- Anthony LaPaglia, Innocent Blood, 1992. In US director Jack Sholder’s line-up (Lara Flynn Boyle, Dennis Hopper), before the project moved to John Landis – and died on the vein. The oldest of José Ferrer and Rosemary Clooney’s five children, Miguel was the cousin of… George Clooney.
- Jamey Sheridan, The Stand, TV, 1994. David Bowie,. Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Lance Henriksen, Christopher Walken, James Woods – they were all unavailable Stephen King’s signature villain in at least nine books: the walkin’ dude Randall Flagg, aka The Man in Black, aka Marten Broadcloak, the Covenant Man, Richard Fannin, Richard Farris, Raymond Fiegler, Walter o’Dim, Waltert Paddick. Miguel Ferrer was keen but given Flagg’s henchman, Lloyd Henreid, King suggested Robert Duvall but fell for Sheridan, who understood ‘Flagg is really a funny guy, isn’t he?’ He must have bothered to read the book… “There was a dark hilarity in his face… a face that radiated a horrible handsome warmth, a face to make water glasses shatter… to make small children crash their trikes… a face guaranteed to make barroom arguments over batting averages turn bloody.” Sheridan was perfect for the 41st of King’s staggering 313 screen credits. (King Kameo: Teddy Weizak).
- John Diehl, Fail Safe, TV, 2000. Not just any TV. The first national live TV broadcast on CBS in 40 years – on April 9, 2000. All the due to George Clooney‘s nostalgia for old TV and movies (Edward Murrow v Senator McCarthy in Good Night, and Good Luck, 2005, and the Ocean’s 11/12/13 franchise). This led to his grandiose plan (following his live ER episode) to re-make Sidney Lumet’s 1963 straight version of Dr Strangelove. In black-white and live.There was, of course, room for his cousin Miguel – until his diary intervened. Clooney, who also took a tiny role as Richard Dreyfuss played the US President in the straight version of Dr Strangelove. Shooting occupied two soundstages at Warner Bros; Harvey Keitel had to run from to the other for scenes as Brigadier General Warren Black. The show was watched by 30m viewers.
- Bruce McGill, Rizzoli & Isles, TV, 2010-2016. Ferrer, Tom Atkins, Powers Boothe, Robert Patrick, Eric Roberts, Fisher Stevens and three Reservoir Dogs – Messers Pink, Blonde and Orange aka Steve Buscemi, Michael Madsen, Tim Roth – were in the frame for Detective Rizzoli’s former partner, Vince Korsak in this latest take on Cagney & Lacey. Oh, and in his sixth move, Paxton The Dog played the pooch called… Jo Friday!
. George
Birth year: 1955Death year: 2017Other name: Casting Calls: 4