(Character) - Biography biography (Character) from The content of this page was created by users. It has not been screened or verified by IMDb staff. Warning! This character biography may contain plot spoilers. Visit our Character Biography Help to learn more. Character Biography History Discuss Vincent Vega is a character in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, portrayed by John Travolta in an Academy Award-nominated performance. He is the only character to appear in all story lines in the movie (aside from Marsellus Wallace and Mia Wallace). He is the brother of Sadistic Psychopath Vic Vega, a character from Reservoir Dogs remembered for Torturing a Cop for Fun. Vincent is a hitman working for mob boss Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames). He is usually partnered with Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) when he is ordered to kill someone. Vincent is an "Elvis man": He wears a bola tie with his suit, he has long hair pulled back into a ponytail, and he orders his Douglas Sirk Steak "bloody as hell." Despite being a hitman, Vincent shows some signs of humanity, such as scrupulous loyalty and a general concern for the few people he cares about.

He is also a heroin user. He resides in Redondo Beach, as he mentions to Winston Wolfe when Wolf offers him a ride home. Does not Believe in God, Miracles, & is a Hit-Man. Killing a Person for no other Reason then He is the brother of Reservoir Dogs-character Vic Vega, played by Michael Madsen. Page last updated by donniebaseball87871 , 2 years ago (Character) (Character) from The content of this page was created by users. It has not been screened or verified by IMDb staff. Overview Vincent Vega is a character in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction... See more » Update You may correct errors and omissions on this page directly. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process. IMDb Everywhere Find showtimes, watch trailers, browse photos, track your Watchlist and rate your favorite movies and TV shows on your phone or tablet!

See the Cast of 'Pulp Fiction' Then and Now See the Cast of 'Pulp Fiction' Then and Now January 8, 2014 @ 10:27 AM Miramax Quentin Tarantino 's 'Pulp Fiction' was released in 1994 and became an instant classic: the darkly humorous, non-linear narrative follows the stories of various small-time criminals and mobsters (and one very memorable and mysterious briefcase) as their lives intersect in Los Angeles. Tarantino and co-writer Roger Avary won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for the film, which was nominated for an additional six statues, including Best Actor for John Travolta -- who experienced a major comeback thanks to Tarantino casting him as lead hitman Vincent Vega. 20 years later, we revisit the cast of the film and see what they're doing now.

John Travolta, Vincent Vega Miramax/Getty Images Then: John Travolta played hitman Vincent Vega, a part originally written for Michael Madsen, who played the role of Vic Vega in Tarantino's 'Reservoir Dogs.' But when Madsen signed on to star in 'Wyatt Earp' instead, the producers urged Tarantino to cast Daniel Day-Lewis. Tarantino opted for 'Grease' star John Travolta, who took a reduced salary to appear in the film. At the time, Travolta's career was in jeopardy, and he'd been appearing in family films like the 'Look Who's Talking' series.

The gamble paid off, though: Travolta was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Vega, and 'Pulp Fiction' turned his career around, landing him roles in films like 'Get Shorty' and 'Face/Off.' Now: Travolta's career has still had its fair share of missteps: 'Battlefield Earth,' 'Old Dogs,' and 'Wild Hogs,' but he still stars in action flicks like 'The Taking of Pelham 123,' 'From Paris with Love,' 'Savages,' and more recently in the 2013 film 'Killing Season' with Robert De Niro. In 2012, he reunited with his 'Grease' co-star Olivia Newton-John for the Christmas album 'This Christmas,' proving he still hasn't left his musical past behind. Samuel L. Jackson, Jules Winnfield Miramax/Getty Images Then: Though the role of Vincent Vega's hitman partner Jules Winnfield was written explicitly for Samuel L.

Jackson, he almost lost the role to Paul Calderon, who had previously worked with 'Pulp Fiction' stars Christopher Walken in 'King of New York' and Harvey Keitel in 'The Bad Lieutenant.' When Jackson found out that Tarantino loved Calderon's audition, the actor auditioned a second time to secure the role, and wound up receiving a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his efforts. Now: Jackson is best known these days as Nick Fury in the Marvel movie universe, appearing in films like 'The Avengers,' 'Thor,' and the upcoming 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier.' Jackson also starred in Tarantino's 'Jackie Brown,' had a small voiceover role in 'Inglourious Basterds,' and co-starred in 'Django Unchained' as Leonardo DiCaprio's head servant. Recently, Jackson appeared in Spike Lee's remake of 'Oldboy,' and will appear next in the 'RoboCop' remake. Uma Thurman, Mia Wallace Miramax/Getty Images Then: Uma Thurman played Mia Wallace, the wife of mobster Marsellus Wallace.

