Trivia - The Career of Joel Thurm

Looking back at the films and television shows of the 1970s and 1980s, it’s impossible to deny how deeply they shaped the way we laughed, felt, and even talked to one another. This was the era of rabbit-ear TVs, Friday-night lineup rituals, drive-in movies, and theme songs you still know by heart. As a proud child of that time, I remember the joy, comfort, and pure magic those shows and films brought into my life. So when I picked up legendary casting director Joel Thurm’s candid memoir, Sex, Drugs & Pilot Season: Confessions of a Casting Director, I was hit with a serious wave of gratitude for one of the people responsible for bringing so much of that pop-culture gold into our living rooms.

Take a moment and look at Joel’s résumé—it reads like a greatest-hits mixtape of the ’70s and ’80s. Can you imagine Grease without John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John as Danny and Sandy? The Rocky Horror Picture Show without Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon? Cheers without the lightning-in-a-bottle chemistry of Ted Danson and Shelley Long? Or Taxi without Danny DeVito’s Louie DePalma, or The Golden Girls without Bea Arthur’s razor-sharp Dorothy Zbornak? Joel’s casting instincts didn’t just fill roles—they defined characters, shaped generations of fans, and helped turn great projects into timeless classics.

After reading his book, I was lucky enough—thanks to a wonderful nudge from Dinah Manoff—to welcome Joel onto Hollywood Obsessed for an unforgettable conversation about his extraordinary career (Episodes 155 & 156). Our chat sent me straight down memory lane, where polyester, laugh tracks, and iconic opening credits reign supreme. In honor of that nostalgia-packed conversation, I’ve rounded up some fun trivia and behind-the-scenes gems from the shows and films Joel helped bring to life. I hope these trivia items spark the same smiles, memories, and warm fuzzy feelings they gave me. Enjoy. ✨

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Grease (1978)

John Travolta had previously worked with Robert Stigwood on "Saturday Night Fever." As part of a three-picture deal with Stigwood, Travolta was offered the lead role after Henry Winkler—then starring as Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli on "Happy Days"—turned it down for fear of being typecast as a greaser.

Director Randal Kleiser had never directed a theatrical feature before Grease, but he had previously directed Travolta in the 1976 TV film The Boy in the Plastic Bubble.

Before Olivia Newton-John was cast, producer Allan Carr considered several actresses for Sandy, including Carrie Fisher, Ann-Margret, Deborah Raffin, Susan Dey, and Marie Osmond. Fisher, fresh off "Star Wars," was ultimately passed over because neither Stigwood nor Carr knew if she could sing.

Newton-John had very little acting experience prior to Grease. She had only two film credits—"Funny Things Happen Down Under" (1965) and "Toomorrow" (1970)—both before her music career took off. Believing she was “too old” at 28, she requested a screen test and assumed she wouldn’t be cast.

Lucie Arnaz and Beverly D’Angelo auditioned for the role of Rizzo, but Allan Carr cast his client Stockard Channing instead. At 33, Channing was the oldest actor playing a high school student in the film.

Elvis Presley was considered for the role of the Teen Angel, but Frankie Avalon was ultimately cast, reviving his career on the nostalgia circuit. Presley passed away during production.

Lorenzo Lamas replaced Steven Ford (son of President Gerald Ford) at the last minute after Ford developed stage fright and dropped out. Lamas’s hair was bleached blond so he wouldn’t resemble the T-Birds.

Adult film star Harry Reems was originally cast as Coach Calhoun, but Paramount executives vetoed the decision, fearing it would hurt box office returns in the Southern U.S. Sid Caesar was cast instead.

Allan Carr wanted Fannie Flagg to play Principal McGee, but Paramount—on the recommendation of casting director Joel Thurm—cast Eve Arden instead. Arden had famously played a high school teacher on "Our Miss Brooks" in the 1950s. Flagg was cast as the school nurse.

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The Boy in the Plastic Bubble (1976)

Joel Thurm helped produce the TV movie.

