Colonel Sam Trautman was the titular character's mentor and best friend, but what happened to him after the events of Rambo 3? Sylvester Stallone was far from the first name linked to the role of John Rambo in First Blood. This 1982 action thriller adapted the novel of the same name, with names such as Steve McQueen and Al Pacino circling the part before Stallone was cast. The actor had yet to score a major success outside of the Rocky series during this era, but First Blood - which Tarantino has talked about remaking - proved he was a movie star outside of his boxing alter-ego.
Just like Stallone wasn't the first choice for Trautman, other names were thrown around for his mentor Colonel Trautman. Kirk Douglas was originally cast and even appeared on the teaser poster, but he later quit when his frequent requests to change the script were rejected. Richard Crenna soon stepped into the role, and whereas Trautman was a more ambiguous character in the novel - who ended up killing Rambo in the ending - Crenna brought warmth to the role. His role was expanded for Rambo: First Blood Part 2 and Rambo 3 - which almost cast Marlon Brando - and in the latter, the Rambo has to travel to Afghanistan to rescue Trautman after he's captured by Russian forces.
Rambo 3 ends with the two friends riding off together, but Trautman didn't appear in either 2008's Rambo or the final installment Last Blood in 2019. In fact, while Crenna is seen briefly in flashback footage in Rambo, Trautman isn't even mentioned in either film. A major reason for this is that Crenna passed away in 2003, with Rambo being dedicated to his memory. There were plans to bring Trautman back, however, with James Brolin - who was nearly cast as James Bond in 1983's Octopussy - named as a potential replacement for Crenna. However, Stallone decided against this, stating that Trautman died the day that Richard Crenna did, meaning the Colonel passed away between Rambo 3 and 4.
There are conflicting accounts of Brolin's attachment to Rambo - which received an '80s cartoon - but after it was decided to remove the character of Trautman, it appears the actor's planned role was reworked into a character named Ed Bumgardener. Early scripts for Rambo - dubbed Pearl Of The Cobra - featured Bumgardener as a mysterious official with the "Overseas American Activities Bureau,” who at first warns Rambo against bringing the missionaries into Burma because of the politics involved. He reappears late to help Rambo arrange a rescue by arranging the mercenary team, and he even returns at the end to help rescue the survivors of the final battle.
It's easy to picture Brolin as Bumgardener, who is a cynical, sarcastic but ultimately honorable ex-soldier. It also appears he wanted to recruit Rambo and sniper School Boy for further adventures, but the character and his subplot was later cut entirely. Some of his dialogue was repurposed for mercenary leader Lewis too. Reportedly, Stallone - who was wasn't the first "John Rambo" - also considered a scene where Rambo visits Colonel Trautman's grave, but it's hard to picture a moment in the sequel a scene like this would fit.