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30 Bits of Trivia About Your Favorite Actors and the Characters They Brought to Life

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30 Bits of Trivia About Your Favorite Actors and the Characters They Brought to Life

September 01, 2024

These crazy people spend a lot of time and mental energy Frankensteining some off-the-wall characters to life. The least we can do is read about their process.

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You guys go on without me.

EASY BUCK$ DENZEL WASHINGTON ACIDENT RUSSELL CROWT AMERICAN GANGSTER Benicio del Toro was paid $5 million to not appear in American Gangster. An earlier version of the film was scrapped before filming. When it picked back up, other actors like Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe were cast, but del Toro was allowed to keep his fee. CRACKED — Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock,
Universal Pictures
Female First

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Bob Odenkirk was originally cast as Michael Scott. 17 e Te ur Imlato lr l 7 C me Steve Carell's NBC show was canceled after only 4 episodes, leaving C

28

BEN AFFLECK CURSED WAY TOO MUCH. MALLRATS Kevin Smith revealed that a producer told him not to cast Affleck in his movie because he had a reputation for his out-of-control potty mouth - which was a problem for a movie that was already filled with an obscene amount of profanities. However, — Entertainment Weekly

27

CRACKED VS LIVING SITUATIONS FRIENDS SEINFELD tift CRACKED.COM The cast lived Kramer was on together, 3 strike and roommates in without 2 a job for small the apartments, vast majority of the series, but while their lived alone and careers had ups never struggled and downs. financially. WINNER: FRIENDS

26

Judd Apatow was pissed when Freaks And Geeks was canceled. SO НЕ MADE ITS CAST INTO SUPERSTARS. Freaks And Geeks had a cult following on NBC, but, in part because of its Saturday night time slot, it died in the ratings. As soon as Apatow hit it big with The 40-Year-Old Virgin, he started working on turning the talent of his old show- James Franco, Seth Rogen, and Jason Segel - into movie stars, just to spite NBC. GRACKED.COM http://variety com/2014/scene/news/judd-apatow-freaks-and-geeks-1201129436/ — Source

25

HOLLYWOO Once Upon A Time In Hollywood Burt Reynolds was going to play George Spahn. Reynolds was originally cast as the rancher, but sadly died before his scenes were shot. Не was replaced with Bruce Dern. CRACKED.COM — Source

24

CRACKED.COM Laurence Fishburne lied about his age to secure his casting in this epic film. He said he was 16 to get the part of a 17 year old. Arcalie

23

Die Hard star Reginald VelJohnson was almost cast as Winston Zeddemore. It came down to him and Ernie Hudson, and VelJohnson ended up getting the prison guard role as a consolation prize. CRACKED.COM — Source

22

THE SNLMOVIE NEVER GOT PAST THE SCRIPT STAGE UNPRODUCED IN 1990, SNL WRITERS PENNED A SCREENPLAY FOR A 90-MINUTE FILM FEATURING CAST MEMBERS IN COMEDY SKETCHES, INCLUDING DANA CARVEY AS BUSH. MAYBE IT NEVER GOT MADE BECAUSE IT'S ON EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT FOR FREE? — Film Buff Online

21

Ariana Grande was doing musical theater since she was eight 13 She played Annie in a Florida community theater production. She landed a Broadway role for 13 when she was 15 before she was cast in Victorious. CRACKED.COM — Source: 14 Unexpected Beginnings Of Famous People's Careers

20

HEATH LEDGER AS THE JOKER CRACKED.COM Fans were outraged that Ledger was cast as the Joker. Known for A Knight's tale and Brokeback Mountain, critics cried too young, too pretty, and not good enough, but his performance is considered among the all-time best, and he became the first actor in a superhero movie to be nominated for (and win) an Oscar. — Source: cheatsheet

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30 Bits of Trivia About Your Favorite Actors and the Characters They Brought to Life — Source: ABC News

18

Charlie Chaplin was the adorable Little Tramp of the silent film era. In 1972 he received an Honorary Academy Award for the incalculable effect he has had in making motion pictures the art form of this century. He continues to be held in high regard, and his work is often ranked among the greatest films of all time. THE CRAZY: He used to throw custard pies at naked women. Chaplin invented the casting couch in the sickest way possible. He'd audition actresses by having them strip naked SO he could mime-fondle them. Then he'd pelt them with custard pies. CRACKED.COM — Source: 24 Famous (And Insane) Historical Figures

17

CRACKED.COM Matthew McConaughey got his big break because he wanted free booze. In the early '90s, McConaughey took a date to a Hyatt hotel in Austin, as the bartender was his friend and could score him free drinks. There he met casting director Don Philips, who later introduced him to Dazed and Confused director Richard Linklater. — Source

16

Terms of Endearment

October on HBOMAX October 1 Terms of Endearment Burt Reynolds was originally cast, but dropped out. Jack Nicholson stepped in instead. CRACKED.COM — Source: Mental Floss
Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

