10 Actors Who Stupidly Turned Down Iconic Roles

7. Chevy Chase - American Beauty

The Role: Lester Burnham

Chevy has a habit of missing out on pretty incredible roles, either by choice or because he didn't quite make the cut, from Forrest Gump, through Animal House and Ghostbusters to American Gigolo, but arguably the biggest missed opportunity for the comedy "legend" was the chance to play Lester Burnham in Sam Mendes' American Beauty.

Provided he could have matched Kevin Spacey's exceptional performance, American Beauty could have been Chevy's crowning glory in an otherwise not so great career, and could well have picked him up an unlikely Oscar nomination. But then who is to say that Chevy would have been as masterful in that role as Spacey?

Chances are Chevy won't be getting these kind of offers any time soon, thanks to his notoriously difficult attitude, but American Beauty would have been a major deal for the paycheck-hungry Community star.