Can you think of any actors who started out as the next big thing, only to fizzle out and either go to direct to video or tv instead?

The 1st one that comes to mind is Lou Diamond Phillips...

La Bamba (1987), the story of Ritchie Valens was as sweet and energetic as it was dramatic and well acted, and fresh-faced Phillips was the stand out as the 17-year-old star (then 25). After the worthy but mostly-ignored teacher-as-saviour drama Stand and Deliver (1988) alongside Edward James Olmos, Phillips enjoyed a few years as part of Hollywood’s late 80s brat pack along with the likes of Kiefer Sutherland, Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen in films like Young Guns (1988).

Then he just disappeared. The only places you’ve seen him since are a smart role in Courage Under Fire (1996) and a bit part in Soderbergh’s Che: Part Two.

http://stargate-sg1-solutions.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/lou-diamond-phillips.jpg

David Caruso.

He left his very successful role in "NYPD Blue" back in 1993 to try to become a movie star. The roles he got at the time, starring in Kiss of Death and Jade, turned out to be flops.

He then tried to get back on television with "Michael Hayes" that lasted for only 1 season in 1997-1998.

It wasn't until 2002 when he became big on tv again - with his role as 'Horatio Caine' in "CSI: Miami".

Rex Smith. He was a huge teen idol after his first tv movie, and had a great hit in the broadway show "Pirates of Penzance." But the movie adaptation fizzled and he soon was reduced to Danielle Steel movies. He made a few shows on Broadway, but last I heard he became a real estate agent in southern California.
http://img.amazon.ca/images/I/51%2BsuuaPd7L._SS500_.jpg

How about Alicia Silverstone?

From The Crush to Clueless...she seemed destined to be a big star. Then came the horrible Batman & Robin and suddenly things went downhill fast for her. She started taking second fiddle roles in Queen Latifah’s Beauty Shop and Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed.

http://www.realbollywood.com/news/up_images/alicia-silverstone725.jpg

Johnathan Taylor Thomas...he left "Home Improvement" for the movie career, but after 2000 no one knew him.

Rex Smith. He was a huge teen idol after his first tv movie, and had a great hit in the broadway show "Pirates of Penzance." But the movie adaptation fizzled and he soon was reduced to Danielle Steel movies. He made a few shows on Broadway, but last I heard he became a real estate agent in southern California.
http://img.amazon.ca/images/I/51%2BsuuaPd7L._SS500_.jpghe was a good singer but whenever i hear his name i think of the tigerbeat magazine contest that his handlers put him up to in 1980 they had the what would you like rex smith to whisper in your ear contest you had to fill out an entery blank and write down what you wanted rex to say to you and rex wold then call the winner and whisper it in her ear sheesh even leif garrett and eric estrada never had to do anything thay corny:lol:

I was just thinking of poor Jonathan Brandis today. He seemed to be destined for so many great things - he got the lead in Neverending Story II, Sidekicks, IT, Sequest... then he did a few guest appearances on TV, then nobody heard from him in years. I'm sorry to say he killed himself in 2003.

167602

Alec Baldwin

Sure he has resurrected his acting career by being on '30 Rock' but this guy was suppose to be a big movie star. Flop after flop and he basically faded off the big screen.

http://www.girlinthepinkprius.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/1/baldwin1.jpg

Back in 1991, Cool As Ice was meant to be Vanilla Ice's launch into future stardom on the big screen as well as in music.

That plan didn't turn out too well and the director wound up disowning the film.

Does Val Kilmer count? He had a pretty good run going with Top Gun, Willow, Tombstone, Batman Forever, etc. Then his box office clout fizzled, he began doing more direct to DVD releases and became the voice of KITT on the Knight Rider TV remake that flopped. The fact that he gained a lot of weight in the process didn't exactly help.

Back in 1991, Cool As Ice was meant to be Vanilla Ice's launch into future stardom on the big screen as well as in music.

That plan didn't turn out too well and the director wound up disowning the film.i have never even heard anything about this movie

i have never even heard anything about this movie

Trust me, you didn't miss anything!!! :eek: :crazy: :lol:

Does Val Kilmer count? He had a pretty good run going with Top Gun, Willow, Tombstone, Batman Forever, etc. Then his box office clout fizzled, he began doing more direct to DVD releases and became the voice of KITT on the Knight Rider TV remake that flopped. The fact that he gained a lot of weight in the process didn't exactly help.

