<Li> Alfred Molina as Rahad Jackson </Li> <Li> Ricky Jay as Kurt Longjohn </Li> <P> Boogie Nights is based on a mockumentary short film that Anderson made while he was still in high school called The Dirk Diggler Story . The short was based on the 1981 documentary Exhausted: John C. Holmes, The Real Story, a documentary about the life of legendary porn actor John Holmes, the person on whom Dirk Diggler is based . </P> <P> He originally wanted the role of Eddie to be played by Leonardo DiCaprio, after seeing him in The Basketball Diaries . DiCaprio enjoyed the screenplay, but had to turn it down because he signed on to star in Titanic . He recommended Mark Wahlberg for the role . Joaquin Phoenix was also offered the role of Eddie, but turned it down due to concerns about playing a porn star . Phoenix later collaborated with Anderson in the films, The Master and Inherent Vice . Bill Murray, Harvey Keitel, Warren Beatty, Albert Brooks and Sydney Pollack declined or were passed up on the role of Jack Horner, which went to Burt Reynolds . After starring in Hard Eight, Samuel L. Jackson declined the role of Buck Swope, which went to Don Cheadle . Anderson initially did not consider Heather Graham for the role of Rollergirl, because he had never seen her do nudity in a film . However, Graham's agent called Anderson asking if she could read for the part, which she won . Drew Barrymore and Tatum O'Neal were also up for the role . </P>

Who are the characters in boogie nights based on