Who Almost Became Daphne in Frasier? The Hilarious Casting Carousel Revealed!
In a hilarious turn of events fit for a sitcom, the casting of the hit show “Frasier” almost went topsy-turvy! Can you imagine Lisa Kudrow as Roz instead of Daphne, or Rosie Perez as Daphne and not Jane Leeves? It was a real casting carousel!
Casting director Jeff Greenberg was like a cupid aiming to find his perfect match for Roz Doyle. He had quite the lineup—notably Allison Janney, Salma Hayek, and more! Picturesque indeed!
Peri Gilpin, who became fast friends with Lisa Kudrow during auditions, was crestfallen when Kudrow snagged the role she coveted. But like a dropped phone call picked up in time, fate rang with an opportunity for Peri to shine as Daphne.
Then enters British Jane Leeves—nervously causing ripples with her accent on set. Grammer even wanted to do a test run before marrying her to the script; luckily, it was love at first read!
After 11 uproarious seasons filled with comedy gold and Emmy nods galore, “Frasier” bowed out in 2004. And it’s all rose petals now—the cast that almost wasn’t turned out to be absolutely perfect! Who knew this behind-the-scenes drama could be so entertaining?
Q&A✨
Who were the actresses considered for the role of Daphne in “Frasier?”
Lisa Kudrow and Rosie Perez were nearly cast as producer Roz Doyle and live-in nurse Daphne Moon respectively.
How did Peri Gilpin eventually get the role of Daphne in “Frasier”?
Peri Gilpin received a call from the casting director offering her the role after Lisa Kudrow was chosen for another part.
Why was Kelsey Grammer initially hesitant about Jane Leeves playing Daphne in “Frasier”?
Kelsey Grammer was nervous about having a British-accented housekeeper on the show but after reading lines with her, he approved of Jane Leeves.
How did Peri Gilpin and Lisa Kudrow react when Gilpin got the role instead of Kudrow?
Lisa Kudrow graciously called Peri Gilpin to reassure her that she supported her getting the role and wanted her to enjoy it.
How many seasons did “Frasier” run for?
The show ran for 11 seasons and earned 108 Emmy nominations before ending in 2004.
