{"id":151762,"date":"2025-02-22T19:00:33","date_gmt":"2025-02-22T19:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/22\/the-sandlots-patrick-renna-reveals-he-was-almost-turtle-on-entourage\/"},"modified":"2025-02-22T19:00:33","modified_gmt":"2025-02-22T19:00:33","slug":"the-sandlots-patrick-renna-reveals-he-was-almost-turtle-on-entourage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/22\/the-sandlots-patrick-renna-reveals-he-was-almost-turtle-on-entourage\/","title":{"rendered":"The Sandlot’s Patrick Renna Reveals He Was Almost Turtle on Entourage"},"content":{"rendered":"


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In another universe, Patrick Renna<\/strong> could have been cast in another iconic role after his portrayal of Ham in 1993\u2019s The Sandlot<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI auditioned for Entourage<\/em><\/a>,\u201d the Sandlot<\/em> star, 45, exclusively told Us Weekly<\/em> ahead of the release of his new children\u2019s book A Little Slugger\u2019s Guide to the Unwritten Rules of Baseball and Life<\/em>. \u201cI\u2019ve been in Hollywood my whole life, so, you know, if there\u2019s a movie out there, I\u2019d probably audition for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Renna explained that he was under consideration<\/a> to play Salvatore \u201cTurtle\u201d Assante on the HBO dramedy, which ran from 2004 to 2011. Turtle is the childhood best friend of Vincent Chase, who was played by Adrian Grenier<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, Renna lost the role to Jerry Ferrara<\/strong>, who portrayed the character throughout the show\u2019s entirety. Despite not booking the gig, Renna has been able to find some silver lining.<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>These 6 ‘Entourage’ Stars Are Ready for a Reboot \u2014 And Tell Us All About It<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tHBO Entourage is celebrating its 20th anniversary on Thursday, July 18 \u2014 feel old yet? The show, starring Adrian Grenier as Hollywood heartthrob Vinny Chase, became an HBO success story not long after its 2004 premiere. For eight seasons, viewers watched as Vinny and the gang \u2014 his brother and somewhat failed actor, Johnny \u201cDrama\u201d [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cI loved the way [Jerry] did it,\u201d Renna said of Ferrara\u2019s performance. \u201cSo, I got to have a favorite show back in the day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Turtle wasn\u2019t the only timeless character Renna almost landed. The actor was also up for multiple parts in The Lord of the Rings<\/em> <\/a>trilogy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI auditioned for Samwise Gamgee. And then I also auditioned for Merry and Pippin,\u201d he recalled. \u201cWhen you did it, you kind of auditioned for all of them. Anyone that sort of fits.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Renna walked away from the fantasy trilogy without a part. Sean Astin<\/strong> ended up playing Samwise, while Merry and Pippin went to Dominic Monaghan<\/strong> and Billy Boyd<\/strong>, respectively.<\/p>\n

Much like his respect for Ferrara, Renna doesn\u2019t have any hard feelings \u2014 especially since he\u2019s a big fan of the J. R. R. Tolkien<\/strong> fantasy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s one of my favorite trilogies. So I would\u2019ve ruined it for myself. So there\u2019s the silver lining,\u201d he told Us<\/em>. \u201cNow it can be one of my favorites. I can\u2019t watch myself like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Renna didn\u2019t get the parts he wanted, he\u2019s still been booked and busy. In addition to being a movie star, he can now add children\u2019s book author<\/a> to his impressive resume. His book A Little Slugger\u2019s Guide to the Unwritten Rules of Baseball<\/em> and Life<\/em> hits shelves on Tuesday, February 25. Renna shared that being a dad was one of the main reasons why he wanted to write the story. (Renna shares sons<\/a> Flynn and Liam with his wife, Jasmin who is currently pregnant with baby No. 3.)<\/p>\n

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\n Related: <\/span>‘The Sandlot’ Cast: Where Are They Now?<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tThe Sandlot has achieved cult classic status in the years since its 1993 release. The film, directed by David Mickey Evans, follows new kid Scotty Smalls (Tom Guiry) as he befriends a group of baseball-loving kids and learns the ins and outs of the game \u2014 in addition to going head-to-head with a menacing junkyard [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cI think being a dad and having two young boys made the idea of writing a kid\u2019s book a no-brainer,\u201d he told Us<\/em>. \u201cI read them every night with my wife and, um, we tell them stories or read them stories.\u201d<\/p>\n

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