For this list, no.

This is meant for stars that tried to get a movie career but it didn't work out.

Not stars who had a successful movie career and then went downhill.

^ Got it.

Alec Baldwin

Sure he has resurrected his acting career by being on '30 Rock' but this guy was suppose to be a big movie star. Flop after flop and he basically faded off the big screen.



I gotta disagree with you - I mean he certainly has been in some stinkers, but Alec Baldwin definately did become a star. Now his brothers on the other hand... :rolleyes:

I think Olivia Newton-John was touted to be the next big thing on screen after the success of Grease. Her next two movies, Xanadu and Two of a Kind, were bombs. While ONJ has had screen roles throughout the years (mainly in made for TV movies), nothing came close to reaching her success from Grease. Her main success has still been as a recording artist, and she continues to be a top concert draw today.

Along those same lines, Diana Ross got a lot of attention, a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination for her role as Billie Holiday in her debut film, Lady Sings the Blues. Then the tide turned with Mahogany and The Wiz. Like ONJ, her greatest success was/is as a recording artist. Diana Ross has also done a few made for TV movies (most notably Double Platinum with Brandy), but has never appeared on the silver screen since The Wiz. Berry Gordy really was a hinderance to her career as much as he was a help - especially the acting aspect of it.

I think Olivia Newton-John was touted to be the next big thing on screen after the success of Grease. Her next two movies, Xanadu and Two of a Kind, were bombs. While ONJ has had screen roles throughout the years (mainly in made for TV movies), nothing came close to reaching her success from Grease. Her main success has still been as a recording artist, and she continues to be a top concert draw today.

Yep, in recent years she did a few guest spots on "Glee" and reprised her role in the "Sordid Lives" tv-series.

Also, it's a shame on what happened with her boyfriend who faked his death and ran off to some island.

In the late 1990s - early 2000s Hallie Eisenberg was an overnight sensation as "The Pepsi Girl" from the Pepsi commercials.

She then got her break into movies with the 1998 children's film Paulie.

Then she appeared in the 2000 film Beautiful which was not a success and has since been in independent productions and tv-movies.


She is the younger sister of Jesse Eisenberg who recently received lots of praise for his role in 2010's The Social Network.

Also, it's a shame on what happened with her boyfriend who faked his death and ran off to some island.

It was, but ONJ married another man in 2009, someone she had known for years. So Patrick McDermott's loss was John Easterling's gain!!!

I think Michael Keaton was looking at big time success ala Tom Hanks.

Starting off in comedy roles like Night Shift, Mr. Mom, and Beetljuice, he then struck it huge with Batman and Batman Returns.

Then he never made it big in his dramas roles and kinda fell to the background.

Always liked him.

This one is due to unfortunate circumstances but Brandon Lee never lived to become a big star.



The son of martial-arts superstar Bruce Lee, Brandon's early life was always in his father's shadow and people were hoping he would become "the next Bruce Lee".

He started out his career with tv roles in "Kung Fu" and "Ohara" and then went into martial-arts B-movies.




Audiences took note of him in 1992's Rapid Fire with Powers Boothe. The film was a moderate success on original release and many liked Brandon's performance.

Then Brandon took his final role as Eric Draven in The Crow and was killed in an on-set accident.




The Crow was a box-office success (due to some part on the tragedy behind the film) and many critics praised Brandon Lee's performance and were saying that had he lived he would have become a superstar.

Hilary Duff


In the early 2000s she became popular on The Disney Channel series "Lizzie McGuire".

She then wanted to launch her movie / music career and chose not to do another "Lizzie McGuire" series that ABC asked her to do.




The starring roles she got in the mid-2000s were not that well-received by critics and did not do well in the box-office:

A Cinderella Story (2004)
Raise Your Voice (2004)
The Perfect Man (2005)
Material Girls (2006)





In recent years she has taken a break from the big-screen and had television roles in "L&O: SVU", "Gossip Girl", and "Community"; did some independent movies and ABC Family Movies, and launched a series of young-adult novels with Elixir.

The Olsen Twins


They became famous as babies on the TGIF sitcom "Full House".

When the show ended they launched a company, DualStar, and capitalized off of their image throughout the late '90s - early 2000s in the teen market.

