Henry Winkler was offered the role of Danny Zuko. Henry Winkler's "Happy Days" character, Fonzie, basically was Danny Zuko, so he was a natural first thought for the film. But Winkler had been playing the ABC role for a decade, so he passed on "Grease."

Who turned down the role of Danny in Grease?

Hollywood star Henry Winkler revealed on Thursday the surprising reason he turned down John Travolta's star-making role as Danny Zuko in Grease. The comedian, 77, told Kyle and Jackie O that he declined the role of the cheeky greaser because it felt too similar to his iconic Happy Days character The Fonz.

Who was originally offered the role of Danny in Grease?

As part of a three-picture deal with Stigwood, Travolta was given the lead role after Henry Winkler (then starring as Arthur Fonzarelli on Paramount's TV series Happy Days) turned down the role for fear of being typecast as a greaser. (Winkler would later regret the decision.)

Who was the first choice for Grease?

Yes, the first actor offered the role of Danny in 'Grease' was none other than Henry Winkler - best known as The Fonz in 1950s-set sitcom 'Happy Days' - whilst one of the actresses in contention for Sandy was Carrie Fisher, who became a superstar later that year in 'Star Wars.

Who could play Danny Zuko?

There's no better match for this role than Stranger Things' Joe Keery, whose character Steve Harrington is almost a direct copy and past of Danny from 1959 into the 1980s. Keery not only has the hair to pull of Danny Zuko, but he has also demonstrated as Steve that he's perfect as a cool guy character with a heart.

Grease (1978) Cast THEN AND NOW 2023, All cast died tragically!

Who was offered the role of Sandy in Grease?

Casting Sandy would prove trickier. Director Randal Kleiser saw rushes from a new film his old college buddy George Lucas was making, titled Star Wars, to see if its female lead, Carrie Fisher, could be a fit. She wasn't. Marie Osmond (left) and Carrie Fisher (right) were both considered for Olivia Newton-John's Sandy.

Who turned down Sandy in Grease?

John Travolta's 'Grease' co-star Olivia Newton-John almost turned down Sandy, casting director claims.

Who turned down the movie Grease?

Henry Winkler Opens Up About Rejecting Grease: 'I Spent Most of My Adult Life Being Frightened' (Exclusive) Andrea Mandell is the Senior Editor of Entertainment Projects at PEOPLE Magazine. She joined the brand in 2022 and helps lead special projects, film coverage, festivals, awards and more.

Who was the oldest while filming Grease?

The late Olivia Newton-John, who costarred as Sandy, was 29 at the time Grease was filmed; Stockard Channing, who played Rizzo, was the principal cast's oldest member at 33 during filming, according to a 2016 Vanity Fair article about the production.

Was Marie Osmond in Grease?

Carrie Fisher was considered to play Sandy.

Susan Dey, Deborah Raffin, and Marie Osmond were also in the running, but Osmond protested Sandy's transition from a good girl to a sexy biker chick.

Did John Travolta really sing in Grease?

"Greased Lightnin'" is a song from the 1971 musical Grease which was also adapted into the 1978 film Grease. A soundtrack recording from the film version, with John Travolta on lead vocals, peaked at No. 47 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978.

Did Stockard Channing really sing in Grease?

Stockard Channing sings lead on two of the tracks; the two tracks remain her only significant contribution to recorded popular music to date.

What role did Fonzie turn down?

Henry Winkler reflects on his "Happy Days" audition after his big win at the 2023 Critics Choice Awards. When it comes to his 'Fonzie' voice, Winkler reveals, 'I don't know where it came from. ' Henry Winkler says fears of being typecast prompted him to turn down the lead role in 1978's "Grease."

What happened to Rizzo out of Grease?

Stockard Channing as Betty Rizzo

Following her Grease days, Channing really hit her stride in the world of TV, playing the Emmy-winning role of First Lady Abbey Bartlet on The West Wing for seven years. She's also a frequent player on the Broadway stage, appearing in shows like It's Only a Play and Other Desert Cities.

Did John Travolta do his own dancing in Grease?

Not only did John Travolta do his own dancing in Grease, one of the dance moves in the final number at the end was his idea.

Did the cast of Grease get along?

John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John met through their roles as Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson in "Grease," but their real-life friendship went far beyond the hit 1978 musical film. The costars continued to remain close in the years that followed the movie's release.

Who was the youngest cast member in Grease?

Kelly Ward (Putzie)

Kelly Ward brought the youngest member of the T-Birds, Putzie, to life in a role specifically created for the film. Grease wasn't his first time working with costar John Travolta, as the two worked together on 1976's made-for-television movie The Boy in the Plastic Bubble.

How old was Rizzo in Grease in real life?

After being raised by wolves, Lucan strikes out on his own in search of his identity. In 1977, at the age of 33, Channing was cast for the role of high school teenager Betty Rizzo in the hit musical Grease.

Why did Elvis not play in Grease?

10 secrets about Grease you probably never knew

However, he turned down the offer from producers. It had been a while since Elvis had done films, and perhaps if he wasn't the main star then Colonel Tom Parker wouldn't be keen.

What are the movie mistakes in Grease?

Why did they cast Grease so old?

"People might say the cast is too old, but Grease is not a documentary; it's a fantasy," Joel Thurm told The Guardian. "It is a non-PC fairytale that is better for the cast not being teens. The only thing that was important was that the cast all looked about the same age as each other, which they did."

How old were the Grease actors during filming?

Stockard Channing, who portrayed headstrong Pink Lady Betty Rizzo, was 33 when she was hired. The late Olivia Newton-John was 29 when she played Sandy Olsson, the film's female lead. Most of the supporting cast members were also in their 30s or late 20s during shooting.

Was Sandy dead all along in Grease?

Sandy Dies Later In The Story

Where the story diverges is when Sandy sings the “Sanda Dee (Reprise).” In that particular musical moment, Sandy sings “Goodbye to Sandra Dee,” while at Thunder Road. That goodbye, the theory suggests, isn't just saying goodbye to Sandy's old life, but to life as a whole.

How old was Stockard Channing when she was in Grease?

Fun fact: Stockard Channing was 33 when she played 17 year-old Betty Rizzo.