The studio wanted someone like Holly Hunter or Meg Ryan for the role, but Tarantino had his sights set on Thurman, who had previously appeared in 'Dangerous Liaisons' and 'Jennifer 8.' Thurman turned the role down at first, but when Tarantino called her and read her the script himself, she eventually agreed. Now: Thurman reunited with Tarantino as the star of his 'Kill Bill' films, and the director has teased a possible third film for some time now (though you might not want to keep holding your breath for that one). Thurman also reunited with Travolta for the 2005 film 'Be Cool,' and has appeared in the recent films 'Ceremony,' 'Bel Ami,' 'Playing for Keeps,' and 'Movie 43.' She had a recurring role on the NBC musical series 'Smash,' and can be seen next in Lars Von Trier's controversial sex drama 'Nymphomaniac,' which hits VOD in the US this March.

Bruce Willis, Butch Coolidge Miramax/Getty Images Then: Bruce Willis played Butch Coolidge, a boxer who has been paid by Marsellus Wallace to throw a fight, but wins the fight and decides to flee with his girlfriend instead. Willis had previously lent his voice to the 'Look Who's Talking' films, which starred John Travolta, and although Willis was a big star, his films were no longer doing so hot at the box office -- like Travolta, he needed a bit of a comeback. Now: 'Pulp Fiction' did the trick, and in the following years we saw Willis in films like 'Die Hard with a Vengeance,' 'The Fifth Element,' 'Armageddon,' and 'The Sixth Sense.' In recent years he's appeared in both 'Red' and 'Red 2,' 'The Expendables 2,' 'Looper,' 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation,' and 'A Good Day to Die Hard' -- the fifth film in the 'Die Hard' franchise. He can be seen next reprising the role of John Hartigan in 'Sin City: A Dame to Kill For,' and has been teasing a sixth 'Die Hard' film.

Harvey Keitel, Winston Wolfe, aka "The Wolf" Miramax/Getty Images Then: Harvey Keitel, who previously starred in and helped produce Tarantino's 'Reservoir Dogs,' played Winston Wolfe, a fixer also known simply as "The Wolf." Keitel had been Tarantino's favorite actor since the director was a teenager, the part was written specifically for Keitel. Now: Keitel starred in the 1996 film 'From Dusk Till Dawn,' which was written by Tarantino and directed by Robert Rodriguez. He reunited with Travolta and Thurman in the 2005 film 'Be Cool,' and had a small, uncredited role in Tarantino's 'Inglourious Basterds.' He also appeared with Bruce Willis in Wes Anderson's 2012 film 'Moonrise Kingdom,' and stars in Anderson's upcoming film 'The Grand Budapest Hotel.' Keitel can also be seen in the upcoming movie 'God Only Knows' with Ben Barnes.

Tim Roth, Ringo, aka "Pumpkin" Miramax/Getty Images Then: Tim Roth, who also previously starred in Tarantino's 'Reservoir Dogs,' played Ringo/Pumpkin, one of a couple of criminals holding up a diner in which Vincent and Jules are eating breakfast. The following year he appeared in 'Four Rooms,' an anthology film with segments directed by Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez. Now: Roth went on to star in the remakes of 'Planet of the Apes,' 'Dark Water,' and 'Funny Games,' and in Louis Leterrier's 2008 'Incredible Hulk' film. From 2009 to 2011, he played the lead role of Dr.

Cal Lightman on the Fox series 'Lie to Me,' and has since appeared in the films 'Arbitrage' and 'Broken.' He can be seen next alongside Nicole Kidman in 'Grace of Monaco.' Amanda Plummer, Yolanda, aka "Honey Bunny" Miramax/Getty Images Then: Amanda Plummer played Yolanda, Pumpkin's girlfriend and fellow robber, whom he lovingly refers to as "Honey Bunny." Plummer had previously starred in the dark comedy 'So I Married an Axe Murderer.' Now: The following year, Plummer reunited with Christopher Walken in 'The Prophecy,' but since then she's mostly starred in indie movies like 'Freeway,' 'My Life Without Me,' 'Girlfriend,' and 'Small Apartments.' She recently portrayed Wiress in 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,' and starred alongside Brad Dourif in the 2013 Off Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams' acclaimed 'The Two-Character Play.' Maria de Medeiros, Fabienne Miramax/Getty Images Then: Maria de Medeiros played Fabienne, Butch's soft-spoken and quirky girlfriend who has a craving for blueberry pancakes.

