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Charles Halllahan, The Thing, 1981. Stand-ups like Fleischer, Jay Leno Gary Shandling were always welcome at reading sessions as studios were keen on seeing how they might work as actors – with future films or series in mind, Shandling got his series, The Larry Sanders Show, during 1992-1998 – second only to the glory of Seinfeld.
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Daniel Stern, City Slickers, 1990. Facing 40, three Manhattan dude book into a dude ranch and join a cattle drive and… a perfect comedy! Dan Aykroyd, Albert Brooks, Danny DeVito, Robert Hays, Steve Martin, Rick Moranis (his wife was ill) were up for for Phil Berquist. And, not yet the big TV star, Garry Shandling – a standup; “I was going to see Last Tango in Paris – buy I don’t like musicals – boom, boom! “ The first read with Bruno Kirby and Billy Crystal went extremely well. I went back a couple of days later and had a bad second session. I was really disappointed. I wanted to work with those guys.” His acting credo: “More important to show what you’re feeling than being liked.” Robin Williams was offered his choice of the trio but was Hook-ed by Steven Spielberg.
- Jason Alexander, Shallow Hal, 2001. One beloved plump US V star in place of another… Paying tribute to Shandling on his shock death. Ricky Gervais hailed the man behind The Larry Sanders Show, 1992-1998, as “surely, one of the most influential comedians of a generation.” Right.
Birth year: 1949Death year: 2016Other name: Casting Calls: 3