Richard Gere admitted that he really had no interest in doing An Officer and a Gentleman. He only did it because he needed money at the time.

Even though the film shows a different man behind the glass, the PA Voice in the pressure chamber is that of Ed Begley Jr. Submitted by William Bergquist

John Travolta was offered the part of Mayo first but turned it down to get his pilot's license. This is not the first part Travolta gave up and Richard Gere later got: he also gave up the lead in "American Gigolo" (1974). Also, Gere was originally supposed to play Danny in "Grease" (1978).