In the movie Jurassic Park, there was a lucky casting choice that helped make it the biggest movie of all time about three decades ago.
That lucky choice? This guy:
The man on the right is Wayne Knight. Back in the 1980s and early 1990s, Knight had some small roles, but things changed when he became the first actor cast for Steven Spielberg’s mega-hit. Spielberg had seen Knight’s “sweaty” performance in Basic Instinct during that famous interrogation scene with Sharon Stone (you know the one) and thought he’d be perfect as the lead bad guy in his new movie.
Spielberg was absolutely right. Knight’s role as Dennis Nedry, the slimy computer programmer who sabotages the park and tries to steal its secrets, was a hit. In the movie, Nedry gets paid a lot of cash by the guy on the left, who not only gives him millions for dinosaur embryos hidden in a Barbasol can but also pays for Nedry’s meal!
Knight didn’t even have to audition. Spielberg offered him the role directly. 1993 turned out to be an incredible year for Knight. He was part of the biggest TV show ever, Seinfeld, during its best season (Season 4), and played one of the best roles of his career in Jurassic Park, which went on to become the biggest movie ever at the time.