1. – Slim Pickens, Dr. Strangelove Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb, 1964. Peter Sellers chickened out of a fourth role in his masterpiece (director Stanley Kubrick had even suggested a fifth). Once John Wayne refused the cameo – “too pinko!” – Kubrick should have known better than to offer it to another right-winger!
2. – Donald Sutherland, M*A*S*H, 1969. Robert Altman helmed many Bonanza episodes and wanted his pal, the 275lb ex-schoolteacher from Texas who played Hoss.
3. – Sterling Hayden, The Long Goodbye, 1973. Bob Altman got his way bit too late. Blocker died a year after his 310th and last Bonzana. R Altman cancelled the picture. “I wasn’t going to do it. This agent calls me the day after Dan dies, saying “I’ve got the perfect guy for the part.’ Disgusted, I said ‘Don’t even tell me his name!’ and I hung up… John Huston agred to take over, then he fell ill. That agent called back, and told me about Sterling Hayden. By that time I had already started shooting the picture, so we went with Sterling. And I’m glad we did.” Not that the “ex-male starlet” remembered it. “I was smashed at the time. But it’s a good film. I’d like it as my epitaph.” Altman dedicated the film to Dan.
Birth year: 1928Death year: 1972Other name: Casting Calls: 3