Whoopi Goldberg was turned down for iconic Ghost role until Patrick Swayze insisted
Ghost’s casting directors initially dismissed Whoopi Goldberg for the part over fears her vibrant personality would take over the film and deflect the spotlight from the storyline
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Whoopi Goldberg has revealed she was turned down for her iconic role in Ghost but bagged the part after Patrick Swayze refused to be involved until she auditioned.
The actress, 64, has lifted the lid on the casting process for the cult film, revealing she was initially turned down due to her persona being ‘too big’.
She told Naomi Campbell’s No Filter YouTube series the story behind how she bagged the role this week.
Ghost’s casting directors initially dismissed her for the part over fears her vibrant personality would take over the film and deflect the spotlight from the storyline.
But Whoopi said the late great Patrick Swayze – who died in 2009 aged 57 from pancreatic cancer – refused to take up his role until she got an audition.
Whoopi said a friend told her: “I just went to this audition, every black woman and their mother went to this audition. Women got out of the grave for this audition.”
On learning of the casting, she contacted her agent to find out why she wasn’t told about it.
She said: “I asked my agent why I wasn’t told about it and he responded: ‘They don’t want you. They think that your persona is too big and will take people out of the movie.’
“I said: ‘Not that I’m comparing myself but Marlon Brando is big. They’re a big character and then you move on.’”
But the directors’ minds soon changed and Whoopi explained she received a call asking her to audition for the iconic role.
Whoopi said: “I was called up and told, ‘remember that movie they didn’t want you for?’
“‘They’ve hired Patrick Swayze, Patrick wanted to know why they hadn’t come to you. They told him you would take people out of the movie. They won’t let me bring her in.’
“He responded: ‘I’m not saying yes to this piece until we know she’s not the right person.’
“I’d never met him but he was a fan!”
Whoopi then went on to reveal Patrick flew to Alabama to read the parts with her, and the pair hit it off instantly.
She said: “As soon as we looked at each other we started laughing. We went on for two hours.”
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