John Gavin
He was chosen to play James Bond in Diamonds Are Forever (1971) and even signed a contract, but at the last minute Connery agreed to return and Gavin was fired, altought he received a full pay by request of Albert R. Broccoli.
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He claimed that for many years he was paid an amount to be ready as a substitute Bond if it was needed, but this never came to happen, and by the time the role was available, he was considered too old and Timothy Dalton took his place.