The actress had previously appeared with Uma Thurman in 'Henry and June.' Now: De Medeiros had a supporting role in the 2003 film 'My Life Without Me,' which also co-starred Amanda Plummer. She's also appeared in the films 'The Saddest Music in the World' with Isabella Rossellini, 'Chicken with Plums,' and 'Journey to Portugal.' She directed the 2000 film 'April Captains,' which premiered at the Cannes film festival, and followed it up with the 2004 documentaries 'Je t'aime... moi non plus: Artistes et critiques' and 'Welcome to Sao Paulo.' In addition to acting and directing, De Medeiros is also a singer and has released three albums. Ving Rhames, Marsellus Wallace Miramax/Getty Images Then: Ving Rhames played Marsellus Wallace, the intimidating mobster and employer of Vincent and Jules. Before Rhames landed the role, Tarantino wanted to cast Sid Haig, the star of several classic 70s films, but Rhames gave a very convincing audition.

Now: Rhames' performance in 'Pulp Fiction' opened the door for parts in films like 'Mission: Impossible,' 'Con Air,' and 'Out of Sight.' He's also appeared in the films 'Bringing out the Dead,' 'Undisputed,' and the 2004 remake of 'Dawn of the Dead.' He reunited with Bruce Willis for the 2009 film 'Surrogates,' and recently appeared in both 'Piranha 3D' and its sequel, 'Piranha 3DD.' Rhames had a starring role on the short-lived 2013 TNT series 'Monday Mornings,' and reprised his role from 'Death Race 2' in 'Death Race 3: Inferno.' Eric Stoltz, Lance Miramax/Getty Images Then: Eric Stoltz played the role of Lance, Vincent's drug dealer who provides him with the heroin on which Mia later accidentally overdoses.

Stoltz had previously appeared in films like 'Mask' and 'Singles,' and the following year he reunited with Amanda Plummer and Christopher Walken for 'The Prophecy.' Now: Stoltz has starred in the films 'Anaconda,' 'The Rules of Attraction,' and 'The Butterfly Effect,' and appears in the upcoming film '5 to 7.' He's been directing a lot of television lately, helming episodes of ‘Glee’ and ‘Nashville.’ He also recently guest starred on an episode of the IFC series ‘Maron.’ Rosanna Arquette, Jody Miramax/Getty Images Then: Rosanna Arquette played Jody, Lance's wife. Pam Grier auditioned for the role, but Tarantino didn't think audiences would believe someone like Grier would allow herself to be pushed around. Tarantino later cast Grier as the lead in 'Jackie Brown,' helping revitalize her career much as he did for Travolta.

Now: Arquette, who is the sister of actors Patricia and David, reunited with Bruce Willis for 'The Whole Nine Yards,' and has appeared in the films 'Hope Floats,' 'Joe Dirt, and the 2011 indie horror film 'The Divide.' She appears in the upcoming film 'Draft Day' with Kevin Costner and Jennifer Garner, and has guest starred on recent episodes of 'Girls' and 'Ray Donovan.' Christopher Walken, Captain Koons Miramax/Getty Images Then: Christopher Walken had a single scene in a flashback to Butch's childhood: he played Captain Koons, a soldier who delivers the gold watch that belonged to Butch's father to a young Butch. Walken previously had a similarly small role in 'True Romance,' which was written by Tarantino.

Now: Walken has an incredibly long and varied resume, including memorable roles in films like 'The Propechy,' 'Suicide Kings,' 'Catch Me if You Can,' and 'Balls of Fury.' In 2007 he reunited with John Travolta for 'Hairspray,' and in recent years he has appeared in the films 'Seven Psychopaths,' 'A Late Quartet,' and 'Stand Up Guys.' You can see him next in 'Gods Behaving Badly' and Clint Eastwood's film adaptation of the acclaimed musical 'Jersey Boys.' 'Pulp Fiction': 20 fun facts as the film turns 20 - CNN.com 'Pulp Fiction': 20 fun facts as the film turns 20 By Lisa Respers France, CNN updated 12:03 PM EDT, Tue October 14, 2014 Say what one more time! From its premiere in September 1994, "Pulp Fiction" has been a treasure-trove of quotes, a fan favorite and a star vehicle for John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson, who play Vincent Vega and Jules Winnfield, respectively.

