8 Actors Who SAVED Their Careers By Turning Down TV Roles

8. Johnny Galecki Was Tired Of Playing The Best Friend, So Turned Down Sheldon

In what turned out to be something of crossroads moment for the soon-to-be Big Bang Theory superstar, Johnny Galecki found himself being offered the chance to step into the role of none other than Sheldon Cooper early into production on the then-incoming series many moons ago.

But after spending an age being "cast as the best friend or the gay assistant", as he told Variety, the actor known for his work in the likes of Roseanne and many a small movie role up to that point decided he wanted to play the guy "who seems to have a future of romantic triumphs and difficulties."

Sure enough, Galecki soon wound up making the part of Leonard Hofstadter his own, with Jim Parsons brilliantly stepping into the instantly iconic Sheldon part instead. And Emmy and Golden Globe awards and nominations would ultimately head Parsons and Galecki's way, respectively, over the course of the show's eventual 12-year run on the small-screen.

Had Galecki not opted to say "no" to the idea of going full Cooper, though, would both stars have gone on to become household names? And would Johnny in particular still find himself being pigeonholed into romance-less roles for the foreseeable?

Thankfully he did and the rest was Big Bang history.