The Untold Story of Clint Eastwood Almost Starring with Marilyn Monroe

It’s a “what could have been” scenario that feels almost too surreal to imagine: Clint Eastwood and Marilyn Monroe sharing the screen in a major Hollywood production. Yet the opportunity nearly presented itself back in 1956, during Eastwood’s early days in the industry and just as Monroe was proving her dramatic mettle.

At the time, Eastwood was still a struggling actor trying to make his mark. He had only recently made his feature debut in Revenge of the Creature (1955), a minor role that didn’t even earn him a credit. In fact, seven of his first nine film appearances were uncredited. Monroe, on the other hand, was already one of the most famous women in the world, known for her magnetic performances in classics like Some Like It Hot and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

But in 1956, Monroe sought to break free from the comedic roles that had defined her image. She took on a more complex and challenging character in Joshua Logan’s romantic drama Bus Stop, a move that many viewed as a pivotal moment in her career. Eastwood, then an aspiring star, saw a chance to join Monroe on screen.

“I was up for a part in Bus Stop as a young guy,” Eastwood later recalled. “I was kind of excited because she was so attractive, and I thought, ‘This could be OK.’” The idea of acting opposite Monroe was thrilling, not only because of her beauty and star power but also because it could have been a launching pad for his own career.

However, it wasn’t to be. According to Eastwood, the part he auditioned for ultimately went to “some other guy in New York.” That other guy may well have been Don Murray, who was cast as Beauregard “Bo” Decker, the male lead opposite Monroe’s character, Chérie. Murray’s casting marked a significant milestone in his career, and Bus Stop became a notable chapter in Monroe’s filmography.

For Eastwood, the loss of the role was undoubtedly disappointing at the time, but history would soon unfold in his favor. Within a few years, he landed a starring role on the television series Rawhide and eventually transitioned to a film career that included the iconic Dollars trilogy and countless cinematic triumphs both in front of and behind the camera.

Still, it’s an intriguing footnote in Hollywood lore. What might have happened if Eastwood and Monroe had worked together in the 1950s? How might that shared experience have shaped their respective careers? We’ll never know. Instead, it remains a tantalizing “almost” moment—one that adds a layer of mystique to two of the industry’s most enduring legends.