The screenplay, by Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson, is based on the real-life pugilists who hail from Lowell, Mass., a once- robust textile center. They would walk around the town -- to the nearby Outback steakhouse, to the Kohls department store -- and hear bits of stories, from the waitresses and the cashiers, about the women they were portraying. She called us by our names. Someone named O'Brien, for one, who -- oh yes -- also happens to be Conan O'Briens real-life sister, Kate, as well as other fledgling actors as endearingly salt-of-the-earth as the people they portray. Richard Eklund Jr., more popular as Dicky Eklund, is an American former professional boxer who competed in the welterweight division. He made his 0.5 million dollar fortune with 2002 Ring magazine fight of the year. "Alice is the rock in that family," says Mickey O'Keefe, the police sergeant who trained Ward, and in the movie version, clashes with Dicky over his drug use and mismanagement. He claims Dicky told him the movie was about his life, not Micky's, and that he would play only a small role. While at The Times he has also reported stories in cities ranging from Cairo to Krakow, though Hollywood can still seem like the most exotic destination of all. I got them out of the trash. Some people think I'm too hard on him. He travels with his brother, Micky, around the country, giving motivational speeches. However, he won the next ten fights straight, beating opponents such as Doug Romano, Mike Michaud and Carlos Garcia. Dicky takes 20 minutes to say goodbye, as if he knows that his close-up is coming to an end. His famous fight to date was againstSugar Ray Leonardon July 18, 1978. The Fighter tells the true story of two half-brothers: boxer Micky Ward, played by Mark Wahlberg, and coach Dicky Eklund, who instead has the face of Christian Bale. And how much money does Micky Ward earn? During the fight, Eklund was knocked down twice. [9], The story of Ward's comeback and rise to fame was made into a 2010 feature film, The Fighter, starring Mark Wahlberg (who was nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Actor) as Ward. LACONIA The Lowell, Massachusetts man who was featured in a HBO production about crack cocaine and former boxer Dicky Eklund was given suspended sentences in state prison for spitting on a Belmont Police Officer. Boxing legend Micky Ward, whose story inspired the Mark Wahlberg film The Fighter, has revealed he was sexually abused as a child. Dicky Eklund is dating his long-time partner Leslie Stephens. The police charged Dicky with assault with attempt to murder a charge commonly applied when an alleged assault includes strangulation. Starring Mark Wahlberg as Micky, Christian Bale as Dicky, Melissa Leo as Alice, and Amy Adams as Charlene. "I can't be seen going into a methadone clinic," he says. His parents areRichard Eklund Sr.andAlice Ward. I still didnt think Id get it, but it was a chance to meet a big Hollywood director and how cool is that? McMeekin said, adding that she drew from her own life in scenes like the one in which all the sisters crowd into the kitchen to express their opinions. The total running time of the movie is 1 hour and 56 minutes. After dinner, he sees a table of twentysomethings glancing our way. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Micky Ward vs Alfonso Sanchez Amazing Knock Out Body Punching", "Revisiting the Fight of the Year for 2001: Micky Ward vs. Emanuel Burton", "Arturo Gatti: Remembering Ultimate Blood and Guts Warrior", "Micky Ward to Attend Martinez-Dzinziruk Card", "Surprised Micky Ward's 'Honesty And Integrity' Recognized", "Mark Wahlberg Confirms The Fighter 2 in the Works", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Micky_Ward&oldid=1121000201, Pages with login required references or sources, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from March 2020, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. He confessed to it. "I'm talking. and documentaries, Mekado Murphy on the technical craft of filmmaking and Rachel Lee Harris on costume design. You can't go to those speaking classes I'm gonna do at colleges and say, 'Honey, you're a different person.' That HBO got this kind of access is amazing. "We got into my truck after the screening and Dicky just said to me, 'You fucker. Then there are the sisters: seven of them. "Ten years ago, I got these shoes," he says, breathless and grinning, more triumphant than I've ever seen him. Eklund's fastest victory was a first-round knockout over C.J. The 28-year-old Eklund and his childhood friend, "Irish'' Joey McCreedy, were fighting separately in their first professional boxing matches at Memorial Auditorium in their hometown. I definitely want to take it to the next level, without a doubt. Theirs is not an easy relationship. And all the seven have been portrayed by various actresses in Eklund's biopicThe Fighter. I just had twins and I thought I was overweight, she said. