Starring Taron Egerton, Hugh Jackman, Christopher Walken | inspired by the life story of Eddie Edwards, Britain's first Olympic ski jumper
| REEL FACE: | REAL FACE: |
Taron Egerton
Born: November 10, 1989
Birthplace:
Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, UK | Michael "Eddie the Eagle" Edwards
Born: December 5, 1963
Birthplace: Cheltenham, England, UK |
Jo Hartley
Born: March 12, 1972
Birthplace:
Oldham, Lancashire, England, UK | |
Keith Allen
Born: September 2, 1953
Birthplace:
Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales, UK | |
Where is it written that the Olympics are only for winners?
-Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards, 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics Press Conference
Questioning the Story:
Is Hugh Jackman's character based on a real person?
No. In researching the Eddie the Eagle true story, we learned that washed up former ski jumper Bronson Peary (Hugh Jackman), who becomes Eddie's coach in the movie, is an almost entirely fictional character. In the film, it is revealed that the ex-pat American Peary could have been great if ego and alcohol hadn't got in the way. In real life, Eddie learned how to ski jump in Lake Placid under the instruction of two Americans, John Viscome and Chuck Berghorn. Eddie the Eagle screenwriter Sean Macauly told the Adirondack Daily Enterprise that Jackman's character was inspired by a few of the coaches who taught Eddie, but indicated there was no direct correlation to any single coach.
The Eddie the Eagle true story reveals that Hugh Jackman's character, Bronson Peary, never existed in real life.
Did Eddie Edwards really have no ski jumping experience?
No. In fact-checking Eddie the Eagle, we learned that the real Eddie had significantly more experience. The man who worked by day as a plasterer had previous experience stunt-jumping over cars and buses (The Hollywood Reporter). He was also an experienced downhill skier and had at first hoped to participate in the Olympics as such. Eddie had narrowly missed making the British downhill team for the 1984 Winter Olympics, a moment that is fictionalized in the movie to make Eddie look more hopeless (Yahoo Sports). By 1986, he was nearly broke and knew he needed to try something new. "I didn't have much money, so thought I'd better find something cheaper to do," says Eddie. "I went along to the ski jumps [in Lake Placid] and thought: That looks alright" (The Guardian). In the movie, Eddie (Taron Egerton) gets the idea to become a ski jumper after seeing it in a poster on his bedroom wall.
As a child, was Eddie really told he might never walk again?
Not exactly. However, he was a fearless child who always found himself paying the price for his bravery. At 10, his kamikaze-style moves as a soccer goalie (which included launching himself at the cleated shoes of rushing opponents) left him with damaged cartilage in his left knee. As a result, he was in plaster casts for the next three years (Sports Illustrated). He learned to ski when he was 13 and found himself skiing on the British national team four years later (PopSugar.com).
Was the real Eddie the Eagle an only child?
No, the real Eddie has a sister, Liz, who is two years younger. In 2007, he helped to save her life by donating his bone marrow to her when she was battling Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
Michael "Eddie the Eagle" Edwards (bottom center) poses with his sister Liz (left) and his parents in 1988.
Did Eddie find discount lodging at a mental hospital?
Yes. Though it's not shown in the film, while fact-checking the Eddie the Eagle movie, we discovered that to save money on lodging, Eddie found bargain accommodations at a Finnish mental hospital for one pound a night. It was while staying there that Eddie found out he had qualified for the British Olympic Team. Later, his critics would joke that the asylum was fittingly appropriate. -People.com
In order to earn money as he trained, Eddie worked part-time jobs, including mowing lawns, babysitting, working in hotels and cooking. He traveled the European ski circuit in his mother's car and used a helmet given to him by the Italians and skis from the Austrian team (in the movie, Hugh Jackman's character pillages a lost and found to find better equipment for Eddie). He wore six pairs of socks to fit into his hand-me-down boots. When he broke his jaw, instead of paying to be treated at a hospital, he tied it up with a pillowcase and went about his business. -The Guardian
Where did he get the nickname Eddie the Eagle?
