Before Michael Douglas' Iconic Role in 'Wall Street,' Two A-Listers Got the Offer

Michael Douglas revealed he was not the first choice for his iconic role in the 1987 film "Wall Street." During a panel at the TCM Classic Film Festival, Douglas shared insights about his career and the casting decisions behind the movie.

Role Almost Went to Other Actors

In recounting the film's production, Douglas mentioned that director Oliver Stone initially offered the role to actors Warren Beatty and Richard Gere, who both declined. The actor expressed surprise upon learning this detail, as he previously believed he had been Stone's primary choice for the role of Gordon Gekko.

Oscar-Winning Performance

Douglas's portrayal of Gordon Gekko, a ruthless Wall Street investor mentoring a young stockbroker played by Charlie Sheen, earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor. The character's impact continued with Douglas reprising the role in the 2010 sequel, "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps."

Personal Reflections and Upcoming Memoir

The actor is set to release a memoir detailing his five-decade Hollywood career, his marriage to actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, his battle with stage four cancer, and other personal experiences. He teased that writing the book brought back many memories.

Douglas and Zeta-Jones celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary recently. The couple met in 1998, were engaged in 1999, and married in November 2000. They have two children together, Dylan and Carys.