Before Bill Skarsgård’s Pennywise transformation made everyone hate clowns, Tim Curry brought about cold-sweat nightmares in the 1990 miniseries **”It.”** Directed by Tommy Lee Wallace, this adaptation of the 1986 Stephen King novel remains revered by fans and critics alike. Curry’s performance as the dancing clown is remembered as terrifying and brilliant in equal measure.
As the late film journalist Scott Wampler told *The Hollywood Reporter*, Curry’s Pennywise and *It* were responsible for many kids’ initial fear of clowns, as well as their introduction to the horror genre. Curry crushing the role shouldn’t have been a surprise, having demonstrated his ability to transform into any character required — whether it was Dr. Frank-N-Furter in *The Rocky Horror Picture Show*, Bill Sikes in *Oliver Twist*, or Darkness in *Legend.*
But what if Curry never played this role? Would it have still left a mark on a generation? As Wallace revealed to *THR*, there were three other actors in the running for the part who might have brought something different to the character. Let’s look at the three actors who almost played Pennywise in *It* before Tim Curry.
### Roddy McDowall
One of the actors who had a good chance of becoming Pennywise was Roddy McDowall. The late London-born actor wasn’t renowned for villainous roles, but he had previously worked with *It* director Tommy Lee Wallace on *Fright Night Part 2*, the sequel to one of the best ’80s vampire movies. In it, McDowall reprised the role of Peter Vincent from the first movie.
In an interview with *The Movie Waffler*, Wallace spoke about the experience of working with McDowall:
>”Roddy was the consummate pro,” Wallace said. “Although he was Hollywood royalty, he never lorded it over anyone, or made you feel like he was above this seemingly lowly sequel. He was always well-prepared and humble, he took his part seriously, and was assertive in a very constructive way, which invariably resulted in a better scene, or a better line reading. He had a great sense of humor.”
While most fans may not see McDowall as Pennywise, the actor proved he could disappear into roles, such as Cornelius in 1968’s *Planet of the Apes.* His Pennywise would certainly have been a different version than Curry’s, but it might have pleasantly surprised viewers too.
### Alice Cooper
Shock rocker Alice Cooper used the horror genre as a vessel for his music. Applying a theatrical element to his shows, appearance, and music videos — as well as writing lyrics that leaned towards the dark side — Cooper turned himself into a horror icon.
He also dipped his toes into the film industry, appearing in motion pictures such as John Carpenter’s *Prince of Darkness* and Rachel Talalay’s *Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare.* Tommy Lee Wallace disclosed that Cooper was also considered for the part of Pennywise in *It.*
According to Cooper, he was actually offered the role but turned it down:
>”I remember being approached to play the part of Pennywise in the original ‘It’ film and I passed,” Cooper told *Experience Magazine.* “I definitely regret that.”
While Cooper is an indisputable horror icon, it’s difficult to imagine him being a better Pennywise than Curry or any of the other actors mentioned here. Plus, Cooper has always been better when he appears as himself in movies, such as when he joined the cast of *Wayne’s World.*
### Malcolm McDowell
When it comes to despicable villains, Malcolm McDowell carved a niche all for himself. After all, he personified pure evil as Alex DeLarge in Stanley Kubrick’s *A Clockwork Orange* and has since never met a baddie he couldn’t play.
It isn’t tough to imagine McDowell channeling that sinister energy to play the embodiment of malevolence that is Pennywise. As director Tommy Lee Wallace told *Yahoo*, McDowell was one of the names in contention for the main role in *It* while other filmmakers were attached to the project.
But for Wallace, Tim Curry was the logical choice:
>”Malcom would’ve called on his inner Droog, and the result would’ve been menacing and colorful, no doubt,” Wallace said. “Tim Curry was always the name for me; honestly, it’s hard to think seriously of anyone else in the role, he is and was that good.”
McDowell’s version of Pennywise might have been closer to Bill Skarsgård’s than Curry’s. Curry could disarm children before dialing up the evil once their guard dropped, while McDowell’s Pennywise would have been eerie from the get-go.
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Tim Curry’s portrayal of Pennywise is iconic, but imagining how different actors like Roddy McDowall, Alice Cooper, or Malcolm McDowell might have interpreted the role offers fascinating insight into the myriad ways this terrifying character could have come to life.
https://www.looper.com/2017375/actors-almost-played-it-pennywise-before-tim-curry/