When Eddie arrived in Calgary for the 1988 Winter Olympics, a fan club was waiting outside the airport with a banner that read, "Welcome to Calgary, Eddie The Eagle". A Canadian TV crew was on hand and the nickname took flight. -The Guardian
The real Eddie the Eagle (left) in 1988 shortly after the Olympics. Taron Egerton (right) as Eddie in the movie.
Is his real name Eddie Edwards?
No. His real name is Michael Edwards. As stated above, fans gave him the nickname Eddie the Eagle when he arrived for the 1988 Olympics in Calgary.
Was Eddie really as clumsy as shown in the movie?
Yes. When he arrived in Calgary for the Olympics, he attempted to exit the airport toward fans who were holding up a banner outside. "I walked towards [the banner] but the automatic doors had been turned off, so I walked into the glass and my skis bounced off the doors, everything broke and I became Mr. Magoo." -The Guardian
Did Eddie really finish last in his Olympic events?
Yes. Eddie the Eagle finished last in all three of his jumps at the 1988 Olympics in Calgary, but he did manage to beat his own personal record. More importantly, he survived the events and avoided serious injury. "You have captured our hearts. And some of you have soared like eagles," remarked Frank King, the games' chief executive, during a speech at the closing ceremonies. -People.com
Is Christopher Walken's Coach Warren Sharp based on a real coach?
No, like Bronson Peary (Hugh Jackman), Warren Sharp is a fictional character. In the Eddie the Eagle movie, Sharp is the U.S. Ski Team coach who had kicked Peary off the team for breaking the rules and being a daredevil.
Like Bronson Peary (Hugh Jackman), Christopher Walken's character, U.S. Coach Warren Sharp, is fictional.
What does the real Eddie Edwards think of the movie?
While the real Eddie is a fan of the film, he said that "only about 5%" of Eddie the Eagle is a true story. -BBC News
Did Eddie's underdog Olympic performance really capture the hearts of viewers and the press?
Yes. This part of the movie is perhaps the most accurate. Despite Eddie's lack of athletic ability, the media and viewers at home were drawn to him, feeling a sense of kinship because, like many of them, Eddie was just an average guy. "I think I was exemplifying that whole Olympic spirit - a true amateur sportsman coming to a sporting event just because he loved his sport and loved doing it," says Eddie (Yahoo! Sports). As in the movie, this bothered the athletes who had been training since they were 5 or 6. Many of them indeed felt that Eddie didn't deserve to be there.
What did Eddie Edwards do with his life after the Olympics?
In researching the true story behind Eddie the Eagle, we learned that the 1988 Olympics opened doors to numerous endorsem*nt deals and appearances, including an interview on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. According to Eddie, he netted between 500,000 and 600,000 pounds in 1988. Just four years later, he would declare for bankruptcy, citing that his money had been mismanaged. A former plasterer, Eddie returned to construction work, but he soon found a steady flow of motivational speaking appearances and lectures coming his way. He eventually sold the movie rights to his life story. Over the years, Eddie became part of British folklore, the heroic failure who never gave up on his dream. -People.com
Could someone like Eddie compete in the Olympics today?
No. As stated in the movie, the entrance rules for the Olympic Ski Jump Competition had not been updated for 52 years. However, in 1990, stricter qualification rules were imposed, making it nearly impossible for Eddie the Eagles of the world to ever make the Olympics again. Despite trying to qualify for future Olympics, Eddie would never return. -People.com
Eddie the Eagle Interviews & Ski Jumping Videos
Meet the real Eddie the Eagle via the interviews and ski jumping videos below.
WATCHEddie "The Eagle" Edwards Ski Jumps at 1988 Olympics in Calgary |
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WATCHEddie the Eagle Interview (1988) |
WATCHEddie "The Eagle" Edwards Interview (2010) |
WATCHEddie the Eagle Trailer |
Link-to-Learn More:
FAQs
The 2016 film Eddie the Eagle is largely accurate but there are a few discrepancies. “It's about 80% true and I think they did an excellent job with the film,” Eddie said. “It brings a tear to my eye every time I watch it.”
