Starting his acting career in the late 70s, Kevin Bacon had his big break in the 1984 musical drama Footloose. The film follows a teenager Ren McCormack, who relocates from Chicago to a small town grappling with a ban on rock music and dancing and attempts to overturn the prohibition.
Despite the film’s immense success and recognition as one of Bacon’s finest performances, the actor disclosed that he nearly missed out on the role due to concerns about his appearance not meeting the standards.
Kevin Bacon Revealed Why He Almost Lost Footloose
In an appearance on The Howard Stern Show, Hollywood star Kevin Bacon revealed that he almost lost his role in the musical drama Footloose. The actor shared that although he was not sure if it would make he big in the industry, he was determined to pursue an acting career.
When he approached the role of Ren McCormack, there were doubts about his suitability due to concerns about him not being hot enough for the role. When the show host mentioned the same, Bacon recalled the feedback he received.
“The quote was literally, ‘He’s not f**kable.'”
Actors like Tom Cruise and Rob Lowe were also considered for the film. However, the Mystic River star eventually landed the part. Reflecting on the audition process, the 65-year-old actor shared that he was required to dance during the audition.
While Bacon believed that he could simply improvise to the music, he also needed to train for the film. “I had to train — I didn’t understand it was a whole choreograph thing,” he shared. Despite its huge success, Bacon also noted that he hasn’t danced in any of his movies since the 1984 musical drama.
Footloose Nearly Cast Rob Lowe Over Kevin Bacon
During an appearance on Six Degrees with Kevin Bacon, Rob Lowe recounted how he missed out on the lead role in the hit film, which ultimately became a breakthrough for the Emmy-nominated actor. He shared that he injured himself during the dance audition.
“I hit my knees and slide across the floor into a lineup of like Sherry Lansing, Dean Pitchford, Craig Zadan, and Herbert Ross, and my knee explodes. Explodes! Pop! And they take me out of the soundstage on a stretcher.”
It led the producers, who were keen on having him in the movie, to inform him that they would be moving ahead with a dancer for the film. And a week later Rob Lowe learned that the Sleepers actor had been cast in the movie.
“And this tells you everything you need to know about Hollywood — And a week later, they hired you, and I’m like ‘God damn these guys! That’s a real actor.”
Released in 1994, the film proved to be a major success, making $80 million on an estimated budget of $8.2 million. And the movie significantly elevated Bacon’s career. He has since established himself as one of the film industry’s top actors, showcasing his talent in a diverse range of movies.
Footloose is available to stream on Netflix and Prime Video.
