I recently found out that Lyle Wagonner was passed over for the role of Batman when network execs decided to go with Adam West. At first, this seems like splitting hairs as far as acting ability goes, but closely examining their faces, you might note that Adam West falls into the "Classic Leading Man" mold a little bit better.
In character design, it's not just about whether the person is good looking or not (how I wish Hollywood understood that). For the story, a person's personality has to fit their appearance. The best way to explain this is with an example: say a guy is raggety, unshaved, has an eyepatch, missing teeth, and a tattoo on his arm. Would you believe me if I told you he has an unparalleled passion for truth, freedom, and justice? But you'd probably believe me if I told you he just robbed a bank. Strong jaw, full face, a nice head of hair, deep sexy voice, and a warm but not too big smile. These are some of the most instantly recognizable traits in the classical leading man archetype. This is not to exclude every man outside of Robert Redford as a hero, though. All I'm saying is that if your story has the archetypal hero, your audience is more likely to buy into it if the guy looks the part. There are plenty of other hero-types out there, but this is the guy that will ride in on a white horse, slay the dragon and save the princess.
And Lyle Wagonner went onto a role more suited for him: getting Wonder Woman on a weekly basis in the 1975 series when he played Col. Steve Trevor.
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