# 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:** 4
**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 19, 2018, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/61 "2018-02-19T19:22:53Z")
> [@Jim\_s\_Son](#): > > 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. Interesting. Jack Lord was a guest star in one of the earliest episodes of the show. He was a good guy, and it was heavily implied he’d make a great addition to the team. Don’t remember if Fred MacMurray or Van Johnson were ever in an episode, but David “Larry Tate” White and Elizabeth “Samantha Stephens” Montgomery did one together. It was weird watching them as lovers. I kept waiting for Darrin to storm in at any moment and demand an explanation. :eek: (I think Elizabeth was nominated for, or maybe even got, an Emmy for her performance in that one.) ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/62 "2018-02-19T20:52:14Z")
> [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](#): > > I was skeptical of the Ellen thing, since her own show started a season before Friends, but I see several references to this online. Then again, I also see a lot of poorly written clickbait sites that confuse Friends with These Friends of Mine (the original title of Ellen), which makes even less sense. > [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > That seems unlikely – the Phoebe character existed (under the name of Ursula) in a different show, _Mad About You_, some time before Friends. > > It may be that one of the six characters was originally intended to be something different before the writers decided to incorporate Kudrow’s character into the show, and Ellen DeGeneres was considered for that different character. But I can’t see how she would have been considered for the Phoebe character. Yeah, I was skeptical too, which is why I qualified the statement. But as for Ursula, Kudrow’s recurring character in _Mad About You_, I don’t think that originally had anything to do with the creation of the Phoebe character. From what I understand, the writers came up with the idea to make Ursula and Phoebe twin sisters only after _Friends_ was already in production. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/63 "2018-02-19T21:05:13Z")
Jean Claude van Damme had test footage shot of him playing the Predator before the film makers hired Kevin Peter Hall to take over the role. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/64 "2018-02-19T21:10:42Z")
Actors that were considered for the role of John Rambo in _First Blood_: Lee Marvin, Burt Lancaster, Clint Eastwood, Robert Deniro, Steve McQueen, Al Pacino, John Travolta, Powers Boothe, Nick Nolte, and Michael Douglas ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/65 "2018-02-19T21:13:49Z")
Speaking of Stallone films, United Artists wanted Robert Redford, Ryan O’Neal, Burt Reynolds, or James Caan to play Rocky Balboa, but Sylvester Stallone insisted on playing the role himself. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/66 "2018-02-19T21:17:21Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > Jean Claude van Damme had test footage shot of him playing the Predator before the film makers hired Kevin Peter Hall to take over the role. You can see some of that here. > **[Watch Jean-Claude Van Damme play a terrible version of Predator](https://www.theverge.com/2014/4/10/5600446/predator-original-alien-costume-jean-claude-van-damme)** > > When ALF met Spiderman ---
**Author:** ![Southpaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@Southpaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southpaw)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/67 "2018-02-19T22:01:38Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > When Marilyn Monroe died, filming had already begun on _ **Something’s Got to Give** _ starring her and Dean Martin. IIRC, she had just been fired and was to be replaced with Lee Remick, but Martin refused to do the picture with anyone other than Monroe. Marilyn’s death rendered the point moot, and the movie was eventually made under the title _ **Move Over, Darling** _ with Doris Day and Rock Hudson. Nitpick - Move Over, Darling co-starred James Garner not Rock Hudson. ---
**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 19, 2018, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/68 "2018-02-19T22:03:49Z")
> [@Southpaw](#): > > Nitpick - Move Over, Darling co-starred James Garner not Rock Hudson. Quite right, my mistake. Lat time I saw it must have been 1965 or '66. ☹ ---
**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 19, 2018, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/69 "2018-02-19T22:52:45Z")
Non-fiction: William Shatner was the first and only choice to host “Family Feud”. Until Richard Dawson’s agent threatened Goodson-Todman to have Dawson no longer say anything and just hold up cards on “Match Game”. ---
**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:** [February 19, 2018, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/70 "2018-02-19T22:55:23Z")
Lisa Kudrow was originally cast as Roz in _Frasier_, but was replaced because she didn’t come off as the tough professional that Roz was supposed to be. Frances Fisher (Rose’s mother in _Titanic_) was set to play Jill Taylor on _Home Improvement_, but was replaced because of “lack of chemistry.” Specifically,she seemed intimidated by the Tim Taylor character, while Patricia Richardson had no problem calling him out. Supposedly the producers of \*Modern Family \*had narrowed the choice of Jay’s character to either Ed O’Neill or Craig T. Nelson before finally going with O’Neill. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2018, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/71 "2018-02-19T23:14:35Z")
Ray Liotta turned down the role of Tony Soprano , did not want to do a TV series at the time. Around 20 other actors from Goodfellas ended up in the Sopranos. Lorraine Bracco turned down the role of Mrs. Soprano for the role of Dr. Melfi. ---