They had magazines, video games, posters, clothes...





They also released a string of direct-to-video movies that had them visiting exotic locations in foreign countries.

They also attempted to get back on television but their two shows, "Two of a Kind" and "So Little Time", did not last that long.





In 2004 they got a shot on the big screen with "New York Minute" and, to date, this is the last project that they appeared in together.

The film was a flop and they went in separate directions after it came out.





Mary-Kate Olsen continues to do film and televison roles.

She had a minor role in Factory Girl, a brief run on Showtime's "WEEDS", and appeared in the recent flop Beastly.



Ashley Olsen has not done anything since New York Minute and manages her fashion label with Mary-Kate.

Jennifer Lopez


Her debut leading role in the 1997 biopic Selena had many praising her performance and expecting great things from her.

Post-Selena many of her starring roles have not been successful.




U Turn (1997)
The Cell (2000)
Angel Eyes (2001)
Enough (2002)
Maid in Manhattan (2002)
Gigli (2003) *This is regarded as one of the worst movies ever made*
Monster-in-Law (2005)
The Back-up Plan (2010)




Recently her career has received a boost due to being an "American Idol" judge.

How about Haley Joel Osment?

He got an Academy Award nomination for "The Sixth Sense." His turn as an android in Steven Spielberg's "AI" was also hyped but the movie ended up not doing as well as expected and got a lot of mixed reviews, same thing with "Pay It Forward." He's pretty much dropped out of the Hollywood mainstream and is doing mostly voice acting.

And along the same lines, Macaulay Culkin. After he hit it big with the "Home Alone" sequels, everyone expected him to just continue to be successful. While he did have a pretty good hit with "My Girl," his real-life family drama, especially news that his father Kit was outed as a tyrant and stage dad, seemed to be more in the headlines than his acting career. Going against type as a killer kid in "The Good Son" did nothing to help and he eventually faded from the public, but did manage to land roles in indie movies such as "Party Monster" and "Saved!"

Let's not forget Jennifer Beals who had a mega-hit in Flashdance, then a not-so-big hit in The Bride and one or two other films before fading into obscurity. She's recently reappeared in supporting/character roles, but she never became the star she once seemed destined to.
http://the-l-word.download-tvshows.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/jennifer2.jpg

Madonna


Though she appeared in many films before it, her major praise did not come until 1996's Evita.

After Evita it was downhill with The Next Best Thing in 2000 and Swept Away in 2002.



Her directorial debut came in 2008 with Filth and Wisdom which was also a bomb.

My vote would be Guy Pearce from Monte of Crisco, I thought he would be a major movie star after his amazing performance in the movie but I was dead wrong

My vote would be Guy Pearce from Monte of Crisco, I thought he would be a major movie star after his amazing performance in the movie but I was dead wrong

That's The Count of Monte Cristo.

Yeah, he never became a big leading man but he continues to work today in some big movies like The Hurt Locker and The King's Speech.


I loved him in Chris Nolan's Memento and, though the movie gets lots of hate, the 2002 version of The Time Machine.

The Count of Monte Cristo made me think of someone else - James Caviezel


Caviezel started out his career in many supporting roles throughout the 1990s and people finally gave him recognition for his performance in 2002's The Count of Monte Cristo.

Later on he played the role of Jesus Christ in Mel Gibson's epic box-office smash, The Passion of the Christ, in 2004.



Audiences and critics at the time were eager to see more of Caviezel after all of the hype during that movie, but he never had another big hit of that caliber.

He himself has said that playing Jesus "cost him his acting career" and that Hollywood turned their back on him - part of it due to being associated with Mel Gibson.



After The Passion he went into independent productions, had a small role in Denzel Washington's Déjà Vu in 2006, and was in "The Prisoner" tv mini-series in 2009.

That's The Count of Monte Cristo.

Yeah, he never became a big leading man but he continues to work today in some big movies like The Hurt Locker and The King's Speech.


I loved him in Chris Nolan's Memento and, though the movie gets lots of hate, the 2002 version of The Time Machine.

Thank you for the correction, I was tired when I typed that

Alec Baldwin

Sure he has resurrected his acting career by being on '30 Rock' but this guy was suppose to be a big movie star. Flop after flop and he basically faded off the big screen.

http://www.girlinthepinkprius.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/1/baldwin1.jpg

He hasn't faded off the big screen, and has several movies coming out.

