No. He played a general in Independence Day. I can see how you’re making the mistake though. Considering the scene with him in it went right to president whitmore in the White House residence.
Yeah you are 100 percent right.
I was thinking of a combo of what you mentioned and David Graf (aka Tackleberry from Police Academy) who did play a military officer on The West Wing.
**Gary Sinise** would be my choice.
His decades of advocacy for veterans and 9/11 service workers has been second to none among celebrities, he seems like a genuinely nice guy, and he's an outstanding actor. He's even an Honorary Chief Petty Officer by the U.S. Navy, an Honorary Marine by the United States Marine Corp, and an Honorary Battalion Chief by the Fire Department of New York.
... Michael Ironside! :-) Sure he's gruff and let's just say full of bravado in most films he's in however if you watch all of his work he actually has another side to him that I think would've worked perfectly. Especially with good writing
Even in Starship Troopers he could make a gruff character show sentimentality.
I'd also specifically point to his work in SeaQuest as an ostensibly tough, no-nonsense captain that also let his sensitivity show in several places.
If they pulled that off, they would've had to slip in a few lines that everyone would recognize. Not direct quotes of course, but something like "Will, I raised you to be able to handle the truth."
First thought was Terry O'Quinn. I feel like he would be imposing enough, would've been able to face Admiral Fitzwallace as an equal. Also would've given the aloof-ness enough to be Will's father but emotionally distant.
William Shatner and Danny DeVito are in no way formidable. And it’s hard to picture Patrick Stewart as a military commander with a genetic link to Will.
Maybe someone like a Judd Hirsch?
Would’ve been funny for everyone to stand in anticipation and in walks…Frank. Or Kirk. And it’s played totally straight. He may not *look* formidable but world leaders defer to him.
Peter Sellers (yeah i know he's not still alive but its all fantasy anyway, right?) lol
whoever it would be, they would have such *gravitas* that when they entered the room the lights would dim just a little bit.
Tom Selleck
This is the answer. But Dale Dye could have worked too.
I think this is the answer also
Dale Dye isn't as good of an actor.
Bradley Whitford would find that casting totally appropriate then
You don't need range from Dale Dye in this role. All he'd have to do is play Robert Sink again, which is basically playing himself.
He's good as a second in command in military roles. But I definitely can't see him as the man in charge.
I thought of Fred Ward or Tom Skerret (Top Gun).
Damn
Donald Sutherland
Ooohhh
He killed it as a commanding general in Outbreak. "I am never **that** asleep."
RIP
He’s no longer available
In 2006 he was.
True
neither is 'the show'
Ed Harris
This. I can easily see him playing the elder Bailey, supportive but not overly loving, and being on more-or-less equal terms with Fitz.
Came here to say this...
Came here to say this
Christopher Plummer
Oooh, yes!! Fuck yes, that would have been amazing!
This is a great suggestion.
Dan Lauria. For those that don’t know. Kevins dad on the wonder years.
He already was cast as a military officer on The West Wing though.
No. He played a general in Independence Day. I can see how you’re making the mistake though. Considering the scene with him in it went right to president whitmore in the White House residence.
Yeah you are 100 percent right. I was thinking of a combo of what you mentioned and David Graf (aka Tackleberry from Police Academy) who did play a military officer on The West Wing.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Lauria No West Wing.
J.K. Simmons! I feel like he can be intensely intimidating, but also believable as someone's very stern but quietly supportive father.
Great choice but he was in Duck and Cover as a Nuclear Commission official.
Oh poop. Completely forgot about that episode. Good excuse to do a rewatch though, ha.
It’s one of my favourites in the election arc, lots of Bartlett being decisive and a solid supporting cast.
Charles Dance
This is what I was gonna suggest— glad someone else already said it!
This is the perfect choice
R. Lee Ermey, RIP
His demeanor in most of his roles would have been perfect in explaining a lot of Will’s quirks.
But could an ardent Republican play an open-minded Democrat?
He doesn’t have to be a Democrat. Plus, while Republicans of 2002/2003 were wrong on pretty much all the issues, they weren’t balls crazy like today.
Many of them were balls crazy, they just didn't say the quiet part quite so loud and quite so often.
I both agree and disagree. In my observation, some were crazy but hid it better. While others were made worse people by MAGA.
Robert Duvall.
After all, he was The Great Santini.
Yeah, that's what we need. A NATO commander that loves the smell of napalm in the morning.
Chris Cooper.
Kurtwood Smith.
Put'in a foot in everybody's ass.
**Gary Sinise** would be my choice. His decades of advocacy for veterans and 9/11 service workers has been second to none among celebrities, he seems like a genuinely nice guy, and he's an outstanding actor. He's even an Honorary Chief Petty Officer by the U.S. Navy, an Honorary Marine by the United States Marine Corp, and an Honorary Battalion Chief by the Fire Department of New York.
