Alice Cooper
Metallica, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, and My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic fan

Captain Sensible.

Tim Curry
"I write songs, you just never let us play any of them!"-Fluttershy

"He was 39 and all the named people to take his place is older. How stupid."
Troll harder why don't you. It's obvious to everyone else that the OP meant act in, not direct, and if you're going to be such a pedantic a$$hole, you may want to try actually knowing what you're talking about next time you attempt to correct and then insult people (you may also want to try writing with proper grammarall the people named "is' older? You mean "were" older?, I know proper grammar hard tho, make brain hurt, lol) and it's more like less then half of them "were" older, and most of those "were" by just a few years. Maybe there is some confusion on your part, maybe you don't realize this is a discussion about who might have been a good choice for the role in the original 1986 film if Bowie had turned it down, it's not about potential choices for a potential remake (although if that's the case, it should have been obvious as soon as someone named Freddie Mercury).

Jim Henson made the movie, not David Bowie. David Bowie is just an actor in it, not the one making it. LOL! Some people. Why is everyone naming all the old actors for the roll? David Bowie was young when he was in it. He was 39 and all the named people to take his place is older. How stupid.
No more IMDB boards for me!

Nowadays, I could picture Johnny Depp playing the part. Of course, he was too young to play the part when it was first made. EDIT: I could see Tim Curry playing the Goblin King.
RIP
Lemmy
1945-2015

Jim Henson eventually decided he wanted a big, charismatic star to the play the Goblin King, and decided to pursue a musician for the role. Sting, Prince, Mick Jagger, and Michael Jackson were considered for the part; however, it was ultimately decided that David Bowie would be the most suitable choice.

Morten Harket
Simon Le Bon
Bryan Ferry
Daryl Hall
Michael Hutchence
Jon Bon Jovi
Robert Palmer
Billy Joel

I'm not to familiar with Sting. But Bowie's voice was intimidating enough for the scenes where he had to usurp his authority with Huggle or Sarah. The concept of Michael Jackson stealing a baby wouldn't have aged well into the 90s after his first scandal.

Gene Wilder

Michael Jackson was animated enough. But, did not have the acting skill that was needed for the serious scenes with Jennifer Connelly. I think he would have subconsciously grabbed his crotch.

Given that the music and Bowie's unwatered down sensuality are two of the integral reasons why the film is so fondly looked on, I am sure that very few would have the stature and inventivness to make the film what it was. Bowie was not afraid of being pure 'magic'. Perhaps if a female Goblin Queen (which would slightly change the implied metaphors)could be considered, certainly Kate Bush for the music. Peter Gabriel if you want to give the film a Sting meets Prince flavour.

Mick Jagger.

How about Iggy Pop?
This is a really tough question by the way, because I really can't imagine anyone other than Bowie playing Jareth. All I know is I really would want someone who treats the character as more creepy than cutesy. I loved how there was a sort of sly wink that Bowie gave the audience, so it wasn't just for kids. Plus, he makes Jareth sexy. Can you imagine if Michael Jackson had played the part? It would have been so weird! Music would have sounded cool though..

Although I know that Sting and Michael Jackson were also in consideration, the only actor I could personally see as playing the part would be Tim Curry. A little bit of Rocky Horror flavor, the sensuality that oozes from him, it would have been a suitable replacement. Bowie is without a doubt the most absolutely perfect person for the role, but I think that Curry would have done it justice enough.

I don't know Raimi would certainly play up the campyness of the original, but I don't know if that would be a good thing for the film. Plus, I have a feeling that the Sarah and Jareth relationship would be be edited into a more kid-friendly, traditional one of good guy versus bad guy. He doesn't handle romance well. Or subtlety for that matter.
Theatricality and deception are powerful agents against the uninitiated.

This message has been deleted.

This message has been deleted.

Orlando Bloom would have still been a kid in those days

Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom or Lee Pace

Grace Jones. XD

Don't know if he can sing well, but I could see Eddie Izzard doing a good job in the role. He probably wasn't known much back in 1986 though.
You don't choose the soy sauce, the soy sauce chooses you.

Jim Henson said the top three contenders was Bowie,Sting, & Micheal Jackson with Bowie being number 1. I guess if Bowie had turned it down one or both would get a shot at it. If I were casting someone other Bowie or other rock stars Id look to Tim Curry, David Carradine,John Malkovich or Frank Langella
God's gift of Love
Romans 3:23,6:23,5:8,10:9

If it was 15 years later, I would say Ewan McGregor, just based on his musical performance in Moulin Rouge. I think they could have made him look the part . In 1986, I couldn't imagine anyone else!!