33 Actors Who Rejected Iconic Roles

It seems quite obvious that the producers of “Grease” would want the former “Happy Days” star to basically deliver the character of the Fonz in the 1978 movie musical. But Winkler passed for fear of being typecast, since then he has said he regrets turning down the part because he was essentially the typecast as the Fonz anyway. The role of Danny Zuko went to John Travolta.

Gibson was approached first for the part of Maximus in Gladiator before Russell Crowe, but passed reportedly because he felt he was getting a bit too old for those types of action roles. Crowe went on to win the Oscar and become a huge star. Still too old, Mel?

Ringwald— still enjoying the success of iconic ’80s flicks like “The Breakfast Club” and “Pretty in Pink”— was also offered the major role that made Julia Roberts a star in “Pretty Woman.” It seems that playing a hooker wasn’t in her plans, since she turned it down. Ringwald also said declined to playing Molly Jensen in “Ghost,” a role that eventually went to Demi Moore.

There’s no doubt Bette Midler—a musical theater pro and overall iconic performer—would have been excellent for the role that eventually went to actress Whoopi Goldberg, and producers of “Sister Act” agreed. Midler decided to pass on the part of the alleged Las Vegas showgirl hiding out in a convent, with concerns that her fans would react badly to her playing a nun. Let us be the first to break the news, Bette: The character isn’t really a nun.

Can you imagine the NEXT stars were supposed to be in AVATAR