Documentary by Eric Drath Follows the Life of First Transgender Tennis Player, Renée Richards

The 1977 US Open will forever serve as a turning point in sports history and American society due to a shy yet fierce tennis player named Renée Richards who, as a transgender athlete, fought to compete in the tournament after being barred from playing as a woman just one year prior. Renée’s battle to be accepted by the tennis world—and more importantly her family and friends—is told in the documentary Renée, part of a new slate of ESPN Films Presented by Buick. The film will premiere on Tuesday, Oct. 4, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN HD.

Born as Richard Raskind, Dick was an Ivy League-educated scholar/athlete and medical school graduate. Despite his role as a husband and father, Dick could not hide the strong inclinations to dress, act and essentially be, a woman. After undergoing gender reassignment surgery Renée Richards emerged a very different person—albeit remained an extremely talented tennis player. Director Eric Drath chronicles her struggles throughout life and follows her today as she tries to cope with a life of contradictions and personal conflict.  Through interviews with tennis legends, family, friends and experts from the transsexual field; a story of perseverance, breakthrough and hardship unfolds.

“Renée Richards’ story is fascinating and ESPN Films is proud to showcase it on our network,” said Connor Schell, vice president and executive producer, ESPN Films. “Our goal is to tell stories that use sports as a window through which to look at culture, and with transgender issues capturing so much attention, Renée tells an important story of a personal journey.”

ESPN Films, creators of the Emmy-nominated and Peabody award-winning 30 for 30 film series, will air a new film each Tuesday night through November 8.  The remaining films of the new slate will air as follows:

• Tuesday, Oct. 4, 8 p.m. –  Renée (Eric Drath) *90 minutes
• Tuesday, Oct. 11, 8 pm. – The Dotted Line (Morgan Spurlock/Jeremy Chilnick)
• Tuesday, Oct. 18, 8 p.m. – Charismatic (Steve Michaels/Jonathan Koch) 
• Tuesday, Oct. 25, 8 p.m. – The Real Rocky (Jeff Feuerzeig/Mike Tollin)
• Tuesday, Nov. 1, 8 p.m. – Unguarded (Jonathan Hock/Philip Aromando)
• Tuesday, Nov. 8, 8 p.m. – Roll Tide/War Eagle (Martin Khodabakhshian/Joe Tessitore)

ESPN Films’ new slate of documentaries will be available on iTunes and Amazon.com the day after each film’s broadcast premiere and will be available on DVD shortly thereafter at major retailers. A compilation of films from the series will be available in a collectible DVD Gift Set this holiday season.

About ESPN Films

Created in March 2008, ESPN Films produces high-quality films showcasing compelling sports stories. In October 2009, ESPN Films launched the Peabody Award-winning and Emmy-nominated 30 for 30 film series.  Inspired by ESPN’s 30th Anniversary, the films that made up the series were a thoughtful and innovative reflection on the past three decades told through the lens of diverse and interesting sports fans and social commentators. Additional projects from ESPN Films include, among others, the critically acclaimed and Television Academy Honor-winning 16^th Man, Cannes Film Festival official selection The Two Escobars, and the Peabody Award-winning Black Magic. Catching Hell, from Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney, and Renée, from filmmaker Eric Drath, are featured in the latest ESPN Films series airing this fall.  Press Kit

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Media Contacts:

Jay Jay Nesheim – ESPN – 212-448-4841 – [email protected]

Jen Cingari – ESPN – 212-515-1084 – [email protected]