John Lithgow reveals iconic roles he regretfully turned down

George Back
·Producer, Yahoo Entertainment

John Lithgow visited Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen where he revealed some celebrated roles he’s turned down throughout his illustrious career.

It started when a caller asked about the rumor that he was originally offered the role of Frasier Crane on Cheers. Lithgow admitted, “It is true.”

Lithgow insisted the character became famous only because Kelsey Grammer was so good. He also said, “I turned it down ’cause, at that point in my life episodic television was beneath my dignity.” He then joked, “And look at me now!”

He also revealed that he was casting director Marion Dougherty’s pick to play the Joker in Tim Burton’s Batman. But when he met Burton, he was so focused on his Broadway play M. Butterfly that he said, “I thought, Who is gonna wanna see a movie about Batman? So I basically — I talked Tim Burton out of even considering me.”

Lastly, while playing a game with his Daddy’s Home 2 costar Will Ferrell he revealed that he turned down the lead role in The Fly. Luckily Ferrell made hi feel better by revealing he turned down Wedding Crashers.

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen airs Sundays to Thursdays at 11 p.m. on Bravo.

When quizzed, Colin Hanks doesn’t recognize a single film quote from his father, Tom Hanks:


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