Those Casting Rumours

[Carrie Fairchild]

Inspired by some of the comments in the People You Wanted on the Soaps thread but not wanting to derail that subject, I thought I’d post here about some of the rumoured castings or those who were reportedly nearly cast in roles over the years. I think we all know about George Peppard being the original Blake Carrington and all the actresses that turned down the role of Alexis before Joan came onboard, so here’s a few (possibly) more obscure ones to get the ball rolling.

Sue Lloyd in The Colbys: as some of us are immersed in Crossroads nostalgia at the moment, this tidbit is worth a mention. In an 80’s/90’s interview on one of the Sky channels that aired the US soaps (possibly Wire TV), Crossroads’ Barbara Hunter mentions that she was “up for” a part in The Colbys, presumably one of many British actresses that were looked at during that time.

Heather Locklear on Beverly Hills 90210: as Melrose was drawing to a close, I remember reading (on the US TV news page on Teletext) that Aaron Spelling wanted Heather to join the tenth season of 90210 as a new character (reportedly a college professor although I can’t recall if the college was a prominent location in that final season?). Whether there was any truth in it or not, Heather wisely opted to take a role in Spin City (a show that you never see repeated in Ireland and the UK these days but that’s for a different thread).

Central Park West: as mentioned in the other thread, Darren Star told Vanity Fair that he wanted Faye Dunaway or Angie Dickinson to play the Jackie O inspired matriarch on the show. Lauren Hutton of course ended up playing Linda. In addition to that, Kylie Minogue told GMTV that she’d been “terribly tempted” to join the show after reading for Star in New York. She ultimately declined because she said it would take up 10 months of the year, which didn’t suit her music career.

Models Inc: Farrah Fawcett was reportedly the original choice to play Hillary, while Entertainment Weekly speculated lightheartedly that it could be anyone from Faye Dunaway to Zsa Zsa Gabor. However, Linda Evans and Raquel Welch were reportedly more seriously (as serious as tabloid reporting can be) as contenders for the role.

 

[Daniel Avery]

The only 'big' one that comes to mind at the moment is the oft-repeated story that Nicollette Sheridan was in the "final two" for the role of Grace Adler on Will and Grace, a role that obviously went to the other actress, Debra Messing.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

The rascals who "made" DYNASTY got into the habit of leaking to the press that they'd obtained the services of this or that famous actor, presumably to drum up publicity and additional interest in the show. Wishful thinking became press releases.

Eventually, Elizabeth Taylor had to put out a statement in 1984, when they were pursuing her to play Lady Ashley, that she was not doing DYNASTY "and I want the rumor stopped." The stories weren't coming from the tabloids, they were being leaked to the tabloids. (They also claimed they'd signed Angie).

Darn that Mike Pollock; she probably just blamed Sammy Jo.

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

The only 'big' one that comes to mind at the moment is the oft-repeated story that Nicollette Sheridan was in the "final two" for the role of Grace Adler on Will and Grace, a role that obviously went to the other actress, Debra Messing.

I’d forgotten about this one. If I remember correctly, she popped up in a guest role in the show’s later seasons. Another Nicollette adjacent rumour was that Pamela Anderson turned down the role of Susan in Desperate Housewives because she didn’t want to dye her trademark blonde hair. Marc Cherry subsequently came out and said that Pam’s claims were untrue, so who knows.

Eventually, Elizabeth Taylor had to put out a statement in 1984, when they were pursuing her to play Lady Ashley

I didn’t realise they wanted her for Lady Ashley. When I read that, I was thinking that was quite the jump in age compared to Ali MacGraw, but Elizabeth was actually only seven years older than her.

 

[Monzo]

Just the other day I read an interview where Penn Badgley claimed he was one of the last two actors to play Jesse on Breaking Bad, but the role went to Aaron Paul.

I'm always a bit skeptical about some actors' claims because Breaking Bad started in 2008 and Gossip Girl in 2007 so Penn Badgley would have been signed to Gossip Girl anyway, but maybe Penn Badgley didn't say it and a journalist just claims it for clicks.

 

[tommie]

Dana Delaney was first choice to play Bree on Desperate Housewives, but she turned them down due to playing a similar character on Pasadena.

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

I'm always a bit skeptical about some actors' claims because Breaking Bad started in 2008 and Gossip Girl in 2007 so Penn Badgley would have been signed to Gossip Girl anyway, but maybe Penn Badgley didn't say it and a journalist just claims it for clicks.

Breaking Bad was originally ordered for the 2007-08 season but was delayed by the writer’s strike, so it’s conceivable that he auditioned for it and Gossip Girl around the same time except GG made it to air first.

 

[tommie]

Stephen Fanning was cast as Billy Campbell on Melrose Place and even appeared in some of the early promo material they shot since they started promoting it even before they shot a pilot - yes, that was the height of the 90210-mania at the time. When they finally got to filming the pilot a few months later, Fanning had put on weight and was recast with major thespian Andrew Shue.

(On the far left)

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

Hugh Grant actually turned Russell T. Davies down for the role of the Doctor in Doctor Who in the 2005 series.

The part eventually went to Christopher Eccelston.

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

Stephen Fanning was cast as Billy Campbell on Melrose Place and even appeared in some of the early promo material they shot since they started promoting it even before they shot a pilot - yes, that was the height of the 90210-mania at the time. When they finally got to filming the pilot a few months later, Fanning had put on weight and was recast with major thespian Andrew Shue.

