The Life of “Mattress Mack” Hits the Big Screen
Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, the wild-talking, high-betting and big-giving Texas furniture king, is getting his own movie. The biopic, simply titled Mattress Mack, is officially moving forward.
Who Is Mattress Mack, Really?
His real name is James Franklin McIngvale, born on February 11, 1951, in Starkville, Mississippi. He grew up in Dallas and went to Catholic school. He worked odd jobs (including sacking groceries) and then moved to Houston to build his furniture empire: Gallery Furniture. It wasn’t glamorous. He and his then-girlfriend (later wife), Linda, slept in the store while hauling inventory, living off grit and TV ads.
From Scrappy Salesman to Texas Legend
Jim’s low-budget, fast-talk TV commercials became his signature. He famously pulled crumpled money from his pocket during ads and yelled, “Gallery Furniture will SAVE. YOU. MONEYYYY!” Over the years, that pitch turned into a multibillion-dollar business and a local celebrity status that’s larger than life.
But It’s Not All Furniture & Sales
This movie is planned to cover more than just his business hustle. It will jump between Houston in the 1980s and the 2000s, showing how he built the store with Linda by his side, but also the personal side of McIngvale: his family struggles, especially his youngest daughter, Elizabeth, who battles obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Also, the film will highlight how he’s not just a salesman, he’s a hero in his community. He famously opens his stores during disasters (like hurricanes) to shelter and feed people. That generosity has made him beloved in Houston, even though he’s also known for placing huge sports bets.
Who’s Making the Movie?
- Billy Magnussen (actor/producer) is playing Jim McIngvale.
- Dianna Agron, Darby Lee-Stack, and Rob Corddry are also in the cast.
- Shane Andries, a Houston native, is writing and directing.
- Production is starting soon in Texas.
Why Now?
Billy Magnussen has said this is a “passion project.” He’s especially drawn to the father-daughter story between Jim and Elizabeth. The filmmakers want to show the “quiet moments, the private battles” behind the public persona.
So, Is It Real?
Yep, not just rumor. Several outlets (Deadline, The Houston Chronicle, Yahoo) are reporting this is actually happening. That said, it’s not some tabloid expose about wild scandals (at least from what’s publicly known, so far); it’s being framed more like an inspiring, heartfelt biopic.
