‘The White Lotus’ Star Scott Glenn Says He Almost Turned Down “Old Guy” Role: “I Thought F*** That”

Scott Glenn, known for his role in The White Lotus, recently shared that he nearly declined an offer to join the hit HBO series because he thought it was yet another “old guy” role.

In an appearance on The Daily Show, Glenn, now in his eighties, explained that when he was first offered the role of Jim Hollinger, he turned it down. “I just finished a film called ‘Eugene the Marine’ that was tons of martial arts and dancing and shit like that, and it was basically about ageism and how you deal with it when you’re old and still have a life left in the tank,” the actor revealed.

He continued, recalling how the producers sent him a character description of an elderly man with a cane, to which he reacted by thinking, “f*** that.” In The White Lotus, Hollinger is introduced in Bangkok, recovering at home after a recent hospital stay. Walton Goggins’ character, Rick, believes Hollinger is the man who murdered his father, but is unable to take his revenge due to Hollinger’s frailty.

Glenn changed his mind after watching just 15 minutes of the show with his wife, Carol. “I was sucked right into it,” he admitted. “[And I thought], you know, I think I want to be a part of this deal. I talked to [Mike White] the next morning.”

Later, the conversation shifted to the emotional struggles that men are facing, with host Michael Kosta mentioning a “male friendship recession” and rising depression and suicide rates. “What are your thoughts on men today?” Kosta asked. “What can we steal? What can we learn from an older generation that would help us?” Glenn’s response was simple but impactful: “Never pay a tariff.”

Glenn also teased the upcoming finale, urging viewers to “stay tuned” for episode 8, as the third season prepares to wrap up this weekend. The 90-minute season finale will air on HBO this Sunday, April 6, at 9 pm ET.

Decider gave the third season a glowing review, with Meghan O’Keefe praising the series’ ability to balance dark humor and sweetness. “If you want an addictive, star-studded murder mystery rife with sly jokes and non-stop wealth porn, The White Lotus is the gold standard in escapism.”