# Famous people who were fired early in their career **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 9, 2015, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-who-were-fired-early-in-their-career/719655 "2015-05-09T21:46:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2015, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-who-were-fired-early-in-their-career/719655/1 "2015-05-09T21:46:24Z")
Howard Stern - fired from one of his first radio gigs Bill Watterson - fired from his first job his first newspaper job - and went on to create _Calvin and Hobbes_ Ozzy Osourne - fired from Black Sabbath Steve Jobs - I guess this might be stretching the definition of early, but one of the most famous (or infamous) firings I can think of. Didn’t slow them down one bit it seems. Any others you can think of? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Angry\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b38774/32.png) [@The\_Angry\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Angry_Badger)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2015, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-who-were-fired-early-in-their-career/719655/2 "2015-05-09T21:50:56Z")
Lemmy? Fired from Hawkwind after a drugs arrest, immediately went on to found Motörhead. (Fun fact: Motörhead was originally named ‘Bastard’ 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2015, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-who-were-fired-early-in-their-career/719655/3 "2015-05-09T21:54:54Z")
Dave Mustaine was fired from Metallica early on, and went on to found Megadeth. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2015, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-who-were-fired-early-in-their-career/719655/4 "2015-05-09T22:04:19Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Dave Mustaine was fired from Metallica early on, and went on to found Megadeth. I totally forgot about Dave Mustane; and I saw \*The End of Western Civilization \*twice:smack: ---
**Author:** ![JacobSwan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@JacobSwan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JacobSwan)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-who-were-fired-early-in-their-career/719655/5 "2015-05-10T00:01:17Z")
Colonel Sanders seems to have been fired repeatedly in his early career. Mainly for brawling. He gave up law after beating up his own client in the middle of the court room! Maybe one of the secret spices is derived from the blood of his enemies. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_Hey\_Paula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hey\_Hey\_Paula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_Hey_Paula)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-who-were-fired-early-in-their-career/719655/6 "2015-05-10T00:42:38Z")
Brad Pitt was supposedly fired from a job as a movie extra, early in his career. No cite, sorry, it may just be an urban legend among disgruntled extras. ---
**Author:** ![Sarabellum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarabellum/32/3492_2.png) [@Sarabellum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarabellum)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-who-were-fired-early-in-their-career/719655/7 "2015-05-10T01:36:38Z")
> [@Hey\_Hey\_Paula](#): > > Brad Pitt was supposedly fired from a job as a movie extra, early in his career. No cite, sorry, it may just be an urban legend among disgruntled extras. I thought he was supposedly fired from his job wearing a chicken suit for El Pollo Loco? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-who-were-fired-early-in-their-career/719655/8 "2015-05-10T02:46:39Z")
Lisa Kudrow was originally cast as Roz Doyle on _Frasier_, but was fired while the first episode was being filmed. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-who-were-fired-early-in-their-career/719655/9 "2015-05-10T03:12:59Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Lisa Kudrow was originally cast as Roz Doyle on _Frasier_, but was fired while the first episode was being filmed. Because she couldn’t project Roz’s shameless sexuality. Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds were fired by their studio in the same meeting. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-who-were-fired-early-in-their-career/719655/10 "2015-05-10T20:11:57Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Lisa Kudrow was originally cast as Roz Doyle on _Frasier_, but was fired while the first episode was being filmed. Ray Romano was cast as the station technician on NewsRadio - the role that eventually went to Joe Rogan - and was fired just days before they shot the pilot. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-who-were-fired-early-in-their-career/719655/11 "2015-05-10T20:36:08Z")
Glenn Ford was originally cast as Clay Morrow in _Sons of Anarchy_, and a substantial part of the pilot shot before he was replaced by Hellboy. I’ve never heard a good reason except that Perlman was the first choice and became available. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-who-were-fired-early-in-their-career/719655/12 "2015-05-10T20:42:07Z")
