Movie · 1967
The Reluctant Astronaut
Released 5 September 1967 More from 1967 → Letterboxd ↗ · TMDB ↗
Roy Fleming is a small-town kiddie-ride operator who is deathly afraid of heights. After learning that his father has signed him up for the space program, Roy reluctantly heads for Houston, only to find out upon arriving that his job is as a janitor, not an astronaut. Anxious to live up to the expectations of his domineering father, Roy manages to keep up a facade of being an astronaut to his family and friends. When NASA decides to launch a layperson into space to prove the worthiness of a new automated spacecraft, Roy gets the chance to confront his fears.
FR·01
How old were they?
Marjorie Bennett
as Sweetwater Citizen at Mailbox
Frank McGrath
as Plank
Paul Bryar
as First Bus Driver (uncredited)
Guy Raymond
as Bert
Jesse White
as Donelli
Don Knotts
as Roy Fleming
Joan Freeman
as Ellie Jackson
Pamelyn Ferdin
as Mary - Little Girl (uncredited)
FR·02
The numbers
63years between the oldest and youngest billed
71Marjorie Bennett — oldest on the call sheet
8Pamelyn Ferdin — youngest billed
47average age of the credited cast