- Louise Fletcher, The Exorcist II: The Heretic, 1976.
- Morgan Freeman, Bonfire of the Vanities, 1989 Arkin wanted it so much, he videotaped his own audition – thinking Brian De Palma was filming the book! When Freeman had a sudden three-week window, Judge Kovitsky became White played by a black – and another De Palma joke bit the dust.
- Walter Matthau, IQ, 1994. A (rejected) supporting role barely placated Arkin for losing Einstein to Matthau’s revived clout.
- Carl Reiner, Ocean’s Eleven, 2001. Schedules conflicted and Reiner took over the retired master thief lured back into business by George Clooney. With a best supporting actor campaign.
- Malcolm McDowell, Hugo Pool, 1997. An odd replacement for the quirky Arkin as father of the titular girl pool cleaner, falling for a guy dying of ALS. Edgy director Robert Downey Sr’s wife, Laura, – co-scenarist of this“comedy with serious relief” – died of the same Lou Gehrig’s Disease in 1994.
- Carl Reiner, Ocean’s Eleven, 2001. Schedules conflicted and Reiner took over the retired master thief lured back into businessby George Clooney.Witha best supporting actor campaign.
Birth year: 1934Death year: 2023Other name: Casting Calls: 6