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The Godfather (1972)  «   » 
 Who was considered for The Godfather?

John Aprea
John Aprea auditioned for the role of Michael Corleone. He was later cast as Tessio in the Godfather II.
Actor who got the part: Al Pacino

Frankie Avalon
Frankie Avalon was considered to play the role of Johnny Fontane.
Actor who got the part: Al Martino

Anne Bancroft
Anne Bancroft refused Francis Ford Coppola's offer to star as the Corleone family matriarch.
Actor who got the part: Morgana King

Warren Beatty
Warren Beatty was considered to play the part of Michael Corleone.
Actor who got the part: Al Pacino

Karen Black
Karen Black auditioned for the female lead role.
Actor who got the part: Diane Keaton

Robert Blake
Robert Blake was reportedly turned down for a role in The Godfather.

Peter Bogdanovich
Peter himself claims that Paramount was eager for him to direct a number of their prestigious productions, including "The Godfather" and "Chinatown", but he preferred to develop his own films.
Actor who got the part: Francis Coppola

Ernest Borgnine
Peter Marshall said (on Hollywood Squares) that Borgnine auditioned for the lead role of Vito Corleone.
Actor who got the part: Marlon Brando

Jill Clayburgh
Jill Clayburgh was the first actress to test for the role of Michael Corleone's wife. At the time she was Al Pacino's girlfriend.
Actor who got the part: Diane Keaton

Robert De Niro
DeNero read for the parts of both Sonny and Michael Corleone, but he would not be cast until Godfather II as Vito.
Actor who got the part: James Caan

William Goldman
Turned down a chance to write the screenplay, because he didn't want to glamorise the Mafia. Goldman did in fact love the novel.
Actor who got the part: Francis Ford Coppola And Mario Puzo

Dustin Hoffman
Offered the part of Michael Corleone.
Actor who got the part: Al Pacino

Burt Lancaster
Lancaster lost the role of Vito Corleone to Marlon Brando.
Actor who got the part: Marlon Brando

Sergio Leone
Director Sergio Leone was offered the chance to direct but he did not care for the story.

Ali MacGraw
Director Francis Ford Coppola considered casting Ali MacGraw in the role of Kay Corleone.
Actor who got the part: Diane Keaton

Steve McQueen
Steve McQueen auditioned for the role of Tom Hagen.
Actor who got the part: Robert Duvall

Paul Newman
Paul Newman auditioned for the role of Tom Hagen.
Actor who got the part: Robert Duvall

Jack Nicholson
Offered the part of Michael Corleone but declined.
Actor who got the part: Al Pacino

Ryan O'Neal
Ryan O'Neal was considered for the role of Michael Corleone.

Jennifer O'Neill
Jennifer O'Neill auditioned for the part of Kay.
Actor who got the part: Diane Keaton

Laurence Olivier
Considered for the role of Vito Corleone.
Actor who got the part: Marlon Brando

Anthony Perkins
Anthony Perkins auditioned for the roles of Tom Hagen and Sonny Corleone.

Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley was a fan of Mario Puzo's novel and wanted to play the part of Tom Hagen.
Actor who got the part: Robert Duvall

Anthony Quinn
Quinn was among several actors cosidered for the role of Vito Corleone before they settled on Brando
Actor who got the part: Marlin Brando

Robert Redford
The studio wanted Redford for the role of Michael Corleone.
Actor who got the part: Al Pacino

Burt Reynolds
Reynolds was considered to play Michael Corleone. Some people say he was actually cast but Marlon Brando wouldn't act along side him.
Actor who got the part: Al Pacino

Martin Sheen
Sheen auditioned for the role of Michael Corleone. Sheen was in Coppola's "Apocalypse Now."
Actor who got the part: Al Pacino

Cybill Shepherd
Cybill Shepherd auditioned for the part of Kay.
Actor who got the part: Diane Keaton

Frank Sinatra
Sinatra lobbied hard for the role of Don Vito Corleone but Coppola & company wanted an actor with a "bigger" screen presence to fill the larger-than-life role.
Actor who got the part: Marlon Brando

Rod Steiger
Rod Steiger campaigned for the role of Michael Corleone, even though he was too old for the part.
Actor who got the part: Al Pacino

Danny Thomas
The studio was pressuring Coppolla to use a name actor for the role of Vito Corleone, and Danny Thomas was reportedly the first choice.
Actor who got the part: Marlon Brando

Orson Welles
Orson Welles was considered for the role of Vito Corleone.



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