Hollywood careers that just ended abruptly

B.A._Baracus

A random thread.
But I just happened to switch on an episode of Baywatch there randomly on TV and it guest starred Elizabeth Berkley (Jessie from Saved by the Bell)
The episode in question was in 1992 which was the same year Saved by the Bell ended. This of course is all leading up to her infamous Showgirls movie in 1995.

Only aged 23 when the movie came out her career pretty much ended as the movie was a flop. She would star in movies like Any Given Sunday (1999) but the damage was done.
In a 2015 interview the director of Showgirls, Paul Verhoeven, apologized for her career ending so soon. Not that it was his intention or anything like that. But having made a movie that failed he felt responsible for what he says 'Hollywood blackballing her'.

It's mental looking back. She was young, beautiful, tall, could act and had a rocking body. If you were a betting man, then the (seemingly) smart bet would have been on her.


Anyone else come to mind?

dinorebel

Harvey Weinstein

poisonated

Cameron Diaz

Itssoeasy

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

A random thread.
But I just happened to switch on an episode of Baywatch there randomly on TV and it guest starred Elizabeth Berkley (Jessie from Saved by the Bell)
The episode in question was in 1992 which was the same year Saved by the Bell ended. This of course is all leading up to her infamous Showgirls movie in 1995.

Only aged 23 when the movie came out her career pretty much ended as the movie was a flop. She would star in movies like Any Given Sunday (1999) but the damage was done.
In a 2015 interview the director of Showgirls, Paul Verhoeven, apologized for her career ending so soon. Not that it was his intention or anything like that. But having made a movie that failed he felt responsible for what he says 'Hollywood blackballing her'.

It's mental looking back. She was young, beautiful, tall, could act and had a rocking body. If you were a betting man, then the (seemingly) smart bet would have been on her.


Anyone else come to mind?

Did it ruin her career though ? She was in stuff after that film and from a saved by the bell reunion on one of the US talk shows she’s done okay and isn’t bitter about it. I mean of all the saved by the bell cast she’s not the worst off. I mean poor Dustin diamond has cancer and the actress who played Lisa seems to have disappeared. The saved by the bell cast as a whole have come out the far side of stardom well.

el Fenomeno

Jack Nicholson was someone I hadn't realised retired until years after he made his last movie.

Gene Hackman too. I just checked his Wikipedia and couldn't believe he's 90. I knew he's retired, I just assumed he was in his 70s at most.

A bit different given the incredible careers they've had, just 2 people who retired unbeknownst to me until years later.

NewMan1982

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

She was young, beautiful, tall, could act and had a rocking body.

And that’s why you are thinking of her at this time of night.

Grace Kelly - Retired at 26 when she married the Prince of Monaco.

Neeson

Kevin Spacey

Irish actor Stuart Townsend

Packed it in pretty much and shacked up with a local bird in Costa Rica

https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/the-forgotten-story-of-irish-actor-stuart-townsend-being-fired-from-lord-of-the-rings-37667090.html

Strumms

el Fenomeno wrote: »

Jack Nicholson was someone I hadn't realised retired until years after he made his last movie.

Gene Hackman too. I just checked his Wikipedia and couldn't believe he's 90. I knew he's retired, I just assumed he was in his 70s at most.

A bit different given the incredible careers they've had, just 2 people who retired unbeknownst to me until years later.

God what happened to Gene Hackman. He’s somebody I haven’t thought about or seen in an age.. his last film was 2004... the last new release I saw him in was The Royal Tennenbaums, that’s 20 years old this year... he turns 91 in a week..

B.A._Baracus

To add to the thread further, Steve Guttenberg is another.

Bonafide Hollywood star of the 80s being in such movies as Police Academy (1984), Cocoon (1985), Police Academy 2 (1985), Short Circuit (1986), Police Academy 3 (1986), Three Men and a Baby (1987), Police Academy 4 (1987), Cocoon 2 (1988) and Three men and a Little Lady (1990). He was on fire back in the 80s as he was on the silver screen so much with many hits.

