Guido Tenesi, a former professional hockey defenseman best known for his role as Billy Charlebois in the 1977 cult classic Slap Shot, has died at the age of 71.
The American Hockey League’s Hershey Bears, where Tenesi once played, confirmed the news Thursday in a tribute shared on social media.
“We’re saddened to learn of the passing of Guido Tenesi, a member of our roster during the 1974 Calder Cup championship, and known to many more for his role as Billy Charlebois in the classic hockey film Slap Shot,” the team wrote. “Our hearts are with his family, friends, and teammates.”
No cause of death has been released.
From the Ice to the Silver Screen
Tenesi, a Pittsburgh Penguins draftee in the fifth round of the 1973 NHL Draft, played two seasons with their affiliate, the Hershey Bears, and continued his pro hockey career across several leagues for nearly a decade. He was part of the 1974–75 championship-winning Johnstown Jets in the North American Hockey League — a stint that unexpectedly led him into Hollywood.
It was during his time with the Jets that Tenesi was scouted for Slap Shot, which starred Paul Newman as player-coach Reggie Dunlop of the fictional Charlestown Chiefs. Tenesi appeared alongside real-life teammates like Dave Hanson and the Carlson brothers, who inspired many of the film’s most iconic moments.
“I played on the same team as Ned Dowd, Dave Hanson, and the Carlsons,” Tenesi recalled in a 2016 interview with the Utica Observer-Dispatch. “Ned would walk around with a tape recorder, taking notes on everything that happened on road trips. If someone tripped on the ice or threw a stick into the stands, he recorded it.”
Those notes became the foundation of Slap Shot, written by Dowd’s sister, screenwriter Nancy Dowd.
“It was neat, being in a movie,” Tenesi said. “What fascinated me most was how they actually made it.”
A Legacy on the Ice
Though Slap Shot would be his only acting credit, Tenesi’s achievements in hockey were extensive. He helped lead the Jets to a Lockhart Cup victory in 1975 and was named the IHL’s best defenseman in 1979, receiving the Governor’s Trophy. He retired from professional hockey in 1987.
After hanging up his skates, Tenesi settled into a quiet life, working as a swimming pool technician in Toronto.
Steve Carlson, who played one of the infamous Hanson brothers in Slap Shot, honored his former teammate and co-star in a touching message on X (formerly Twitter):
“RIP Guido Tenesi, ‘Pretty boy.’ Good guy gone too soon. On behalf of myself and Vicki, we send our heartfelt condolences. He always had HONOR and class. Prayers for comfort to his family, teammates, and co-actors facing yet another loss.”
