10 Nearly Cast Actors Who Would Have Ruined Great Comedy Films

3. David Letterman As Ted Striker In "Airplane!"

letteman airplane Believe it or not, David Letterman was considered for the role of Ted Striker in the hilarious Airplane! (1980). He even screen tested for the role. Am I the only person who finds this a little surreal? I just find it so hard to envision him in the pilots seat instead of...well... his regular seat on his talk show. Yeah, I'm pretty sure there is a better observation to be made about that. Not much more to be said about this one. Awesomely, Robert Hays landed the part and did a fantastic job. Much less surreal. Much more badass.
 
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