That's it pretty much. His next movie wouldnt be until 1995 which was The Big Green. A Disney sports comedy movie. But that wasn't as successful as The Mighty Ducks.
Even in the classic stonecutters episode of The Simpsons they joke and say "who makes Steve Guttenberg ... A star... We doooo" that first aired in January 1995 and he was well gone at that point sadly.

See there were no scandals about him. No him going to rehab etc. No bad attitude. He was clean as a whistle. Hollywood just stopped casting him in major movies after Three Men and a Little Lady.

B.A._Baracus

NewMan1982 wrote: »

And that’s why you are thinking of her at this time of night.

Haha.
She was stunning. Sue me

Uncharted

Wesley Snipes

Amanda Bynes.

B.A._Baracus

Itssoeasy wrote: »

Did it ruin her career though ? She was in stuff after that film and from a saved by the bell reunion on one of the US talk shows she’s done okay and isn’t bitter about it. I mean of all the saved by the bell cast she’s not the worst off. I mean poor Dustin diamond has cancer and the actress who played Lisa seems to have disappeared. The saved by the bell cast as a whole have come out the far side of stardom well.

I get what you are saying. It's not like she never acted again. But Showgirls was her big movie break. A rocket was being strapped to her back. However once the movie flopped Hollywood turned their back.

~Rebel~

Rick Moranis is another high profile one - he quit live action roles after his wife died so he could raise their kids properly. Did a few voiceover bits and pieces as you can knock them out in no time from a booth, but otherwise took a big step back for over 20 years. Apparently he’s gonna appear in a new Honey I shrunk the kids reboot at some stage post-Covid though - guess his own kids are all grown up at this stage!

pixelburp

John McTiernan directed stone cold classics in Die Hard (and its second sequel), Predator, The Hint for Red October; though his sudden career end was cos he was arrested and charged by the FBI IIRC (over q wiretapping scandal)

Then I was only just reading of Richard Kelly; exploded to fame over Donnie Darko, then disappeared as suddenly after making a mere 2 followup films that went down like lead balloons.

Not quite a Hollywood actor, but was thinking of Ardal O'Hanlon recently for similar reasons. Post Father Ted, he had a brief career but seems to have just completely disappeared from screen.

B.A._Baracus

Uncharted wrote: »

Wesley Snipes

Wesley stopped paying his taxes and paid the price by going to prison. He's own fault really.

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Amanda Bynes.

Sadly another child actor a victim of the industry. Drugs and partying. Guess the studios were not willing to invest in her given her lifestyle.

BorneTobyWilde

Elijah Wood

Never could escape Lord Of The Rings

Still trying though ha.

AlfaZen

pixelburp wrote: »

Not quite a Hollywood actor, but was thinking of Ardal O'Hanlon recently for similar reasons. Post Father Ted, he had a brief career but seems to have just completely disappeared from screen.

Ardal was in Derry Girls is 2019.

Uncharted

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

Elijah Wood

Never could escape Lord Of The Rings

Still trying though ha.

Still very much acting.

Churning out indie movies at a respectable rate

~Rebel~

pixelburp wrote: »

John McTiernan directed stone cold classics in Die Hard (and its second sequel), Predator, The Hint for Red October; though his sudden career end was cos he was arrested and charged by the FBI IIRC (over q wiretapping scandal)

Then I was only just reading of Richard Kelly; exploded to fame over Donnie Darko, then disappeared as suddenly after making a mere 2 followup films that went down like lead balloons.

Not quite a Hollywood actor, but was thinking of Ardal O'Hanlon recently for similar reasons. Post Father Ted, he had a brief career but seems to have just completely disappeared from screen.

He's in an awful lot more than you'd think! Nothing big, but he's a reasonably regularly working actor. Death In Paradise is his current thing.

Mr Crispy

Bridget Fonda was another one to retire (very) early. I don't know if the family name weighed heavily on her, or she genuinely just wanted to be a fulltime family woman.

B.A._Baracus

pixelburp wrote: »

Not quite a Hollywood actor, but was thinking of Ardal O'Hanlon recently for similar reasons. Post Father Ted, he had a brief career but seems to have just completely disappeared from screen.