I wonder if we should put Mark Hamill in this category? Fresh off the tremendous success of Star Wars, Hamill did The Big Red One in 1980, and then pretty much nothing as far as the big screen, aside from the SW sequels.

He's been a successful voice actor, for sure, and has appeared on a few sitcoms as a guest star. But really, I was always surprised he didn't go on to greater success. It seemed like he had the potential.

Likewise, Carrie Fisher, who was in Under the Rainbow in 1981 and not much else besides the SW sequels. She did hit it fairly big on the literary world, but again, she seemed poised for more in the acting world.

I wonder if we should put Mark Hamill in this category? Fresh off the tremendous success of Star Wars, Hamill did The Big Red One in 1980, and then pretty much nothing as far as the big screen, aside from the SW sequels.

He's been a successful voice actor, for sure, and has appeared on a few sitcoms as a guest star. But really, I was always surprised he didn't go on to greater success. It seemed like he had the potential.

Likewise, Carrie Fisher, who was in Under the Rainbow in 1981 and not much else besides the SW sequels. She did hit it fairly big on the literary world, but again, she seemed poised for more in the acting world.

Hamill also did Corvette Summer right after Star Wars.


From what I've read, Fisher chose not to pursue acting more than she did.

"I have no ambitions as an actress. I'm going to do a day's work on Scream 3 , but that's all I can handle, a day's work." - Carrie Fisher

Chris Makepeace didn't go big, after films like My Bodyguard, Meatballs, Falcon And The Snowman he seems to have petered out in the late 90's.

Christopher Collet seemed like he was on the rise after First Born and The Manhattan Project, but the last thing I remember seeing him in was The Langoliers.

^ Always thought Makepeace could have gone far. He had a likeability that seemed to point to greater things.

I loathed Collet, though. Or perhaps I should say I loathed the characters he played. In both Firstborn and The Manhatten Project, we were supposed to just go ape over this pompous, self righteous and insensitive kid who ALWAYS knew more than everyone around him, including adults. Never rang true for a second. I did like him in Langoliers, though.

^ Always thought Makepeace could have gone far. He had a likeability that seemed to point to greater things.

I loathed Collet, though. Or perhaps I should say I loathed the characters he played. In both Firstborn and The Manhatten Project, we were supposed to just go ape over this pompous, self righteous and insensitive kid who ALWAYS knew more than everyone around him, including adults. Never rang true for a second. I did like him in Langoliers, though.

I love watching Peter Weller knocking him around in First Born. I like First Born and thought Collet was good, he was even good in Sleepaway Camp.

I love watching Peter Weller knocking him around in First Born. I like First Born and thought Collet was good, he was even good in Sleepaway Camp.

It's odd how we always assume that people will stay in the acting profession once they've been on the big screen. I guess it's like anything else; you make decisions and sometimes you move on. I think the general public always assumes that if you are in a big budget movie you are "rich" and will stick with the profession forever, but I'd imagine that's not how it turns out. Must be odd to have to be known for one or two things that made you VERY recognizable and then try to lead a more private, quiet life.

Helen Hunt also comes to mind. She had a breakout role in "As Good as It Gets", and then kind of disappeared. She really surprises me. I'd have thought a ton of great roles would have come her way after that. Oh, yes, she was in Castaway, too. Kind of.

Here's another Christopher---Christopher Atkins. He became famous after "The Blue Lagoon" and starred in "The Pirate Movie" with Kristy MacNichol (who I'll mention after this) then did "A Night In Heaven" with Lesley Ann Warren. After that, he faded out. I think he did some DTV films.

Christopher's co-star Kristy MacNichol was poised to hit it big after her TV show "Family," but despite going on to make some big-screen movies, she never got the acclaim or kept the star power she did while on "Family."

Tom Jane


He also started out with small roles throughout the 1990s.

He then got the lead in the 2004 version of The Punisher which was supposed to be his big breakout role into being an action leading man.

The film underperformed in the box-office and behind-the-scenes issues made the sequel not happen.





He then got the lead in Frank Darabont's The Mist in 2007 which also underperformed in the box-office.

Then his directorial debut, Dark Country, was released straight-to-video in 2009.





Tom Jane then found success on television with the HBO comedy "Hung".