15

GILDA RADNER was the very first hire for Saturday Night Live. The actress was the first to be cast in SNL in 1975. She stayed for five years. GRACKED GOM — Source

14

Cannibal Holocaust

RUGGERO DEODATO EMOTIONALLY TORTURED THE CAST AND CREW OF CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST. UN FILM DE RUGGERO DEODATO CANNIBAL : HOLOCAUST Filming in the middle of nowhere, crew members were left in tears or vomiting after being forced to perform or witness no fewer than seven animal murders. Deodato also abused the locals, making native children extras huddle inside a hut while it was set on fire. CRACKED.COM — Source: 21 Horror Movies (Even Scarier Behind The Scenes)

13

Shrek

Adult Jokes in Children's Entertainment Shrek Compensating for Something When Shrek first sees Lord Farquad's castle, he suggests that Lord Farquad is compensating for having a very tiny... well, you know. The fact that Farquad was based on ex-Disney CEO Michael Eisner just makes this a lot worse? Better? CRACKED.COM — Source: 16 Dirty Jokes In Children’s Movies And TV (That Slipped Past Us As Kids)

12

CRACKED.COM Worst TV Finales Charlie's Angels The show chose to end with a clip show, of all things. Jaclyn Smith's character gets shot, and the rest of the cast just waits and remembers better scenes from better episodes. No thrills, just waiting. And then Charlie finally shows up-wearing a surgeon's mask. — Source

11

Stephen King / Stan Winston / Michael Jackson

Stephen King wrote (and Stan Winston directed) Michael Jackson's 40-minute horror movie. MJ as the Mayor Ghosts is about a mob, led by a middle-aged white mayor (played by MJ), storming MJ's castle because he's corrupting their kids. In the end, the kids insist MJ is innocent, so the parents let him keep doing what he does. MJ made this movie after he got accused of molesting kids. CRACKED.COM — Source: Projects That Celebrities Definitely Didn't Think Through

10

Robert Downey Jr.

Robert Downey Jr. CRACKED.COM 23 years before Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. was part of one godawful SNL season from 1985 to 1986. It wasn't his fault! There was just a mas- sive re-tooling of the show, and the then 20 year-old was one of several performers not asked to return. Lorne Michaels said, There's a lot of talent there, but for many of them this was the wrong forum, and the cast simply never jelled. — RollingStone

9

10 Things I Hate About You

Back to School Movies and Episodes 1999 10 Things I Hate About You This update of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew has a fun cast consisting of Julia Stiles, the late Heath Ledger, and more. Lots of parties, poems, high school tropes, dances, and romances. CRACKED.COM

8

Johnny Depp really tried to capture the eene Of Gonzo journalist Hunter So Thompson. But despite a primo supporting cast. his performance amounted to

7

Jared Leto sent his Suicide Squad castmates bizarre gifts. Margot Robbie got a live rat and creepy love letters, while Will Smith got a bunch of bulle — Source: 7 Famous Actors Who Lost Their Minds Getting Into Character

6

Only three sitcoms can say all of the main cast has won an Emmy.

There are only three sitcoms where each of the main cast has won an Emmy. The Golden Girls, All in the Family, and Will and Grace are the only sitcoms where every performer in the main cast won at least one Emmy. CRACKED NOW YOU KNOW — Golden Girls Wiki

5

Killing Eve

July on hulu Killing Eve July 10 The Final season Sandra Oh didn't understand they wanted her to play Eve. It took a bit to sink in that they were actually casting an Asian American in a lead role. CRACKED.COM — Source: Elle

4

George Clooney defended cast members of Three Kings after David O. Russel attacked them

Three Kings George clooney, defender of the common man? David О. Russel was reportedly an incredibly shitty, abusive director, and eventually his relationship with star Clooney reached a breaking point. The two apparently got into a fight over how Russell was abusing the crew (and just being a general all around dick). — Source: Cinemablend

3

Neil Patrick Harris

Actors Who Weren't Always In On The Joke Neil Patrick Harris killed Doogie Howser. Over a decade later, NPH was still known as Doogie Howser. Self-aware of his good-boy image, he played a coke-snorting, stripper-crazed version of himself in Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, and stole the show. CRACKED — New Line Cinema, 20th Television
/Film

2

HUGH GRANT REGRETS TAKING so MANY ROMANTIC COMEDY PARTS. The actor-who has admittedly starred in a lot of rom-coms-said he regrets not thinking more carefully before taking on roles and getting typecast because of it. I took everything. The worse it was, the quicker I took it. I should have made interesting decisions and done different stuff. Instead, I repeated myself almost identically about 17 times in a row. CRACKED.COM — Cheat sheet

1

HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET GRACKED In this gritty police show set in Baltimore, detectives learn that being a cop can be hell. It had lots of cast changes, and Andre Braugher won an Emmy in 1998 for playing Det. Frank Pembleton. — Source

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