Lee Majors DID NOT already have the role
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Midnight Cowboy
SealedCargo — 2 years ago(September 26, 2023 07:56 AM)
that's what had been going around, but Voight was chosen OVER Majors, he didn't wind up with the role because of a problem… like Tom Selleck with Raiders of the Lost Ark. the director and producer, the first who wanted Lee Majors initially, chose Voight for his vulnerability. Dustin Hoffman also "chose" when asked his opinion; he said when he watched himself acting with Majors, he watched his own role as Ratso, but when watching scenes with Jon, he only watched Jon.
The Fearmakers Blog
https://thefearmakers.blogspot.com/ -
NZer — 2 years ago(September 26, 2023 08:27 AM)
Dustin Hoffman also "chose" when asked his opinion; he said when he watched himself acting with Majors, he watched his own role as Ratso, but when watching scenes with Jon, he only watched Jon.
That says it all. Voight was perfect in the part.