Handpicked by director John Boorman from his hometown in Georgia, Billy was just a local teen when he was cast in the Oscar-nominated thriller. Boorman saw something unique in him — the perfect country boy look, natural mannerisms, and an authenticity that couldn’t be taught. Though the role was silent, Billy’s performance as the eerie banjo-playing boy left a lasting impression on cinema history.

Fun fact: Billy didn’t actually play the banjo — a hand double performed the playing, while Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell provided the legendary soundtrack. Director Boorman even used clever tricks to draw out Billy’s intense on-screen expressions, resulting in one of the most haunting and memorable scenes of all time.

Following Deliverance, Billy stepped away from the spotlight, later working as a tour guide for fans visiting filming locations. He returned to the screen in Blastfighter (1984), and had memorable cameos in Tim Burton’s Big Fish (2003) and Outrage: Born in Terror (2009), always staying close to the role that made him a cult figure.

Come meet Billy Redden in person, get a photo, and relive a piece of cinematic legend!

This guest appearance is proudly brought to you by KipalieLLC.