“Soul on Fire,” a film based on the life story of John O’Leary (CSB '99) and shot on the campus of Saint Louis University in 2023, opens in theatres nationwide on Friday, Oct. 10. The film had a star-studded world premiere in St. Louis at Powell Hall on Oct. 2. 

“I’ve been to a lot of openings in my lifetime, but I had to come to St. Louis for one like this,” actor William H. Macy told the crowd following the screening.

From director Sean McNamara, “Soul on Fire” is inspired by the true story of St. Louis native John O’Leary. The film begins with his accident and recovery from burns. He endures an difficult road to recovery with the support of his family, community and the kindness of his idol, Hall of Fame broadcaster Jack Buck, played by Macy. 

A Story Worth Sharing

O’Leary was burned at the age of 9 after playing with gasoline and matches in his family’s garage. His injuries were severe – 87 percent of the burns were third-degree – and he was given little chance of surviving the incident. O’Leary spent five months in the hospital before returning home.

He enrolled at SLU, where he eventually met his wife, Beth (Hittler) O’Leary (Doisy ’01).

“I came to Saint Louis University as a local kid who’d never left home and I graduated four years later a changed man,” he said. “There is something about Ignatian education and reflecting on who you are and what truly matters in life. So I came out not fully baked but the foundation was formed.”

After college, he started a real estate development business while Beth worked as an occupational therapist.

O’Leary didn’t talk much about the accident that changed his life. His parents started the conversation for him when, in 2005, they published a book, Overwhelming Odds, about that fateful day in 1987 and the journey for their family that followed.

“It was an unauthorized biography of my life,” O’Leary told Universitas in 2016. “It changed my life.”

His parents’ telling of it helped him realize that the fire and its aftermath were catalysts, bringing out the very best in himself, his family, and those around them. Three months after his parents’ book was published, O’Leary was asked to give a speech about his experiences. He’s been talking ever since.

In 2016 his first book, On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life, was published by Simon & Schuster.

From St. Louis to the Screen 

Filming for the movie took place at several campus locations in November and early December 2023. 

Production crews spent seven days filming on campus using outdoor locations near the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business and Lipic Clock Tower Plaza, as well as indoors at Chaifetz Arena, the former YWCA building on the West Pine Mall and Salus Center.

O’Leary said production was originally planned for Vancouver. McNamara came to St. Louis to meet with the O’Leary family and to get a feel for the place that shaped John O’Leary. 

“I wanted to show him my college. So we parked the car and we walked past Griesedieck and he starts looking around and he says, 'what is this place?’” O’Leary said. “I walked him to College Church, David-Shaughnessy and all these places that I had walked by for four years and taken for granted. He was blown away by how incredible Saint Louis University is, how incredible St. Louis is, and so it was actually Sean who said the film needs be shot here. That this University is a central part of what we have to tell the world about. So it was SLU who sold us on the power of Saint Louis University.”

The film stars Joel Courtney as O’Leary; Masey McLain as his wife, Beth; John Corbett as his father, Denny (Law ’68); Stephanie Szostak as his mother, Susan; and James McCracken as young John O’Leary.

“My wife, we met here on campus, we became friends here on campus and eventually fell in love here on campus,” he said. “It’s cool to have all those the places that we used to haunt, whether it’s Humphrey’s or the quad, or College Church featured in the film.”

Filming "Soul on Fire" at SLU

Corbett said he was pitched the project by McNamara, as a “baseball movie in St. Louis and William H. Macy is in it.” When he received the script he realized it wasn't just a baseball film, but he was so honored to be asked to portray and to meet Denny O'Leary, that he jumped at the opportunity. 

While the director recruited Corbett, O’Leary himself reached out to actress Stephanie Szostak to ask if she would portray his mother.

Szostak was introduced to O’Leary’s story about 15 years ago, when her husband heard him speak at a corporate event. After he came home and shared the story, she began to follow O’Leary, reading his book and listening to his podcast. Seven years ago, she appeared on the podcast and he extended the offer to her to play his mother if a film of his life was ever made.

“He said he would call me and I was like, yeah right you will,” she said. “Everybody says stuff like that but sure enough, three years later he texted me and asked if I knew a cute French brunette who would want to play his mom. Obviously it was a big yes and a big honor to play his mother.”

“Soul on Fire” is ultimately the story of the people who shape us, O’Leary and Courtney said. 

“If there is anything about this film to take away it’s that there are heroes in your life, in everyone’s life, that have surrounded you and impacted you and have come alongside you and helped make you the man or woman that you are today," Courtney said. 

“So often at universities we’re taught about excellence and we’re taught about performance and we’re taught about success,” O’Leary said. “Saint Louis University also teaches about faithfulness. So much of this film is a celebration of ordinary heroes and I hope that comes through."

Read more about "Soul on Fire" from Universitas

About SLU

Founded in 1818, Saint Louis University is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious Catholic research institutions. Rooted in Jesuit values and its pioneering history as the first university west of the Mississippi River, SLU offers more than 13,300 students a rigorous, transformative education that challenges and prepares them to make the world a better place. As a nationally recognized leader in research and innovation, SLU is an R1 research university, advancing groundbreaking, life-changing discoveries that promote the greater good.