Belushi was considered a supporting actor and Universal wanted another star. Landis had been a crew member on "Kelly's Heroes" and had become friends with actor Donald Sutherland, sometimes babysitting his son Kiefer. He had also just worked with him on "Kentucky Fried Movie". Landis asked Sutherland, one of the most popular film stars of the early 1970s, to be in the movie. For two days of work, Sutherland declined the initial offer of $20,000 plus "points" (a percentage of the gross or net income). Universal then offered him his day rate of $25,000 or 2% of the film's gross. Sutherland took the guaranteed fee, assuming that the film would not be very successful; although this made him the highest-paid member of the cast (Neidemeyer's horse, Junior, and John Belushi each received $40,000), the decision cost Sutherland what he estimates as around $14 million. The star's participation, however, was crucial; Landis later said "It was Donald Sutherland who essentially got the film made."