Jack Nicholson turned down the role of Michael Corleone in “The Godfather”.
Al Pacino earned two Oscar nominations for his portrayal of the mob boss Michael Corleone.
Jack Nicholson was offered the role first. He is famously quoted as saying:
“Back then I believed Indians should play Indians and Italians should play Italians”.
Jack got lucky when Burt Reynolds turned down the part of Astronaut Garrett Breedlove, a part James Bridges specifically wrote for Burt in
“Terms of Endearment”/1983.
Reynolds who never won an Oscar said it was the acting decision he regretted the most.
Nicholson ended up winning a Best Supporting Oscar for his work in “Terms of Endearment”.