South Carolina man who inspired the movie 'Radio' dies at 73 That was just a four-game cameo, however, and he didn't make it back to the bigs . He was thrusted into the limelight back in 1996 when Sports Illustrated did a story about him and football coach Harold Jones, which shared how the town of Anderson, South Carolina accepted him with open arms. Boston Celtics legend K.C. Jones has died at age 88 - CNN Sam Jones, winner of 10 NBA titles with the Celtics, dies at 88 James "Radio" Kennedy, the inspiration for a Hollywood movie and a man described as "in his element when spreading joy," died early Sunday. In Real Life: Radio first showed up at football practices in the mid-1960s, according to coach Harold Jones in a telephone interview. . "Grandma asked Mama if she would take care of Radio and Cool Rock and again, Mama did not hesitate," Jacqueline said. By 1999, Jones was set to retire and Radio was still running strong with the team. [1] The article and the movie are based on the true story of T. L. Hanna High School football coach Harold Jones (Ed Harris) and a mentally challenged young man, James Robert "Radio" Kennedy (Cuba Gooding Jr.). Moreover, he was the first person from Tennessee to represent his ethnicity in the United States Congress. It was 1964, in the heat of August, when JV coaches Harold Jones and Dennis Patterson noticed a young man coming to the practices every day, holding a transistor radio to his ear. is coach jones from radio still alive - Bonneville Vintage GP Though things take a turn for the worst when certain fans and parents feel that Radio . The article and the movie are based on the true story of T. L. Hanna High School football coach Harold Jones and a young man with an intellectual disability, James Robert "Radio" Kennedy (Cuba Gooding Jr.). James "Radio" Kennedy -- the inspiration behind the movie, "Radio," starring Cuba Gooding, Jr. -- has died. "I don't even know how you would explain what he has meant to the game of basketball and to so many people," said . "It's sad. (AP Photo/Harold P. Matosian) His niece and caregiver, Jackie Kennedy, told WYFF in Greenville, South Carolina, that Radio was taken to Hospice of the Upstate. Kennedy was a staple. Harold Jones (Ed Harris) is the high school football coach. coach Jones got a phone call. James 'Radio' Kennedy Dies: T.L. Hanna High School Legend Was 73