'As Time Goes By' Was Faked? The Untold Story of 'Casablanca’s Musical Deception

Although Dooley Wilson is now best remembered as the charismatic piano player at Rick’s Café Américain in Casablanca, the reality of his musical background is quite different. Wilson, who portrayed the beloved character Sam, was actually an accomplished musician and bandleader with extensive experience performing live music.

However, he was not a pianist by training; instead, he was primarily a drummer. During filming, Wilson mimed playing the piano for his scenes, as he was not proficient enough on the instrument to perform convincingly on camera. The iconic song “As Time Goes By,” which became synonymous with the film’s romantic atmosphere, was not performed live by Wilson during filming but was dubbed in later during post-production.

This practice was common in Hollywood at the time, especially when actors were not skilled musicians or when technical considerations made live performance difficult. Despite this behind-the-scenes fact, Wilson’s portrayal of Sam has become legendary and remains one of the most memorable aspects of Casablanca.

His musical talent and acting ability combined to create a character that continues to resonate with audiences decades after the film’s release. This interesting detail about Wilson’s true musical background adds an extra layer of appreciation for his performance and highlights how Hollywood often relied on clever techniques to bring iconic scenes to life.