[4] Wanderone was inducted in 1984 into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame for his decades-long public promotion of pool.

[6] He parlayed the association with the film into his own book deals and television appearances, including a series of matches with rival Willie Mosconi.

Later in life, Wanderone divorced Evelyn and moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he married his second wife, Theresa, with whom he remained until his death.

[8] Known as "Rudy" to friends and family,[4] Wanderone started playing pool as a child while living in Washington Heights, Manhattan.

In 1923, he traveled with his father to Europe, where he received training from German balkline billiards champion Erich Hagenlocher.

[15][16] Following their wedding, the Wanderones settled in Dowell, Illinois where they lived a quiet life, residing at 611 South Street.

The growing population led to an enormous interest in gambling; Wanderone, in partnership with fellow hustler Lassiter, quickly recognized the financial possibilities.

World Champion Willie Mosconi served as a technical advisor and trick shot stunt man for the film.

[20] Wanderone's notoriety as "Minnesota Fats" led to a job as executive vice-president of billiard table manufacturer Rozel Industries, playing exhibition matches and giving demonstrations.

[22] In 1967 he completed and published an instructional paperback, Minnesota Fats on Pool, which was reprinted through 1976 in large-quantity editions, was then reissued as a hardcover in 1993, and remains to this day commonly available.

[25][26] The screenplay was written and directed by Thomas DeMartini, also starred pool pro Jack Colavita, and had a limited release in 1971 by International Cinema.

[25] By 1979, Fats was well known enough to play himself as a celebrity guest star on a season 2 episode of the popular television detective drama Vega$ titled "the Usurper".

In 1980, while visiting a one-mile stretch of St. Louis, Fats had to double his order of autographed pictures after he was stopped thirty-seven times.

[31] Mosconi's widow, Flora, said of the rivalry, "My husband hated Minnesota Fats because he felt that [Wanderone] was always hurting the image of the game instead of helping it.

With almost 11 million viewers, the game was the second-highest-rated episode of the show for that year, behind only the Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks rematch.

[36] However, in the nationally broadcast Resorts International Shoot-Out of October 1984—Fats' last notable television appearance—he finally turned the tables on his rival.

[37] In an interview, Fats was asked about his strategy to defeat Mosconi and replied that he had thought to himself, "I'll make [the 7 ball] on the break and end it... then I'll help carry Willie out on a stretcher.

"[38] The Billiard Congress of America in 1984 inducted Fats into its Hall of Fame for "Meritorious Service" in recognition of his contributions to helping popularize the game of pool.

[44] At the beginning of his first television match against Mosconi, Fats claimed: "I've never lost [a game] for money in my life; beat everyone that ever lived.

"[11] Fats was a lover of animals and was reported to have had dozens of cats and dogs simultaneously, and to have devoted a lot of time to finding homes for strays.