Here's a look back at some of the film's memorable scenes: From "The Fox Force Five" failed TV pilot to a heroin overdose, Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman) is the reigning queen of the film. Mia's husband, Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames), defines "scary boss" and is the reason we now fear the phrase to "go medieval." Harvey Keitel plays Winston "The Wolf" Wolfe, a fixer. Here he appears with the film's writer-director Quentin Tarantino, who plays Jimmie Dimmick in the movie. "Pulp Fiction" revived the career of John Travolta, who had faltered in Hollywood after becoming a pop culture phenomenon in films such as "Saturday Night Fever" and "Grease." He revisits his dancing skills in the Tarantino film in this scene where he takes Thurman out for a night on the town. Bruce Willis plays boxer Butch Coolidge, who runs afoul of Marsellus Wallace and will do anything to get his watch back. Amanda Plummer and Tim Roth play robbers Yolanda and Ringo, aka "Pumpkin" and "Honey Bunny," whose run-in with Jules and Vincent is pivotal.

It was a bad day for Marvin all the way around when he went for a ride with Vincent and Jules. HIDE CAPTION Quentin Tarantino's film opened in theaters in October 1994 The movie helped revive John Travolta's career The F-word is used 265 times in the movie (CNN) -- Quoting Ezekiel 25:17 from "Pulp Fiction" will likely get you laughed out of Sunday school class. That's because the Bible verse, as recited by Samuel L. Jackson's character, Jules Winnfield, doesn't actually exist. In the film, Winnfield speaks these words to people before he kills them: "The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness. For he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers.

And you will know I am the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you." The actual Bible verse says, "I will carry out great vengeance on them and punish them in my wrath. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I take vengeance on them.'" Scripture isn't the only thing writer-director Quentin Tarantino took creative liberties with for the film that opened in theaters on October 14, 1994. In honor of "Pulp Fiction's" 20th anniversary, here are 20 fun facts about the movie that still reigns as one of the greats: 1. Vincent Vega's trips to the bathroom Potty breaks are bad news in this film. Whenever John Travolta's character, Vincent Vega, takes a powder, tragedy occurs. During his three bathroom breaks, Mia Wallace (played by Uma Thurman) overdoses, the restaurant where he and Jules are dining is held up, and Bruce Willis' Butch Coolidge gets the drop on him. 2. F'ed up The F-word is used 265 times in the movie. Go ahead and count it. 3.

The notebook Fueled by the money he had made from his film "Reservoir Dogs" and the deal he had for "Pulp Fiction," Tarantino took off to Amsterdam to write the latter. According to Vanity Fair, "He bought school notebooks and declared about one of them, like a modern-day Hemingway, 'This is the notebook in which I am going to write Pulp Fiction.' " He ended up filling several notebooks. 4. The Honda Tarantino got a lot of use out of the Honda Civic that Butch drives in the film. It's the same car Pam Grier drives in the title role of "Jackie Brown," and appears in a parking lot scene in "Kill Bill: Volume 2." 5. Oops with the coat At the beginning of the now-infamous overdose scene, Mia is wearing Vincent's coat. Moments later she goes to light a cigarette and is no longer wearing it. The coat magically appears back on her once the cigarette is lit. 6.

Robert Redford could have starred Ronnie Yeskel, the film's casting director, told Flavorwire that unlike on "Reservoir Dogs," Hollywood agencies "were pitching Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman and Bruce, Bruce Willis -- just the biggest names in the business that you could imagine." "And we're sitting there in these rooms with all these suits, and they all look alike, and we're like kids in a candy store," Yeskel said. "We couldn't believe they were pitching these people to us." 7. Or Ellen Ellen DeGeneres tried out for the role of Jody, the pierced face wife of Vincent's drug dealer, that ultimately went to Rosanna Arquette. 8. Kathy Griffin made it in as did ... Blink and you may miss her, but comedian Kathy Griffin appears in the scene where bad guy Marsellus Wallace and Butch collide. Griffin has said she used to date Tarantino. Steve Buscemi, who now stars in "Boardwalk Empire," also made a cameo as the Buddy Holly waiter at Jack Rabbit Slim's. 9.

Tricky camera work The scene where Travolta's Vincent plunges a needle into the chest of Thurman's Mia to revive her from an overdose using adrenaline was filmed with Travolta pulling the needle out of her and then the film was run backward. 10. Jackson was convincing Producer Richard Gladstein told Vanity Fair that when Jackson did his second audition for his role he showed up with a burger and fries -- key props in one of the film's pivotal scenes. The actor proceeded to consume the meal so menacingly that Gladstein said, "I thought that this guy was going to shoot a gun right through my head." 11. On drugs One of Tarantino's friends, a recovering heroin addict, advised Travolta on how best to portray a man riding that horse. He told the actor that getting drunk on tequila while relaxing in a hot bath would closely approximate a heroin high without him actually having to do the drug. 12. That bad wallet The director didn't have to look far for one of the film's most memorable props. Jules' wallet, which had "Bad Mother F****r" written on the front of it, actually belonged to Tarantino. 13.

