In the racially divided town of Anderson, South Carolina in 1976, football coach Harold Jones spots a mentally disabled African-American young man nicknamed Radio near his practice field and is inspired to befriend him. Soon, Radio is Jones' loyal assistant, and he becomes a student at T.L. Hanna High School. But things start to sour when Coach Jones begins taking guff from parents and fans who feel that his devotion to Radio is getting in the way of the team's quest for a championship.
Acting
Cuba Gooding Jr. commits fully—no vanity, all heart.
Direction
Tollin lets quiet moments land without Hallmark cheese.
Writing
Radio gets agency; not just a prop for white growth.
Director
Michael Tollin
Cuba Gooding Jr.
Radio
Ed Harris
Coach Jones
Alfre Woodard
Principal Daniels
S. Epatha Merkerson
Maggie
Debra Winger
Linda Jones
Chris Mulkey
Frank
Sarah Drew
Mary Helen Jones
Brent Sexton
Honeycutt
Riley Smith
Johnny
Patrick Breen
Tucker
Bill Roberson
Del
Michael Harding
Irv the Cop
Rebecca Koon
Waitress
Hi Bedford-Roberson
School Receptionist
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The real James 'Radio' Kennedy attended T.L. Hanna until 2016, becoming a local legend who never missed a game.
Screenwriter Mike Rich based the script on a 1996 Sports Illustrated article—Hollywood's favorite shortcut to 'based on a true story' credibility.
US