While working for David Merrick, Joel met a 17-year-old John Travolta and remembered him when casting The Boy in the Plastic Bubble at Paramount.

Joel also helped director Randal Kleiser cast his USC thesis film Beege and later recommended Kleiser to direct The Boy in the Plastic Bubble.

Travolta had only a 17-day window to film before returning to "Welcome Back, Kotter."

Actor Robert Reed was reportedly difficult on set, unhappy that he was not the lead and sulked throughout production.

Joel revealed in his book that he had a brief sexual encounter with Reed in his dressing room. Reed avoided eye contact with him for the remainder of the shoot.

Bubble became a massive hit for ABC, airing twice and becoming the most-watched TV movie of the year. It earned three Emmy nominations and one win for Diana Hyland, Travolta’s real-life girlfriend, who later passed away. Travolta accepted the Emmy on her behalf.

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Airplane! (1980)

The role of Ted Striker was originally written for David Letterman, who had auditioned for "Kentucky Fried Movie." Although directors David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker liked his screen test, Letterman declined further auditions.

Michael Eisner suggested Barry Manilow for the role.

Other actors considered for Ted Striker included Chevy Chase,  Bill Murray, Fred Willard, and Caitlyn Jenner. Joel Thurm initially suggested Harrison Ford, who declined. Robert Hays, from the sitcom "Angie," was ultimately cast.

Sigourney Weaver and Shelley Long auditioned for the role of Flight attendant Elaine Dickinson before Julie Hagerty won the part in her film debut.

Joel Thurm suggested casting dramatic actors—Lloyd Bridges, Robert Stack, and Peter Graves—instead of comedians, a decision that became key to the film’s success.

Robert Stack was initially uninterested, while Peter Graves rejected the script as tasteless. Both were convinced by family members to take the roles.

None of the famous TV doctors Joel contacted wanted to play Dr. Rumack, leading to the casting of Leslie Nielsen.

The role of co-pilot Roger Murdoch was originally written for Pete Rose. When that fell through, Bruce Jenner was approached but chose “Can’t Stop the Music.” Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was cast instead.

The Hare Krishna at the airport was played by David Leisure, a college roommate of Robert Hays, who agreed to shave his head for the role.

Joel cast Broadway legend Ethel Merman as Lt. Hurwitz, a shell-shocked soldier who believes he is Ethel Merman and sings “Everything’s Coming Up Roses.” It was her final on-screen role.

Barbara Billingsley was not the first choice for the “Jive Lady.” Harriet Nelson was considered but declined because she didn’t want to swear on film.

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The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

Tim Curry originated the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the original London stage production, auditioning with a performance of Little Richard’s “Tutti Frutti.”

Curry recreated the role in Los Angeles, on Broadway, and in the film version, which marked his motion picture debut.

Joel Thurm oversaw casting for the two American leads, selecting Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon as Brad and Janet.

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King of the Gypsies (1978)

Executive Producer Dino De Laurentiis originally wanted either Richard Gere or John Travolta for the lead male role of Dave Stepanowicz

Eric Roberts was discovered by Casting Director Joel Thurm in a coffee shop for this role. According to his memoir, Joel's then boyfriend approached "an actor" that Joel's boyfriend said was perfect for the part upon seeing him. 

Susan Sarandon and Brooke Shields previously played a mother and daughter in Pretty Baby which had debuted earlier in the same year of 1978.

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It’s My Party (1996)

Joel Thurm originally proposed unknown actors, including Viggo Mortensen, for the two lead roles.

United Artists insisted on casting established stars, resulting in Gregory Harrison and Eric Roberts being cast as Brandon and Nick.

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Spelling-Goldberg Television Era

Joel Thurm was head of casting at Spelling-Goldberg Productions. His first show at Spelling-Goldberg was The Rookies. This was followed by casting Family, Starsky & Hutch, Charlie’s Angels, the pilot of Fantasy Island, and The Love Boat.

Charlie’s Angels (1976)

Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg initially considered Kate Jackson based on her popularity on "The Rookies."