The watch transporter When Captain Koons (Christopher Walken) tells a young Butch the story about the gold watch that was a family heirloom, he refers to a soldier named Winocki who transported it. Joe Winocki was the name of a character in the 1943 film "Air Force," directed by Howard Hawks, one of Tarantino's personal heroes. 14. "The Wolf" No one else could have played the man who specialized in messy cleanups: Tarantino reportedly wrote the character of Winston "The Wolf" Wolfe specifically for Harvey Keitel. 15. The same pie If Fabienne's line, "Any time of day is a good time for pie," sounds familiar, it should. The character of Alabama says the same thing in another Tarantino film, "True Romance." 16. What's in the case? There have been countless theories about what was in that mysterious briefcase that Jules and Vinnie had to protect -- with everything from gold to Marsellus' soul being suggested. But Tarantino has said in interviews that it's whatever fans choose it to be, though he has also had fun with fans promising a "reveal." 17.

Keeping it in the family Travolta's character, Vincent Vega, is the brother of Vic Vega, aka Mr. Blonde, from Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs." Michael Madsen played the character in that film. 18. The meaning of the Band-Aid Marsellus sports a Band-Aid on the back of his neck for a reason: It covers up a scar actor Ving Rhames had. 19. The dance trophy The audience is led to believe that Vincent and Mia won the dance contest at the Jack Rabbit Slim's restaurant. But late in the film, when Butch is returning to get his watch, there's a radio bulletin about the trophy having been stolen. 20. The Gimp had a wife "Saturday Night Live" alum Julia Sweeney had a bit role in "Pulp Fiction" as a junkyard owner and The Wolf's breakfast date, Raquel. In real life, she had been married to Stephen Hibbert, who played The Gimp in the film.

In Original Pulp Fiction Cast List, John Travolta Was Not Vincent Vega - NDTV Movies In Original Pulp Fiction Cast List, John Travolta Was Not Vincent Vega Written by: Gitanjali Roy | September 15, 2015 09:23 IST ( New Delhi ) 113 Shares COMMENTS John Travolta in a still from Pulp Fiction . Hitman Vincent Vega was the role that resurrected John Travolta's career from Hollywood oblivion and fetched him an Oscar nomination. The role was written for Michael Madsen, however, who starred in Quentin Tarantino's 1992 debut Reservoir Dogs. Other possibles were Gary Oldman, Alec Baldwin and Michael Keaton A document that appears to be director Quentin Tarantino's cast wish list for Pulp Fiction has been posted on Reddit and is causing quite a flutter because it seems that John Travolta would not have played Vincent Vega if the actor the part was written for had been cast instead. Hitman Vincent Vega was the role that resurrected John Travolta's career from Hollywood oblivion and fetched him an Oscar nomination.

The role was written for Michael Madsen, however, who starred in Quentin Tarantino's 1992 debut Reservoir Dogs. As it happened, Mr Madsen was committed to the Kevin Costner-directed Wyatt Earp and so Mr Travolta was cast in his place. Other possibles were Gary Oldman - whose name appears against every male role on the typed sheet but didn't eventually play any - Alec Baldwin and Michael Keaton. Several actors ended up playing the characters that were written for them - notable, Tim Roth as robber Pumpkin and Amanda Plummer as his girlfriend Honey Bunny. Dressing gown-wearing drug dealer was written for John Cusack and went to Eric Stoltz, the second choice. Patricia Arquette was the front runner for Lance's wife Jody but her sister Rosanna was eventually cast. Johnny Depp, Nicolas Cage and Christian Slater were on the wish list for more than one role - none made it to the film. Image courtesy: imgur.com The list above doesn't appear to name several major characters in the film - Mia Wallace who was played by Uma Thurman, or Jules, Butch and Marcellus played respectively by Samuel L Jackson, Bruce Willis and Ving Rhames.

The comments section in the Reddit thread, however, throws us this version of the list which appears to indicate that the role of The Wolf was filled by the actor it was written for - Harvey Keitel. (Also Read: John Travolta Returns to TV With Crime Series ) Image courtesy: imgur.com Pulp Fiction, released in 1994, was Quentin Tarantino's second film and was nominated for seven Oscars. It is considered the career-making movie for actors Samuel L Jackson and Uma Thurman, who would later star in Kill Bill: Volumes 1 and 2. 113 Shares What If? 'Pulp Fiction' Near-Miss Casting What If? 'Pulp Fiction' Near-Miss Casting by David Weiner 11:05 AM PST, November 15, 2013 Photo: Getty Images Now almost two decades old, Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction almost singlehandedly changed the way Hollywood wanted to make movies in the '90s. Now, a comprehensive new book on the film -- Pulp Fiction: The Complete Story of Quentin Tarantino's Masterpiece (by Jason Bailey from Voyageur Press) – reveals some intriguing casting near-miss and what if?

