15 Actors Who Foolishly Turned Down Career-Making TV Roles

11. Craig T. Nelson Was Almost Jay Pritchett - Modern Family

Ed O'Neill is one of those actors that seems like he is exactly like the character he plays on TV, but the Modern Family match made in heaven almost never came to fruition as Craig T. Nelson was weighing his offer for the role of Jay Pritchett on the popular comedy mockumentary Modern Family before O'Neill was even considered. In the end Nelson decided ABC wasn't putting enough money on the table and moved on to star in NBC's Parenthood as the level-headed Zeek Braverman which is currently in the middle of its fifth season. Overall, this missed opportunity seems like a win-win for audiences, but it may be viewed as a slight misstep for Nelson as time has unfolded. Although both shows are popular and successful, few shows rival Modern Family at the moment for audience pull (even with a number of controversies attached to it,) which has also started to be syndicated on USA Network. Aside from Parenthood, Nelson has recently starred in films such as The Proposal and Soul Surfer, but he could well have been on the same big money, big profile contract that is likely to tie O'Neill to the show now after its early successes. O'Neill, who has been a part of four Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Cast in a Comedy Series as well as numerous other nominations, has stuck to voice work aside from his part as Mr. Pritchett since the show started airing in 2009.