When John Penick spent a day filming a scene in his first film, "Spider-Man: Homecoming," he implored director Jon Watts not to leave him on the cutting-room floor.

"I said, 'You can't make a movie in the South with at least one Auburn guy in it!'" Penick joked.

When the summer blockbuster debuted on July 7, Penick's five grandchildren were thrilled to see that he was definitely in the movie. Penick, 76, plays Mr. Hapgood, Peter Parker's high school teacher.

"You can't miss me," he said.

John Penick plays Peter Parker's high school teacher in "Spider-Man: Homecoming." (Courtesy John Penick)

Penick and his wife, "Miss Frieda," who will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in November, visited his native Mobile last week. They live in Kennesaw, a suburb of Atlanta, but Penick grew up in Mobile, where he attended UMS and then McGill-Toolen Catholic High School.

While in Mobile, the Penicks socialized with some of his McGill buddies. "We go on the Causeway and eat some shrimp and tell some tales," he said.

He surely told the tale of how he landed a role in one of this summer's biggest hits. "Spider-Man: Homecoming" has grossed more than $700 million worldwide. It stars newcomer Tom Holland as a young Spider-Man, along with Michael Keaton, Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr.

Penick discovered his love of acting late in life. After graduating from Auburn University, Penick landed a job with Crawford and Co. Over the years, his corporate career took him to Chicago, where he met his wife; then to Canada for 10 years; and eventually to Atlanta, where he retired as a vice president with the company.

"It's a Disney World story, and all because of this ring I wear on my hand," he said, referring to his Auburn class ring.

After retiring, the Penicks moved to Auburn, where they lived on Lake Martin and he taught an elective course for incoming freshmen called "The Auburn Experience." He regaled the students about the history, culture and tradition of the university.

He told them stories about Auburn in the 1960s: how neither his 1955 Chevy nor his college classrooms had air-conditioning, and how much he enjoyed his college experience there. He even shared the story about the night he spent in the Auburn city jail when a frat party was raided.

"The kids loved it," he said. "They kept telling me I should be onstage or in a movie. I said it was on my bucket list."

Eight years later, they moved back to Atlanta to be closer to their grandchildren. With that bucket list in mind, Penick auditioned for "Arsenic and Old Lace" at Legion Theater in Cartersville, Ga. The play's director advised him to have a head shot made and get an agent.

Thanks to his agent, Penick auditioned for "Spider-Man" last June and waited for six weeks, during which he was "wigging out" because he really wanted the part.

His scene was filmed last July at Grady High School in Atlanta. He speaks highly of Tom Holland, the British actor who plays Spider-Man. "He's such a nice kid," he said. "He kept saying 'yes sir' and 'no sir.'"

He has already filmed another movie, "St. Agatha," which is described as a "female-driven psychological horror film" directed by Darren Lynn Bousman of "Saw" fame.

He spent five days filming in Madison, Ga., and he's in five scenes in the movie. "I play a wealthy donor to a Catholic convent," he said. The movie is now in post-production.

Penick was well compensated for a day's work in "Spider-Man," and he'll receive residuals for the rest of his life. But "I would have done it for nothing," he said. "The movie has taken off like gangbusters."

Atlanta is fast becoming a mecca for filmmakers. Before his visit to Mobile, Penick went to seven auditions in one week. "Atlanta is going nuts," he said. "People are coming from L.A. in droves."

His grandchildren, who range in age from 4 to 14, have also caught the acting bug. One of them recently auditioned for a local production of "The Wizard of Oz."

And Penick couldn't be more excited about his new acting hobby. "I'm still playing golf, full of you-know-what and I've got all my hair,"