# Iconic roles that almost went to other actors **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 16, 2018, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949 "2018-02-16T20:03:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2018, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/41 "2018-02-17T03:48:33Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > **Nitpick:** Newkirk was a corporal in the RAF. > > **Fun Fact:** Newkirk eventually became one of the POWs’ tailors (LeBeau was the other one). The group’s first tailor was Vladimir Minsk, played in the pilot by Leonid Kinskey (“Sasha” in _ **Casablanca** _), who decided against doing the series because he found the concept offensive: “Nazis were seldom dumb and never funny.” You’re right. Corporal. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2018, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/42 "2018-02-17T03:56:26Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Matthew Broderick was first choice to play Walter White in _Breaking Bad._ I’m pretty sure that would have been over in one season. Good lord, that would have been a catastrophe. Whoever caused them to cast Cranston instead is like the TV production equivalent of that Soviet military officer who averted a nuclear war. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2018, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/43 "2018-02-17T03:57:22Z")
The theme song to _Hogan’s Heroes_ has lyrics. They are very bad. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2018, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/44 "2018-02-17T04:15:40Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > The theme song to _Hogan’s Heroes_ has lyrics. They are very bad. I quite like them, especially the part that goes _Never flinch, boys, never be afraid. Heroes are not born, boys, heroes all are made. Ask not why, boys, never say die, boys. Answer the call, remember we’ll all be heroes forevermore._ ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2018, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/45 "2018-02-17T05:12:14Z")
> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > Did you mean Hopkins, or is there more trivia I’m missing out on? Oh, right: Hopkins. Got my -ins mixed up. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2018, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/46 "2018-02-17T10:09:00Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Tom Selleck was the first choice for Indiana Jones. And would it have made any difference to the film if they’d selected him? I can well imagine Selleck playing Jones almost exactly the same way that Ford did. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2018, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/47 "2018-02-17T10:58:51Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Eric Stoltz for _Back to the Future_. They even shot a few scenes with him, which were scrapped when Michael J. Fox was available. Eric Stoltz is however still in the movie: [Eric Stoltz is Actually Still In Back To The Future!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JGNkfdFy-8) ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2018, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/48 "2018-02-17T13:40:28Z")
> [@Jacquernagy](#): > > Good lord, that would have been a catastrophe. Whoever caused them to cast Cranston instead is like the TV production equivalent of that Soviet military officer who averted a nuclear war. I wish that had happened in an alternate universe, just so I could satisfy my morbid curiosity. Ironically, I came to _Breaking Bad_ years late because I thought the premise of the show and the casting of the _Malcolm in the Middle_ dad sounded dumb as hell. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Sean Connery was offered the role of Morpheus and turned it down because he didn’t think the movie would be a success… Maybe that wasn’t such a bad move. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2018, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/49 "2018-02-17T13:57:13Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Matthew Broderick was first choice to play Walter White in _Breaking Bad._ I’m pretty sure that would have been over in one season. That’s not how Vince Gilligan tells it. He had worked with Bryan Cranston on an episode of _The X-Files_ that he wrote > [@](#): > > “There was only one actor, as far as I was concerned,” recalled Gilligan. “The folks from AMC … all they knew him from was ‘Malcolm in the Middle.’ And they said, ‘Seriously?’ And to their credit, once I showed them this ‘X-Files’ episode they had the opposite take on him than I had. They said, ‘Wait … this guy can be serious? He can be dramatic? I thought he could be funny.'” [A guest role on ‘The X-Files’ helped Bryan Cranston get his Emmy-winning role on ‘Breaking Bad’](https://www.businessinsider.com.au/x-files-role-helped-bryan-cranston-land-breaking-bad-role-2015-7?r=US&IR=T) ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2018, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/50 "2018-02-17T14:40:54Z")
