- Daniel Massey, Star!, 1967. Stephens, Peter Cook and Ian McKellen were in the frame to portray Noel Coward – finally taken by his Godson. Indeed, Massey had made his screen debut as Coward’s son at age nine in the UK classic, In Which We Serve, 1941.
- Alan Bates, Three Sisters, 1974. The idea was to keep some National Theatre magic on record. “Something for the cinema,” said Laurence Olivier, after the “filmed plays” of his Othello and The Dance of Death. Hence Bates, stepping in as Vershinin, the Russian Army Colonel in love with Masha alias, Joan Plowright, Lady Olivier.
- Len Cariou, A Little Night Music, 1977. Dropped after an afternoon’s rehearsals. Elizabeth Taylor did not approve of their chemistry. “Chemistry?” said Stephens. “Chemistry! We’re actors not bloody pharmacists.”
- Patrick Stewart, Lifeforce, 1984.
- Michael Gothard, Lifeforce, 1984.
- Aubrey Morris, Lifeforce, 1984.
- Frank Finlay, Lifeforce, 1984.
Birth year: 1931Death year: 95Other name: Casting Calls: 7