I Had No Idea That This Actor Turned Down The Role of Dr. Frasier Crane On Cheers?! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 04-12-2010, 10:28 PM

http://www.nj.com/entertainment/arts...r_at_mcca.html

John Lithgow does admit, however, that he only has himself to blame for not appearing as Frasier Crane on “Cheers.”

“I turned that one down,” he says sadly. “I’ve also turned down roles that went on to win Oscars and Tonys, but I’m not going to say any more, because I don’t want the actors who took the parts to know that they were second choice. No question that being a freelance actor does have its perils.”

Marvo301 · 04-12-2010, 10:37 PM

It's hard to imagine anyone else than Kelsey Grammer as Frasier. Of course Kelsey isn't the only "second choice" in the Cheers cast. Fred Dryer was the first choice to play Sam Malone. The producers only cast Ted Danson after they changed the character from an ex football player to an ex baseball player.

catlover79 · 04-12-2010, 11:04 PM

Julia Duffy was also supposedly in the running for the role of Diane Chambers (and ended up joining the cast of Newhart a year after Cheers debuted). Can you imagine how different things would've been had the original choices gone ahead and done the show? Boggles the mind.

Marvo301 · 04-12-2010, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Julia Duffy was also supposedly in the running for the role of Diane Chambers (and ended up joining the cast of Newhart a year after Cheers debuted). Can you imagine how different things would've been had the original choices gone ahead and done the show? Boggles the mind.

I suspect it would have been a much different show!

goose125 · 07-10-2011, 06:36 PM

And it probably would not have lasted that long either. I also read where Shelley chose Ted to read the script with her and she wanted him to play the role of Sam.

Schmoopie · 07-12-2011, 01:56 AM

Wow, I had no idea that John Lithgow was offered the role of Frasier. Like everyone else here, I can't imagine anyone else playing Frasier than Kelsey Grammar.

Johnny be good! · 05-22-2013, 11:48 AM

John Lithgow's loss was Kelsey Grammer's gain.

treky · 05-29-2013, 01:52 AM

William Devane was also up for the role of Sam

Mr. Drucker · 05-29-2013, 09:33 AM

Fred Dryer("Hunter") was also up for the Malone role.Of course,he would make an appearance as a rather lascivious sportscaster.

Harry the Hat · 07-05-2013, 07:53 PM

It's odd that Fred Dryer and Julia Duffy lost out on the main roles then both made guest appearances on the show within the first 6 episodes of the 1st season.

If Lithgow ended up as Frasier, we probably would have never seen the Frasier spinoff get off the ground. Can you imagine John Lithgow wanting to play the same role for 20 years?

boggs127 · 07-29-2013, 10:58 AM

Everything happens for a reason and I am glad we got the cast we had. The only thing I probably would have changed was Frasier to someone else - Not sure who though, but he did o.k. I just did not like him matched up with Diane as her lover when she and Sam broke up.

liane49 · 12-28-2013, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

It's hard to imagine anyone else than Kelsey Grammer as Frasier. Of course Kelsey isn't the only "second choice" in the Cheers cast. Fred Dryer was the first choice to play Sam Malone. The producers only cast Ted Danson after they changed the character from an ex football player to an ex baseball player.

Just because one actor makes the roll a great roll doesn't mean evey actor would. John has done some great stuff in his time.

Johnny be good! · 11-19-2014, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by liane49

Just because one actor makes the roll a great roll doesn't mean evey actor would. John has done some great stuff in his time.

And as we all know, we can't argue the results on how it turned out.

Mr. Drucker · 11-19-2014, 10:34 AM

Kinda ironic Lithgow rejected a role later taken up by Kelsey Grammar.In the '90's,both went back and forth for a while winning the Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Emmy.Lithgow could indeed have pulled off the role of the ultra-famed television psychiatrist with flying colors.Been watching him lately on "3rd Rock From the Sun" DVD's.Wonderful actor who well deserved his TV academy trophies............

'80sSitcoms · 11-19-2014, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

Fred Dryer was the first choice to play Sam Malone. The producers only cast Ted Danson after they changed the character from an ex football player to an ex baseball player.

That's not true according to the documentaries I've seen. The producers settled on Ted and Shelley because they had the best chemistry, and they changed Sam from an ex-football jock to an ex-baseball jock after Ted was hired because that suited his frame and build more.

04-12-2010, 10:28 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	I Had No Idea That This Actor Turned Down The Role of Dr. Frasier Crane On Cheers?! http://www.nj.com/entertainment/arts...r_at_mcca.html John Lithgow does admit, however, that he only has himself to blame for not appearing as Frasier Crane on “Cheers.” “I turned that one down,” he says sadly. “I’ve also turned down roles that went on to win Oscars and Tonys, but I’m not going to say any more, because I don’t want the actors who took the parts to know that they were second choice. No question that being a freelance actor does have its perils.” Attached Images
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04-12-2010, 10:37 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	It's hard to imagine anyone else than Kelsey Grammer as Frasier. Of course Kelsey isn't the only "second choice" in the Cheers cast. Fred Dryer was the first choice to play Sam Malone. The producers only cast Ted Danson after they changed the character from an ex football player to an ex baseball player.
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04-12-2010, 11:04 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Julia Duffy was also supposedly in the running for the role of Diane Chambers (and ended up joining the cast of Newhart a year after Cheers debuted). Can you imagine how different things would've been had the original choices gone ahead and done the show? Boggles the mind.
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07-12-2011, 01:56 AM	#6
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	Wow, I had no idea that John Lithgow was offered the role of Frasier. Like everyone else here, I can't imagine anyone else playing Frasier than Kelsey Grammar.
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05-22-2013, 11:48 AM	#7
Johnny be good! Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 18, 2007 Location: Westland, Michigan Posts: 1,633	John Lithgow's loss was Kelsey Grammer's gain.
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07-10-2011, 06:36 PM	#5
goose125 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 07, 2011 Location: USA Posts: 36	And it probably would not have lasted that long either. I also read where Shelley chose Ted to read the script with her and she wanted him to play the role of Sam.

05-29-2013, 01:52 AM	#8
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	William Devane was also up for the role of Sam
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05-29-2013, 09:33 AM	#9
Mr. Drucker Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 28, 2013 Location: Lynn,MA Posts: 325	Fred Dryer("Hunter") was also up for the Malone role.Of course,he would make an appearance as a rather lascivious sportscaster.

07-05-2013, 07:53 PM	#10
Harry the Hat Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 05, 2013 Posts: 14	It's odd that Fred Dryer and Julia Duffy lost out on the main roles then both made guest appearances on the show within the first 6 episodes of the 1st season. If Lithgow ended up as Frasier, we probably would have never seen the Frasier spinoff get off the ground. Can you imagine John Lithgow wanting to play the same role for 20 years?

07-29-2013, 10:58 AM	#11
boggs127 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 24, 2013 Location: MD Posts: 7	Everything happens for a reason and I am glad we got the cast we had. The only thing I probably would have changed was Frasier to someone else - Not sure who though, but he did o.k. I just did not like him matched up with Diane as her lover when she and Sam broke up.

11-19-2014, 10:34 AM	#14
Mr. Drucker Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 28, 2013 Location: Lynn,MA Posts: 325	Kinda ironic Lithgow rejected a role later taken up by Kelsey Grammar.In the '90's,both went back and forth for a while winning the Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Emmy.Lithgow could indeed have pulled off the role of the ultra-famed television psychiatrist with flying colors.Been watching him lately on "3rd Rock From the Sun" DVD's.Wonderful actor who well deserved his TV academy trophies............