page_title: Ghostbusters
section_title: Casting
hierarchical_section_title: Ghostbusters / Production / Casting
caption_attribution_description: English: William Atherton on the Children Uniting Nations Academy Award Viewing Party red carpet, at the Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California. Held preceding the start of the Oscar telecast.
context_page_description: Ghostbusters is a 1984 American supernatural comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. It stars Bill Murray, Aykroyd, and Ramis as, respectively, Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, and Egon Spengler, a trio of eccentric parapsychologists who start a ghost-catching business in New York City. The film also stars Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis, and features Annie Potts, William Atherton, and Ernie Hudson in supporting roles.
  Based on his own fascination with spirituality, Aykroyd conceived Ghostbusters as a project for himself and John Belushi. The protagonists would travel through time and space to combat a host of demonic and supernatural threats. Following Belushi's death, and with Aykroyd's concept deemed financially impractical, he was paired with Ramis to rewrite the script to set it in New York City and make it more realistic. Ghostbusters was the first comedy film to employ expensive special effects. There was concern about the budget it would require, and little faith in its potential for box office success.
context_section_description: Casting Bill Murray was considered essential to Ghostbusters' potential success, but he was known for not committing to projects until the last minute. Price agreed to fund The Razor's Edge (1984), which Murray had co-written and was starring in. His rationale was that if it failed it would lose very little money, but he hoped the gesture would secure Murray's commitment to Ghostbusters. Apart from the three main stars, Joe Medjuck was largely responsible for casting the other roles. Ernie Hudson went through about five auditions for the character of Winston Zeddemore, and had to wait a month before learning he had the part. According to him, in an earlier version of the script his character, Winston, had a larger role as an Air Force demolitions expert with an elaborate backstory. Excited by the part, he agreed to the job for half his usual salary. The night before shooting began, he was given a new script with a greatly reduced role; Reitman told him the studio wanted to expand Murray's part. Aykroyd has said he wanted Eddie Murphy for the role, having worked with him on Trading Places (1983), although Reitman refuted this. Gregory Hines was also considered for the part.
  Julia Roberts auditioned for the role of Dana Barrett, but it was Sigourney Weaver who attracted the filmmakers' attention. There was some resistance to casting her because of the generally serious roles she played in Alien (1979) and The Year of Living Dangerously (1982). Weaver revealed her comedic background, developed at the Yale School of Drama, and began walking on all fours and howling like a dog. It was her suggestion that Dana become possessed by the demonic dog, Zuul. Reitman said this solved issues with the last act by giving the characters personal stakes in the events. Weaver also changed the role from that of a model to a musician, saying she can be kind of strict, but "you know she has a soul because she plays the cello."
  John Candy was offered the role of Louis Tully. Reitman recalled it was a few days before Candy called him back to say he did not understand the character. Candy suggested portraying Tully with a German accent and multiple German Shepherds, but the filmmakers felt there were already enough dogs in the film. They and Candy passed on the casting. Reitman was already aware of Rick Moranis from their work together in Toronto and sent him the script. He called Reitman back about an hour later and accepted the part, saying he understood the character completely. Moranis developed many aspects of his character, including making him an accountant, and ad-libbed the lengthy speech at Tully's party. Sandra Bernhard was offered and turned down the role of Ghostbusters' secretary Janine Melnitz, which went to Annie Potts. As she arrived for her first day of filming, Reitman rushed Potts into the current scene. She quickly changed out of her street clothes and borrowed a pair of glasses worn by the set dresser. Her character ended up wearing the glasses throughout the film, provided to her by the dresser before each scene.
  William Atherton was chosen for the role of Walter Peck after appearing in the Broadway play Broadway alongside SNL alumna Gilda Radner. The role was described to Atherton as akin to Margaret Dumont's role as a comedic foil to the Marx Brothers. Atherton said, "It can’t be funny, and I don’t find [the Ghostbusters] in the least bit charming. I have to be outraged." The role of the Sumerian god Gozer the Gozerian was originally intended for Paul Reubens, envisioned as a business-suited architect. Reubens passed on the idea, and it went to Yugoslavian actress Slavitza Jovan. The role changed to one inspired by the androgynous looks of Grace Jones and David Bowie. Paddi Edwards was uncredited as the voice of Gozer, dubbing over Jovan's strong Slavic accent.
caption: William Atherton portrays Environmental Protection Agency inspector Walter Peck
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