Ben Stiller takes an in-depth look at bowling in the new HBO documentary series Born to Bowl.
Speaking to People Magazine, the actor and producer admitted that he is not particularly skilled at bowling.
He recently joked about throwing a gutter ball while giving the formal first roll at the show’s premiere.
Nevertheless, Ben’s association with the game dates back to the early days of his career, when he made a short film inspired by The Color of Money.
“I’ve had to bowl in public a few times, the last time I was at the premiere of this show (Born to Bowl) where people asked me if I would bowl the ceremonial first ball and I bowled it of course,” Benn said.
He said, “The first short film I made, which I got at Saturday Night Live when I was starting out, was a takeoff on The Color of Money, a Martin Scorsese and Tom Cruise film about pool, which was a sequel to The Hustler, which I made with my friends about bowling.”
Noting, “So, I really have a warm place in my heart for bowling.”
Born to Bowl follows five athletes competing in the Professional Bowlers Association. Through his journey, the show highlights the dedication required and the financial realities faced by players.
Of the players, Ben Stiller said, “These guys who are the best in the world – the best in America – and what the reality of their lives is, is about 180 degrees away from the reality of these other guys who are at the top of their game.”
“It was a little shocking to me that these guys would do what they had to do to survive on a bowling tour,” he said.
The Ben Stiller executive-produced series airs weekly on HBO and has its final episode scheduled for April 13.