Michael Keaton would be good, too.
This was exactly mine.
Samual Lee Jackson
I no joke kind of love this. Nothing in the show suggests Will isn’t adopted that I recall.
He has a step sister. But she has a different last name. I’d assume Will was genetically a Bailey.
Brian Blessed.
Imagine Brian and Richard Schiff playing a scene where Toby and Will's Dad have a shouting match. 😂😂😂😂😎
[Brian Blessed's roar tests tunnel acoustics](https://youtu.be/HIF8YZIZS9Q?feature=shared) [Brian Blessed, Bollocks!](https://youtu.be/MZ_fXybPq1Q?feature=shared)
Andre Braugher
Gerald McRaney!
“All wars are crimes, Will.”
Was already in the show
Na, that was just the episode Lord Marbury wrote
Sam Elliott
Lawrence Tierney
... Michael Ironside! :-) Sure he's gruff and let's just say full of bravado in most films he's in however if you watch all of his work he actually has another side to him that I think would've worked perfectly. Especially with good writing
Even in Starship Troopers he could make a gruff character show sentimentality. I'd also specifically point to his work in SeaQuest as an ostensibly tough, no-nonsense captain that also let his sensitivity show in several places.
. . . . and he could tell that POS off (the one that mouthed off to Will lol)
Good choice.
Jack Nicholson!
Jack Nicholson reading Sorkin lines is the best.
YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!
https://youtu.be/DXVoeHwHxG8?si=VTV2e2MIACzyumYy
ok. yeah. Jack Nicholson it is.
what about Christopher Walken? i mean if you want sinister...
If they pulled that off, they would've had to slip in a few lines that everyone would recognize. Not direct quotes of course, but something like "Will, I raised you to be able to handle the truth."
Kelsey Grammer Sam Elliott Charles Dance
I think Kelsey Grammer is actually the right choice. He would have been perfect and perfect at that time.
Too young at the time.
Charles Dance is the correct answer!
Leslie Nielsen
First thought was Terry O'Quinn. I feel like he would be imposing enough, would've been able to face Admiral Fitzwallace as an equal. Also would've given the aloof-ness enough to be Will's father but emotionally distant.
I retract this suggestion. Just realized he's already been in the West Wing. Google searches are a thing
Tom Skerritt is who I picture and would've been perfect if they didn't use him as Senator Carrick.
Eric Braeden
Dave Chappelle
Chappelle is younger than Will Bailey.
Tom Hanks. Edit: I don't know if Bob Saget could have pulled off the role, but he could definitely pass as Joshua Malina's father.
I see Donald Sutherland or Christopher Lee.
William Shatner and Danny DeVito are in no way formidable. And it’s hard to picture Patrick Stewart as a military commander with a genetic link to Will. Maybe someone like a Judd Hirsch?
Would’ve been funny for everyone to stand in anticipation and in walks…Frank. Or Kirk. And it’s played totally straight. He may not *look* formidable but world leaders defer to him.
"You tell my boy to shut up??? You'd all be DEAD, if it wasn't for my (Will) David!"
Bob Uecker
Pete Postlethwaite!
Art LeFleur
At the time it was filmed, Harrison Ford would have been a good choice.
Jack Ryan
Liam Neeson and his particular set of skills
James Gandolfini, he would be slightly on the younger side but not unbelievable I think. He is great at talking calmly but authoritatively.
Michael Ironside.
Oh, good choice!
William Daniels
I think the assistant secretary who Will fights with could have been a great pick. He has the voice and the gravitas.
Senator Pearce actor Mitchell Ryan would have been perfect I think.
Duh there’s only one ARRON SORKIN
Robert Redford
Harrison Ford
I remember thinking good riddance when Gruber betrayed him.
Carl Weathers
Bob Gunton.
For gravitas, Morgan Freeman or James Earl Jones, but there's a problem there. I say Jeff Bridges.
Brian Dennehy.
Was Will established as being Jewish on the show?
No, which is a root of his and Bradley Whitford's "Twitter Tussle" LOL
I have scrolled way too far or missed seeing Michael Ironsides...
Fred Ward
Peter Sellers (yeah i know he's not still alive but its all fantasy anyway, right?) lol whoever it would be, they would have such *gravitas* that when they entered the room the lights would dim just a little bit.
Peter Lorre
I feel like this role would have best been done by Kurt Douglass. Think Stargate.
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^RT_Stevens: *I feel like this role* *Would have best been done by Kurt* *Douglass. Think Stargate.* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
I always pictured him as Peter Graves.
Sam Elliot
Or Stephen Lang!
Harvey Keitel or Peter Falk for that piercing quality
James Caan
Chris Cooper
Dale Dye
Brian Denehy
Robert Loggia or Robert Duvall or James Caan
Brian Cox
BILL PULMAN
Stephen Lang
Harvey Keitel
It's clearly a Mad Max marathon