Why Jamie Lee Curtis’ Mom Refused to Let Her Audition for The Exorcist

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Jamie Lee Curtis almost experienced an excellent day for an exorcism.

I was so surprised to learn this! Apparently, when I was a kid, the producer of The Exorcist, Ray Stark – who was actually good friends with my mom, Janet Leigh – asked me to audition for the movie! Can you believe it? I was just a preteen at the time, and to think I almost could have been in that iconic horror film is wild!

She remembered that the director called her mother and asked if her daughter, Jamie, could audition for the movie The Exorcist. She was around twelve years old at the time, and he probably thought she was a cute, spirited kid with a good personality – he likely met her at a party and thought she’d be a funny addition to the film, as she told Drew Barrymore on The Drew Barrymore Show.

But Janet—who shared Jamie and Kelly Curtis, 69, with ex-husband Tony Curtis—told the producer “no.” 

Jamie explained that her mother, who was also a well-known actress, made a deliberate choice to ensure Jamie had a normal childhood. She told Drew, “My mom really prioritized me having a childhood, and I’m grateful she did.”

Even though she didn’t play the lead role in The Exorcist – that went to Linda Blair – the film still had a significant impact on her life.

The Academy Award winner shared a story about watching The Exorcist with friends for their fifteenth birthday at their home, which had a screening room. They were so frightened by the movie that their friends teased them at school afterward.

Despite being afraid of horror movies, Jamie became a famous Scream Queen, starting with her role in the 1978 film Halloween. She recalled that it was actually quite relaxing to work on a movie where the expectations weren’t so high.

In a 2020 interview with Variety, she explained that they felt they had nothing at stake and didn’t realize what they could achieve. They were simply grateful for the opportunity.

Oh my god, can you believe Halloween was made in just seventeen days with, like, twelve people? Everyone was so young and full of energy, it was pure magic! Honestly, I don’t think anyone knew what they had created – not even John Carpenter or Debra Hill, I swear! It was just…lightning in a bottle.

Jamie isn’t alone in wondering ‘what could have been’ with her career – here are some other roles that nearly went to different actors.

Miles Teller, known for his role in Top Gun: Maverick, auditioned for several roles on Friday Night Lights, even trying out for the part that ultimately went to Taylor Kitsch.

The Star Trek actor lost out on the role, which ultimately went to Ben McKenzie, due to his bad acne.

He shared on Josh Horowitz’s podcast, Happy Sad Confused, in May 2024 that he struggled with bad skin both as a teenager and again after finishing college.

In a 2021 interview, the actor from American Pie shared that turning down a particular role is one of his biggest regrets. He explained that he was questioning whether he wanted to focus on television at the time, and wasn’t sure he was ready for that career path. He admits that sounds a bit silly now, but that was how he felt then.

Casting director David Rapaport revealed to EW that he initially wanted Alden Ehrenreich for the role of Dan, but producers felt Ehrenreich, who is 5’9″, wasn’t tall enough to be Blake Lively’s on-screen love interest. Ultimately, the role went to Penn Badgley, who is roughly the same height as Ehrenreich, according to online sources.

In his 2014 memoir and again on Marc Maron’s podcast, actor Rob Lowe shared that he declined the role that eventually went to Patrick Dempsey on Grey’s Anatomy. He jokingly estimated the decision may have cost him around $70 million, but added, “It’s just money.” Lowe explained that after watching the pilot and hearing the character referred to as ‘McDreamy,’ he realized the part wasn’t a good fit for him.

Benedict Cumberbatch, known for his roles in Sherlock and as Doctor Strange, once tried out for the part of the vampire Bill Compton. Ultimately, Stephen Moyer ended up getting the role.

Before becoming an Academy Award nominee, Jessica Chastain auditioned for the role of Sookie Stackhouse, but Anna Paquin ultimately landed the part.

When she was 17, Jennifer Lawrence auditioned for the role of Crystal Norris, a werepanther, and was a strong contender. However, her age ultimately led the producers to cast Lindsay Pulsipher instead.

Tiffani Thiessen, known for her roles on Saved By the Bell and Beverly Hills, 90210, revealed she tried out for the part of Rachel on Friends. However, producers felt she was too young for the role.

Katherine Langford, known for her role in 13 Reasons Why, actually auditioned for the part of Betty Cooper on Riverdale. Camila Mendes, who plays Veronica on the show, revealed this, saying they all went for falafel with an actor who was trying out for the role of Archie.

Most fans can’t picture anyone but Jennifer Love Hewitt as Jen Lindley, but series creator Kevin Williamson recently shared with Entertainment Weekly that Katherine Heigl was a strong contender for the role. Director Steve Miner, who had worked with Heigl on his 1994 film My Father the Hero, suggested her to Williamson. Williamson remembered Heigl appearing more mature for her age and giving a very impressive audition. “We were all really impressed with how good she was,” he said.

As a huge Dawson’s Creek fan, I always thought Katie Holmes was Joey Potter, but I recently learned how close we were to a totally different Joey! Apparently, Selma Blair was originally cast, and everything was set. But then, creator Kevin Williamson received an audition tape from Katie Holmes – sent from her family’s basement in Ohio, of all places! He told Entertainment Weekly that watching that tape completely changed his mind and ultimately led to Katie getting the role. It’s amazing to think how different the show could have been!

Actress Janeane Garofalo came very close to being cast as Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City. She even signed a contract, but ultimately she was the producers’ second choice behind Sarah Jessica Parker. Garofalo explained that her involvement hinged on Parker turning down the role, and she was on standby waiting to hear. It’s hard to picture anyone other than Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie, but Garofalo’s story makes sense – she was fully prepared to step in if needed.

Originally, The CW considered Ashley Olsen for the role of the stylish and popular Serena van der Woodsen, but casting director David Rapaport was convinced Blake Lively was the perfect fit. He told Buzzfeed he worried they wouldn’t be able to cast Lively, or that she wouldn’t be interested, because he believed the show’s success depended entirely on her, and he didn’t have a backup plan.

The CW initially hoped Rumer Willis, who would later win Dancing With the Stars, would star in Gossip Girl. However, casting director Rapaport felt she wasn’t the right fit (and later cast her on 90210). He told Buzzfeed he liked Rumer, and admired her growth as an actress and person, but he believed the show needed relatively unknown leads who truly embodied the spirit of the series and ultimately carried it for six seasons.

Before Keke Palmer landed her role on Fox’s comedy-horror series Scream Queens, she was a contender for the part of Iris West on The Flash. Ultimately, Candice Patton got the role. Casting director David Rapaport explained to Buzzfeed that they had seen Candice early in the casting process, but weren’t quite ready to make a decision. They then tested Keke Palmer and another actress, but both seemed a little too young alongside Grant Gustin. When they brought Candice back for another audition, Rapaport said there was an instant connection.

Iwan Rheon recently shared with The Telegraph that he was a finalist for the role of Jon Snow during the initial casting of Game of Thrones. Ultimately, he ended up playing Ramsay Snow – a character many fans loved to hate in season 5 – while Kit Harington became famous for his portrayal of Jon Snow. It’s hard to picture things any other way!

Josh Schwartz, who worked with Chris Pratt on the last season of The O.C., shared that Pratt was originally his top pick for the role of ‘Chuck,’ but it ultimately went to Zachary Levi. Schwartz joked that Pratt was ‘destined to guard the galaxy, not work at the Buy More,’ and added that Pratt is a genuinely kind person.

Katie Holmes, known for her role on Dawson’s Creek, spoke with Orange Is the New Black creator Jenji Kohan when the show was first being developed, Kohan shared. While Holmes was a fan of the series, Kohan told TopMob News that Holmes had other commitments at the time. She also added that, initially, it wasn’t clear what Orange Is the New Black would become.

Cobie Smulders revealed that she originally auditioned for the role of Kate Austen on Lost but ultimately became Robin Scherbatsky on How I Met Your Mother. This means two popular TV shows could have had very different casts!

You know, it’s funny how things work out in Hollywood! I learned from an interview Cobie Smulders gave a while back that both she and Evangeline Lilly actually auditioned for Lost. Apparently, I totally bombed my audition – which she was secretly thrilled about! She even joked that she owed me one because my bad audition opened the door for her to get the part. It just goes to show, sometimes things have to go wrong for someone else to shine!

While most people think of The Good Wife as Julianna Margulies’ breakout role, she almost didn’t get the part. The Emmy-winning actress recently shared that the studio initially considered Ashley Judd and Helen Hunt for the lead role before offering it to her.

Can you BELIEVE someone else almost played Buffy?! I mean, seriously! Apparently, Katie Holmes was up for the part – the Buffy Summers! – but she decided she wanted to just be a normal teen and go to high school. Thank goodness, honestly. I can’t picture anyone but Sarah Michelle Gellar as our slayer. She is Buffy, and I’m so glad she got the role! It just wouldn’t have been the same.

The part that ultimately went to Edie Falco was first offered to Lorraine Bracco, but the Academy Award nominee declined because she’d already played a similar role in Goodfellas and was looking for a fresh challenge.

Before her success on the show Empire, Taraji P. Henson shared that she actually auditioned for the role of Olivia Pope on Scandal. She admitted that when she went to read for Shonda Rhimes, she felt it was always meant for Kerry Washington and wondered why she was even considered. She knew the part belonged to Washington.

Believe it or not, Gillian Anderson—known for playing Agent Scully in The X-Files—was offered a part in Downton Abbey! She ultimately decided against it, and the role went to Elizabeth McGovern instead.

 

Though it’s difficult to picture anyone but her in the role, Nina Dobrev wasn’t the CW’s original pick for Elena Gilbert. The producers initially considered other actresses, but after reviewing Dobrev’s audition tape again, they realized she was the perfect fit.

The famous singer was offered the main part in a show starring Bill Cosby, but she decided to focus on her music instead.

For fans of Sex and the City, Sarah Jessica Parker is synonymous with Carrie Bradshaw, but Dana Delany was originally offered the part. The Emmy-winning actress turned it down because she’d already appeared in several films with adult themes – like Nude Girls and Exit to Eden – and didn’t want to take on a project that prominently featured “sex” in its title.

Jerry Seinfeld offered Paul Shaffer, David Letterman’s bandleader, a job on his show without asking him to audition. However, Shaffer never responded to the offer.

AMC initially wanted Jane to play Don Draper, but Jon Hamm revealed in a podcast that she turned down the role because she wasn’t interested in being a regular on a TV series. Ironically, Hamm later became the star of HBO’s Hung.

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2025-12-29 01:18