10 Things You Didn't Know About Steve McQueen

7. He Turned Down Some Pretty Big Roles

Despite having starred in some of the most iconic roles in Hollywood history, McQueen in fact missed out on a whole host of major parts. His career was only just beginning to take off in the late 1950s, so the opportunity to take the lead male role in Blake Edwards' 1961 classic Breakfast At Tiffany's would have been a massive boost to his credit. Edwards' was keen for him to accept, but his involvement in TV series Wanted: Dead Or Alive meant that McQueen was unavailable. Despite Edwards' protests, George Peppard was hired instead. Other roles missed were in the likes of A Bridge Too Far, The Driver, Raise The Titanic, and Apocalypse Now (which he turned down due to being unable to cry on cue). He was even up for the role of Harry Callahan in Dirty Harry, which eventually went to Clint Eastwood. Often, his inability to take on the roles was due to his own ego. A headstrong individual, he frequently clashed with others and refused to take part in the projects. Disagreements with business partners meant passing on 1966's Grand Prix, while a poor relationship with Barbara Streisand meant opting out of 1977's The Gauntlet.