A Missed Opportunity: Jeffrey Dean Morgan Reflects on Nearly Landing a Role in Tarantino's Debut

Jeffrey Dean Morgan, best known for his role as Negan in The Walking Dead, recently opened up about a significant missed opportunity in his early acting career. He revealed that he auditioned for a part in Quentin Tarantino's groundbreaking film, Reservoir Dogs, but ultimately did not land the role.

In 1992, Morgan was a 26-year-old aspiring actor when he crossed paths with Tarantino, who was assembling the cast for his first feature film. On the podcast Happy Sad Confused, Morgan recounted his experience auditioning for the character Mr. Brown, a role that he initially felt optimistic about.

A Coveted Role

Morgan recalled, "I remember it very well because it was the coolest script I had ever read at the time. We didn’t know who Quentin Tarantino was, but he had written an absolutely brilliant script, and everyone in town was talking about it."

The audition process began with a meeting with casting director Ronnie Yeskel, followed by a direct audition with Tarantino. Morgan described the director's enthusiasm during the audition: "He was true to form, very excited, leaning forward in his chair, in his usual style."

He vividly remembered a moment when Tarantino took him into a cramped storage closet, where they were surrounded by coats. "He closed the door, and it was total darkness, but he was right in front of my face. He was giving me direction, and I thought, my God, I’m going to impress him! I could feel his excitement," Morgan shared, reflecting on the positive impression he had of his audition.

Miramax

Disappointment Strikes

After some time, Morgan received a call from Yeskel, who told him, "It looks like you’re going to play Mr. Brown." Although the character did not have a large presence in the script, Morgan was thrilled. However, his excitement was short-lived.

He recounted the moment he received the disappointing news: "Then I got the call saying I wouldn’t be in the film and that Quentin would be playing Mr. Brown. I was just like: Oh... You can’t be mad, what can you do?" Morgan's tone indicated that he still feels a tinge of bitterness about missing out on this iconic role.

In a move reminiscent of his later films like Pulp Fiction and Django Unchained, Tarantino ultimately decided to take on the role of Mr. Brown himself. The character, a key player in a heist, is particularly memorable for his opening scene where he shares his thoughts on Madonna's song "Like a Virgin." While Mr. Brown's role is relatively brief, his monologue has left a lasting impression on fans of the film.

The character participates in the heist and faces dire consequences during the ensuing chaos, ultimately dying before he can engage in the central conflicts among the characters.