Keith McCready - Part 3 (“It’s Like a Nightmare, Isn’t It?” – The Color of Money Years)
In this third installment of our four-part Legends of the Cue conversation with the legendary Keith McCready, we dive into one of the most fascinating chapters of his extraordinary life — his unforgettable role as Grady Seasons in Martin Scorsese’s 1986 classic, The Color of Money.
Keith takes us behind the scenes of how a real pool hustler from the road found himself sharing the screen — and trading lines — with Paul Newman and a young Tom Cruise. From a serendipitous encounter at the 1985 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship in Norfolk, Virginia, to a whirlwind Hollywood audition, Keith recounts how his fiery personality, quick wit, and unmistakable flair caught the eye of Scorsese and his casting team.
Listeners will hear incredible first-hand stories about life on the movie set — helping Cruise look more like a real pool player, watching Newman prepare for his Oscar-winning performance, and the chaos of shooting pool scenes that sometimes took 37 takes to perfect. Keith’s memories spill out with his trademark humor and honesty — from “borrowing” a few cues on set to the moment his ad-libbed line became one of the film’s most quotable.
But this episode isn’t just about Hollywood magic. It’s about the crossroads of pool and pop culture — and how The Color of Money reignited America’s love affair with the game. Keith reflects on the movie’s lasting legacy, his brush with fame, and how the hustler’s life and the Hollywood spotlight briefly collided in a way that only “Earthquake McCready” could make happen.
A must-listen for any fan of the film or the golden age of pool.
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About
"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher, Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”
McCready, Keith
Pool Professional
Born April 9, 1957, at a young age Keith moved to Anaheim, California with his father and brother. They all played pool and they got young Keith started when he was only about 8, which explains his sidewinder stroke. Keith is proud of that side arm stroke, and considers himself in good company, pointing to the legendary Ralph Greenleaf. The gambling started early on too, including small stakes ring games on a friend’s home table – an early preview of things to come!
Southern CA at that time had a ton of great players and high action rooms that attracted players from all over the country. As Keith’s game improved he began to spend more time in the top rooms, the money got higher, and the competition tougher. Before long, and while still in his teens, he was competing with the likes of Cole Dickson, Denny Searcy and Larry Lisciotti, and getting into the toughest ring games ever – payball on a Snooker table against the best players in the world.
He was supposed to be in school for much of that time, but in his last year he missed something like 130 days, often sleeping in the poolroom. When the State of CA made moves to take him away from his father (his mother had died from cancer when he was 10 or 11), Anaheim poolroom owner Bob Wallace took Keith in and adopted him, avoiding State custody. Making all that money gambling at such a young age created an awkward problem when Keith went to gym class one day. He decided to ask the Phys Ed coach to hold his cash because he didn’t want it stolen in the locker room. With that much cash coach thought Keith was doi… Read More