MovieChat Forums > Goodbye, Columbus (1969) Discussion > Were they both supposed to be 30?

Were they both supposed to be 30?

posted 10 years ago by simonrosenbaum
3 replies | jump to latest

It spoilt it a bit for me that Richard Benjamin especially was far too old to play this part. Dustin Hoffman could get away with it Benjamin couldn't.

[–] leader-7 10 years ago

you've read too much into his/her chronological (actual) ages. No. He was supposed to be a bit older, but she was clearly college age. He did a stint in the army -- so let's call him 24ish.

[–] jones7418 10 years ago

Both Benjamin and McGraw were about 10 years older than the characters they were playing but I think they pulled it off. I read somewhere that Natalie Wood had been considered for the role of Brenda; now THAT would've been ridiculous!

[–] jvcaprice 8 years ago

FYI...... Natalie Wood was very close in age to Ali MacGraw, only about 8 months difference in age.