Jane would have made a great Captain America.

Likewise, Carrie Fisher, who was in Under the Rainbow in 1981 and not much else besides the SW sequels. She did hit it fairly big on the literary world, but again, she seemed poised for more in the acting world.

Probably her best known role outside of the SW movies was as Meg Ryan's best gal pal in When Harry Met Sally, and she was very charming in the part. She has such a quirky but sweet charm. But like you said, CF wanted to break into writing and that's where she seems to be the happiest. Postcards From the Edge and These Old Broads (the latter co-starring her mother, Debbie Reynolds) brought her quite a bit of acclaim.

^ Heh, I had actually forgotten about that role. Thanks for the reminder! :)

Carrie Fisher was also in The Burbs. I love that movie. :lol:

^ Yeah the Burbs was pretty good, too.

^ Heh, I had actually forgotten about that role. Thanks for the reminder! :)

Sure, it's one of my favorites!! I haven't watched it in ages, though I do have the DVD. I'll have to watch it again soon. "You made a woman meow?" :lol:

Madonna

Though she appeared in many films before it, her major praise did not come until 1996's Evita.

After Evita it was downhill with The Next Best Thing in 2000 and Swept Away in 2002.

Her directorial debut came in 2008 with Filth and Wisdom which was also a bomb.

You really don't think Madonna became a star? (By the way, you're forgetting A League of Their Own which was a huge hit for her.) Sorry, JamesG, but you yourself said this thread is for actors who never became stars, not for stars whose careers went downhill.

He hasn't faded off the big screen, and has several movies coming out.

:nod: He was also in the huge hit "It's Complicated" with Meryl Streep and hosted the Oscars last year. He's definately achieved stardom.

Carrie Fisher was also in The Burbs. I love that movie. :lol:

I love Fisher in that role, she played one of the most believable wives I have seen.

You really don't think Madonna became a star? (By the way, you're forgetting A League of Their Own which was a huge hit for her.) Sorry, JamesG, but you yourself said this thread is for actors who never became stars, not for stars whose careers went downhill.

As a whole, her movie career was/is not that great.

She's been in a lot of movies, but it was really only those 2 that were a hit and that she got praised for.

For the most part, everything else she's been in was critcally panned and didn't really do that well. She is a star - just not a movie star.

What about Sue Lyon? The original Lolita. She made that film and Night of the Iguana, and.... um....

http://www.zadanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/sue-lyon.jpg

What about Sue Lyon? The original Lolita. She made that film and Night of the Iguana, and.... um....

http://www.zadanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/sue-lyon.jpg

She was also in The Flim-Flam Man '67, Tony Rome, and John Ford's 7 Women.

Even though they were lesser known films I enjoyed some of the films she appeared in in the 70's- Crash!, and Clockwork Terror and she was brilliant in the Spanish horror flick Tarot....though she did appear in some real stinkers like End of The World, and The Astral Factor, and the corny Evel Knievel(with George Hamilton)

She was also in The Flim-Flam Man '67, Tony Rome, and John Ford's 7 Women.

Even though they were lesser known films I enjoyed some of the films she appeared in in the 70's- Crash!, and Clockwork Terror and she was brilliant in the Spanish horror flick Tarot....though she did appear in some real stinkers like End of The World, and The Astral Factor, and the corny Evel Knievel(with George Hamilton)

True, but none of them came anywhere near the success she seemed destined for with Lolita.

How about Pia Zadora? Her motion picture debut was in 1964's Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, as one of the Martian kids. She got a Golden Globe for 1981's Butterfly as Most Promising New Star of the Year. The win caused controversy because her billionaire husband was accused of "buying" the award; wining and dining members of the Hollywood Foreign Press to ensure she'd get the award. By the way, the other nominees for the award that year were Kathleen Turner (Body Heat), Rachel Ward (Sharky's Machine), Craig Wasson (Four Friends), and Elizabeth McGovern and Howard Rollins (both for Ragtime). The Razzies weren't so kind - they named her both Worst New Star and Worst Actress!!!

Ms. Zadora followed up with Fake-Out and what is known as one of the worst movies of all time, The Lonely Lady (which earned her another Razzie for Worst Actress). In 1984, Voyage of the Rock Aliens had her playing another alien, as well as scoring her a hit song with "When the Rain Begins to Fall" (a duet with Jermaine Jackson). That was her last starring role - and apart from a notable bit part in John Waters' Hairspray in 1988, and several cameos as herself in a few other films, she vanished from the screen.