Is the story of Eddie the Eagle True? ›
Eddie The Eagle, a film based on the true story of Michael Edwards, retraces the epic journey of the British ski jumper who charmed the world at the 1988 Winter Olympics.
Was Hugh Jackman's character in Eddie the Eagle real? ›
Questioning the Story: Is Hugh Jackman's character based on a real person? No. In researching the Eddie the Eagle true story, we learned that washed up former ski jumper Bronson Peary (Hugh Jackman), who becomes Eddie's coach in the movie, is an almost entirely fictional character.
Did Taron Egerton jump in Eddie the Eagle? ›
In an interview with "The Guardian" he claimed he had plenty of practice jumping across pistes often "jumping at least 40 meters, possibly even 50". To prepare for the role, Taron Egerton did meet with the real-life Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards, which helped inform his performance.
Was Eddie the Eagle mentally disabled? ›
Lived briefly in a Finnish mental asylum
Eddie wasn't mentally ill, but rather, the asylum had the cheapest room and that was all he could afford.
How many bones did Eddie the Eagle break? ›
In the 20 months between Eddie picking up ski jumping and competing in the Calgary Winter Olympics, he put his body through tremendous trauma. “I fractured my skull twice – even though I was wearing a helmet – and I broke my jaw, smashed my collarbone, broke three ribs, damaged my kidney and knee.
Did Eddie the Eagle win? ›
While Edwards didn't win any medals, he won the hearts of many Olympic fans. To this day, Great Britain has still never won a medal in ski jumping. If you're thinking the story of “Eddie the Eagle” belongs in Hollywood, you'd be correct.
What happened to Eddie the Eagle Edwards? ›
Where is Eddie the Eagle today? Michael Edwards is now 58 years old and has been keeping busy off the slopes, especially on television. He currently resides in Gloucestershire. In 2003, Edwards graduated from De Montfort University with a degree in law.
What is the Eddie the Eagle Rule? ›
What is the Eddie the Eagle Rule? The rule, colloquially known as the “Eddie the Eagle” rule, requires aspiring Olympians to place in the top-30 percent or top-50 competitors overall of an international event, whichever is fewer.
Did Eddie the Eagle jump 90m? ›
He finished last in both the 70m and 90m events at the Games, but by virtue of being Great Britain's first Olympic ski jumper, he still set a personal and British record of 73.5 meters in one of his jumps.
Eddie 'the Eagle' Edwards, the Olympic ski jumper, earned hundreds of thousands of pounds from the Hollywood movie of his life but lost most of it when he divorced his wife.
Did Hugh Jackman learn to ski jump? ›
Jackman might have been aware of Edwards before signing up for the movie, but he admits the sport of ski jumping was a mystery to him. “I knew nothing – but I love all sports and I did try to learn as much as I could,” he says.
Does Eddie the Eagle have a wife? ›
Was Eddie the Eagle on the spectrum? ›
Taron Egerton is very good in the lead role, although it's a little strange that Eddie is written as somewhat differently-abled in an intellectual sense. (I assumed, from his portrayal here, that Eddie was autistic, but some post-movie research indicates that is not true.)
How Old Is Eddie the Eagle? ›
Is Eddie the Eagle a lawyer? ›
The former sportsman dubbed Eddie the Eagle, who won the nation's hearts at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Canada, completed a law degree in 2003. But he now hopes to use that knowledge to become a practising solicitor.
What injuries did Eddie the Eagle have? ›
"I fractured my skull twice, I broke my jaw, broke my collar bone" - Eddie the Eagle on the serious side of his cult success.
Did Eddie the Eagle have an accident? ›
I should know — I've suffered around 30 injuries, some of them life-changing, from 60,000 jumps I've performed. I've fractured my skull twice, damaged a kidney, snapped a cruciate ligament in my knee, and broken all manner of bones, including my jaw. And I count myself very lucky it hasn't been worse!
