, the Charlestown Chiefs, who are led by player and coach Reggie Dunlop, played by Newman. In 2020, Tenesi recalled his time filming the movie as the 'good old days' and 'a time to remember,' sharing a photo alongside Newman, who died in 2008. Steve Carlson, who played Steve Hanson — the youngest sibling of the beloved fighting trio in the film — mourned Tenesi as a 'good guy gone too soon.' Advertisement 'RIP Guido Tenesi 'Pretty boy' Good guy gone too soon,' Carlson posted. 'On behalf of myself and Vicki We send our heartfelt condolences. He always had HONOR and Class. Prayers for comfort to the entire family and my fellow teammates and co actors who experience yet another loss of the teammate.' Tenesi won the 1975 Lockhart Cup as a champion with the Jets and in 1979 was the IHL's Governor Trophy winner, awarded to the league's top defenseman. 3 Michael Ontkean, Paul Newman and Guido Tenesi in 'Slap Shot.' Guido Tenesi / Facebook The cult classic hockey film served as Tenesi's lone acting credit. After he retired from hockey in 1987, he worked as a swimming pool technician in Toronto. 'He never chased fame. He never needed to. For those who knew, Guido Tenesi was the real deal — an unfiltered, unforgettable part of hockey lore,' Carlson said, adding, 'Whether you remember him for his on-ice grit, his international pride, or his silver-screen cool in Slap Shot, Guido Tenesi stood for something rare: authenticity. He brought truth to the game, truth to the screen, and truth to what it meant to live as a player, not a character. 'Rest easy, #5 — you're forever a Chief.' Advertisement Jeff Carlson, who played Jeff Hanson, also paid tribute on Facebook. 'Very sad to say that we have lost another brother, castmate, friend and great family man as Guido Tenesi has passed away. We send prayers out to his loving wife Leslie and there whole family. Guido was a great hockey player but a even better person. I along with so many others will miss our great friend. R.I.P Guido we will never forget you.'
