El Reno Wrestling Standout Featured In Blockbuster Hit "Foxcatcher"

One of Oklahoma's Own makes it to the big screen. An El Reno native and OSU wrestling standout landed a role in the Oscar-nominated movie "Foxcatcher" alongside several big name actors.

Tyrone Lewis wrestles Channing Tatum in the movie and he loses, which rarely happened in real life. Lewis went back to El Reno High School on Monday, encouraging kids in the same auditorium where he once sat.

“My philosophy in life is always ‘keep an open mind to learning, learning new things, to be better, do better,'” he said.

Lewis never imagined that mindset would lead to the silver screen. He racked up trophy-cases full of wrestling titles in El Reno, became a 4-time NCAA All American with Oklahoma State University and now he is in the Oscar-nominated movie "Foxcatcher."

The movie is about two brothers who wrestled at the University of Oklahoma and went on to Olympic glory before tragedy struck.

Lewis pinned down the role of wrestling Channing Tatum in one of the scenes. He did not even know who the actor was until his wife filled him in.

“Then she was like, ‘Um, he's only the sexiest man,' and I was like, ‘Wait a minute, time out,” Lewis chuckled.

The 35-year-old Edmond resident was on set for about 12 days, working long shifts to perfect the scene.

“It was a lot of work, that was surprising,” Lewis told News 9. “I didn't anticipate it being for 13, 14, 15 hour days.”

He said he really hit it off with Tatum.

“He was always asking me, always asking me about wrestling scenes and positions and how to make this position look good or even better,” Lewis said.

He said the only bad part about the role was he had to lose in the scene.

“I wasn't too excited about it once I heard, once I read the script, I had to lose,” Lewis recalled. “I'm not used to that, man, so I actually had to teach him to beat me.”

Lewis loved the movie and was proud of how his scene turned out. He would do it again if ever given the chance.

“It's probably a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it's something I will never forget,” Lewis said.

Lewis was an assistant coach at OSU and the University of Maryland. Now, he trains UFC fighters and athletes of all ages, hoping to give back the opportunities that were given to him.