I have always wondered "Who did Arthur Miller have in mind when he fashioned the Willy Loman character in the great American classic stage-play Death of a Salesman?

Willy, as "Everyman" is beaten down and disgraced by the world about him and finally dies poor and barely remembered. Who should act the role? Should it be a big strapping, broad-shouldered actor or a small, thin mouse of a player to portray weakness and timidity?

The first Willy Loman (get it, Low-Man) was Lee J. Cobb. He was the movie version and he remained in my mind for many years as the perfect lead-role. He was bombastic and obsequious in alternating moments in his portrayal. A hulking, football type hero being punished by society is very unnerving. "If such a huge, muscular man can be so degraded, what is the hope for us poor, mere mortals?" is the question that runs through the audiences' thinking. Arthur Miller is saying, in effect, "No matter how big and strong you are, society will hammer you down to nothing!"

And then I viewed the television adaptation of this great play, with Dustin Hoffman playing the downtrodden salesman from Brooklyn. Dustin is not physically intimidating and he is smallish, thin and gives the idea of a meek, withdrawn soul. His performance was excellent, but it was worlds apart from Lee J. Cobb's performance in the role. Dustin was Willy as Casper Milquetoast.

The next actor in the role was Brian Dennehy. A good friend, Peter Grennan, took Lorraine and me as guests to see his rendition of Willy. Dennehy is larger and bulkier than Cobb and twice the size of Dustin. And yet he played with great tenderness the fall of Willy Loman.

Who was the proper choice?

The Big-Man being beaten to a pulp as a contrast or the Little-Man whom you would suppose would be squashed by the cruel world.

The author has someone in mind as he writes. Arthur Miller died recently. Who would he have chosen and why?

I am asking my readership for their opinions!

My e-mail address is shgreenbug@aol.com or send it to the Syosset-Jericho Tribute in care of Stan Greenberg.

Thanks in advance for your opinions!