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This 2001 TV docudrama relates the story of tennis' 1973 "Battle of the Sexes" between Wimbledon champions Billie Jean King (Holly Hunter) and Bobby Riggs (Ron Silver), an event considered by many to be an early victory for feminism. Riggs, 20 years past his prime, lives to wager on anything and everything. Seeing the rise of feminism, he decides he can make some money by challenging top female players, 30 years his junior, into exhibition matches. His first choice for an opponent is Billie Jean King, but she turns him down because she is too busy organizing the members of the female tennis tour into a de facto union, and winning tennis tournaments. After Bobby defeats the number one female tennis player in the world, Margaret Court, King realizes she needs to beat him. Following months of hype in which Bobby's bluster is matched at every point by Billie's confidence, the two face off in the Astrodome before a huge live and television audience. When Billie Beat Bobby was written and directed by Jane Anderson who had previously written The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader Murdering Mom, which also featured Holly Hunter in the title role.
Original Release
04/16/2001
US Release
04/16/2001
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Holly Hunter | Billie Jean King |
Ron Silver | Bobby Riggs |
Matt Letscher | Larry King |
Bob Gunton | Jerry Perenchio |
Jacqueline McKenzie | Margaret Court |
Elizabeth Berridge | Rosie Casals |
Vincent Van Patten | Lornie Kuhle |
Caitlin Martin | Chris Evert |
Gerry Becker | Ted Tinling |
Kathleen Gati | Debbie the Hairdresser |
Directors
Writers
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Holly Hunter | Billie Jean King |
Ron Silver | Bobby Riggs |
Matt Letscher | Larry King |
Bob Gunton | Jerry Perenchio |
Jacqueline McKenzie | Margaret Court |
Elizabeth Berridge | Rosie Casals |
Vincent Van Patten | Lornie Kuhle |
Caitlin Martin | Chris Evert |
Gerry Becker | Ted Tinling |
Kathleen Gati | Debbie the Hairdresser |
Michael Mantell | Sidney Schlenker |
Kali Rocha | Connie |
Maureen Mueller | Judith |
Patrick Kerr | Rheo |
Caroline Aaron | Gladys Heldman |
Fred Willard | Howard Cosell |
Emma Cline | Billie (11 to 14) |
Trevor Goddard | Barry Court |
Jill Brennan | Billie's Mother |
Kenneth White | Judge Hofheinz |
Producers
Name | Role |
---|
Holly Hunter | Executive Producer |
Ed Gernon | Executive Producer |
Goldie Hawn | Executive Producer |
Teri Schwartz | Executive Producer |
Peter Alan Sussman | Executive Producer |
Diana Kerew | Producer |
Philip von Alvensleben | Producer |
Editors
Year | Type | Category | Won |
---|
2001 | Emmy | Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special | Nominated |
2001 | Emmy | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie | Nominated |