The Legendary Role Paul Newman Said No to—Kevin Costner Said Yes

For any actor who grew up watching Paul Newman, the dream of sharing the screen with the legendary star was undeniable — and Kevin Costner was no exception.

Though Costner was heavily influenced by the western icons John Wayne and John Ford, he was equally captivated by Newman’s magnetic presence, signature blue eyes, and effortless charisma.

The two eventually worked together, but not before Costner had made multiple attempts to bring Newman onboard a project. Their collaboration finally came with Luis Mandoki’s romantic drama Message in a Bottle — a box office success that grossed nearly four times its budget — but the critical reception was mixed. Costner even earned a Razzie nomination for Worst Actor.

Still, casting Newman as his father was a stroke of genius. The two shared similar energy, a slight physical resemblance, and mannerisms that made their onscreen bond believable. Of course, it helped that Newman was seemingly incapable of giving a bad performance.

But Message in a Bottle wasn’t the first time Costner tried to cast Newman as his dad. Years earlier, he’d approached him for a much higher-profile project — The Bodyguard. While the film is mostly remembered today for Whitney Houston’s powerhouse performance and her iconic rendition of “I Will Always Love You,” it was also a massive hit in its own right. The 1992 romantic thriller became the second highest-grossing movie of the year (behind Aladdin), earned two Oscar nominations for Best Original Song, and spawned the best-selling movie soundtrack of all time.

It wasn’t all praise, though — The Bodyguard was also a Razzie favorite, racking up nominations for Worst Picture, Actor, and Actress. And few remember that Ralph Waite (best known for The Waltons and a former co-star of Newman in Cool Hand Luke) played Costner’s father in the film.

Costner had originally hoped for something more ambitious: casting Paul Newman in that role.

“I wanted Paul to play my father in The Bodyguard, but he couldn’t do it,” Costner once recalled. “And I’m glad now, because this [Message in a Bottle] was a much better part. He’s just great. I’ve been a fan for years, and to finally work with him was a big high. I actually think we’re a good match physically — I think he looks like my dad.”

Had Newman accepted the role in The Bodyguard, he likely would have received third billing behind Costner and Houston. Instead, that credit went to none other than Gary Kemp of Spandau Ballet — making his Hollywood debut in a supporting role.