The Sandlot’s Patrick Renna Shares He Nearly Played Turtle on Entourage
In an alternate reality, Patrick Renna might have found himself in a different classic role following his performance as Ham in the 1993 film The Sandlot.
“I auditioned for Entourage,” the Sandlot actor, now 45, disclosed exclusively to Us Weekly prior to launching his new children’s book, A Little Slugger’s Guide to the Unwritten Rules of Baseball and Life. “I’ve been in Hollywood for so long that if there’s a project out there, you can bet I’ve auditioned for it.”
Renna shared that he was considered for the role of Salvatore “Turtle” Assante on the HBO dramedy, which aired from 2004 to 2011. Turtle is Vincent Chase’s childhood best friend, portrayed by Adrian Grenier.
In the end, Renna did not get the role, which went to Jerry Ferrara, who played Turtle for the duration of the series. Nonetheless, Renna has found a silver lining in missing out.
HBO’s Entourage is marking its 20th anniversary on Thursday, July 18 — can you believe it? The series, featuring Adrian Grenier as Hollywood heartthrob Vinny Chase, became a major success for HBO shortly after its 2004 debut. For eight seasons, audiences followed Vinny and his friends — including his brother and struggling actor Johnny “Drama” […]
“I loved the way [Jerry] portrayed him,” Renna said, speaking of Ferrara’s performance. “So, I still got to enjoy my favorite show back in the day.”
Turtle wasn’t Renna’s only near-miss; he was also in the running for several roles in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
“I auditioned for Samwise Gamgee, and then also for Merry and Pippin,” he reminisced. “During the process, you pretty much audition for all of them, any role that fits.”
Despite the effort, Renna ultimately didn’t secure a role in the beloved fantasy trilogy. Sean Astin was cast as Samwise, while Merry and Pippin were taken by Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd, respectively.
Similar to his admiration for Ferrara, Renna harbors no resentment; he remains a devoted fan of J. R. R. Tolkien’s work.
“That’s one of my favorite trilogies. So if I had been in it, I might have spoiled it for myself. There’s that silver lining,” he shared with Us. “Now it stands as one of my favorites. I can’t watch myself in those types of roles.”
Although Renna didn’t land the parts he desired, he has remained active in the industry. Besides being an actor, he can now proudly call himself a children’s book author. His book A Little Slugger’s Guide to the Unwritten Rules of Baseball and Life is set to hit shelves on Tuesday, February 25. Renna expressed that being a father played a significant role in his decision to write this tale. (He shares sons Flynn and Liam with his wife, Jasmin, who is currently expecting their third child.)
The Sandlot has gained cult classic status over the years since its 1993 release. Directed by David Mickey Evans, the film follows Scotty Smalls (Tom Guiry), a new kid who befriends a group of baseball-loving friends and learns the game’s nuances — all while facing off against a menacing junkyard dog […]
“Being a dad of two young boys made writing a kid’s book a natural choice,” he revealed to Us. “We read them stories every night, and my wife and I enjoy telling them stories.”
Ultimately, what made this project special for Renna was the chance to channel his baseball knowledge. He is well-remembered for his role as Ham in The Sandlot, a film centered around little league players, and has become a baseball symbol. When he took on the opportunity, Renna told Us, “There was no doubt that baseball would feature prominently in this book.”
“The rules and concepts almost created themselves as I wrote. Sports and life are deeply interconnected, and that relationship shines through in the writing,” he elaborated on the inspiration behind the book.
With reporting by Kat Pettibone