Jackson was first cast as Kelly Garrett but requested to play Sabrina Duncan instead. Her request was granted.

Farrah Fawcett was cast as Jill Munroe without auditioning after Spelling saw her performance in "Logan’s Run."

Jaclyn Smith auditioned among hundreds of actresses for Kelly Garrett. Although producers initially wanted a brunette, blonde, and redhead trio, Smith was cast after her chemistry with Jackson and Fawcett impressed them.

ABC executives were initially concerned about three women fighting crime without male supervision. David Doyle was cast as Bosley to provide support for the Angels.

ABC also added David Ogden Stiers as Scott Woodville, intended as a superior officer. Audience reaction to Woodville was negative, and the character was removed. Bosley absorbed many of his responsibilities.

After Farrah Fawcett left after Season 1, Cheryl Ladd joined the cast in Season 2.

When Kate Jackson later became difficult to work with, a replacement search began in 1979. Actresses considered included Barbara Bach, Connie Sellecca, Shari Belafonte, Judith Chapman, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Dian Parkinson.

Shelley Hack was cast for Season 4 but replaced by Tanya Roberts in Season 5.

Tanya Roberts beat out Jayne Kennedy, Susie Coelho, and what she later described as “the other alleged 2,000 Angel candidates.”

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The Love Boat (1976)

Casting the role of Cruise Director Julie McCoy was intense, with hundreds of young women auditioning. Lauren Tewes ultimately won the role.

Gavin MacLeod, fresh off "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," was Aaron Spelling’s first choice for Captain Merrill Stubing.

Dick Van Patten was Spelling’s first choice for Dr. Adam Bricker but was unavailable due to Eight Is Enough. The role went to Bernie Kopell, a close friend of Van Patten. Van Patten later appeared as a guest star playing several different characters.

Van Patten had previously played a ship’s doctor in the 1976 Love Boat pilot movie, but the character was very different from Adam Bricker.

Marion Ross made more guest appearances on The Love Boat than any other actress, including Florence Henderson and Charo.

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Fantasy Island (1977)

Joel Thurm cast the two-hour TV movie Fantasy Island, which served as the pilot for the series.

Actors considered for Mr. Roarke included Orson Welles, James Mason, and Ricardo Montalbán. Ricardo Montalbán ultimately won the role and became the iconic character.

Hervé Villechaize, who played Tattoo, was reportedly difficult on set and frequently clashed with producers.

Villechaize was fired after demanding salary parity with Montalbán. He was replaced by Christopher Hewett, later known for "Mr. Belvedere."

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The NBC Era

Joel Thurm left Paramount TV to become VP of Talent and Casting at NBC and worked directly with Brandon Tartikoff.

Taxi (1978)

Joel Thurm cast Taxi while serving as Vice President of Casting and Talent at NBC.

The first actor signed to the series was Andy Kaufman.

Danny DeVito was cast shortly after and, at the time, had only appeared in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest."

The role of Elaine Nardo was originally written for Nell Carter.

Nell Carter passed on the role in order to star in "Ain’t Misbehavin’" on Broadway, which earned her a Tony Award and launched her to stardom.

Joel wanted Jeff Conaway to play Bobby Wheeler, having previously cast him in "Grease." Producer James L. Brooks was not initially interested, so both Jeff Conaway and Cleavon Little auditioned for the role.

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Angie (1979)

Joel Thurm was hired by Gary Marshall to cast the spin-off series Big Rosie, which later became Angie.

John Travolta suggested Donna Pescow for the series after working with her on "Saturday Night Fever."

While starring on Angie, Robert Hays went on to co-star in "Airplane!" (1980), where he danced to the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive”—the same song that opened "Saturday Night Fever," in which Donna Pescow made her film debut.

Debralee Scott also worked with John Travolta on "Welcome Back, Kotter."

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The Facts of Life (1979)

Joel Thurm helped save The Facts of Life during its second season. The show shifted from a large ensemble of girls to a smaller, more focused group in an effort to boost ratings and explore more mature storylines.

