Clint Eastwood allegedly banned Coca-Cola products from his movies after a Karate Kid casting decision caused him to hold a grudge.
Longtime Spaghetti Western actor Clint Eastwood is best known for his role as Harry Callahan in the Dirty Harry film series. The actor also tends to direct his own films, winning Best Director and Best Picture for the 1992 Western Unforgiven. Throughout his lengthy career, Eastwood’s list of accolades includes four Academy Awards, four Golden Globes, three César Awards and an AFI Lifetime Achievement Award.
Of course, with such a long career, it’s no surprise that Eastwood’s family became part of the entertainment business. One of his sons, Kyle, began acting in the 1980s, with an uncredited role in his father’s film Bronco Billy. However, after Kyle failed an audition for The Karate Kid, his father decided not to include Coca-Cola products in his movies. But why was that the case?
Why Eastwood Banned Coca-Cola Products From His Films
Eastwood’s son Kyle auditioned for the lead role of Daniel LaRusso in The Karate Kid. However, according to The Game of Nerds, the casting team turned him down. At the time, Columbia Pictures, which distributed the 1984 film, was owned by Coca-Cola. Eastwood began holding a grudge against the company for rejecting his son and subsequently banned all Coca-Cola products from his film sets.
Many actors lined up for a chance to play LaRusso in The Karate Kid. On The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Ralph Macchio revealed which big names were prospective Daniels. The Cobra Kai star remembered both Marvel star Robert Downey Jr. and Charlie Sheen being at auditions. “I remember walking by and seeing Charlie Sheen hanging outside Jerry Weintraub’s bungalow,” Macchio said. The 60-year-old actor even recalled how Sheen didn’t resemble an “Italian guy from Jersey.”
Steve McQueen’s Son Starred in The Karate Kid
While Eastwood’s son didn’t make the cut for The Karate Kid, two other sons of famous actors made appearances. Steve McQueen’s son Chad played Cobra Kai member Dutch, who told Daniel he was “dead meat.” Dutch has not yet returned to the Netflix spinoff series Cobra Kai, which addressed his absence by saying he is currently serving a long-term prison sentence at Lompoc Federal Penitentiary. However, McQueen simply had scheduling conflicts that prevented his involvement.
Additionally, Frankie Avalon’s son, Frank, made a brief appearance as Chucky, the friend of the kid who invited Daniel to the beach party. Coincidentally, Avalon starred in the Beach Party film series with Annette Funicello. Even though Eastwood’s son didn’t nail his audition, Kyle is now a renowned jazz bassist who has composed music for several of his father’s films. And Eastwood’s other son, Scott, made a name for himself in films like the Nicholas Sparks film adaptation The Longest Ride and The Fate of the Furious.