Alternate castings

While Harry Burns is one of Billy Crystal’s best-known roles, the actor wasn’t actually Rob Reiner’s first choice.

The likes of Tom Hanks, Albert Brooks, Bill Murray, Harrison Ford and Michael Keaton were all considered for the part, though no offer towards any of these actors ever materialised.

Billy was good friends with Rob, which ironically deterred the director from casting him.

He recalled: “The fear I had was, ‘What if you would [work] with a friend and it doesn't work out, are we going to destroy a friendship?’

“I had no reservations about him playing the part, I just wanted to make sure.”

Eventually, Rob was able to set his concerns aside and offered Billy the part.

As for Harry’s co-star Sally Albright, the role had been offered to Molly Ringwald, though a scheduling conflict meant that Meg Ryan was able to swoop in and take the part.