Soap opera roles created for one performer but played by someone else

[danfling]

What roles do you know that were created by one performer to play, but they were eventually created by another performer?

 

Here are two examples from All My Children:

 

Kate Martin was created for late Kay Campbell to play.   However, she had retired (from The Edge of Night), and the role was played by Kate Harrington.

 

Judith Sawyer was created for Carol Burnette to play.  It was eventually played by the late Gwen Verdon.

[Paul Raven]

Llotd Bochner was signed to play CC Capwell on Santa Barbara but had a heart attack and Paul Burke became the first CC seen on air.

 

Cher was to play the guest role of Ruby Ashford on Search For Tomorrow but pulled out and Michelle Phillips took the part.

[John]

AW's Felecia Gallant was created with Jane Elliot in Mind

B&B's Stephanie Forrester was created with Susan Seaforth Hayes in Mind

GL's Ben Warren was created with James DePavia in Mind

[SoapDope]

Dallas....the character of Pam Ewing and the show itself was created for Linda Evans. When David Jacobs finished writing the script, he realized it was not right for Linda. The script wound up in the hands of Victoria Principal and she knew she wanted the role. The character of Sue Ellen was to be played by Mary Frann, but Linda Gray got the part. J.R was supposed to of been played by Robert Foxworth. Foxworth did not like the fact the character of J.R. was ruthless for just the sake of being ruthless. Foxworth questioned everything David Jacobs wrote for the character and finally passed on it.  Jacobs said when he created the part of Lucy he pictured Stefanie Kramer (later of Hunter fame) for the part. CBS went with Charlene Tilton, which you could tell in interviews he felt was a mistake. Steve Kanally read for Bobby and Ken Kercheval read for Ray.

 

Knots Landing......Gary Ewing was originally played David Akyroyd on Dallas in 1978. When KL was offered to him in 1979, he passed to do another show that was canned after a few episodes. He later appeared on Knots as another character. 

 

Y&R......Actress Mary Grover was cast as Leslie Brooks, but did not make it to air and Janice Lynde had to rush tape scenes before the first show aired.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Paul Raven]

Mary Jackson played Alice Horton in the Days of Our Lives pilot

 

Philip Brown was cast as Ben Warren on GL but quit after a few days taping and Hunt Block assumed the role.

 

George Peppard filmed for several days as Blake Carrington on Dynasty before John Forsythe assumed the role.

[robbwolff]

Peter Mark Richman was the first actor to appear on TV as CC. He was replaced by Paul Burke in September 1984. Burke was gone by October.

[Paul Raven]

Thanks for the correction. CConfused!

[robbwolff]

I did't mind Richman, but Burke. His performances were painful to watch.

[SoapDope]

I did not watch SB back then, and have just seen random stuff on youtube. Charles Bateman played the part for over a year according to what I have read and then replaced with Jed Allen. Why was Bateman let go ?

[John]

NBC wanted Allan who said they met at the xmas party and Bateman was cool with Allan

[pdm1974]

I'd read before that SSH was the actor Bill Bell had in mind when he created Stephanie Forrester. I wonder why she ultimately didn't take the part? Was that around the time she returned to contract on DAYS for a few years. Maybe she thought the DAYS gig was the better choice at the time???

 

I wonder how the role would have evolved with her in the part.

[Chris B]

 

Jaime Lyn Bauer was also offered the role of Stephanie I heard, but Bauer turned it down probably due to how overworked she was on Y&R. Either one would've been great, but I'm glad Susan Flannery did it.

[pdm1974]

Susan Flannery was amazing in the role...when she and Brooke were at each others' throats was soap at its best.

[Mitch]

Philip Brown would have made a sexy Ben Warren..wonder why he was replaced?

 

[John]

He filmed a few scednes/Episodes and walked. Something about the work being too much