- George Dzundza, Law & Order, TV, 1990-1991. Seen for the 1988 pilot, the busy character actor lost out to Dzundza, who wanted out fast enough – disappointed that his Sergeant Greevey was not the star act but part of an ensemble. Greevey was written out and wasn’t coming back – he was reported slain in the line of duty.
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Richard Karn, Home Improvement, TV, 1991-1999. Plan A: the tall Texan would be Tim Allen’s co-host of his show within the show, Tool Time, except he was working elsewhere when the pilot was shot. Plan B: Karn as a temporary substitute, but when the series got the green light, Tobolowsky was still unavailable. Plan C: Karn in all 203 episodes.
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Ken Lerner, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, TV, 1997-2003. Although excellent as Buffy’s Principal,Bob Flutie, in the unaired pilot, Lerner took over for the series. Or, at least, four episodes. Others followed as Flutie in Joss Whedon’s “high school as a horror movie.”The best being Armin Shimerman’s Snyder.
- Jim Caviezel, Deja Vu, 2005. For the third of Denzel Washington’s five Tony Scott films, Tobolowsky lost Carroll Oerstadt… possible kin of Kevin Spacey in Se7en.
- Jeremy Irons, Justice League, 2017. For ten years, Warner exercised extreme cowardice, until Marvel showed them how to make superhero summits with Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy. In October 2007, Mad Max’s dad, George Miller, had found his Bat/Supermans, Wonder Woman, Flash, Aqua Man, Green Lantern, even the Martian Manhunter J’onn J’onzz, after auditioning about 40 youngsters. And two oldsters, Tobolowsky and Michael Gough, for Alfred Pennyworth. Four months later, everything was “tabled.” Dumped! By 2010, Miller had gone and who could blame him. Besides, he wanted to go to the Max again. (Gough died in 2011 at 94).
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls: 5