Stanley Kramer? Spencer Tracy? No one turns down being in a movie with them.

Critics raved about Silvers who was hailed as the bright spot in the mediocre play. Silvers declined and the role went instead to Zero Mostel who was so successful in the role that he repeated the role in the 1966 film version. His guest appearances would continue into the early 1980s including co-starring in 1977's The Chicken Chroniclesan appearance on Fantasy Island as an old comic trying to reunite with his old partner and on Happy Days as the father of Jenny Piccolo (played by his daughter Cathy Silvers).

Army post in which he played Sergeant Bilko. S. Phil Silvers (May 11 1911 – November 1 1985) was an American entertainer and comedy actor known as "The King of Chutzpah.