Kirk Douglas, the legendary American actor who lived to be 103, left a remarkable legacy in Hollywood with numerous iconic roles. However, one notable action movie he can’t claim credit for is Rambo. This is because Douglas quit the film mid-shoot after finding out that his scenes had been significantly cut.
Douglas is best remembered for his portrayal of the lead character in Stanley Kubrick’s epic Spartacus, but throughout his illustrious career, he dabbled in various genres, including romance and drama. In the 1980s, he was set to appear in Rambo, but things didn’t go as planned.
According to a report by The New York Times, Douglas was slated for a small yet impactful cameo as Sylvester Stallone’s army trainer. When the filmmakers decided to drastically cut the scenes he had already filmed, Douglas was understandably furious. His frustration led him to walk off the set for good, leaving Rambo without his participation.
The production of Rambo faced several challenges, which is not uncommon in filmmaking. Stallone reportedly sustained an injury during a stunt, and adverse weather conditions caused delays in shooting key stunt scenes.
After Douglas’s abrupt exit, the production needed a quick replacement. Richard Crenna stepped in, but he had a contract clause that would significantly increase his salary after a certain period on set. With the filming already behind schedule, the decision was eventually made to let Crenna go as well.
It’s easy to sympathize with Douglas in this situation; anyone would be upset if their hard work ended up on the cutting room floor!