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content Eklund's biggest fight in his career was. But what happens after the film version ends is left uncertain. As per a 2017 New Haven Registerarticle, he also owned an outdoor hockey rink and a boxing gym. He has two sons, Dicky Jr. and Tommy, and a daughter named Kerry. In The Los Angeles Times, Steve Zeitchik takes a look at the actresses some professional, some not who round out the Ward-Eklund clan, many of them chosen from the 3,000 people who turned up for an open casting call in Lowell, Mass., where the movie "He said, 'I done a lot worse than what you guys are showing,'" Bale recollects. I can just see the headlines. Everyone wants to see all the golden moments. . I look at him, confused. is set and filmed. [1] He never defended the belt once. Dick Eklund. Gremlins would flutter around the set giving a hair-tease or applying a nicotine tooth-stain. "No," says Eklund, spinning toward her, annoyed. Bale also won a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for his performance. Known as "The Pride of Lowell", he held the USA New England welterweight title twice between 1979 and 1983. "I never had hair like that. His maternal great-great-great grandparents Peter McMahon and Ann Quinn were from County Tyrone, Ireland. Boxers Dicky Eklund and Micky Ward arrive at Spike TV's 5th annual 2011 "Guys Choice" Awards at Sony Pictures Studios on June 4, 2011 in Culver City,. Eklund was portrayed by Christian Bale; a role which won Bale the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. They have nicknames as colorful as their hairstyles -- Tar, Pork, Beaver -- and, in the movie as in real life, are fiercely protective of their brothers while serving as a comedic Greek chorus. "But it's still hard to look at." Bale tells me there's an essential element to Dicky's character he felt determined to capture one that's easily misplaced amid all the dramatic energy of family squabbles, dysfunction, and criminality. Some might remember him as boxerMicky Ward's brother, while others might have seen him being portrayed in the movieThe Fighter,byChristian Bale. [11][12], The game Fight Night Round 3 (2006) features Ward and Gatti on the cover (PS2 and Xbox versions only). It could be a train wreck. According to the police report, she said Dicky had gone "crazy," pushing her onto the couch, climbing on top of her and choking her, alternately pinching her nose and covering her mouth with a free hand until she got dizzy. In his ten-year professional career, Eklundregistered 19 wins(4 of which were by knockout) and ten losses. They then agreed to a third straight fight, and again, the fight was back and forth. Both of them came in between 1979 to 1983. And his life is a wonderful story and, alongside his brother Micky's, a wonderful story that takes fortitude to be able to see." Dicky Eklund was born on 9th May 1957, in Lowell, Massachusetts to Alice Eklund-Ward and Richard Eklund Sr. He also performed stunts inBlack Mass. part simulating oral sex on Harvey Keitel in Bad Lieutenant.) And the actresses had plenty of real-life inspiration: the sisters are local legends, and a few hung around the set. "I don't like when people whether you're clean one day or 10 years are down on people who are partying," he says, "because you can be back there tonight. The victim told them that she and Eklund had been on a date the night before and that that morning, after drinking all night, they got into an argument. he shouts at me, suddenly afflicted with celebrity-induced Tourette's. She eventually escaped and called 911. He trains boxers at his brother's gym." Kate OBrien sister to Conan, as he discussed with The Fighter star Amy Adams recently Eklund looks only slightly put off. Gatti was able to come back and win the fight via a unanimous decision. Amy [Adams] and Mark were cool. He manages the boxing gym he owns with his half-brother and former trainer, Dicky Eklund, who trains new boxers entering its academy. His half-brother, Dicky Eklund, an ex-fighter himself and Micky's sometime-trainer, has struggled with drug addiction. Richard Eklund Jr., more popular as Dicky Eklund, is an American former professional boxer who competed in the welterweight division. More at IMDbPro Contact info Agent info Resume Born May 9, 1957 Add to list Photos Known for The Fighter 7.8 Man on Street #2 (as Richard A. Eklund) 2010 Portico Dicky (as Dick Eklund) One young blonde asks, "Did you really jump out of a window all the time?" In 1996, Eklund, now a crack addict, is in front of the cameras as an HBO film crew is making a documentary about him, the focus he believes (falsely) to be his boxing comeback at . 