In 1994 the romantic comedy It Could Happen to You (starring Nicolas Cage) won the hearts of many film fans. In the story, a New York cop wins the lottery and shares the prize with a waitress (played by Bridget Fonda). Did you know that this plot is based on a true story?  It is about Robert Cunningham and Phyllis Penzo whose life story is based on this film.

In 1984, New York City police detective Robert Cunningham was dining at South Pizzeria in Yonkers and after the meal he offered the waitress to split a lottery ticket for two instead of a tip. That is, if he won, Cunningham promised to give her half the prize. Cunningham and Penzo had been friends for 15 years at that point, so some friendly ribbing wasn’t unusual. Penzo agreed and even helped the cop pick the numbers on the lottery ticket.

On April 1 Penzo received the call which changed the rest of her life – the lottery ticket was the winning one! The two of them and Cunningham had won $6 million. The policeman kept his word and split the winnings with the waitress. In It Could Happen to You, strangers Charlie and Yvonne are both married to unbearable, self-centered people, and they find solace in each other amidst their turbulent personal lives.

Real life can sometimes be even cooler than a drama film – one seemingly random decision changes a lot of people’s lives forever!

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