Tim Matheson Says Henry Winkler Offered Him a Role in “MacGyver”: 'Sounded Silly to Me at the Time'

In his new memoir 'Damn Glad to Meet You', he also writes about turning down 'Seventh Heaven' a decade later

Tim Matheson once turned down an offer to star in a hit TV show.

The actor, 76, revealed in his new memoir Damn Glad to Meet You: My Seven Decades in the Hollywood Trenches that he was approached by Henry Winkler to star in MacGyver when the show was still in development.

Matheson shared that he received the offer in 1983 after he had wrapped filming on a detective comedy series called Tucker’s Witch that was canceled after its first season.

At the time, he was feeling worn out and had already turned down starring in another TV series – Moonlighting – despite the insistence from his agent. The show eventually cast Bruce Willis in the role he was being considered for and it aired for five seasons on ABC.

He wrote, "I was exhausted and needed a break."

That same year, Matheson said he had a special encounter with three-time Emmy winner Winkler and he offered him a role in the the now-hit series MacGyver, which he was executive producing.

"Henry Winkler took me out to lunch to offer me the chance to play a secret agent working for the shadowy Department of External Services," he wrote. "The character, a guy with extraordinary scientific resourcefulness, could solve any problem using everyday materials at hand."

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Matheson noted his appreciation for the variety of each episode in the show, but still had some major hesitations. "Personality-wise, the character was totally in my wheelhouse. But all the rest sounded silly to me at the time," he wrote.

Ultimately, he passed on the offer.

MacGyver ended up airing for seven seasons and was later adapted into two TV movies with Richard Dean Anderson, the late Dana Elcar and Bruce McGill in the main cast. The show followed the titular character (played by Anderson) as he creatively resolved issues that arose from his job as a secret agent.

During its run, the series was nominated for four Emmy Awards.

It was later rebooted on CBS, also produced by Winkler. The new series ran for five seasons from 2016 to 2021 before being canceled.

Matheson wrote in his book that, nearly 10 years later, he also turned down a role in Seventh Heaven because it "looked like a wimpy show" and he was "holding out for a film."

Related: Tim Matheson Says Animal House Director Made Sure John Belushi Was Clean on Set

"Foolishly, I said no," he wrote of the experience. "Adding insult to injury. It was only about to get worse."

The role instead went to Stephen Collins, who Matheson wrote "always envied my career." It ran for 11 years.

Shortly after, Matheson claimed he was set to direct the 1999 television movie As Time Runs Out for USA Studios and Universal. He wrote that the production team suggested they cast Collins in the lead role, to which he hesitantly agreed.

The Hart of Dixie star alleged that Collins refused to star in the movie if he was directing it, which led to him being let go from the production.

About 15 years later, Collins admitted to 'inappropriate sexual conduct' with three female minors, Matheson pointed out in the book.

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Matheson’s new book details his extensive Hollywood career and his experience with industry greats such as Chris Farley, Chevy Chase, Penny Marshall, Dick Van Dyke and more.

Along with juicy behind-the-scenes stories, he also includes "film school boot camp lessons" to provide more in-depth insight into working the industry.

As of late, Matheson has found success starring in the Netflix hit series Virgin River as local physician Vernon "Doc" Mullins, a role which he also almost turned down due to concerns of being typecast after his recent role in the CW drama series Hart of Dixie.

"I figured there was no way they would want me for this after 80 episodes of me playing a similar character on the WB," the actor wrote. "While typecasting often works, I’d too often heard, ‘Oh, we’ve seen him play that before; we want something … fresh."

Damn Glad to Meet You: My Seven Decades in the Hollywood Trenches by Tim Matheson is now available, wherever books are sold.