The 50th anniversary of the death of French actor Jean Gabin, who passed away on November 15, 2026, has sparked renewed interest in his career and the roles he never got to play. His son, Mathias Moncorgé, has honored his father’s legacy through a book titled Gabin de A à Z, published by Guy Tredaniel, and a documentary called Jean Gabin - La guerre c'est pas du cinéma, which aired on Arte on November 9. Moncorgé revealed that his father was once considered for the role of Vito Corleone in The Godfather, a film that became a landmark in cinema history. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, The Godfather was a commercial and critical success, winning three Academy Awards and many other honors around the world. The opportunity came from Jacques Bar, a producer who approached Gabin with the chance to take on the iconic role. Gabin reportedly accepted, but with a condition: the production team had to say they were filming in France. This likely stemmed from his fear of flying, which he developed after a traumatic experience during a stormy flight. The fear never left him, and it would later influence other decisions in his career. Gabin’s fear of flying also kept him from another legendary role in Once Upon a Time in America, a film directed by Sergio Leone. According to conversations between Leone and film critic Noël Simsolo, the director originally intended for the character of Max to be French and considered Gabin for the part. Leone admired Gabin greatly and wanted to meet him between 1974 and 1975. However, Gabin insisted on traveling by boat or train instead of flying, which would have been necessary to work on the film in America. The project did not move forward, and Gabin passed away in 1976, just after the release of L'Année sainte by Jean Girault. Gabin’s career was marked by his iconic performances in French cinema, but these missed opportunities highlight the impact of personal challenges on professional choices. His legacy continues to be celebrated, not only through his films but also through the efforts of his family to preserve and share his story with new generations.