John Travolta — Passed on Forrest Gump

Travolta was offered Forrest Gump before Tom Hanks. He turned it down. The film grossed $678 million, won six Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor for Hanks, and became one of the most beloved American films ever made. Travolta has admitted in interviews it was a mistake. He instead starred in Pulp Fiction — which, to be fair, revived his career and earned him an Oscar nomination. But Gump made Hanks a $70 million payday and cemented him as America's Dad. Travolta got to dance with Uma Thurman. Different legacies.