Billy Redden

Billy Redden (born 1956 in Rabun County, Georgia) is an American actor best know for his role as Lonny "the banjo kid" in the 1972 movie Deliverance.

Related Topics:
1956 - Rabun County, Georgia - American - Actor - Deliverance

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Redden, sixteen at the time, was cast for his role in Deliverance during a casting call at Clayton Elementary School. To add authenticity to the film, the filmmakers found Redden to fit the look of the inbred and mentally retarded banjo boy called for by the book (although Redden is neither). The scene depicting Redden playing the instrumental "Dueling Banjos" opposite actor Ronny Cox on guitar is considered by many as one of the most memorable scenes in cinematic history. Ironically, Redden could not play the banjo or even convincingly fake playing, and thus director John Boorman had another child slip his hand through Redden's sleeve to finger the chord changes.

Related Topics:
Inbred - Mentally retarded - Banjo - Ronny Cox - John Boorman

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Redden also recently appeared in Tim Burton's 2003 film Big Fish. Burton was intent on getting Redden, who hadn't appeared in a film since Deliverance, to play the role of a banjo-playing welcomer in the utopian town of Spectre. Burton eventually found him in Clayton, Georgia, where Redden works as a cook and dishwasher at the Cookie Jar Café.

Related Topics:
Tim Burton - Big Fish - Clayton, Georgia

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