He’s made his mark on the Star Wars and Batman franchises and has worked with legendary directors including Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg.
Yet Liam Neeson lost out on what might have been one of his biggest roles ever more than 23 years ago.
The 68-year-old Oscar nominee revealed Friday on a virtual Jimmy Kimmel Live! appearance that he had almost auditioned for the classic fairytale comedy The Princess Bride before getting turned down by Rob Reiner.
Almost: Liam Neeson, 68, revealed Friday on Jimmy Kimmel Live that he was considered for the role of Fezzik in The Princess Bride, later played by André the Giant
Jimmy brought up the story at first, and Liam clarified that he didn’t technically audition to play the role of Fezzik.
‘I didn’t audition, but I was living in London, and I was asked to go meet Rob Reiner, the director — Meathead,’ he began, referencing Reiner’s character years earlier on All In The Family.
‘And I was quite nervous, because I knew this was a big film,’ he continued.
‘I had entered the office in London, and Rob Reiner looked at me and said, “He’s not a giant! What height are you?” I said six foot, four.
Big meeting: ‘I didn’t audition, but I was living in London, and I was asked to go meet Rob Reiner, the director — Meathead,’ he began
Not tall enough: ‘I had entered the office in London, and Rob Reiner looked at me and said, “He’s not a giant! What height are you?” I said six foot, four. “That’s tall. He’s not a giant!”‘ Liam recounted; still from The Princess Bride
‘I thought, “OK, the next time I see Rob Reiner, I’m gonna tell him he was very rude,”‘ Liam said. The role eventually went to André the Giant; still from The Princess Bride
‘”That’s tall. He’s not a giant!”‘ the director allegedly said, and his curt response didn’t endear him to Liam.
‘So there was no “hello,” “thank you.” I thought, “OK, the next time I see Rob Reiner, I’m gonna tell him he was very rude,”‘ he said.
The Schindler’s List star had trouble holding a grudge with the actor turned director because he’d helmed the classic rock mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap.
‘He’s forgiven,’ he added.
Big fan: The Schindler’s List star couldn’t hold a grudge with the director because he’d helmed the classic rock mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap. ‘He’s forgiven,’ he added; shown in May 2019
Towering height: Jimmy joked that it was ‘probably the only time you were ever too short for a role,’ which got a laugh out of Liam
The Princess Bride role eventually went to the professional wrestler André the Giant.
Jimmy joked that it was ‘probably the only time you were ever too short for a role,’ which got a laugh out of Liam.
The actor also revealed he was a fan of Reiner’s going back to his work on All In The Family.
Elsewhere during the interview, he and Jimmy chatted about one of his passions, fly fishing, and Liam even had some of his elaborate fishing lures hanging on the wall behind him.
The two pals had gone fly fishing in the past, and Jimmy revealed that the actor had even tied a few fly lures for him, though he’d just put most of them on display because he feared losing them.
But Jimmy had been able to catch a gorgeous brown trout with one of the Phantom Menace actor’s lures, which he shared a picture of.
Souvenir: Jimmy and Liam had gone fly fishing before, and the host revealed he still displays fly lures Liam tied for him
Jimmy caught a gorgeous brown trout with one of the Phantom Menace actor’s lures, which he shared a picture of
Credit: Source link