She showed considerable talent as a singer - recording several albums, opening for Frank Sinatra, and scoring a Grammy nod. These days, however, she has retired entirely from show biz.

How about Pia Zadora? Her motion picture debut was in 1964's Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, as one of the Martian kids. She got a Golden Globe for 1981's Butterfly as Most Promising New Star of the Year. The win caused controversy because her billionaire husband was accused of "buying" the award; wining and dining members of the Hollywood Foreign Press to ensure she'd get the award. By the way, the other nominees for the award that year were Kathleen Turner (Body Heat), Rachel Ward (Sharky's Machine), Craig Wasson (Four Friends), and Elizabeth McGovern and Howard Rollins (both for Ragtime). The Razzies weren't so kind - they named her both Worst New Star and Worst Actress!!!

Ms. Zadora followed up with Fake-Out and what is known as one of the worst movies of all time, The Lonely Lady (which earned her another Razzie for Worst Actress). In 1984, Voyage of the Rock Aliens had her playing another alien, as well as scoring her a hit song with "When the Rain Begins to Fall" (a duet with Jermaine Jackson). That was her last starring role - and apart from a notable bit part in John Waters' Hairspray in 1988, and several cameos as herself in a few other films, she vanished from the screen.

She showed considerable talent as a singer - recording several albums, opening for Frank Sinatra, and scoring a Grammy nod. These days, however, she has retired entirely from show biz.

She is cute!!! :D

Michael Pare- I remember him being really popular back in the early 80's, after The Greatest American Hero he went on to big screen movies like Eddie And The Cruisers, The Philadelphia Experiment and Streets Of Fire...then he popped up in turkeys like Space Rage. Tried to make a come back with Eddie and the Cruisers II.

Brad Davis- Starred in films in the late 70's and early 80's like Midnight Express, Chariots Of Fire, and Querelle. And on the small screen in Sybil and Roots.

Sadly he passed away in the early 90's at the age of 41.

Another favorite of mine who basically vanished into obscurity is Marilyn Hassett, who played paralyzed former skier Jill Kinmont in the two The Other Side of the Mountain movies made in the 1970s. She won the Golden Globe for Best Female Newcomer. She eventually married (and divorced) the director of those movies, Larry Peerce. The two of them also collaborated on Two Minute Warning and The Bell Jar.

In the 80s, Ms. Hassett was in movies that mainly were direct to cable or direct to video, and she did guest star on TV shows like Murder, She Wrote. But by the 90s, she had essentially vanished from the public eye. In 2008 she appeared in a short called Bad High, which was her first screen appearance in 16 years.

Someone I remember, but no one else seems to is Aileen Quinn. She had a huge hit with her lead role in Annie, beating out thousands of other girls all around the country. She really had a lot of talent as a kid, but was unfortunately kept under contract to do a bunch of Annie sequels that never happened. She made The Frog Prince with Helen Hunt which was my favorite movie as a kid, then faded into obscurity. She's now acting in local theater companies. Certainly not the huge star she was once predicted to become.

http://www.askactor.com/images/casts/United_States/Aileen_Quinn_actress.jpg

Speaking of child actresses that disappeared after a few years, here's another one:

Anyone remember Irwin Allen's version of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland? It was a 2-part live-action miniseries that aired in 1985. It featured an all-star cast with the likes of Sammy Davis, Jr. as The Caterpillar, Ringo Starr as The Mock Turtle, and Carol Channing as The White Queen, just to name a few.

Natalie Gregory (pictured below), who played the title role, and had a few minor TV roles prior to landing the title role, seemed to have the makings of an overnight child superstar. It should also be noted that at age 9, she was the youngest actress (US or UK) ever to play the title role in a major motion picture or TV adaptation of Carroll's classic story. The 1985 version was also the first film adaptation to depict Alice as a little girl (which is how Carroll originally depicted her as), rather than the young woman that most versions (including Disney's 1951 animated feature) did.