What is the longest ski jump ever? ›
All major ski jumping competitions are organised by the International Ski Federation. Stefan Kraft holds the official record for the world's longest ski jump with 253.5 metres (832 ft), set on the ski flying hill in Vikersund in 2017.
Was Eddie the Eagle any good? ›
Eddie the Eagle is one of those underdog sports stories we all love so much, with an excellent performance from the likeable, empathetic Hugh Jackman. August 2, 2016 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…
Did Eddie the Eagle go to the opening ceremony? ›
Although it is clearly portrayed in the movie 'Eddie the Eagle' that Eddie Edwards missed the opening ceremony due to getting drunk the night before with some of his friends, this in fact was confirmed as not being true by Eddie Edwards himself! He confirmed he would not have missed that opening ceremony for the world!
How fast do ski jumpers go? ›
The speed of the skier is normally measured about 10 meters (33 ft) before the end of the takeoff; jumpers can reach speeds of 95 kilometers per hour (59 mph) on large hills and 105 kilometers per hour (65 mph) on ski flying hills.
What was the furthest Eddie the Eagle jumped? ›
In June 2003 Eddie married his wife Sam in true “Eddie the Eagle” style at the Little White Chapel Drive Through in Las Vegas. They now have two daughters, Ottilie Rose and Honey. Eddie still holds the British Olympic record for ski jumping at 71 metres; his personal best is currently 119.5 metres.
Is ski jumping still an Olympic event? ›
Ski jumping at the 2022 Winter Olympics was held at the Snow Ruyi hill in Zhangjiakou, China. The events were held between 5 and 14 February 2022. In July 2018, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially added the mixed team event to the Olympic program, increasing the total number of events to 5.
Where did they film Eddie the Eagle? ›
These Eddie the Eagle street scenes were filmed on the outskirts of Bracknell in Parkham Mead, just a few miles from the Bracknell Ski Centre. Eddie waits optimistically to catch a bus to the Olympic Games as a young boy, and later the same shots are repeated as he sets off for Germany as a Winter Olympic hopeful.
Did Eddie the Eagle get divorced? ›
The 57-year-old former British ski jumper, whose real name is Michael Edwards, divorced his former partner Samantha Morton in 2016. The pair married in Las Vegas in 2003 and share two daughters Otillie and Honey May, with Eddie moving into the shed of their joint home in Stroud, Gloucestershire following their split.
Did Eddie the Eagle jump 90 Metres? ›
He finished last in both the 70m and 90m events at the Games, but by virtue of being Great Britain's first Olympic ski jumper, he still set a personal and British record of 73.5 meters in one of his jumps.
What happened to Eddie the Eagle Edwards? ›
Where is Eddie the Eagle today? Michael Edwards is now 58 years old and has been keeping busy off the slopes, especially on television. He currently resides in Gloucestershire. In 2003, Edwards graduated from De Montfort University with a degree in law.
Is Eddie the Eagle a lawyer? ›
The former sportsman dubbed Eddie the Eagle, who won the nation's hearts at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Canada, completed a law degree in 2003. But he now hopes to use that knowledge to become a practising solicitor.
Eddie still holds the British Olympic record for ski jumping at 71 metres; his personal best is currently 119.5 metres.
Who is the best ski jumper ever? ›
Matti Nykänen, (born July 17, 1963, Jyväskylä, Finland—died February 3, 2019), Finnish ski jumper who was arguably the finest performer in the history of his sport.
What is the longest ski jump ever? ›
All major ski jumping competitions are organised by the International Ski Federation. Stefan Kraft holds the official record for the world's longest ski jump with 253.5 metres (832 ft), set on the ski flying hill in Vikersund in 2017.
What is the Eddie the Eagle Rule? ›
What is the Eddie the Eagle Rule? The rule, colloquially known as the “Eddie the Eagle” rule, requires aspiring Olympians to place in the top-30 percent or top-50 competitors overall of an international event, whichever is fewer.
Was Eddie the Eagle any good? ›
Eddie the Eagle is one of those underdog sports stories we all love so much, with an excellent performance from the likeable, empathetic Hugh Jackman. August 2, 2016 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…
