Frank Sinatra was originally offered the lead role for Die Hard

[Twelve75]

Yeah, Selleck should have had a bit more of a career on the big screen. He was pretty good in An Innocent Man and Three Men and a Baby.

Although famous around the world for it,
Magnum has held him back

 

[Michaelangelo]

Sammy Davis for Commando imo

 

[GearSolidMetal]

Still would have been 10x better than Die Hard 5.

If Frank Sinatra was cast as the lead role in Die Hard, there never would have been a Die Hard 5.

 

[Gene Tunney]

According to the Die Hard Wikipedia article, the role of McClane was offered to the following actors before they finally got around to Willis:

Frank Sinatra
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Clint Eastwood
Sylvester Stallone
Harrison Ford
Richard Gere
Burt Reynolds
Don Johnson

Now I have a perverse desire to know what a Burt Reynolds or Don Johnson-lead Die Hard would look like.

Although Willis was the best choice, I could see Gere pulling it off quite well.

I bet that Don regrets that! Don't forget, unlike Willis, Don Johnson dropped a fairly popular album back in '86.

Spoiler

 

[Guestx]

Although Willis was the best choice, I could see Gere pulling it off quite well.

I bet that Don regrets that! Don't forget, unlike Willis, Don Johnson dropped a fairly popular album back in '86.

Spoiler

Agreed on Don, I was thinking that earlier. I wonder if it's one of those things that he's repeatedly kicked himself for over the years.

I also wonder, if he had taken the role, would it have had a significant impact on his career. And on the same note, if Willis had NOT taken the role, what kind of impact would it have had on HIS career?

 

[Good Ole Stannis's BBQ]

He was in his 70s

Sounds like it would be a bit more