John Travolta’s Biggest Career Regrets: Three Iconic Roles He Passed Up
John Travolta opens up about the three major movie roles he turned down—Chicago, An Officer and a Gentleman, and The Green Mile—reflecting on how these missed chances shaped the paths of other Hollywood stars.
Few actors can say their list of declined roles reads like a Hollywood highlight reel, but for John Travolta, that’s just the reality. Known for his discerning choices, Travolta’s career is marked by both bold moves and surprising passes. While he’s had his share of hits and misses, some of his decisions have left even his biggest fans scratching their heads. Turning down Days of Heaven only to sign on for Phenomenon is just one example. Like many stars, he’s not immune to second-guessing—think Burt Reynolds wishing he’d played Han Solo, or Will Smith realizing too late that The Matrix was the one that got away. But Travolta’s list of what-ifs is especially long, and he’s the first to admit it.
One of the most pivotal moments came when he declined the lead in An Officer and a Gentleman, after already passing on American Gigolo and Days of Heaven. Richard Gere, who ultimately took those roles, owes much of his career to Travolta’s choices. It’s hard to picture anyone else in those films now, but it’s just as tough to argue that Travolta did himself any favors by stepping aside. Had he leaned into the heartthrob image, maybe the career slump he faced in the 1980s could have been avoided. Instead, he went for a Saturday Night Fever sequel and starred in Perfect, a campy aerobics drama with Jamie Lee Curtis that missed the mark in more ways than one.
Three Roles That Still Haunt Travolta
Though he could fill a book with the roles he’s turned down, Travolta has singled out three that still weigh on him. In a 2008 interview, he shared that his biggest regrets are Chicago, An Officer and a Gentleman, and The Green Mile.
“I wasn’t all that into the stage show,”
he said about Chicago.
“It was a lot of women who hated men, and I like women who like men.”
He was offered the part of Billy Flynn, the slick lawyer who gets women acquitted of murder. Once again, Richard Gere stepped in and ended up winning a Golden Globe for the role. The film itself swept the Oscars, taking home six awards. Travolta later admitted that while the stage version felt harsh, the movie had a lot more heart.
When it comes to An Officer and a Gentleman and The Green Mile, Travolta was even more candid:
“I probably should have said yes.”
The Green Mile role went to Tom Hanks, who had just won an Oscar for another part Travolta had passed on—Forrest Gump. It’s tough to imagine anyone but Hanks in those roles, with his signature warmth and sincerity.
Looking Back With Humor and Perspective
Despite the missed opportunities, Travolta takes it all in stride. He’s quick to point out the silver lining:
“I gave Richard Gere and Tom Hanks a career. What you turn down can be a gift to someone else. There is enough to go around.”
That kind of generosity is rare in the industry, especially considering that Hanks eventually became an even bigger star. Fortunately, when Quentin Tarantino came calling with Pulp Fiction, Travolta was ready to say yes—and the rest is history.