**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, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/72 "2018-02-19T23:42:26Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Interesting. Jack Lord was a guest star in one of the earliest episodes of the show. He was a good guy, and it was heavily implied he’d make a great addition to the team. > > Don’t remember if Fred MacMurray or Van Johnson were ever in an episode, but David “Larry Tate” White and Elizabeth “Samantha Stephens” Montgomery did one together. It was weird watching them as lovers. I kept waiting for Darrin to storm in at any moment and demand an explanation. :eek: > > (I think Elizabeth was nominated for, or maybe even got, an Emmy for her performance in that one.) Nominated for “The Rusty Heller Story” as a scheming, charming, deadly Southern prostitute trying to become a power in the post-Capone Chicago underworld. Norman Fell was also in the episode and years later “Three’s Company” went through 3 different pilots until Aaron Spelling saw a test of Suzanne Somers, remembered her from the “Tonight show” and realized there were two great reasons to cast her as Chrissy. He producers thought John Ritter was playing playing Jack Tripper as too clumsy and making him look too effeminate and thought of replacing him with Barry van Dyke or Michael Lembeck. ---
**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 20, 2018, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/73 "2018-02-20T01:51:32Z")
> [@Jim\_s\_Son](#): > > “Three’s Company” went through 3 different pilots until Aaron Spelling saw a test of Suzanne Somers, remembered her from the “Tonight show” and realized there were two great reasons to cast her as Chrissy. I remembered her as the T-bird blonde in _ **American Graffiti** _. ---
**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 20, 2018, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/74 "2018-02-20T13:01:55Z")
The pilot for “The Man From U.N.C.L.E” was originally filmed with the head of the agency being Mr Allison, played by Will Kulava. NBC executives told the producers to get rid of the actor with the K in his name. So they replaced Kuluva and hired Leo G Carroll to play a similar character named Mr Waverly and re shot the scenes with him in it. It turned out NBC wanted to get rid of the character Illya Kuryakin played by David McCallum but by then contracts were signed. As it turned out Kuryakin was very popular with McCallum getting the most fan mail. ---
**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 26, 2018, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/75 "2018-02-26T20:18:21Z")
Among the possible pairings, of which there were several, for Ray & Annie Kinsella in _Field of Dreams_ was Bruce Willis & Demi Moore. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2018, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/76 "2018-02-26T23:14:53Z")
[Patrick Swayze, Emilio Estevez, Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, Matthew Broderick, Sean Penn, Michael J. Fox, Scott Baio and Tom Hanks all turned down the role of Maverick.](https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0092099/trivia) And cue Tom Cruise’s career. ---
**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 27, 2018, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/77 "2018-02-27T14:13:00Z")
Mark Hamill played the eldest son David in the pilot for Eight is Enough. He turned down the series to film a movie about some people in space. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/78 "2018-02-27T14:26:41Z")
As I understand it, in between NORTH BY NORTHWEST and CHARADE, Cary Grant in fact got offered the role of James Bond — and in fact _accepted_ that offer, on the condition that he was only signing for one movie and not for sequels. Which is, apparently, why the role went to a former bodybuilder from Scotland. ---
**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 27, 2018, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/79 "2018-02-27T16:11:18Z")
1935’s “Captain Blood” was first offered to Robert Donat, fresh off the success of “Count of Monte Cristo”. Donat turned down the role, fearing his asthma wouldn’t let him do the action scenes. A series of film tests led to the casting of a virtually unknown Australian actor, Errol Flynn. Jean Muir was originally supposed to play the female lead but after Donat turned down the movie, they got Olivia de Havilland, who had done three movies before. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2018, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949/80 "2018-02-27T16:34:26Z")
> [@Jim\_s\_Son](#): > > > [@terentii](#): > > > > Interesting. Jack Lord was a guest star in one of the earliest episodes of the show. He was a good guy, and it was heavily implied he’d make a great addition to the team. > > > > Don’t remember if Fred MacMurray or Van Johnson were ever in an episode, but David “Larry Tate” White and Elizabeth “Samantha Stephens” Montgomery did one together. It was weird watching them as lovers. I kept waiting for Darrin to storm in at any moment and demand an explanation. :eek: > > > > (I think Elizabeth was nominated for, or maybe even got, an Emmy for her performance in that one.) > > Nominated for “The Rusty Heller Story” as a scheming, charming, deadly Southern prostitute trying to become a power in the post-Capone Chicago underworld. Norman Fell was also in the episode and years later “Three’s Company” went through 3 different pilots until Aaron Spelling saw a test of Suzanne Somers, remembered her from the “Tonight show” and realized there were two great reasons to cast her as Chrissy. He producers thought John Ritter was playing playing Jack Tripper as too clumsy and making him look too effeminate and thought of replacing him with Barry van Dyke or Michael Lembeck. I glanced at the quote box before reading your post and I thought for a second you were saying that Jack Lord had been cast as a prostitute. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iconic-roles-that-almost-went-to-other-actors/808949.md?page=5)