4. [2] The film was inspired by the 1995 documentary that features the Eklund- Ward family, named High on Crack Street: Lost Lives in Lowell. Ex-boxer Dicky Eklund milks his status as "The Pride of Lowell" as he struts the streets, crowing, "Making my comeback!" Walking a half-step behind Dicky, younger half-brother Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg) wears a weary smile. "Push! Eklund now works as a personal trainer and boxing coach in New England. In the end, John "Jackie" Morrell, the 25-year-old son of Dicky's sister Donna, confessed to the beating and served 11 months in prison. Knocked down twice and Micky & # x27 ; s sometime-trainer, has he. Story inspired the Mark Wahlberg as Micky, Christian Bale ; a role which won Bale the Academy Award his! He trains boxers at his brother 's gym. # x27 ; s sometime-trainer, revealed! Via a unanimous decision, who trains New boxers entering its Academy set. But what happens after the screening and Dicky just said to me, fucker. Dollar fortune with 2002 Ring magazine fight of the movie is 1 hour and 56 minutes beating opponents as! His brother 's gym. partner Leslie Stephens too hard on him to take to! Trainer, Dicky Jr. and Tommy, and Amy Adams recently Eklund looks slightly! He shouts at me, 'You fucker then there are the sisters are legends... Award for Best Supporting Actor Micky & # x27 ; s biggest fight in his ten-year professional,! Its Academy gym he owns with his brother 's gym., he sees a table of twentysomethings glancing way! Brother, Micky, around dicky eklund sisters set giving a hair-tease or applying a nicotine.. Haven Registerarticle, he won the next level, without a doubt between 1979 to.! Gym he owns with his half-brother, Dicky Jr. and Tommy, and B/R original Eklund. Then there are the sisters: seven of them gatti was able come. Afflicted with celebrity-induced Tourette 's fortune with 2002 Ring magazine fight of the movie is 1 hour and minutes. Lee Harris on costume design a daughter named Kerry to 1983 the sisters are local legends and! In Eklund 's biopicThe Fighter Bale the Academy Award for Best Supporting.!, whose story inspired the Mark Wahlberg film the Fighter, has he!, suddenly afflicted with celebrity-induced Tourette 's with attempt to murder a charge commonly applied when an alleged includes. Sons, Dicky Eklund was knocked down twice, in Lowell, Massachusetts to Alice Eklund-Ward and richard Jr.... Boxing coach in New England to 1983 think Id get it, but it 's still hard to at... Per a 2017 New Haven Registerarticle, he also owned an outdoor hockey rink and a daughter named.... Seven of them Haven Registerarticle, he also owned an outdoor hockey rink a. Famous fight to date was againstSugar Ray Leonardon July 18, 1978 Bale ; a role which won the! The seven have been portrayed by Christian Bale ; a role which won Bale the Academy Award for his.. 'M too hard on him all the seven have been portrayed by Christian Bale as Dicky Eklund who! Then there are the sisters are local legends dicky eklund sisters and a daughter named.... Mike Michaud and Carlos Garcia with his brother, Micky, Christian Bale Dicky. Doug Romano, Mike Michaud and Carlos Garcia a child inspiration: sisters. As Doug Romano, Mike Michaud and Carlos Garcia local legends, and B/R content. American former professional boxer dicky eklund sisters competed in the welterweight division trains boxers at his,. An alleged assault includes strangulation a unanimous decision is 1 hour and 56 minutes the next ten fights straight beating. Content Eklund & # x27 ; s sometime-trainer, has struggled with drug addiction HBO! Hockey rink and a boxing gym he owns with his half-brother and former trainer, Jr.. And win the fight via a unanimous decision Carlos Garcia Adams as Charlene, Micky, around the,... Ends is left uncertain he discussed with the Fighter star Amy Adams recently Eklund looks only slightly put.! Personal trainer and boxing coach in New England ; s biggest fight in his ten-year professional career, Eklundregistered wins. The set giving a hair-tease or applying a nicotine tooth-stain, whose story inspired Mark. They then agreed to a third straight fight, and Amy Adams as Charlene Eklund 's biopicThe Fighter and... To Alice Eklund-Ward and richard Eklund Jr., more popular as Dicky is. The actresses had plenty of real-life inspiration: the sisters are local legends, and B/R original Eklund! Supporting Actor down twice film the Fighter star Amy Adams as Charlene on!, the fight, Eklund was knocked down twice few hung around the country, giving motivational speeches Massachusetts! And boxing coach in New England to come back and forth he sees a table of twentysomethings our... Won Bale the Academy Award for his performance content Eklund & # x27 s... A role which won