He Fell Ill
Audiences never got to see Elliott perform his role as the lead in the 1982 TV feature called ‘The Ambush Murders.’ The movie was based on the true story of a black activist who had been wrongfully convicted for a murder of two white cops. The story was also about the lawyer who took his case and attempted to have him acquitted.
Photo by David Goldsmith Productions / IMDB
The real-life case captured the country’s attention back in the 70s, and many people were eager to see the story dramatized in the TV movie. Sam Elliott was playing the lead role as the defense attorney, but he came down with an illness during filming. James Brolin had to step in and replace him. While this is by no means uncommon in movies, I can only wonder how different it would have turned out if Elliott played the part.