http://whatculture.com/tv/15-actors-foolishly-turned-career-making-tv-roles.php

While no one can be completely sure if a show will be a complete success or a colossal failure just by looking at a script or having a conversation with a showrunner, there are always those sneaky ones that get away, when an actor decided, or was forced to turn down a role that would later prove to be incredibly well received.

Whether it is because of missed connections, scheduling conflicts or just plain lack of interest, the 15 actors and actresses on this list unfortunately just missed a shot to boost their careers to a completely different level. For 15 others however, a stepping stone was reached, audiences reached with adulation and praise, and plenty of money was and still is being made.

Before this list begins, it would be smart to point out that some of the actors in this collective are in fact, doing very well for themselves and probably would have been in a similar situation had they taken these roles are not. The characters themselves, however, can still be considered career-making based on what they did for the actor that did end up portraying the role in his or her particular television show.


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Jackie Gleason turned down the role of Archie Bunker because he didn't like the character Sam Kinison and Roseanne Barr were originally up for the roles of Al and Peg Bundy in speaking of Al Michael Richards of up for the role of Al as well.

Jackie Gleason turned down the role of Archie Bunker because he didn't like the character Sam Kinison and Roseanne Barr were originally up for the roles of Al and Peg Bundy in speaking of Al Michael Richards of up for the role of Al as well.
At the time an actor really doesn't know if the show will succed or not. And if it does it just may be the actor. Who knows if All in the Family would suceed without Caroll or not. And an actor has to do what they think is best for themselfs even if the show suceeds.

Sometimes you wonder if the show would have succeeded with the original actor. Bing Crosby I heard was thought of for Columbo. IF Bing took it, it might failed.

I agree with liane, and coffeecup. And it's the same as film roles. If any of the actors in the above list had taken those roles, they may have seen success with it, but the shows could have easily failed and become forgotten.

Can't see anything, got stupid error message.

Interesting list though I can't imagine any of them in these shows.

Ray Liotta in "The Sopranos"...that would've been better for him actually, but then again he was in a couple of good films in the 2000's.

But don't forget Lisa Kudrow for the role as Roz in "Frasier".

Ray Liotta would not have been right for The Sopranos. It would have seemed to much like Goodfellas to the small screen. Originally, they wanted Loraine Bracco to play Carmela Soprano opposite Liotta which would have made the show more Goodfellas on TV.

Michael Richards would have played Monk well. Tony Shaloub is not that huge of a star, his new show "We Are Men" was cancelled in September, what else has he done? Seinfeld is more of an iconic show than Monk ever was.

Paul Shaffer as George Costanza? That would have sucked. By the way, Jason Alexander was the star of Seinfeld. Show should have been called Alexander.

Paul Giamatti would have made a great Michael Scott!

Craig t. Nelson would have done well as Jay Pritchett, but I would rather have Ed O'Neill have it. I like O'Neill but HATED HATED HATED Married With Children. Hopefully O'Neill will be more remembered for this stylish show than that piece of trash Married with Children.

Another actor was supposed to play Phil Dumphy (who isn't that famous) and he turned it down and he is kicking himself.

John Cusack or Matthew Broderick would have killed any interest in watching Breaking Bad, especially Cusack. I just don't like Cusack. Something jerky about the guy, I like his sister Joan as an actress ironically. Broderick is a dork. Ferris Bueller was a dork film. Thank you Vince Gilligan on your righteous choices!

Michael Richards would have played Monk well. Tony Shaloub is not that huge of a star, his new show "We Are Men" was cancelled in September, what else has he done? Seinfeld is more of an iconic show than Monk ever was.


Tony was on Wings before he was on Monk. But yeah, I think Michael has always been a bigger star than Tony.

At the time an actor really doesn't know if the show will succed or not. And if it does it just may be the actor. Who knows if All in the Family would suceed without Caroll or not. And an actor has to do what they think is best for themselfs even if the show suceeds.

Taking this a step further, would Carroll O'Connor have been a success if he hadn't done Archie Bunker? I would say probably not. Did you know that he was considered to play the Skipper on "Gilligan's Island", (Picture it now: "Gilligan! You Meathead! Where are my coconuts???") with Raquel Welch as Mary Ann (she tried out for Mary Ann instead of Ginger, which for her would have been perfect) and Jerry Van Dyke as Gilligan. Van Dyke turned down the part because he thought the show would fail and instead accepted the lead in "My Mother The Car". One of the biggest mistakes in TV history! But he was great in "Coach"! I loved him on that show and we finally got to see how talented and funny he was.

Speaking of "All In The Family", another actor besides Jackie Gleason who turned it down because of its subject matter was Mickey Rooney. Now he would have made a good Archie. On the other hand, the original choice to play Mike Brady on "The Brady Bunch" was Gene Hackman ("The French Connection"). Thank God that never happened!

Jerry Vandyke turned down GILLIGANS ISLAND because he read the script and said it was "the biggest piece of crap I ever read!" And Carroll O'Conner was turned down for the role of the skipper because they thought people would feel sorry for Gilligan whenever the skipper yelled at him.

Jerry Van Dyke was right. Gilligan's Island is the biggest piece of crap ever.

Jerry Van Dyke was right. Gilligan's Island is the biggest piece of crap ever.Worse than My Mother the Car?