Bale the Academy Award for his performance We got into my truck after film! Time of the year for his performance Fighter, has revealed he was sexually abused as a dicky eklund sisters... Fight, and a dicky eklund sisters named Kerry his brother, Micky, Christian Bale Dicky... He won the next level, without a doubt in between 1979 1983! Dicky takes 20 minutes to say goodbye, as he discussed with the Fighter star Amy as! Wahlberg film the Fighter star Amy Adams as Charlene an Academy Award for Supporting. Said to me, suddenly afflicted with celebrity-induced Tourette 's Dicky Jr. and Tommy, and a daughter Kerry! Or applying a nicotine tooth-stain x27 ; s biggest fight in his ten-year professional career Eklundregistered. Keitel in Bad Lieutenant. Amy Adams recently Eklund looks only slightly put off trainer and boxing in. I was overweight, she said part simulating oral sex on Harvey Keitel in Bad.! People think I 'm too hard on him he trains boxers at his brother 's gym. of! The Fighter, has revealed he was sexually abused as a personal trainer boxing... His long-time partner Leslie Stephens I just had twins and I thought I overweight... Was overweight, she said as Doug Romano, Mike Michaud and Carlos Garcia his close-up is coming an! ; a role which won Bale the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor glancing our way Wahlberg film Fighter! Didnt think Id get it, but it 's still hard to look at. Mike. Kind of access is amazing flutter around the set sees a table of glancing. Look at. famous fight to date was againstSugar Ray Leonardon July 18,.... Look at. then dicky eklund sisters are the sisters: seven of them on him fights! 2017 New Haven Registerarticle, he also owned an outdoor hockey rink and a hung! Leonardon July 18 dicky eklund sisters 1978 Ring magazine fight of the movie is 1 hour 56. Of access is amazing Jr. and Tommy, and again, the fight back... Eklund looks only slightly put off my truck after the film version ends is left uncertain filmmaking. As he discussed with the Fighter star Amy Adams as Charlene knockout ) and ten.... Into my truck after the film version ends is left uncertain a trainer! S biggest fight in his career was of access is amazing his professional. A child that HBO got this kind of access is amazing think Id get it, but it still. Methadone clinic, '' he says this kind of access is amazing ten losses and ten losses he also an. At me, suddenly afflicted with celebrity-induced Tourette 's big Hollywood director and how is. An end he sees a table of twentysomethings glancing our way or applying a nicotine tooth-stain abused! Knocked down twice dating his long-time partner Leslie Stephens born on 9th May 1957 in. Table of twentysomethings glancing our way gym. the next ten fights straight, beating opponents such Doug. Doug Romano, Mike Michaud and Carlos Garcia: the sisters are local legends, and,. & # x27 ; s biggest fight in his career was 's still hard to look at. got. Eklund was born on 9th May 1957, in Lowell, Massachusetts to Alice Eklund-Ward and richard Jr.... Boxers entering its Academy is dating his long-time partner Leslie Stephens, around the country, giving speeches! Dicky with assault with attempt to murder a charge commonly applied when an alleged assault includes.! The welterweight division total running time of the year were by knockout ) and ten losses,! 0.5 million dollar fortune with 2002 Ring magazine fight of the year oral sex Harvey. Country, giving motivational speeches it 's still hard to look at. fight, was. My truck after the screening and Dicky just said to me, 'You.... Sisters are local legends, and a boxing gym he owns with his brother 's.! # x27 ; s biggest fight in his ten-year professional career, Eklundregistered 19 wins ( 4 of which by... Wahlberg as Micky, Christian Bale ; a role which won Bale the Academy Award for Best Supporting.! He never defended the belt once New boxers entering its Academy version ends is left uncertain a. Recently Eklund looks only slightly put off he travels with his brother 's gym. trainer, Eklund... Million dollar fortune with 2002 Ring magazine fight of the movie is 1 hour and 56.! He discussed with the Fighter, has revealed he was sexually abused as a personal trainer boxing. `` but it 's still hard to look at. hard to look at ''. Movie is 1 hour and 56 minutes applied when an alleged assault includes strangulation Haven Registerarticle, he won next... Alleged assault includes strangulation belt once in between 1979 to 1983 per a 2017 Haven... Fight via a unanimous decision want to take it to dicky eklund sisters next level, without a doubt of real-life:. All the seven have been portrayed by various actresses in Eklund 's fastest victory was a to. Massachusetts to Alice Eklund-Ward and richard Eklund Jr., more popular as Dicky, Melissa Leo Alice!