I heard that Hitler fellow bombed out of art school. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-who-were-fired-early-in-their-career/719655/13 "2015-05-10T21:05:21Z")
> [@grude](#): > > I heard that Hitler fellow bombed out of art school. Hey man, pay attention, this thread is about people who were _fired_🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-who-were-fired-early-in-their-career/719655/14 "2015-05-10T21:16:50Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > [del]Glenn Ford[/del] Scott Glenn. That is all. ---
**Author:** ![journeyman\_southpaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5e9695/32.png) [@journeyman\_southpaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/journeyman_southpaw)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-who-were-fired-early-in-their-career/719655/15 "2015-05-10T21:52:23Z")
Madonna said she was [fired from Dunkin’ Donuts](http://xfinity.comcast.net/slideshow/entertainment-celebritiesfastfoodprofessions/2/), although the reason she gave for being canned - squirting jelly on the customers - sounds kind of dubious to me. Jerry Seinfeld was [fired from the sitcom _Benson_](https://books.google.ca/books?id=UQlKvbbV3RgC&pg=PA22&lpg=PA22&dq=jerry+seinfeld+benson+script&source=bl&ots=4AwhwKtaGA&sig=y5Llp-9NDIBp7mUbQljvkDWQRlc&hl=en&sa=X&ei=hNFPVci_DIX5yQS_74DoAQ&ved=0CFgQ6AEwDA#v=onepage&q=jerry%20seinfeld%20benson%20script&f=false) after three episodes. Gilbert Gottfried was one of a number of cast members [fired from _Saturday Night Live_](http://splitsider.com/2012/10/saturday-nights-children-gilbert-gottfried-1980-1981/) during the 1980-81 season. Robert Redford was fired after [being found sleeping in an oil tank instead of cleaning it and then fooling around on a forklift.](https://books.google.ca/books?id=Mn68ek-3uOsC&pg=PA313&lpg=PA313&dq=robert+redford+sleeping+in+an+oil+tank&source=bl&ots=aQSSFTX9z7&sig=r3qHbEjJH-uZSY4AbBg_NK4o8o4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=JtJPVajfOYieyQSvzoHICA&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=robert%20redford%20sleeping%20in%20an%20oil%20tank&f=false) ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-who-were-fired-early-in-their-career/719655/16 "2015-05-10T22:07:57Z")
Rush Limbaugh was fired from his first radio job in the 70’s and told he’d never make it as on air talent. ---
**Author:** ![bubba001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f17d59/32.png) [@bubba001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bubba001)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-who-were-fired-early-in-their-career/719655/17 "2015-05-11T01:31:52Z")
> [@journeyman\_southpaw](#): > > Madonna said she was [fired from Dunkin’ Donuts](http://xfinity.comcast.net/slideshow/entertainment-celebritiesfastfoodprofessions/2/), although the reason she gave for being canned - squirting jelly on the customers - sounds kind of dubious to me. > > Jerry Seinfeld was [fired from the sitcom _Benson_](https://books.google.ca/books?id=UQlKvbbV3RgC&pg=PA22&lpg=PA22&dq=jerry+seinfeld+benson+script&source=bl&ots=4AwhwKtaGA&sig=y5Llp-9NDIBp7mUbQljvkDWQRlc&hl=en&sa=X&ei=hNFPVci_DIX5yQS_74DoAQ&ved=0CFgQ6AEwDA#v=onepage&q=jerry%20seinfeld%20benson%20script&f=false) after three episodes. > > Gilbert Gottfried was one of a number of cast members [fired from _Saturday Night Live_](http://splitsider.com/2012/10/saturday-nights-children-gilbert-gottfried-1980-1981/) during the 1980-81 season. > > Robert Redford was fired after [being found sleeping in an oil tank instead of cleaning it and then fooling around on a forklift.](https://books.google.ca/books?id=Mn68ek-3uOsC&pg=PA313&lpg=PA313&dq=robert+redford+sleeping+in+an+oil+tank&source=bl&ots=aQSSFTX9z7&sig=r3qHbEjJH-uZSY4AbBg_NK4o8o4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=JtJPVajfOYieyQSvzoHICA&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=robert%20redford%20sleeping%20in%20an%20oil%20tank&f=false) Never got Gilbert Gotttfried’s humor. Annoying as hell, but not funny, at least to me. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-who-were-fired-early-in-their-career/719655/18 "2015-05-11T01:39:30Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > Rush Limbaugh was fired from his first radio job in the 70’s and told he’d never make it as on air talent. They specified _talent_. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-who-were-fired-early-in-their-career/719655/19 "2015-05-11T13:34:13Z")
> [@JacobSwan](#): > > Colonel Sanders seems to have been fired repeatedly in his early career. Mainly for brawling. He gave up law after beating up his own client in the middle of the court room! Maybe one of the secret spices is derived from the blood of his enemies. Which explains the slow decline of the chain. He’s dead and very very few of his enemies remain. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-who-were-fired-early-in-their-career/719655/20 "2015-05-11T17:04:11Z")
This year’s Super Bowl featured two coaches who’d been fired from previous NFL jobs. The Jets and the Patriots had both fired Pete Carroll. The Cleveland Browns had fired Bill Belichick. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/famous-people-who-were-fired-early-in-their-career/719655.md?page=2)