Young Sheldon Star Almost Played Jay Pritchett on Modern Family
Some actors are simply destined for the characters they play.
There are plenty of roles in series and movies that audiences cannot imagine being filled by anyone else because they're a perfect fit in every way imaginable.
In many instances, it is shocking to find out just how close a character was to being played by a completely different actor. The massively popular comedy series Modern Family has become a household name in the world of sitcoms.
The show follows 3 very different families living in California as they encounter hilarious and relatable daily challenges all whilst dealing with their spouses, children, and careers.
The three families are all related through the father of two of the adults who have families of their own.
Jay Pritchett is a father, a stepfather and a grandfather, and he eventually becomes a great-grandfather as the show progresses. Jay is the heart of the family and although he can be a troublemaker, he is often the one to bring everyone together.
After all his time on Modern Family, fans couldn't possibly imagine Jay being played by anyone besides Ed O'Neill, but that was almost the case.
The part was originally meant to go to Craig T. Nelson, who went on to guest star in 32 episodes of Young Sheldon when his Modern Family opportunity fell through.
During castings, O'Neill and Nelson were both considered excellent candidates to play Jay, and executives were so torn they tossed a coin to decide who got the role. It landed on Nelson to play the patriarch of Modern Family, but then things took a turn.
Due to Nelson's experience in bigger roles, his representatives asked for higher pay for him to take the role. The salary request had executives questioning whether they had made the right decision with Nelson, and then they began to hear rumors about the actor being difficult on set.
The final straw was when they saw an interview in which Nelson publicly insulted the government, his behavior worried them and they withdrew their offer, giving the role to O'Neill.
Although it may have been disappointing, losing the role did not deter Nelson, who went on to act in a few different movies and TV series before landing the role of local sports store owner, Dale Ballard, in the series Young Sheldon.
Thankfully it seems that things worked out for both actors in their ways.
Although Nelson has expressed regret in missing the opportunity to be a part of Modern Family, he has played a memorable role in a coming-of-age sitcom that has produced some of CBS's highest ratings.