Multiple Charlies
The role of Charlie was originally played by Gig Young. Allegedly, Gig showed up to record lines drunk out of his mind and was fired immediately. Gig actually won an Academy Award for They Shoot Horses Don’t They. Sadly, his alcoholism was not the only scandal that happened within his lifetime.
Young was found dead of an apparent murder-suicide in 1978. Actor John Forsythe arrived on set to play him in an emergency. John Forsythe is probably best known for the 1980’s hit Dynasty. He played Charlie for the entirety of the series. John lived until age 92, in 2010.