details, from the possibilities of Daniel Day-Lewis as Vincent Vega (the role now owned by John Travolta) and Meg Ryan as Mia Wallace (the role now defined by Uma Thurman) to even Ellen DeGeneres starring in a supporting role... Related: 5 Shocking Truths About the Making of 'Pulp Fiction' After being reduced to playing third wheel to talking babies and dogs in the Look Who's Talking movies, Travolta's career was practically flatlining before the role of Vincent Vega gave him a second lease on life in Hollywood. But the role originally was meant for Michael Madsen, who played Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs (aka Vic Vega, presumably Vincent's brother). Travolta was actually in discussions to play Seth Gecko in Tarantino's From Dusk 'Til Dawn, but he simply didn't want to do a vampire movie. Then, Madsen was forced to pass on Pulp Fiction, having already committed to appear in Wyatt Earp for director Lawrence Kasdan.

Still, before Travolta was considered for Vega, Tarantino toyed with the idea of casting Tim Roth as Vega with Gary Oldman as Jules, thinking to rewrite their characters as "two English guys." But the director really wanted Roth to play the diner robbery man Pumpkin opposite Amanda Plummer, and so he set his sights on Travolta, despite Miramax producer Harvey Weinstein's insistence that My Left Foot Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis take the role, who really wanted to do it. He also suggested Sean Penn or William Hurt. What made Travolta perfect in Tarantino's mind? Already a fan of the actor, it turns out that his Hollywood apartment was the exact same one that Travolta lived in when the star was starting out in the business. He learned this when Travolta went there to meet with him. It was kismet. The two hit it off right away, and even played a vintage Welcome Back Kotter board game together when they first hung out. Tarantino wanted Travolta so badly for the role that he told Weinstein he would walk if he didn't get his way, and the rest is history.

The film's Bruce Willis was also a potential choice to play Vega, and was reportedly miffed at the idea of playing a supporting character and not the lead of the picture. But Willis had already told Tarantino that he was willing to play anyone the director wanted in the movie, and ultimately reigned supreme with a samurai sword as the boxer Butch – a role that was originally out to Matt Dillon. Unfortunately for Dillon, the Drugstore Cowboy star said that he needed to mull it over for a day, and in that meantime, that's when Tarantino met Willis at a BBQ hosted by Harvey Keitel. Again, the rest is history. Related Video: Travolta's Best 'Pulp Fiction' Memories Tarantino wrote the character of Pulp Fiction's Jules Winnfield for Samuel L. Jackson after working with him on True Romance and after a reading for Reservoir Dogs, but a subsequent, lackluster Pulp line reading (Jackson did not realize he had to give an energetic audition for a part written for him) planted doubt in Tarantino's mind – and Jackson lost the role to Paul Calderon, who gave a great reading.

Jackson exploded at the news that he lost the role, returning to Los Angeles with a "full-tilt" audition of "Ezekiel 25:17" that blew everyone away. He got it back, and Calderon was relegated to the small role of English Bob. Later, Calderon claims that Tarantino told him that Laurence Fishburne was the first to be thought of for the role – and turned it down. Uma Thurman memorably killed it as Mia Wallace in Pulp, but believe it or not, Tarantino's first choice was Red Sonja star/Sylvester Stallone's once-wife Brigitte Nielsen, who was a friend of a friend -- and back in 1991 could have potentially helped him finance Pulp as a low-budget short. With the project expanded to a feature-length film script by 1993, Michelle Pfeiffer and Meg Ryan's agents pitched them for the role, while Tarantino considered Holly Hunter, Meg Tilly, Alfre Woodard and Rosanna Arquette.

Arquette tested for the role of Mia, but Thurman eventually won out (even though Tarantino wasn't keen on her for the role before meeting her in person and then hitting it off; still, Uma initially turned down the role because she didn't think she was right for it). Arquette got the role of Jody as a "consolation prize." Interestingly, Ellen DeGeneres read for that role of Jody, as she was trying to transition from sitcoms to films. Tarantino had also considered Pam Grier for the role of Jody, but felt she was too commanding for the part, and saved her for the lead of his Pulp Fiction follow-up, Jackie Brown. Related: 'Gravity' Makes Tarantino’s Top Films of 2013 List As for Marsellus Wallace, Tarantino thought about casting Blaxploitation star Max Julien, star of The Mack, as the notorious crime boss of Pulp Fiction, but that actor stood his ground after reading the controversial basement rape scene, declaring that his fans just didn't want to see that. Like Samuel L.

