Ted Danson is.... Superman??? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

chipsaugratin · 08-06-2008, 05:06 PM

Does anyone know if, back in the mid 1970's, Ted Danson auditioned for the role of big screen Clark Kent/Superman? He is 60 now, so he would have been about the right age, about the right height, dark-haired, athletic build. I know they auditioned a lot of people, including many then-unknowns. I also know one of his first prime-time TV parts was on the live action "Spider-Man" series. Just interested - it would be a fun bit of trivia, along with Ratzenberger's speaking roles in the first 2 Superman films.

Smartboy · 08-06-2008, 11:12 PM

The only live-action Superman show that I know of is the one that began in the early fifties and ended in the late fifties. However, I am far from an expert of Super-Heroe related trivia. I do know however, that if Ted Danson is first turning sixty now, he would have only been three years old when this show premeired! Is this, in fact the show that he appeared on? If so, what type of parts did he play?

robyrob · 08-07-2008, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smartboy

The only live-action Superman show that I know of is the one that began in the early fifties and ended in the late fifties. However, I am far from an expert of Super-Heroe related trivia. I do know however, that if Ted Danson is first turning sixty now, he would have only been three years old when this show premeired! Is this, in fact the show that he appeared on? If so, what type of parts did he play?

he's referring to the Superman movies starring Christopher Reeve in 1978, 1980, 1983, and 1987.

Schmoopie · 08-07-2008, 02:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robyrob

he's referring to the Superman movies starring Christopher Reeve in 1978, 1980, 1983, and 1987.

I could see him playing Superman, but Christopher Reeve was the perfect choice!

Andrea

chipsaugratin · 08-07-2008, 03:28 PM

I never said that Ted might have been a good choice, I was just wondering if anyone knew if he might have been among the many who auditioned.

robyrob · 08-07-2008, 07:58 PM

as far as I could find these people tested for the 70's Superman movie: Bruce Jenner, acting novice named Don Voyne - a practicing Beverly Hills dentist, and of course Christopher Reeve.

It has been said that at least 10 other actors tested for the role, but I can't find any other names that actually tested.

Others that were considered for the role included: Paul Newman, who had turned down all three male leads (Jor-El, Lex Luthor, and Superman) in the movie. The Salkinds considered other established actors like Steve McQueen, Burt Reynolds, Robert Redford and Jon Voight. "Neal Diamond wanted to play it," Salkind recounted. So did bodybuilder-turned actor-turned California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Smartboy · 08-07-2008, 08:58 PM

We seem to have a double communication gap half of which is because of my own absentmindedness! After the starter of this thread mentioned Ted Danson hanving auditioning for the lead in the Superman movie, he or she then went on to say that he had appeared in the live action "Spider-Man" series! I read it carelessly and thought that it said the live action "Superman" series! It was after what I thought I had read that I thought of the series from the fifties and acknowledged that he would have been three years old at the time. It was after reading this that the next poster informed me that the first poster was writing about the full-length movies and not the TV sereis. After reading this, my first inclination was to say that I know that he or she was saying that he had "auditioned" for the role in the movie but then this person went on to say that Ted had "appeared" in the series. However, after reading this first post again, I read the word "Spider-Man" and realized where I had gone wrong! A thousand pardens for my mistake!

Scoobiedoo30 · 08-10-2008, 12:21 AM

this is news to me

08-06-2008, 05:06 PM	#1
chipsaugratin Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 07, 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 194	Ted Danson is.... Superman??? Does anyone know if, back in the mid 1970's, Ted Danson auditioned for the role of big screen Clark Kent/Superman? He is 60 now, so he would have been about the right age, about the right height, dark-haired, athletic build. I know they auditioned a lot of people, including many then-unknowns. I also know one of his first prime-time TV parts was on the live action "Spider-Man" series. Just interested - it would be a fun bit of trivia, along with Ratzenberger's speaking roles in the first 2 Superman films.

08-07-2008, 07:58 PM	#6
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,200	as far as I could find these people tested for the 70's Superman movie: Bruce Jenner, acting novice named Don Voyne - a practicing Beverly Hills dentist, and of course Christopher Reeve. It has been said that at least 10 other actors tested for the role, but I can't find any other names that actually tested. Others that were considered for the role included: Paul Newman, who had turned down all three male leads (Jor-El, Lex Luthor, and Superman) in the movie. The Salkinds considered other established actors like Steve McQueen, Burt Reynolds, Robert Redford and Jon Voight. "Neal Diamond wanted to play it," Salkind recounted. So did bodybuilder-turned actor-turned California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
	Last edited by robyrob; 08-07-2008 at 08:40 PM.

08-10-2008, 12:21 AM	#8
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	this is news to me
	__________________ Who Dat

08-06-2008, 11:12 PM	#2
Smartboy Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 06, 2007 Location: South Orange, NJ Posts: 4,231	The only live-action Superman show that I know of is the one that began in the early fifties and ended in the late fifties. However, I am far from an expert of Super-Heroe related trivia. I do know however, that if Ted Danson is first turning sixty now, he would have only been three years old when this show premeired! Is this, in fact the show that he appeared on? If so, what type of parts did he play?

08-07-2008, 03:28 PM	#5
chipsaugratin Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 07, 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 194	I never said that Ted might have been a good choice, I was just wondering if anyone knew if he might have been among the many who auditioned.

08-07-2008, 08:58 PM	#7
Smartboy Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 06, 2007 Location: South Orange, NJ Posts: 4,231	We seem to have a double communication gap half of which is because of my own absentmindedness! After the starter of this thread mentioned Ted Danson hanving auditioning for the lead in the Superman movie, he or she then went on to say that he had appeared in the live action "Spider-Man" series! I read it carelessly and thought that it said the live action "Superman" series! It was after what I thought I had read that I thought of the series from the fifties and acknowledged that he would have been three years old at the time. It was after reading this that the next poster informed me that the first poster was writing about the full-length movies and not the TV sereis. After reading this, my first inclination was to say that I know that he or she was saying that he had "auditioned" for the role in the movie but then this person went on to say that Ted had "appeared" in the series. However, after reading this first post again, I read the word "Spider-Man" and realized where I had gone wrong! A thousand pardens for my mistake!