20 Things You Didn't Know About JFK
18. Frank Whaley Was Almost Cast As Oswald (And Would Later Play Him In A TV Movie)
When it came time to cast Lee Harvey Oswald, several names were floated. Most of the actors bore a superficial resemblance to the assassin, but ultimately Stone settled on the frighteningly versatile Gary Oldman.
Prior to Oldman's casting, however, character actor Frank Whaley was close to bagging the role and, depending on who you believe, may even have originally been promised the part after working with Stone on his 1991 movie biopic of The Doors.
Whaley told The AV club in 2007;
"I just was so f**king heartbroken, because I was really anxious to play that role and to work with Oliver again,"
Upon hearing Whaley's dismay at losing out on the role, Stone apologised and instead cast the actor as one of the Oswald impersonators in the movie.
Whaley would get his chance to play Oswald in the tv movie Fatal Deception: Mrs. Lee Harvey Oswald released just two years later.