Robert Redford was the first choice to play Benjamin Braddox in the Graduate. He truned it fown, and Dustin Hoffman got his breakout role. After being cast as Garp, Robin Williams suggested his good friend Christopher Reeve for the role of transsexual Roberta Muldoon. He turned it down, and John Lithgow got his breakout role. Rue McClanahan, who had played the airhead Vivian on Maude, was asked to audition for the airhead Rose on The Golden Girls. While waiting, she read the script and thought “I’d be perfect for Blanche.” In the meantime, Betty White, who had played the man hungry Sue Ann on Mary Tyler Moore, was supposedly auditioning for the role of man hungry Blanche. The producer came out and said"I’m sorry, but Betty White auditioned for and has been cast as Rose." So Rue asked to audition for Blanche. The producer told her she was perfect, but Bea Arthur had turned down the role of Dorothy. Rue called Bea and asked why.“Because I don’t want to do Maude meets Sue Ann and Vivian” was her response. When Rue explained the changed roles, there was a long pause, and Bea said “That would be interesting.” And the rest is TV history. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2018, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/51 "2018-02-17T14:43:05Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > Nitpicking the OP, part 2: Ray Bolger played the scarecrow. Jack Haley is the one who took over the role of tin man from Buddy Ebsen. Further nitpicking, Bolger was hired to play the tin man. Since seeing someone play the scarecrow on stage inspired him to become a performer, he begged Ebsen, who had been cast as the scarecrow, to switch roles. Of the main characters in the movie, only Bert Lahr and Billie Burke were played by the character originally considered for the role: Dorothy: Shirley Temple –\> Judy Garland Scarecrow: Buddy Ebsen –\> Ray Bolger Tin Man: Ray Bolger –\> Buddy Ebsen –\> Jack Haley Lion: Bert Lahr Wizard: W. C. Fields –\> Frank Morgan Wicked Witch: Gale Sondergaard –\> Margaret Hamilton Glinda: Billie Burke ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2018, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/52 "2018-02-17T15:04:33Z")
Mark Lindsay was cast as John Lennon in the TV movie John Y Yoko A Love Story. When it was found out that his full name was Mark Lindsey Chapman, the role was recast with Mark McGann. In case you don’t know it, Lennon’s killer was Mark David Chapman. As Yoko supposed put it: Would you want Lee Lindsey (Oswald) to portray John F. Kennedy. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2018, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/53 "2018-02-17T15:52:03Z")
I have seen a couple slightly different versions from Carl Reiner on casting for Laura Petrie on “Dick van Dyke”. On you tube he tells some talk show host that producer Sheldon Leonard told him he would know it when he found her. After about 25 interviews, Mary Tyler Moore came in, did some well that Reiner put his hand on top of her head like she was a prize in a vending machine and took her to Leonard saying “I found her!” In another on the bluray for the show, Reiner talks about interviewing a number and flying from New York to California a somewhat well known actress (Eileen Brennan, I think) who read well but just didn’t have the chemistry with DvD he wanted. Although he cost for the plane was $500, it was a fairly expensive item when they were budgeted for $40,000. So Leonard reported that to Danny Thomas (whose company produced it). Thomas took it well and remarked a couple years earlier when Sherry Jackson left “Make Room for Daddy”, he tested one woman who did well but Thomas rejected because her nose was a lot different from his. He couldn’t remember who, just that she used three names. Sheldon Leonard was there and said “I know who you mean. The secretary from Richard Diamond with the great gams: Mary Tyler Moore” ``` “Get Smart” was made as a vehicle fotr ABC starring Tom Poston. They turned it down and NBC picked it up. Since they already had Don Adams under contract from the “Bill Dana Show”, they made him the lead. ``` ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2018, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/54 "2018-02-17T16:07:56Z")
