Rudolf Wanderone

rdf:langString Rudolf Wanderone

rdf:langString Rudolf Wanderone

rdf:langString Rudolf Wanderone

rdf:langString Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.

rdf:langString New York City, New York, U.S.

rdf:langString Rudolf Walter Wanderon Jr.

rdf:langString Wanderone on the front cover of "Minnesota Fats" on Pool, 1967

rdf:langString Professional pocket billiards player

rdf:langString Minnesota Fats

rdf:langString Broadway Fats

rdf:langString Chicago Fats

rdf:langString Double-Smart

rdf:langString New York Fats

rdf:langString Triple-Smart Fats

rdf:langString Rudolf Walter Wanderone (né Rudolf Walter Wanderon Jr.; January 19, 1913 – January 15, 1996), commonly known as Minnesota Fats, was an American professional billiards player. Although he never won a major pool tournament as "Fats", he was at one time perhaps the most publicly recognized pool player in the United States—not only as a player, but also as an entertainer. Wanderone was inducted in 1984 into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame for his decades-long public promotion of pool. Wanderone began playing at a young age in New York City. As a teenager, he became a traveling pool hustler. Later, in his thirties, he moved to Du Quoin, Illinois, where he met and married his first wife, Evelyn. During World War II, he hustled servicemen in Norfolk, Virginia. With the end of the war, Wanderone returned to Illinois and entered semi-retirement. Wanderone, who was sometimes known by the nickname "New York Fats" in his role as a pool player, adopted the name "Minnesota Fats" from the character of that name in the 1961 film The Hustler, claiming that the character, played by Jackie Gleason, was based upon him. He parlayed the association with the film into his own book deals and television appearances, including a series of matches with rival Willie Mosconi. Later in life, Wanderone divorced Evelyn and moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he married his second wife, Theresa, with whom he remained until his death.

rdf:langString Minnesota Fats

rdf:langString Broadway Fats

rdf:langString Chicago Fats

rdf:langString Double-Smart

rdf:langString New York Fats

rdf:langString Triple-Smart Fats

rdf:langString Rudolf Walter Wanderon Jr.