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 Roles turned down by Richard Burton:

Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Audrey Hepburn was first announced to co-star with Richard Burton in a screen musical adaptation of the classic 1939 film.
Actor who got the part: Peter O'Toole

Julius Caesar
Richard Burton was to play Brutus in a film to be directed by Orson Welles, but the rights were held by MGM, who hired director Joseph L. Manckiewicz.
Actor who got the part: James Mason

Laughter in The Dark
Nicol Williamson replaced Richard Burton who was sacked by Tony Richardson for showing up late on the set.
Actor who got the part: Nicol Williamson

A Little Night Music
One of the stars considered for the leading male role in the movie version of Stephen Sondheim's witty, sophisticated musical based on a film by Ingmar Bergman.
Actor who got the part: Len Cariou

Lost Horizon (1973)
Turned down the role of the world-weary diplomat in the musical version of Frank Capra's 1937 classic.
Actor who got the part: Peter Finch

A Man for All Seasons
Turned down what became the Oscar-winning role of Sir Thomas Moore in master director Fred Zinnemann's epic of the clash between More and Henry VIII.
Actor who got the part: Paul Scofield

The Man Who Would Be King
John Huston couldn't get his beloved adventure project off the ground in the '40s with the dream team of Bogart and Gable, but much later thought of pairing Burton and O'Toole, the great stars of the film "Becket."
Actor who got the part: Sean Connery

The Miracle (1959)
Burton turned down the film and chose another Warner Bros. drama, "Ice Palace," instead.
Actor who got the part: Roger Moore

No Bail for the Judge
Alfred Hitchcock met with Burton to consider him for the role of a gentleman thief in the thriller meant to star Audrey Hepburn.
Actor who got the part: Film Was Never Made,

Oliver!
Widely speculated as a top candidate to play villainous "Bill Sikes" in master director Carol Reed's movie version of the stage musical hit.
Actor who got the part: Oliver Reed

Reflections in a Golden Eye
Turned down the offer to star for director John Huston in the movie version of Carson McCuller's novel about an Army major's tragic denial of his sexual desires.
Actor who got the part: Marlon Brando

The Sound of Music
Considered for the role of "Captain von Trapp."
Actor who got the part: Christopher Plummer

Under the Volcano
Richard Burton turned down the lead role because he was playing in Noel Coward's "Private Lives" along side Elizabeth Taylor.
Actor who got the part: Albert Finney






Did you know that Richard Burton was not the only choice for these movies? (click to learn more)
» 1984
» Boom!
» Cleopatra (1963)
» Equus
» Exorcist II: The Heretic
» The Robe
» Villian
» Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

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