"Pinball Wizard"

Elton John, movie star?

Sure, he and lyricist Tim Rice scored an Oscar-winning soundtrack for The Lion King.  But what about in front of the camera.

In 2019, Elton told The Guardian that he had been offered the male lead in Harold and Maude in 1971.  But he said he turned it down.  “It seemed like the wrong thing to do at the time.”

But in 1975, another film opportunity came his way, one which he said “didn’t really involve acting.”  It only required him, as he put it, “not to fall over while wearing a pair of 4½ ft. Doc Martens.”

It was a role he turned down at first, too.  And then according to Elton, “they contacted Rod Stewart [to play the part], and I told him to turn it down as well.  ‘I wouldn’t touch it with a bargepole, dear.’”

What changed his mind?

Elton said, “Then Pete Townshend from The Who rang me,…and I felt like I couldn’t say no.”