I'd say yes and no.
After Father Ted he went on to do My Hero for the BBC which ran for 6 seasons from 2000 - 2006. Then yeah he had a down period from a perspective of not being in the spotlight as much. But he would have a comeback also with the BBC with Death in Paradise being the lead for 24 episodes 2017 - 2020.

RGARDINR

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

To add to the thread further, Steve Guttenberg is another.

Bonafide Hollywood star of the 80s being in such movies as Police Academy (1984), Cocoon (1985), Police Academy 2 (1985), Short Circuit (1986), Police Academy 3 (1986), Three Men and a Baby (1987), Police Academy 4 (1987), Cocoon 2 (1988) and Three men and a Little Lady (1990). He was on fire back in the 80s as he was on the silver screen so much with many hits.

That's it pretty much. His next movie wouldnt be until 1995 which was The Big Green. A Disney sports comedy movie. But that wasn't as successful as The Mighty Ducks.
Even in the classic stonecutters episode of The Simpsons they joke and say "who makes Steve Guttenberg ... A star... We doooo" that first aired in January 1995 and he was well gone at that point sadly.

See there were no scandals about him. No him going to rehab etc. No bad attitude. He was clean as a whistle. Hollywood just stopped casting him in major movies after Three Men and a Little Lady.

Yeah strange one now as he was massive in the 80s like one of the leading male actors for a few years then with the films you named above. Really weird one it just fizzled out for him.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Rick Moranis, but in his case it was voluntary. His wife died and he quit acting to take care of the kids. Kids are grown up now, and he's reportedly coming back.

Itssoeasy

Jennifer grey from dirty dancing seemed to more or less vanish after that film. Didn’t she get a nose job ?

Oafley Jones

Guttenburg really is the ultimate example for me. Emilio Estevez is another who just disappeared.

munster87

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Grace Kelly - Retired at 26 when she married the Prince of Monaco.

Life goals

Agrian Brian

I read an La Times Article online from 1992 where Judge Reinhold said he self-sabotaged his career by his behaviour after a flurry of 80's supporting role successes leading up to a lead role in 1988's Vice Versa. A cautionary tale.

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-03-15-tv-6483-story.html

Full_Circle_81

Nick Stahl is one that immediately springs to mind, having seen him give some really great performances over the years in loads. I always thought he astonishing on the tv show Carnivale (which had a brilliant ensemble cast too). Sadly he had a lot of personal troubles that affected his career.

Amanda Bynes, as mentioned before, is another tragic story. So young and showed great promise as a comedic talent.

marklazarcovic

harvey keital...at one stage he was in nearly all the good gritty shows ..then he was gone,did insurance adverts.


brendan fraser... huge,then nothing.

Be right back

Itssoeasy wrote: »

Jennifer grey from dirty dancing seemed to more or less vanish after that film. Didn’t she get a nose job ?

She did and looked totally different after it.

All that fandango

Lyndsey Lohan. Back in the early 00s she was tipped as being the next best thing with a huge career ahead of her. Another victim of Hollywood.

Full_Circle_81

marklazarcovic wrote: »

brendan fraser... huge,then nothing.

I was going to mention him too, but he has recently started making a comeback on tv, starring in Condor and Trust (really great and different in both) and I think he's currently in Doom Patrol.

I believe there are a number of troubling and unfortunate incidents that led him to disappear from Hollywood....

The Inbetween is mine

marklazarcovic wrote: »

brendan fraser... huge,then nothing.

He's still huge...over 20 stone weight...it's been a rough few years for him, he used to do his own stunts and he really destroyed his back, surgeries.. hospital stays ...you get the feeling he's happy to be walking around.
He's currently in a TV show that is partly shot in Dublin with ex superman Tom Welling, called Professionals.
It's absolute rubbish... but it's nice to see him acting again...

Edit...yes there was talk of a sexual assault where he is the victim..no idea what became of that tbh

flazio

Steve Guttenberg is an interesting one because you could almost claim that Adam Samberg's Peralta character on Brooklyn 99 is an updated Mahoney.
Jennifer Grey is married to Clark Gregg, best known as Phil Coulson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Hollywood does tend to be more cruel to its ageing leading ladies then to its men. Think of Michelle Monaghan, Katherine Heigl, Kirsten Dunst and Hayley Attwell to name a few. Even the likes of Emma Stone, Jennifer Lawrence and Anna Kendrick have fallen off the radar lately.

lc180

Seann William Scott - he had a massive run of successful films like the American Pie series, Road Trip, Role Models etc.
Very much got type cast in every film though. Haven't seen him in anything in years.

