Danny DeVito almost became part of one of the biggest sitcoms in TV history. Before Jason Alexander made George Costanza famous on ‘Seinfeld‘, DeVito was reportedly considered for the same role.
The story makes fans wonder how different the show could have looked with DeVito in the part. It also raises a bigger question about how one rejected role could have changed the path of his already successful comedy career.
Why Danny DeVito Reportedly Passed On the Role Of George Costanza in ‘Seinfeld’
‘Seinfeld‘ became one of the most loved sitcoms ever made. Its best episodes became a big part of pop culture, and the show is still remembered for its sharp humor and badly behaved main characters. But one of those main roles could have gone in a very different direction.
Related: ‘Seinfeld’ Almost Didn’t Have Elaine, Then Julia Louis-Dreyfus Changed TV Forever
Jason Alexander, who played George Costanza throughout the show, once spoke about the casting story during an interview with Howard Stern. According to Alexander, Danny DeVito was a serious contender for the role. He also said Chris Rock was considered for George before the part finally went to him.
Alexander then shared why he believed DeVito turned it down. He said, “I think in the case of Danny, he probably didn’t want to be — his career, when we started ‘Seinfeld,’ would’ve been at its apex, so he probably didn’t want to do a sidekick role,” said Alexander. “Why Chris wouldn’t do it? I don’t know, maybe it didn’t get to an offer stage. I don’t know.”
George Costanza May Not Have Fit DeVito’s Career At The Time
It is easy to see why the George Costanza role could have changed DeVito’s career. ‘Seinfeld‘ became a massive hit, and George became one of the most famous sitcom characters ever. If DeVito had taken the role, viewers may have seen a very different version of George. Still, DeVito did not need ‘Seinfeld’ to prove himself.
In case you missed it: 15 Best ‘Seinfeld’ Episodes, Ranked
From 1978 to 1983, he starred in ‘Taxi‘, which first aired on ABC and later on NBC. In that sitcom, he played Louie De Palma, the amoral supervisor of the Sunshine Cab Company.
That role had already made DeVito a major name in comedy. After ‘Taxi‘ ended, he moved into films and built an even stronger career. By the time ‘Seinfeld‘ premiered in 1989, he was not an actor waiting for his big break. He already had a strong place in both television and movies.
Around the same time, DeVito had just starred alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in ‘Twins‘ in 1988. If he had accepted ‘Seinfeld‘, he might not have had as much time for later films like ‘The War of the Roses’ in 1989 or ‘Batman Returns’ in 1992.
The idea of Danny DeVito playing George Costanza is still fun to imagine. He could have brought his own strange and funny energy to the role. But Jason Alexander made George his own in a way that is hard to replace.
You might also like to read: ‘Seinfeld’ Star Jason Alexander Once Threatened To Quit The Show Due To His Character George Costanza’s Low Screen Time
