Yet, in 1974, he declined a role that would go on to become one of the most influential Western comedies ever made. John Wayne built his reputation as one of Hollywood’s defining Western stars.
Instead, the production briefly cast Academy Award winner Gig Young before he collapsed during filming and left the project. Brooks then brought in Gene Wilder, who portrayed Jim, the Waco Kid, opposite Cleavon Little’s Sheriff Bart. The film also starred Slim Pickens, Harvey Korman, Madeline Kahn and David Huddleston.
The film earned more than $120 million worldwide and received three Academy Award nominations, including Best Supporting Actress for Madeline Kahn and Best Film Editing. Because of its raunchy humor, brooks has recalled that Wayne enjoyed the screenplay but ultimately decided he could not appear in the film. The late actor turned down Mel Brooks’ Blazing Saddles after reading the script. The part eventually went to Gene Wilder after actor Gig Young left the production. Wilder’s performance became one of the film’s defining elements as Blazing Saddles earned both commercial success and critical acclaim. The story resurfaced during a 50th anniversary screening of Blazing Saddles. Brooks revisited his conversation with Wayne and explained why the legendary actor had been his first choice for the role of Jim, also known as the Waco Kid.
“I wanted authenticity,” Brooks recalled during the celebration.“I wanted the Waco Kid to actually have been a Western movie actor. Wayne agreed to read the screenplay after praising The Producers, Brooks’ Academy Award-winning debut feature, according to Brooks.
