10 Potential TV Castings We’re SO Glad Didn’t Happen
7. Richard Lewis As Mork (Happy Days/Mork & Mindy)
Nothing against Richard Lewis with this one. The New York comedian has had a strong stand up career and did a fantastic job in Robin Hood: Men In Tights amongst many other things.
However, considering the role of Mork went to Robin Williams and ended up launching his career, it’s hard to see Lewis as anything other than a downgrade. With so much comedy talent, it’s likely Williams would have gotten his big break elsewhere even if he had missed out, but it’s better not to take that chance.
Without Williams playing Mork, we might not have gotten his Genie, his Mrs. Doubtfire, his Patch Adams, his Teddy Roosevelt and countless other hilarious roles. Playing Mork in Happy Days before spinning off into his own show, the role was only Williams’ sixth ever credit.
He went on to have a huge standup career was well as breaking into Hollywood for major roles, moving on to more serious films later in his career. Had Richard Lewis been able to do an alien voice, he might never have gotten the chance though.
Lewis’ unconvincing space accent (it sounded Danish, Lewis admits in his autobiography) saw producers look elsewhere, giving Williams a chance to shine.