Patrick Renna Says Fans' 'Eyes Bulge Out Of Their Heads' When They Spot the Entire “Sandlot” Cast Together (Exclusive)

Virginia ChamleeMon, June 1, 2026 at 5:38 PM UTC

0

Patrick Renna
Credit: John Bramley/20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic -

Patrick Renna says he's often recognized from his role in The Sandlot, even all these years later

But sometimes, fans recognize him while he's with the film's other cast members — and are in for a surprise when he lets them know

Renna is currently starring in an ad campaign for Hershey's, which invites fans to weigh in on whether they are camp gooey or camp toasty when it comes to s'mores

While Patrick Renna has starred in dozens of projects, it's undoubtedly the 1993 film The Sandlot that most resonates with fans. And it's especially fun to be recognized, he says, when he's with other cast members.

Renna, 47, starred as Ham Porter in the coming-of-age film, which centers on a boy named Scotty Smalls (Tom Guiry), who befriends a group of boys playing baseball at his new neighborhood's sandlot during the summer of 1962.

Alongside Renna and Guiry, the movie also featured actors Mike Vitar, Marty York and Chauncey Leopardi. In a recent interview with PEOPLE, Renna says he's still close with the other cast members, and they often meet up to reminisce and grab dinner.

— sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"It's really funny when it happens with the other Sandlot guys, because we'll be eating dinner, and it could be all eight of us, and someone will [recognize me] and then they'll even ask one of the other guys to take the photo, and I'll say, 'I don't think you want them on the other side of the camera.' And they're like, 'Why?' And then I kind of [gesture and] it's a slow burn. I kind of go, 'You know who that is?' "

He continues: "And then their eyes bulge out of their head, and they almost pass out when they realize the rest of them are there. It's kind of a fun one."

Patrick Renna with his son Flynn with Hershey's Heated Debate
Credit: Hershey's

Renna is currently starring in a Hershey's campaign that calls to mind a scene from The Sandlot (one in which his character playfully chides another for never having eaten a s'more, saying, "You're killin' me, Smalls").

The ad highlights a playful divide around the “right way” to make a s'more (gooey or toasty) and features Renna and his own son, Flynn, enjoying the campfire treat. Renna says he is fully team toasty, but admits there's no wrong way to enjoy the classic treat.

Advertisement

Renna and his wife, Jasmin, share three children: Flynn, 9, Liam, 5, and a baby girl, Lily June, born July 2, 2025.

Speaking to PEOPLE, Renna says Flynn "loves chocolate" and will often try to get more out of him.

"We've camped several times and done s'mores," he says. "He'll just… he'll try and even get s'mores out of me, like, midweek, on our fire pit in the backyard, and I'm like, 'Yeah, yeah, yeah, okay, hold on, this is a weekend thing.' I mean, I fail miserably. Listen, it's not hard to convince me to make a s'more, let's just say that."

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

He says his sons "get" that he's a recognizable actor and are "usually cool" with him being recognized in public: "They're used to it, and they kind of just let it happen."

The boys have also seen The Sandlot, he adds, though their viewings don't necessarily elicit the same reaction as it does from fans of the movie.

"They've seen it[ but] they kind of like my TikTok and Instagram feed more, and they're in half of it anyway," he laughs. "I don't know what it is. I think maybe seeing me as a kid is a little strange for them."

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”