Sam Rockwell reveals he will get residual checks for “Lean on Me” ‘although I am not in it’

Sam Rockwell was let go from 1989's Lean on Me earlier than his scene was filmed, however he's nonetheless getting paid for the function that by no means was.

On a latest episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast, the Oscar winner instructed host Josh Horowitz that he auditioned for Lean on Me alongside Michael Imperioli and Kevin Corrigan. The three aspiring actors drove to New Jersey collectively to audition for a single line within the film.

The Iron Man 2 actor mentioned he secured the function, however they "by no means obtained to my scene." As a result of Rockwell solely had one line within the film, manufacturing didn't suppose it was price it to pay him for a complete week of filming. So, they paid him for a day, fired him, and introduced on Imperioli to play the half as a substitute.

"I nonetheless get residual checks for that although I'm not in it," Rockwell mentioned.

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Lean on Me was Imperioli's movie debut. Whereas he secured the function over Rockwell in the long run, Imperioli has mentioned that his expertise on Lean on Me made him really feel like he was a "horrible" actor.

Within the film, Imperioli performs one of many highschool college students expelled in an enormous meeting by principal Joe Clark (Morgan Freeman). He has one line: "Hey, I'm gonna be a star."

Imperioli shared with The New Yorker that director John G. Avildsen was not comfortable together with his supply and instructed him, "You'd higher give me one thing otherwise you're out of right here!"

"I used to be horrified," Imperioli instructed the outlet. "I believe, I'm horrible, I suck."

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In fact, Imperioli proved himself and Avildsen mistaken, happening to star in hits like Goodfellas and The White Lotus.

Lean on Me wouldn’t be the final time Rockwell and Imperioli could be forged in the identical roles. In one other sliding doorways second, Imperioli was initially presupposed to be in Woody Allen's 1998 movie Celeb, however needed to drop out to star in a present referred to as — you will have heard of it — The Sopranos. Rockwell took his place within the film.

Take heed to the total Comfortable Unhappy Confused episode with Sam Rockwell under.

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