Jackson, Ving Rhames had previously read for the role of Haldeway in Reservoir Dogs but didn't land it, and fortunately for him, Tarantino remembered him specifically, writing the role of Marsellus just for him and his unique cadence. And again, the rest is history. Chock full of original art inspired by the film, timelines, quotables, deleted scene details, influences, pop culture references, behind-the-scenes photos, scene breakdowns and more, Pulp Fiction: The Complete Story of Quentin Tarantino's Masterpiece is available now . Catching Up with Pulp Fiction’s Marvin, the Guy That John Travolta Shoots in the Head | Vanity Fair Twitter Few Quentinphiles can forget Pulp Fiction character Marvin, the man who Vincent Vega (John Travolta) accidentally shoots in the back of Jules Winnfield's (Samuel L. Jackson's) car. Though Marvin has three lines in Pulp Fiction, he is also the character Tarantino used to string together the movie’s idiomatic vignettes. Without Marvin, we would have never met the wolf (played by Harvey Keitel), we’d miss Jules asking Brett, “English motherfucker!

Do you speak it?!,” and Tarantino would have never made a cameo. Phil LaMarr, who plays Marvin, has had a wildly busy career after filming Pulp Fiction, including five years on MADtv. He’s lent his voice to dozens of animated characters, including Hermes Conrad on *Futurama,*and worked alongside Paul Reubens as Cowboy Curtis in The Pee-wee Herman Stage Show. VF Daily caught up with LaMarr about Tarantino’s possible guest edits on It’s Pat, the racial controversy of Django Unchained, and last-minute changes in the Pulp Fiction script. Highlights from our chat: __VF Daily:__How did you end up auditioning for the role? *Phil LaMarr:Basically, “It’s Pat.” *I was friends with Julia Sweeney [who plays the Wolf’s junkyard paramour] from [L.A. sketch-comedy group] the Groundlings before she went on to do *S.N.L.*Harvey Keitel hosted S.N.L and he did a “Pat” sketch. It was during Reservoir Dogs time, so he brought along his buddy Quentin Tarantino. Quentin and Julia hit it off, so after she left S.N.L.

and came back to L.A., she invited Quentin to come perform at the Groundlings. Quentin was the celebrity guest and I was in the cast, and that’s where I first met him—a few months, I think, before he started pre-production on Pulp Fiction. What sketch did you do with Quentin Tarantino at Groundlings? We just took suggestions from the audience. None of it was written or scripted or particularly well remembered, but we had a good time. Quentin was actually good. I knew Ronnie Yeskel, the woman who cast Pulp Fiction. She had cast me in an episode of *L.A. Law.*They were looking for someone to play Marvin. She goes to Quentin, “O.K., well, here’s someone on my list. He’s a great young actor named Phil LaMarr. He’s really somebody that you should look into.” [Impersonating Tarantino:] “Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I hear he’s great. But there’s this black guy at the Groundlings who was just really funny. Try to find out who he is.” Somehow I managed to not screw that up.

I got to audition with the Jules-and-Brett hamburger scene, which is just—I mean, come on, that’s like a fundamental point at the playground. Reading the script, you knew it was a very small part. But I also knew they couldn’t cut me out. You cut me out, you lose a third of the script. It’s like, “Why are they covered in blood? No one knows.” Was there a general consensus that Pulp Fictionwas going to be big? You knew it was gonna be great. But there are a lot of great things that don’t wind up being commercially successful. But nobody cared. That’s why they were able to do it for $8 million. I’m sure everybody on that cast read that script and said, “What do I have to do to be a part of this?” By the third time I read through my scene, I had it memorized. There’s no effort involved. The words flow. You don’t have to work to memorize it, because the thing you’re saying is the thing that comes naturally. It’s just so exquisitely written. And that’s the thing—Reservoir Dogs was successful, but it wasn’t earth shattering.

I figured Pulp Fictionwould probably be along the same lines. I remember joking on set, “Well, I guess they could try to sell it like a big summer blockbuster—John Travolta! Bruce Willis! Uma Thurman!” You know, right up until the heroin overdose and the anal rape. But, you know what, $100 million later, you’re like, “O.K., I guess I do not know what sells.” Can you remember anything being cut from the film? Nothing was taken out. The Brady Bunch, Mary-Ann-and-Ginger bit with Uma Thurman and John Travolta was just trimmed out. That, and my character was originally supposed to get shot two times. Shot first in the apartment? No, in the car. The gun goes off, you know, mysteriously, and it’s supposed to hit me in the throat. And then there’s a little bit of banter back and forth. [As Samuel L. Jackson:] “Aw, man, what you do that for?” [As Travolta:] “Aw, man, I shot Marvin.” He’s like, “Well, why’d you shoot him?” “I didn’t do it on purpose.

