re: On this day in history 1964. Dr Strangelove was released

Peter Sellers began shooting the role of Major Kong





But... The official story is Sellers twisted his ankle and couldn't work in the confined cockpit set. But I think he simply couldn't do a larger than life cowboy character.

So Sellers gave up the role (which had been offered to John Wayne,) It was then offered to Bonanza's Dan "Hoss" Blocker, whose agent turned it down -- Blocker later claimed this was done without his knowledge, and that he would have accepted the role.

So Kubrick cast a veteran western actor he'd originally cast as a heavy in One Eyed Jacks (and who remained in that cast even after Kubrick was fired by Brando).



The story goes that when Slim Pickens first showed up on the Strangelove set in his his Stetson and cowboy boots, the English crew marveled that he was already in character -- they were unaware this former rodeo clown always dressed like that.

"I been accused of bein' an actor -- but I'm a cowboy" -- Slim Pickens