Four cast members were dropped: Molly Parker (Molly Ringwald), Cindy Webster (Julie Anne Haddock), Sue Ann Weaver (Julie Piekarski), and Nancy Olson (Felice Schachter). Ringwald appeared once more at the start of Season 2.

Nancy McKeon was added to the cast as Jo. The character name “Jo” was inspired by the protagonist of Little Women.

Geri Jewell became the first actress with a physical disability (cerebral palsy) to have a recurring role on television.

Blair was originally written as a down-home Texas girl.

During auditions, Lisa Whelchel read Blair’s lines sarcastically, impressing producers so much that they rewrote the character as a self-absorbed New York socialite.

The role of Tootie was not written specifically for a Black actress. Kim Fields was simply the only African-American actress who auditioned.

Mindy Cohn did not audition for the show. Producers noticed her personality while visiting a girls’ school and created the character Natalie based on her. Cohn later tested for the role.

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Bosom Buddies (1980)

Joel cast this series and made a star out of Tom Hanks. The show only lasted two seasons.

In an interview in TV Guide, Donna Dixon explained how she landed the role of Sonny, her acting debut. She knew that as an unknown she would be competing against a lot of women. To stand out, she wore a bright red tracksuit to the audition.

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Gimme a Break! (1981)

Joel Thurm signed Nell Carter to an exclusive contract with NBC after the network aired Ain’t Misbehavin’.

Joel and Nell Carter were close friends.

The premise for Gimme a Break! was developed specifically as a starring vehicle for Nell Carter.

After Nell returned from rehab, Joel officiated her wedding.

Joel signed seven-year-old Joey Lawrence to join the cast of Gimme a Break!.

Joey Lawrence is the only person Joel ever successfully booked for an appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson."

When Thelma Hopkins left the show, Joel suggested stand-up comedian Rosie O’Donnell as her replacement. Unfortunately, Rosie and Nell had little on-screen chemistry.

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Cheers (1982)

Auditions for Sam and Diane were held on the bar set of "Bosom Buddies".

Finalists were paired together to test chemistry. The combinations were Fred Dryer and Julia Duffy, William Devane and Lisa Eichhorn, and Ted Danson and Shelley Long.

Ted Danson and Shelley Long were chosen because of their undeniable chemistry.

Joel Thurm knew Danson and Long were perfect for Sam and Diane the moment he saw them together.

Sam Malone was originally written as a retired football player.

After Danson was cast, the character was rewritten as a retired Boston Red Sox baseball player to better suit his physique.

The character of Cliff Clavin did not exist in the original script. John Ratzenberger auditioned for the role of Norm but was not considered right for it. Ratzenberger suggested a “bar know-it-all” character and improvised during his audition, prompting the writers to create Cliff Clavin specifically for him.

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The Golden Girls (1985)

Judith Weiner and Alison Jones officially cast The Golden Girls, but Joel Thurm sat in on all the auditions and has extensive behind-the-scenes insight.

The role of Dorothy was challenging to cast. Creator Susan Harris wrote the part specifically for Bea Arthur.

NBC executive Brandon Tartikoff was not a fan of Bea Arthur and asked Joel to suggest alternatives.

Joel brought in Elaine Stritch as a potential Dorothy before Bea Arthur ultimately won the role.

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Some facts in this post were sourced from IMDb and Wikipedia.

Now that you know the stories behind the casting choices that defined so many of our favorite ’70s and ’80s films and TV series, it’s easy to appreciate the unseen influence of casting directors like Joel Thurm. Their instincts didn’t just fill roles—they created characters who still live in our hearts decades later.

Do yourself a favor and tune into my in-depth, nostalgia-packed conversation with Joel Thurm on Hollywood Obsessed, Episodes 155 & 156. It’s a joyful, no-filter trip through TV and film history—filled with heart, humor, and pure classic Hollywood magic.

Listen here

Episode 155 - HERE

Episode 156 - HERE