Although Natalie continued to act in movies and TV shows after Alice in Wonderland (most notably in Disney's 1988 animated feature Oliver & Company in which she voiced Jenny Foxworth, the little girl in the film), she didn't get as much attention for those roles as she did for her Alice role. When the 1980s ended, so did her career, and there has been no trace of her ever since. The picture below is how she looked like without the blonde wig she had on for Alice in Wonderland.

http://www.childstarlets.com/lobby/bios/portraits/natalie_gregory12.jpg

http://i54.tinypic.com/11l4sjr.jpg

There's also ice skater-turned-actress Lynn-Holly Johnson, who hit big in the late 70s and early 80s with Ice Castles, Watcher in the Woods, and For Your Eyes Only. After getting a Razzie for Where the Boys Are '84, her film career essentially came to a halt. After a few minor roles in TV movies, she retired from show biz to become a full-time wife/mother. She still pops up at James Bond-related promotions/premieres, regional theater, and skating events (like the 2005 premiere of Ice Princess, pictured with Mr. & Mrs. Scott Hamilton).

Dennis Christopher- made a name for himself in films like Breaking Away, Chariots Of Fire, and Don't Cry, It's Only Thunder.


Personally my favorite performance of his(next to Breaking Away) is the early 80's horror flick Fade To Black.

In 1987 he appeared in the 80's schlock scifi-horror Alien Predator, alongside Lynn-Holly Johnson.

This one goes under disappeared child star and Star Wars alumnus: Jake Lloyd



Prior to Star Wars he was most known for the Arnold Schwarzenegger Christmas-comedy Jingle All the Way in 1996.

He then landed the role of Anakin Skywalker (Darth Vader as a kid) in Star Wars - Episode I: The Phantom Menace in 1999.



Despite being associated with Star Wars and playing the younger version of an iconic character Jake Lloyd never did anything else after this. He decided to leave the business in the early 2000s.

To date the most recent work of his are a few Star Wars video games that came out around 2001-2002.



Today he remains active in the Star Wars / Comic Convention circuit.

Another musician that tried to do movies was KISS' Gene Simmons.



During the 1980s the band KISS had many changes going on, two of the original members were gone and they decided to take off the make-up. During this time Gene Simmons tried to do other projects - such as trying to become a movie star.

He has looked back on this time period with not much pleasure saying that he wasn't 100% with KISS and that the music was not the greatest.





Gene's first real acting gig (not including the infamous Phantom of the Park) was the Tom Selleck science-fiction film Runaway in 1984.

At the time of release the film was over-shadowed by another sci-fi movie - 1984's The Terminator.





He then had a cameo in 1986's Trick or Treat and then appeared in his widely ridiculed role as an evil hermaphrodite in Never Too Young to Die.

1987's Wanted: Dead or Alive was the last of Gene's attempt at movies during the 1980s. He then went back with KISS full-time.





Gene Simmons has continued to appear in many film and tv roles but his attempt at becoming a movie star never happened.

Most recently he appeared on ABC's "Castle" and continues to do his reality show "Gene Simmons' Family Jewels".

Bridgette Andersen- Seemed to be one of those child stars that was going to hit it big after she appeared in the film Savannah Smiles in 1982, and the TV movie A Summer To Remember '85....but she only did 4 theatrical movies, the almost forgotten Too Much from 1987 being her last.

Another tragic ending, at the age of 21 she killed herself.

Fairuza Balk - became well-known after starring as Dorothy in the 1985 Wizard of Oz sequel Return to Oz, and really didn't do anything after that until her much-praised turn as the "evil witch" in the 90's sleeper horror movie The Craft.

Stephen Geoffreys---after breaking out thanks to the 80's horror hit Fright Night, went on to do a couple of more 80's comedies, Heaven Help Us and Fraternity Vacation, which weren't as successful as Fright Night. He did get a little boost by appearing in 1989's 976-Evil and also had a small part in 1986's At Close Range. He ended up doing porn under the name Sam Ritter. but is now returning to the horror genre. He was asked to appear in the Fright Night remake but turned it down.

Brad Renfro - This unknown child actor was cast alongside veterans Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones in The Client and became a hit with critics. He went on to star in Sleepers and Apt Pupil. But drugs took over his life and he died of a heroin overdose in 2008.

Jane March - after getting on Hollywood's radar thanks to the controversial film The Lover, she was cast as Bruce Willis' love interest in the erotic thriller The Color of Night. But the movie was a flop with critics and viewers and she pretty much disappeared from the mainstream, although she continues to act.

