ANDREW SHUE GOT STEPHEN FANNING'S BILLY ON MELROSE PLACE

Stephen Fanning on The Incredible Hulk, 1980, the originally-cast Billy Campbell and Andrew Shue

One of the worst actors in television history is, or, was... when MELROSE PLACE ruled the 1990's... Andrew Shue, the soccer playing brother of genuinely talented sister Elizabeth Shue, who threw her bro extra roles in her films including a dancing wedding guest in COCKTAIL... He didn't have to act in the early parts, just show up... That's until scoring a leading role on the BEVERLY HILLS 90210 spinoff MELROSE PLACE as boy-next-door Billy Campbell...

The actor who was actually/originally chosen was Stephen Fanning, who was so far into character he was included on early promos with the other cast members; photos no one seems to have online... When he returned from homeland Canada, he'd gained weight, got canned, and, instead of hiring Paul Rudd two days before filming (he was in the running), Shue was chosen: a dopey jock we're supposed to not only believe is a great writer, but lands every woman on earth while CQ Model Grant Show's Jake strikes out with even Sydney, a whore! So here's a rare photo of the two Billy Campbell actors: the first who missed the boat, the other who rode the wave, while it lasted...

Andrew Shue Stephen Fanning Billy Campbell Melrose Place Stephen Fanning Melrose Place