- Adrian Paul, Highlander, TV,1992-1998. “I was born 400 years ago in the Highlands of Scotland. I am immortal and I am not alone…” Immortals never die, just wind up on TV… Paul tested first. Dutchman Derek De Lint won – and then gave up the role. Next? Daniels, Geraint Wyn Davies, Anthony De Longis, Alexis Denisof, Alistair Duncan, James Horan, Marc Singer were also in the mix. The film’s star, Christophe(r) Lambert, had no interest in TV, but thought a series was a good idea and agreed to pass the torch… to the very Connery-looking Paul as Duncan MacLeod… found by Connor in a bog in the aftermath of the battle of Glen Fruin in 1625.
- Linden Ashby, Mortal Kombat, 1994. Bruce Lee’s son, Brandon, was set for Johnny Cage in the $20m debut of the franchise based on the video game, when he was accidentally shot dead during The Crow, 1993. Next contenders – Tom Cruise, Johnny Depp – plus Daniels and Jean-Claude Van Damme (how’d they get in there?). They were all bypassed by the Floridian surfer and martial arts champ.
- Ray Park, GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra, 2008. From Star Wars’ Darth Maul to playing Chuck Norris (in TV’s Legend of Bruce Lee that year), Park joined Hollywood’s outrageous toys-as-source-material movies. Rolling Stone critic Peter Travers skewered this one: “I don’t know what to say about the acting, writing and directing… because I couldn’t find any.” Despite being an actual action actor, Daniels could not have saved it.
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls: 3