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Wayne Gretzky

  • Actor
  • Producer
  • Stunts
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Wayne Gretzky
In the midst of America's tumultuous fight to end Jim Crow and the birth of the civil rights movement, Willie - the descendant of escaped slaves - became the first black player to skate in a National Hockey League game.     He was blind in one eye - an extraordinary secret that only his sister knew.  He played 45 games in the NHL and then 22 years of minor league hockey. Later, Willie sold cars, managed fast food restaurants, and worked security at a hotel.  When he was asked to become the NHL's diversity ambassador in 1994, he was 60 years old.  He took the job, and he has never stopped. 

Now, 60 years after Willie broke the NHL's color barrier, a grassroots movement is working to get him into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Will he also break this barrier?

"Willie" provides historical context and depth to O'Ree's incredible journey.  The film is a testament to the resilience and determination of a man empowered by his family's legacy, and the people he has inspired along the way.
Play trailer4:02
Willie (2019)
9 Videos
46 Photos
Wayne Gretzky, nicknamed "The Great One, " is widely considered the greatest hockey player of all-time. At the time of his retirement at the end of the 1998-99 NHL season he was the NHL's all-time scoring leader in Goals, Assists & Points in both the regular season & Stanley Cup Playoffs. He led the NHL in scoring a record 10 times, was Captain of 4 Stanley Cup Championship teams, and was named the league's MVP a record 9 times. He is the only NHL player ever to score 200 Points in a season, and did so 4 times in the span of 5 years. A great ambassador of pro sports, he was also named the NHL's Most Gentlemanly Player 4 times and received the Order of Canada (their highest civilian honor) in 1998. Upon his retirement in 1999, his trademark jersey No. 99 was retired by the NHL.
BornJanuary 26, 1961
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornJanuary 26, 1961
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win total

    Photos46

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    Known for

    D2: The Mighty Ducks (1994)
    D2: The Mighty Ducks
    6.1
    • Wayne Gretzky
    • 1994
    The Place I Belong
    • Producer
      Robotropolis (2011)
      Robotropolis
      3.1
      • Additional Soccer Players
      • 2011
      Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, and Yeardley Smith in The Simpsons (1989)
      The Simpsons
      8.6
      TV Series
      • Wayne Gretzky(voice)

      Credits

      Edit
      IMDbPro

      Actor



      • This Past Weekend (2016)
        This Past Weekend
        7.5
        Podcast Series
        • 2023
      • Dem Tinseltown Homiez, the Hollywood Guys (2021)
        Dem Tinseltown Homiez, the Hollywood Guys
        3.8
        TV Series
        • The Great One Gretzky
        • 2023
      • Kygo & Gryffin & Calum Scott: Woke Up in Love (2022)
        Kygo & Gryffin & Calum Scott: Woke Up in Love
        Music Video
        • Wayne Gretzky
        • 2022
      • Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, and Yeardley Smith in The Simpsons (1989)
        The Simpsons
        8.6
        TV Series
        • Wayne Gretzky (voice)
        • 2016
      • Robotropolis (2011)
        Robotropolis
        3.1
        • Additional Soccer Players
        • 2011
      • Nickelback: Rockstar (2007)
        Nickelback: Rockstar
        6.5
        Music Video
        • Wayne Gretzky
        • 2007
      • D2: The Mighty Ducks (1994)
        D2: The Mighty Ducks
        6.1
        • Wayne Gretzky
        • 1994
      • Voices That Care: Voices That Care (1991)
        Voices That Care: Voices That Care
        3.8
        Music Video
        • Wayne Gretzky
        • 1991
      • Eileen Davidson, Bryton James, Joshua Morrow, Gina Tognoni, Justin Hartley, Melissa Claire Egan, and Peter Bergman in The Young and the Restless (1973)
        The Young and the Restless
        5.3
        TV Series
        • Wayne
        • 1981
      • Los Angeles Kings (1967)
        Los Angeles Kings
        TV Series
        • Centre
        • 1967

      Producer



      • The Place I Belong
        • co-producer
        • In Development



      • Ultimate Gretzky (2003)
        Ultimate Gretzky
        8.2
        Video
        • executive producer
        • 2003

      Stunts



      • Sidestreet
        6.4
        TV Series
        • stunt double: hockey player (uncredited)
        • 1977

      Videos9

      Exclusive Footage of Wayne Gretzky and Jerry Rice
      Clip 0:49
      Exclusive Footage of Wayne Gretzky and Jerry Rice
      Official Trailer
      Trailer 4:02
      Official Trailer
      Official Trailer
      Trailer 4:02
      Official Trailer
      Trailer
      Trailer 2:16
      Trailer
      NHL 14 (VG)
      Trailer 1:03
      NHL 14 (VG)
      NHL 14 (VG)
      Trailer 0:44
      NHL 14 (VG)
      NHL 14 (VG)
      Trailer 0:57
      NHL 14 (VG)

      Personal details

      Edit
      • Official sites
        • Gretzky's: The Restaurant
        • Upper Deck's Wayne Gretzky: The Official Homepage
      • Height
        • 6′ (1.83 m)
      • Born
        • January 26, 1961
        • Brantford, Ontario, Canada
      • Spouse
        • Janet JonesJuly 16, 1988 - present (5 children)
      • Children
          Paulina Gretzky
      • Relatives
          Tatum Gretzky Johnson(Grandchild)
      • Other works
        TV commercial - for General Mills/Canada Pro Stars cereal, with appearances by Brent Gretzky (brother) and Phyllis Gretzky (mother) (At a later date, he also endorsed Sugar Crisps and Honeycomb for General Mills's rival, Post).
      • Publicity listings
        • 2 Print Biographies
        • 1 Portrayal
        • 2 Interviews
        • 12 Articles
        • 1 Pictorial
        • 9 Magazine Cover Photos

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        Has more assists (1,963) than any other NHL player has total points (goals plus assists).
      • Quotes
        Ninety percent of hockey is mental and the other half is physical.
      • Trademarks
          Always tucked the right corner of his jersey into his pants
      • Nicknames
        • The Great One
        • The White Tornado
        • The Great Gretzky
        • Gretz

      FAQ11

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