(On the far left)

Wow! I was aware of him but I’d never actually seen any promo material with him and the rest of the cast. On a similar note, Priscilla Garita of Sunset Beach fame played the role of Samantha in the pilot of Titans before the role was recast with Lourdes Benedicto. Garita was featured in an early cast shot that was released, before being photoshopped out of existence when original choice Benedicto became available to play the role.

 

[tommie]

Wow! I was aware of him but I’d never actually seen any promo material with him and the rest of the cast. On a similar note, Priscilla Garita of Sunset Beach fame played the role of Samantha in the pilot of Titans before the role was recast with Lourdes Benedicto. Garita was featured in an early cast shot that was released, before being photoshopped out of existence when original choice Benedicto became available to play the role.

The Melrose Place launch was a bit unusual for the day - Fox essentially gave a greenlight to the spin-off, did the casting and then started the promo right away without doing a pilot. I think Thomas Calabro even mentioned how they shut off the Melrose Avenue due to their promotional activities - before even shooting a single scene. I get the impression the filming and launch date (July 8th, '92), weren't that far off, so maybe they started filming mid-May/early June.

 

[Daniel Avery]

Knots Landing wanted Olivia deHavilland to play Ruth Galveston. The oft-mentioned reason she turned it down was because she didn't want to leave her home in Europe (Paris, I believe) for the period of time she'd need to film the role.

In a different vein, Anne Heche had played twin sisters Vicky and Marley on Another World from 1987-91 (and won an Emmy for it). The roles were recast when she left to become a film star. At the height of her fame (1997 or so), the actress who had taken the roles on AW became ill, necessitating a casting call for a temporary recast. A smart person in the AW casting office contacted Anne Heche's manager and asked if Heche would be willing to 'drop by' for a two-day stint in her old "Vicky" role (Marley had been written out). It would have been a publicity bonanza for the show, and since Heche had always spoken so highly of that show and 'the girls', it was within the realm of possibility. The manager didn't relay the offer to Heche, and she only found out after the show had tapped another actress to do the last-minute gig. In later interviews, Heche said she would have been thrilled to return to the show, and I think the viewers like myself would have been even more thrilled to see her back in the part that made her career.

 

[Jimmy Todd]

Mickey Rooney was originally offered the role of Archie Bunker on All in the Family, but he turned it down because he didn't think the show would last too long. On the same show, Penny Marshall was up for the role of Gloria, but it went to Sally Struthers.
Robert Foxworth was, I believe, offered the role of JR on Dallas, but declined because he didn't want to play a villain.
Shelley Duvall was offered the Lady Ashley role on Dynasty, but turned it down.



Ok. I made up that last one, but honestly, in hindsight I'd rather see Shelley than Ali in that role

 

[Toni]

Mickey Rooney was originally offered the role of Archie Bunker on All in the Family, but he turned it down because he didn't think the show would last too long. On the same show, Penny Marshall was up for the role of Gloria, but it went to Sally Struthers.
Robert Foxworth was, I believe, offered the role of JR on Dallas, but declined because he didn't want to play a villain.
Shelley Duvall was offered the Lady Ashley role on Dynasty, but turned it down.



Ok. I made up that last one, but honestly, in hindsight I'd rather see Shelley than Ali in that role

After all these years, everything makes sense about their resemblance...

​

 

[Emelee]

Susan Seaforth Hayes was the first actress Bill Bell thought of to play Stephanie Forrester on B&B. Didn't work out, so he convinced Susan Flannery to return to acting instead. She hesitated to join another soap, so Bill Bell suggested she can do 6 months as Stephanie to set up the show and then kill her off. Fortunately, Susan enjoyed the job and decided to stay.

 

[Emelee]

Tamzin Merchant was originally cast as Daenerys Targaryen on Game of Thrones. But after the pilot, they decided to recast with Emilia Clarke.

Bob Odenkirk was orginally planned for Michael Scott on US's The Office, which later went to Steve Carell.

Brook Kerr from General Hospital was almost Tara Thornton on True Blood.

Matt LeBlanc almost played Phil Dunphy on Modern Family, but turned the role down, thank God.

Another Friends alum, Lisa Kudrow, almost played Roz on Frasier.

Rob Lowe turned down playing Derek Shepherd on Grey's Anatomy.

Connie Britton was considered for Olivia Pope on Scandal, but Shonda had based the character on a black woman and insisted for a black actress.

John Posey played Danny Tanner in the Full House pilot. But first choice Bob Saget's show was cancelled and he could join when the series started taping.

 

[Toni]

In the latter years, the usually "informed" mag National Enquirer revealed that Faye Dunaway and Sophia Loren were going to star in "Dallas". I like to think that, in an alternate universe, JR´s first love was Loren instead of that granniesque lady... At least that wouldn´t damage Swellin´s memory so hard because they hardly resembled each other... I think that, in Spain, when our Assumpta Serna was reportedly hired to guest star on "Falcon Crest", nobody believed it, so used we were to all those liars... "all liars".

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[Carrie Fairchild]

One that I meant to include in the opening post of this thread is that Cher was due to play the short term guest role of Ruby Ashford on Search for Tomorrow in 1983. She pulled out at the last minute and Michelle Phillips ended up taking the role.

 

[tommie]

Lyman Ward (the dad in Ferris Bueller) was originally cast as Jim on Beverly Hills 90210. He wasn't available when it was ordered to series, so was recast with the 14 year younger James Eckhouse - who had to refilm scenes from the pilot, hence why his presence is limited to a few characters.

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

After Diahann Carroll joined DYNASTY, the tabloids started claiming that DALLAS had cast Diana Ross.