Tails142

Well Anna Kendrick is cashing in voicing Trolls with Justin Trousersnake, the sequel has been playing on repeat in my house for most of the lockdown. In fairness, best tenner I ever spent.

Ouch, just googled Amanda Bynes, face tattoo... Wow

The Inbetween is mine

lc180 wrote: »

Seann William Scott - he had a massive run of successful films like the American Pie series, Road Trip, Role Models etc.
Very much got type cast in every film though. Haven't seen him in anything in years.

He was in the final season of Lethal Weapon with Damon Wayans..approx 2 years ago

Beechwoodspark

pixelburp wrote: »

John McTiernan directed stone cold classics in Die Hard (and its second sequel), Predator, The Hint for Red October; though his sudden career end was cos he was arrested and charged by the FBI IIRC (over q wiretapping scandal)

Then I was only just reading of Richard Kelly; exploded to fame over Donnie Darko, then disappeared as suddenly after making a mere 2 followup films that went down like lead balloons.

Not quite a Hollywood actor, but was thinking of Ardal O'Hanlon recently for similar reasons. Post Father Ted, he had a brief career but seems to have just completely disappeared from screen.

Ardal OH still gets work in UK sitcoms /dramas

He’s in that bbc tea time police yoke set in Caribbean

joe40

Interesting thread, I wonder do the actors themselves take a step back, get jaded with the industry.
How financially secure would someone like Steve guttenberg be?
Would he still need to work.

Blanco100

James Van der Been, Taylor Lautner, Drew Barrymore and Mike Myers.

gandalf

Blanco100 wrote: »

James Van der Been, Taylor Lautner, Drew Barrymore and Mike Myers.

Mike Myers was in Bohemian Rhapsody recently...

CastorTroy

Oafley Jones wrote: »

Guttenburg really is the ultimate example for me. Emilio Estevez is another who just disappeared.

I expected Emilio to make a comeback when Kiefer Sutherland and Christian Slater started doing TV series. He seems to enjoy being behind the camera more.
He's in the upcoming new Mighty Ducks series on Disney+.

Charlie Sheen is another that didn't exactly help his career.
Then have ones that turn up occasionally like Mike Myers and Dana Carvey.

Itssoeasy

Macauley culkin is another who had massive success and then feel victim to the trappings of success for a bit. I will say he seems to be in a good place recently which is great to see.

Itssoeasy

CastorTroy wrote: »

I expected Emilio to make a comeback when Kiefer Sutherland and Christian Slater started doing TV series. He seems to enjoy being behind the camera more.
He's in the upcoming new Mighty Ducks series on Disney+.

Charlie Sheen is another that didn't exactly help his career.
Then have ones that turn up occasionally like Mike Myers and Dana Carvey.

Didn’t Dana carvey have serious health issues at one point ? There’s issues between Myers and carvey also which is a shame because they were a great double act.

Agent Coulson

Joe Pesci quit at his peak in 1998 aged 54 and was only convinced to return for the Irishman after years of Scorsese and De Niro pleading with him to take the role.



Phoebe Cates one of the teen stars of the 80's retired after marrying Kevin Kline.

siblers

Michelle Monaghan and Ashley Judd. I guess Rose McGowan too

Probably to do with Harvey Weinstein more than anything else

Jack Raynor hasn't really kicked on to the next level like he had been hyped to

Agent Coulson

siblers wrote: »

Michelle Monaghan and Ashley Judd. I guess Rose McGowan too

Probably to do with Harvey Weinstein more than anything else

Jack Raynor hasn't really kicked on to the next level like he had been hyped to

The three of them a very busy working in TV now.

pixelburp

So far this thread feels a bit weird really...

"X disappeared!"

"No they didn't, they're on TV now / still making movies"

:pac: