TMC
06-27-2026, 07:40 PM
Q: How were the cast of the TV show "The A-Team" chosen? (https://www.quora.com/How-were-the-cast-of-the-TV-show-The-A-Team-chosen/answer/Jon-Mixon-1)
Everybody auditioned…including the nominal star of the series, George Peppard.
Let’s see:
Peppard was terminated from his leading role on the television series Dynasty because his ego wouldn’t allow him to simply recite his lines and take his check. He clashed with series creator Aaron Spelling and he was sent packing just three weeks short of the series premiere.. He was replaced by actor John Forsythe, who could keep his yap closed, and who made a fortune from the series.
Peppard was available for The A-team, but in an ironic humiliation, he had to audition for the role like all of the other actors, even he was the most experienced of the bunch.
Mr. T - Was becoming a minor name around Hollywood, and had been in several NBC projects before A-Team, including the sitcom Silver Spoons and reality series World Greatest Bouncers. Had to audition; however he was the only one seriously considered for the role.
Dirk Benedict - Was the producers first choice. But because Benedict had recently worked on “another network” and because he wasn’t deemed to be appealing , he was rejected in favor of a younger and much taller actor named Tim Dunigan. In another ironic twist, after reviewing the pilot, the network believed Dunigan to be “too young and too tall” so Benedict was hired by the producers and the rest is history.
Dwight Schultz (Murdoch) - Was actually a bit player on episodic television for whom The A-Team represented his breakout role. Schultz was already 35 years old and even though he had limited television experience, he managed to steal scenes repeatedly from his costars.
Everybody auditioned…including the nominal star of the series, George Peppard.
Let’s see:
Peppard was terminated from his leading role on the television series Dynasty because his ego wouldn’t allow him to simply recite his lines and take his check. He clashed with series creator Aaron Spelling and he was sent packing just three weeks short of the series premiere.. He was replaced by actor John Forsythe, who could keep his yap closed, and who made a fortune from the series.
Peppard was available for The A-team, but in an ironic humiliation, he had to audition for the role like all of the other actors, even he was the most experienced of the bunch.
Mr. T - Was becoming a minor name around Hollywood, and had been in several NBC projects before A-Team, including the sitcom Silver Spoons and reality series World Greatest Bouncers. Had to audition; however he was the only one seriously considered for the role.
Dirk Benedict - Was the producers first choice. But because Benedict had recently worked on “another network” and because he wasn’t deemed to be appealing , he was rejected in favor of a younger and much taller actor named Tim Dunigan. In another ironic twist, after reviewing the pilot, the network believed Dunigan to be “too young and too tall” so Benedict was hired by the producers and the rest is history.
Dwight Schultz (Murdoch) - Was actually a bit player on episodic television for whom The A-Team represented his breakout role. Schultz was already 35 years old and even though he had limited television experience, he managed to steal scenes repeatedly from his costars.