Several actors including Tom Hanks, Al Pacino, Tom Cruise, Kevin Bacon, Bruce Willis (who, at the time, was married to already-cast star Demi Moore), Harrison Ford and Alec Baldwin turned down the role of Sam. Paul Hogan was also among the long list of actors to decline the lead role. Paul Hogan instead made Almost an Angel.
Nicole Kidman and Madonna auditioned for the role of Molly but were both rejected. Molly Ringwald auditioned and won the role but turned it down at her agent’s request, a decision she has since regretted. Meg Ryan also turned down the role. According to the “Remembering the Magic” featurette on the DVD, Tina Turner was originally cast in the role of Oda Mae. As stated by Whoopi Goldberg on The View, once Swayze was cast as Sam, he threatened to turn down the role if she wasn’t cast in the role of Oda Mae, much to Whoopi’s surprise and deep appreciation, since the two had never met prior, therefore she lovingly dedicated her Academy Award to him, as well as made a special tribute to Swayze when he announced his cancer diagnosis.