You hit a bump.” “I didn’t hit no goddamn bump.” You know. And they’re going back, “Well, what are we gonna do?” “Well, he can’t go to a doctor.” “Well, I don’t got no homies in . . . ” “Well, what are we gonna do?” “All right, we have to put him out of his misery.” And then it’s like, “All right, on three I’m gonna honk the horn.” And then he shoots me in the head. And then they get covered in blood and brain matter, and then everything goes on as written. (Here’s Phil re-enacting the parts.) Why do you think they pulled it? I don’t know for certain, but I do know that we had a rehearsal a few weeks before shooting started, and it was just me, John Travolta, Sam Jackson, Quentin, and Sam, the A.D. And when I walked in, John Travolta goes [as Travolta], “Aw man, I gotta kill him? The audience is gonna hate me.” I believe he and Quentin decided that if he had to actively kill me, it would negatively effect the audience’s relation to his character.

And I think he was right. It’s a really subtle difference, the fact that he does it accidentally. Travolta and Tarantino just had this sense that killing me intentionally was going to be over the line. I guess they decided it changed the way these hit men are portrayed. But it’s weird, because, yeah, honestly they really did just blaze through a bunch of kids for no reason. And they changed another line? When they’re talking about bacon. Travolta says, “So if a pig had a better personality, they would cease to be a filthy animal?” Sam’s like, “Well, we’d have to be talking about one charming motherfucking pig.” And he was originally supposed to say, “That’d have to be the Cary Grant of pigs.”__ __And Sam, from what I was told, didn’t think that Jules would think Cary Grant was that cool. So they changed it to: “They’d have to be 10 times more charming than that Arnold on Green Acres.” During *Pulp Fiction,*was there any feeling on set that the language or violence in the film was so out of line that it would get Tarantino in trouble?

Political correctness was still very strong, but I don’t think it was as firmly ensconced as it is today. But yeah, I mean, he says “nigger” so many times in the scene with the coffee. But anybody who cannot tell the difference between Jimmie saying [as Tarantino], “Do you see a sign above my glasses, ‘Dead Nigger Storage’? No. Because that’s not what it is,” and a hate crime on a crowded street . . . Anybody who can’t tell the difference between the two is an idiot. And the stuff with Django—I mean, it’s obviously more loaded because his topic is slavery. Like I was saying, political correctness has become an industry unto itself. At the time, it was not an issue in any way, shape, or form. In fact, I think Sam added the line, as we’re leaving the apartment after they kill everybody, “Come on, nigger, get up,” because it felt real. Is the gimp a friend of yours as well, because he was married to Julia Sweeney? Yeah, that’s Steve Hibbert. When did Julia and Steve split? I don’t know when they split. I guess it was soon after the movie.

’Cause they were together before she went to S.N.L., and after, they co-wrote It’s Pattogether, and I believe that Quentin did a rewrite or helped out on that. ’Cause they were all hanging out together. That was the story that I heard, that Quentin did some uncredited rewrites on It’s Pat, which is just hilarious to me. How did they film your death scene? I was not actually there. I try never to be around when my brains are being blown out. Greg Nicotero’s company built a full-on dummy, which is the body that’s in the trunk, and it’s the body they’re holding when they have the flash-forward of [as Tarantino] “What if my wife comes home?” And the dummy was actually on set for a couple of months before I showed up, so it was really weird. My first day on set, I’m meeting people, I’m like, “Hi, I’m so-and-so,” and they’re looking at me with—you know how someone looks at you with recognition in their eyes?

Like, “Oh, I’ve seen you before, I know you,” but it’s also creeped-out kind of recognition, because it’s like, “Ooh, I’ve seen you dead.” And he also built a sort of bust that was rigged to blow brain chunks out of the back of the head. And what I was told at the time was, they were building this head that exploded—it’s like, “We’re never gonna use it.” Quentin said, “I don’t want to use—I don’t want to see your head explode. But we need something for the ratings people. We need something to give them.” So he shot this scene, always intending to cut it out. There was some stuff that was potentially objectionable that he needed, and if you just give the ratings board the cut you want, they’re going to go, “No, you can’t have that, you can’t have that.” So he put in extra stuff to remove. It’s like, “Wait, you can’t have a black man fucked in the ass.” “O.K., O.K., O.K. How about we take the little black man’s head exploding, we cut that out?” Share

Question: In what film did the character Vincent Vega played by John Travolta appear?
Answer: PULP FICTION