Liam Neeson’s 6-foot-4 height and baritone voice have added to the imposing elements of the many iconic characters he’s portrayed in Hollywood.
But imagine being told that being 6-foot-4 was a key reason why you were turned down for a significant role in a movie that would go down as one of the greatest fantasy/adventure films of all time.
That was the case for Neeson.
Seven years before his breakout role as Oskar Schindler in Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List (1993), Neeson hoped to audition for Rob Reiner’s fantasy/adventure movie, The Princess Bride (1987).
During an Oct. 2020 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! (h/t People), Neeson recalled meeting Reiner to try out for the role of Fezzik, a friendly giant and ally of Princess Buttercup (played by Robin Wright).
However, Neeson was told that he still wasn’t tall enough to play Fezzik.
“I didn’t audition, but I was living in London, and I was asked to go meet Rob Reiner, the director, and I was quite nervous, because I knew this was a big film,” Neeson recalled to Kimmel. “I had entered the office in London, and Rob Reiner looked at me and said, ‘He’s not a giant! What height are you?’ I said six foot-four.”
According to Neeson, Reiner replied, “That’s tall. He’s not a giant!”
Reiner was indeed looking for a “giant” to play Fezzik. He went with wrestling legend and former world champion André the Giant. WWE billed him at 7 feet 4 inches, but sources differ on his actual height.
Everything Worked Out for ‘The Princess Bride’ Cast and Liam Neeson
(Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Neeson may have been disappointed about being turned down for the 1987 classic, but everything worked out in the end for all parties.
The cast of Wright, André the Giant, Cary Elwes (Westley), Chris Sarandon (Prince Humperdinck), Mandy Patinkin (Inigo Montoya) and Christopher Guest (Count Tyrone Rugen) fully aced their respective roles. Thirty-nine years later, The Princess Bride holds up as one of the greatest films ever.
Neeson eventually landed his breakout role for Schindler’s List, with more blockbusters like Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), Batman Begins (2005) and Love Actually (2003) to follow.
