“Ocean’s Eleven” (1960) — McQueen was a favorite of Frank Sinatra’s but passed after getting advice that going Rat Pack was career suicide.
“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961) — Angrily unable to accept due to filming schedule of TV show “Wanted: Dead or Alive.” (Role went to George Peppard.)
“Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” (1969) — Wouldn’t take lower billing than Paul Newman. Warren Beatty also said no after being denied role of Butch. (Sundance role went to Robert Redford.)
“Dirty Harry” (1971) and “The French Connection” (1971) — Decided both were too close to his 1968 cop film “Bullitt.” (Roles went to Clint Eastwood and Gene Hackman, respectively.)
“Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (1977) — Knew he was unable to cry on cue, a key scene in the film. Role also turned down by Hackman, Al Pacino, Dustin Hoffman and Jack Nicholson. (Role went to Richard Dreyfuss.)
“Apocalypse Now” (1979) — Turned down role of Capt. Willard because of grueling 17-week shoot in the Philippines. Asked to play Col. Kurtz instead. Wanted $3.5 million for three-week shoot, but Francis Ford Coppola balked. (Willard role went to Harvey Keitel and then Martin Sheen; Kurtz role went to Marlon Brando.)