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How a “Messed Up” Actor Accidentally Gave Us Kevin Bacon
How a Messed-Up Audition Gave Us Kevin Bacon’s Breakout Role in Footloose
The Big Picture: One Door Closes, Another Opens
Imagine you’re up for the biggest role of your life. You’ve basically got the job — all you have to do is show up and read a few lines. But you show up drunk, blow the audition, and lose the part. That part goes to someone else, and that person becomes a superstar.
That’s exactly what happened with Footloose (1984). The role of Ren McCormack was Christopher Atkins’ to lose — and lose it he did. Kevin Bacon stepped in, became a household name overnight, and the rest is history.
Important Point: Hollywood careers often hinge on tiny moments — a missed meeting, a bad audition, a scheduling conflict. One person’s disaster becomes another’s big break.
The Casting Carousel: Who Almost Played Ren McCormack?
Before Kevin Bacon laced up his dancing shoes, several big names were in the mix:
- Tom Cruise — First choice, but he was busy filming All the Right Moves
- Rob Lowe — Auditioned three times and didn’t get it
- Christopher Atkins — Fresh off The Blue Lagoon (1980) with Brooke Shields, he had the part "as good as his"
Christopher Atkins: The Guy Who Had It — And Blew It
Atkins was riding high after The Blue Lagoon made him a teen heartthrob. The Footloose role was practically his — he just needed to show up for a screen test (a final filmed audition).
But there was a problem: Atkins was deep in the grip of alcoholism.
In Atkins’ own words:
"I was a mess back then. I said, ‘I can’t go in right now; I’ve been drinking and carrying on.’ And they said, ‘No, they need to see you.’ And I went in, and I just blew that audition. I mean, it wasn’t even an audition; I had the part, but I was so messed-up that they said, ‘Yeah, we’re going to have to pass on this guy.’"
He showed up intoxicated, tanked the screen test, and the producers walked away.
Kevin Bacon Steps In — And Instantly Regrets It
Bacon got the call, took the role, and Footloose exploded at the box office. He was suddenly everywhere — magazine covers, talk shows, screaming fans.
But here’s the twist: Bacon hated it.
Why Bacon Wanted to Run Away from Footloose
- He didn’t want to be a "heartthrob" — he wanted to be a serious actor
- He dreamed of alternating between stage and screen, doing meaningful work
- The fame felt like a trap — a box he couldn’t escape
So what did he do? He deliberately avoided similar roles. No more dancing teens. No more pop-culture sensations. He turned down the "easy" path to chase credibility.
The Consequence: Bacon Almost Disappeared
By the late 1980s, Bacon’s strategy backfired.
- He’d turned down so many roles that offers stopped coming
- He was at risk of becoming a "forgotten man" in Hollywood
- The rocket Footloose strapped to his back? He’d tried to cut the fuel line
Important Point: Avoiding typecasting is smart — but turning down all work to prove a point can leave you with no work at all.
The Comeback: JFK Changes Everything
In 1991, Oliver Stone cast Bacon in JFK — a serious, ensemble drama with heavy hitters like Kevin Costner, Tommy Lee Jones, and Gary Oldman.
- It reminded everyone: Oh right, this guy can act
- The role wasn’t flashy — it was real, grounded, and complex
- From that moment on, Bacon became a working actor’s actor
Since then, he’s been in everything — A Few Good Men, Mystic River, The Following, City on a Hill — you name it.
Where Are They Now?
| Actor | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Kevin Bacon | Footloose heartthrob who hated the fame | Respected character actor, 40+ year career, "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" legend |
| Christopher Atkins | Blue Lagoon star who lost Footloose | Steady character actor; best-known recent role: recurring on Dallas (mid-80s) |
| Tom Cruise | Busy on All the Right Moves | One of the biggest movie stars in history |
| Rob Lowe | Rejected 3x for Footloose | The West Wing, Parks and Rec, ageless wonder |
The Funny Part: Bacon Still Hates the Song
Decades later, Bacon has made peace with Footloose — mostly.
He still pays DJs cash at weddings to NOT play the Kenny Loggins title track when he walks in the room.
Some wounds never fully heal.
Summary: The Butterfly Effect of a Bad Audition
- Christopher Atkins had the Footloose lead locked up
- Alcoholism derailed his screen test
- Kevin Bacon got the role, became a star, hated the fame, nearly quit
- He clawed his way back with JFK and built a legendary career
- Atkins kept working but never reached that level again
- One drunken afternoon changed two lives forever
FAQ
Was Kevin Bacon the first choice for Footloose?
No. Tom Cruise was the first choice, but he was filming All the Right Moves. Rob Lowe auditioned three times and didn’t get it. Christopher Atkins was next in line — he basically had the part until he showed up drunk.
Why did Kevin Bacon hate Footloose so much?
He wanted to be taken seriously as a dramatic actor, not a teen heartthrob. The massive fame from Footloose felt like a trap, so he deliberately avoided similar roles — which almost killed his career.
What saved Kevin Bacon’s career?
Oliver Stone’s JFK (1991). It proved he could do serious, ensemble work. After that, he became a go-to character actor for decades.
What happened to Christopher Atkins?
He got sober in the late ’80s and has worked steadily since — but nothing came close to The Blue Lagoon or what Footloose would’ve been. He’s called it the biggest regret of his career.
Is it true Kevin Bacon pays DJs not to play "Footloose"?
Yes! He’s admitted in interviews that he slips DJs money at weddings and events to avoid hearing the song. Some associations just stick forever.
Final Thought: Life’s funny. The role Bacon didn’t want defined him. The role Atkins did want slipped through his fingers. And we’re still talking about it 40+ years later.
