Ralph Macchio is best known for his depiction of Daniel LaRusso in the original The Karate Kid films and subsequently in Cobra Kai, a spin-off TV series. But did you know he could have landed a coveted role in another popular film franchise? Unfortunately, those hopes and dreams could not come to fruition. There was one thing obstructing Macchio’s path: his accent.
Last year, Macchio’s memoir titled Waxing On: The Karate Kid and Me revealed some intriguing details about the actor’s professional life. The Outsiders alum delved into the profound influence that his ’80s martial arts film series had on his craft. He also opened up about the challenges he faced in securing certain roles. Reflecting on such life-changing occurrences, Macchio recalled his audition for Back to the Future in an interview with Yahoo Entertainment.
What Prevented Ralph Macchio From Starring In Back to the Future (1985)
For the 1985 endeavor, Ralph Macchio met up with Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis to discuss the role of time-traveling teenager Marty McFly. The Cobra Kai star revealed what exactly prevented him from participating in the endeavor. Following is what he detailed about the auditioning process for Back to the Future:
“They were like, ‘Can you lose the New York accent? This is more apple pie and all-American,'”
Macchio’s noticeable Long Island accent was the factor that prevented him from securing the role of Marty McFly. What is interesting is that the role was eventually taken up by Michael J. Fox, a Canadian actor who stepped in to replace Eric Stoltz midway through the production process.
Macchio highlighted this ironic contradiction in a follow-up statement:
“The irony is that the role was played by a Canadian!”
Nevertheless, the Crossroads alum pointed out that he harbors no reservations against the former actor. Commending Fox for his performance in the time-traveling premise, Ralph Macchio commented, “Absolutely the right Marty McFly was picked.” Not landing a role in the $961 million film franchise wasn’t the only instance of an unsuccessful audition for the Karate Kid star. The now 61-year-old talent tested his luck in the 1984 John Hughes-helmed coming-of-age comedy Sixteen Candles. Alas, things didn’t go as planned.
Ralph Macchio Failed To Be In A John Hughes Movie
Sixteen Candles was another pop culture smash hit of the ’80s. Ralph Macchio decided to audition for the role of Ted Farmer, otherwise known as The Geek. The approach that the actor utilized ultimately backfired. Portraying the geeky personality of the character became a difficult task for the Cobra Kai star. In his mind, Macchio felt “way too cool” to be able to embody the role of a nerd. Take a look at the actor’s statement:
“Emilio [Estevez] and I auditioned for the Sixteen Candles together. I had it in my head that I was gonna have this nerdy walk and a little bit of a nasally talk. And John Hughes and the casting director wanted me to be just natural Ralph.”
Macchio then disclosed the factor that hindered him from staying true to his natural self:
“But in my head, I was like: ‘I’m not a nerd!’ I was way too cool in my own mind. So I was never in a John Hughes movie.”
The role was ultimately taken on by Anthony Michael Hall who excelled in his portrayal of the nerdy character. Even though Macchio failed to seize these opportunities, he solidified his legacy through The Karate Kid franchise. Portraying the iconic hero Daniel LaRusso, the Hollywood talent has captivated and left a lasting impression on numerous individuals.
His professional standing has undoubtedly been elevated with his involvement in the spin-off series Cobra Kai. Netflix officially announced on January 20, 2023, that the highly-revered show will wrap up with its sixth and concluding season. Fans are eagerly anticipating what lies ahead.
Source: Yahoo! Entertainment
