- Rob Lowe, The Outsiders, 1982. The intensive ensemble casting sessions, said Rob Lowe (greaser Sodapop Curtis), were a three-day, 30-hour wide-open free-for-all, at Stage Five at Francis Coppola’s Zoetrope Studios – “go right on Marlon Brando Way. Follow it to Budd Schulberg Avenue and it’s just next to the commissary” – and then in New York. “If Coppola wants stars,” thought Lowe, “Baio’s got a shot.” He was, after all, the highlight of Happy Days and Bugsy Malone.
- Tom Cruise, Top Gun, 1985. Refused the US Navy pilot ace called Maverick. So did: Matthew Broderick, Jim Carrey, John Cusack, Robert Downey Jr, Michael J Fox, Rob Lowe, Matthew Modine (took exception to the script’s Cold War politics), Patrick Swayze, Eric Stolz, John Travolta (too pricey). – and brothers Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez. Too young, at 20, Sheen sent the whole movie up in Hot Shots! 1990. Maverick became one of Cruise’s signature acts – still took 34 years for a sequel!
- Brad Pitt, Thelma & Louise, 1990.
- Tom Cruise, Top Gun, 1985. Among those passing on cocky USNavy jet pilot Lieutenant Pete “Maverick” Mitchell – were Baio, Kevin Bacon, Matthew Broderick, Nicolas Cage, Jim Carrey, John Cusack, Robert Downey Jr, Michael J Fox, Rob Lowe, Matthew Modine (took exception to the script’s Cold War politics), Sean Penn, Patrick Swayze, Eric Stolz John Travolta (too pricey). Plus Tom Hanks, old enough to be the CO at 29 – and brothers Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez. Too young, at 20, Sheen sent the whole movie up in Hot Shots! 1990. Maverick became one of Cruise’s signature acts – still took 34 years for a sequel!
- Ralph Machio, Beer League, 2006. How The Karate Kid has tumbled… Machio beat Baio to the beer/broads/baseball comedy in New Jersey… Where else? Baio was then suggested for another role until the nine “producers” felt two 80s’ icons would be “too much.” They should have spent more time making the comedy… er, like funny.
Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls: 5