Don’t know if anyone else ranked high but when Loretta Lynn had a movie made out of her autobiography “Coal Miner’s Daughter” she chosed Sissy Spacek by looking at photos. Spacek was unsure, she had an offer for a Nicholas Roeg project so she demanded she be allowed to do her own singing. Lynn agreed so still torn Spacek’s mother-in-law suggested she pray for a sign. In a car listening to a station that switch from classical to country at night, she heard “Coal Miner’s Daughter”. Lynn said in a Merv Griffin interview in 1978 that Harrison Ford would be in the movie. I assume it was for the Tommy Lee Jones got as Mooney: Lynn’s drinking, philandering, occasional wife beating husband who did buy her a guitar and push her into performing music live and schooming with disc jockeys to play her record and find out what horny really means. ``` Drag racer Shirley Muldowney wanted Jamie Lee Curtis to play her in “Heart Like a Wheel” but Bonnie Bedelia got the role. Susan Lucci also tested. ``` ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2018, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/55 "2018-02-17T16:45:19Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > That’s not how Vince Gilligan tells it. He had worked with Bryan Cranston on an episode of _The X-Files_ that he wrote > > [A guest role on ‘The X-Files’ helped Bryan Cranston get his Emmy-winning role on ‘Breaking Bad’](https://www.businessinsider.com.au/x-files-role-helped-bryan-cranston-land-breaking-bad-role-2015-7?r=US&IR=T) Yeah, I didn’t just make it up. > **[AMC Wanted John Cusack or Matthew Broderick to Play Walter White on Breaking Bad](https://www.vulture.com/2012/07/john-cusack-matthew-broderick-breaking-bad.html)** > > Sliding doors, etc. Gilligan didn’t have as much clout back then. If AMC had wanted Cusack or Broderick and they had accepted, that’s the way it would have gone. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2018, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/56 "2018-02-17T18:54:31Z")
> [@Jim\_s\_Son](#): > > Although he cost for the plane was $500, it was a fairly expensive item when they were budgeted for $40,000. That $500 would be around $4000 today. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/57 "2018-02-19T04:14:29Z")
In 1962 writer William Link wrote a script called “Enough Rope” about a police detective named Lt Columbo that got on the “Chevy Mystery Theater with character Bert Freed. Two years later it was a play with Thomas Mitchell, winner of the Oscar for supporting actor as the drunken doctor in “Stagecoach”. In 1968 Link and co writer Richard Levinson turned it into television movie called “Prescription Murder”. They wanted Lee J Cobb but he was busy on “Coogan’s Bluff”. So who did they turn to to play the sloppy, annoying cigar smoking detective? Bing Crosby. Who turned them down because he loved playing golf. So Peter Falk got the job because he reminded everyone of Der Bingle (kidding). > **[Bing Crosby passed on playing Columbo because he'd rather golf](https://www.metv.com/stories/bing-crosbys-love-of-golf-kept-him-from-playing-columbo)** > > Columbo creators begged, "Just one more, Bing." Not the first break Peter Falk got. In 1960 Robert Evans was asked to play gangster Abe “Kid Twist” Reles in the film “Murder Inc”. But since it wasn’t the lead role (basically Stuart Whitman and Mai Britt were) Evans turned them down. So they hire an obscure off broadway actor, Peter Falk, and his Oscar nomination set him on the road to fame. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/58 "2018-02-19T04:19:39Z")
Sarah Michelle Gellar originally auditioned for the role of Cordelia. ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/59 "2018-02-19T05:24:06Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > And would it have made any difference to the film if they’d selected him? I can well imagine Selleck playing Jones almost exactly the same way that Ford did. I think Selleck would have better in some ways. Ford did a great job, but his sourpuss demeanor somehow finds its way into every role he plays. Selleck, I think, would have made Indiana Jones more upbeat and enthusiastic. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/60 "2018-02-19T15:00:44Z")
Desi Arnaz originally wanted Van Johnson to play Eliot Ness in “The Untouchables”. Johnson wanted twice what Arnaz would pay. After that Fred MacMurray and Jack Lord were approached before they got Robert Stack. They found him at a Hollywood eatery at 2AM on a Sunday, fitted him for clothes that afternoon and Monday filming started. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949.md?page=4)