Bridgette Andersen- Seemed to be one of those child stars that was going to hit it big after she appeared in the film Savannah Smiles in 1982, and the TV movie A Summer To Remember '85....but she only did 4 theatrical movies, the almost forgotten Too Much from 1987 being her last.

Another tragic ending, at the age of 21 she killed herself.

I remember her when she played Gretel in Faerie Tale Theatre. However I don't believe she killed herself - she died of an accidental drug overdose. :(

How about Robby Benson most known for Ode To Billy Joe. He did a couple of movies after then faded away.

Robby Benson is still in show biz, albeit on the other side of the camera. He has found much success as a producer and especially as a director - he recently directed a movie about Rev. Billy Graham. Of course, Robby Benson acted, in a matter of speaking, in a major Disney picture released back in 1991 - he was the voice of Beast in Beauty & The Beast. :D

Angie Harmon


She started out on television with roles on "Baywatch Nights" and "Law & Order".

She was on "L&O" from 1998-2001 and left because she wanted to focus on her film career saying that she prefers film to television.





The films she got were either released direct-to-video, had limited runs, or did not meet box office expectations:

Charlie Sheen comedy Good Advice (2001)
Had a supporting role in Agent Cody Banks (2003)
The Deal that had a limited run in 2005
Jim Carrey comedy Fun with Dick and Jane (2005)
End Game released direct-to-video in 2006
The Good Mother also released direct-to-video in 2006
Robert Redford western Seraphim Falls that had a limited run in 2007






She also unsuccessfully tried to get back on television with "Inconceivable" in 2005 and "Women's Murder Club" from 2007-2008.

She's currently on TNT's "Rizzoli & Isles".

Melissa Joan Hart


She's mostly known to teens who grew up in the 1990s-2000s from her tv roles on "Clarissa Explains it All" and on "Sabrina the Teenage Witch".

In 1999, while still on "Sabrina", she did the teen rom-com Drive Me Crazy which did not turn out to be a success and became her only major release in a leading role.

Throughout the 2000s she did a few television movies and independent productions.



She's currently back on television with ABC Family's "Melissa & Joey".

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Mandy Moore. She had a few good movies in the early 2000's but hasn't really been in anything since. She started out as a singer and then became an actress.
A few of the movies she did was:

A Walk to Remember
The Princess Diaries
How to Deal
Because I Said So
Saved!

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I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Mandy Moore. She had a few good movies in the early 2000's but hasn't really been in anything since. She started out as a singer and then became an actress.

She was recently the star of last year's Tangled (voice-acting role) which did well for Disney.

She was recently the star of last year's Tangled (voice-acting role) which did well for Disney.

Well, yeah but it was a voice role and it is like one of the last things she has done for a few years.

Neve Campbell


She rose to fame from the television series "Party of Five".

She then became a movie star of the late 90s with The Craft and the SCREAM franchise.



In-between the SCREAM sequels, while still on "Party of Five", she appeared in films that did not do well in the box-office:

54 (1998)
Hairshirt (1998)
Wild Things (1998)
Three to Tango (1999)
Panic (2000)





Throughout most of the 2000s she appeared in independent productions and did occasional tv-appearances, having moved to London with her husband.

In early 2011 she reprised her role in SCREAM 4 but the 4th sequel did not meet the success of the prior movies nor did it please the critics; with many calling it "unnecessary".

^ I was wondering what had ever happened to her.

^ I was wondering what had ever happened to her.

Unless you were following independent or over-seas releases, you wouldn't have known what she was doing in the 2000s.

Nope, I didn't follow them. Maybe she should just try another TV series.

robert patrick- big break came as t-1000 in terminator 2 and had a stint in x-files, but since then confined to doing z- movies and flops such as double dragon.

jennifer grey- starred alongside patrick swayze in one of the highest grossing movies of the 80s, dirty dancing but her career hasn't mirrored that of her male co-star.

ray liotta- goodfellas success led to further hits for robert de niro, but for ray liotta and joe pesci, their careers never took off. liotta did appear in heartbreakers in early 2001 with sigourney weaver, jennifer love hewitt.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Mandy Moore. She had a few good movies in the early 2000's but hasn't really been in anything since. She started out as a singer and then became an actress.
A few of the movies she did was:

A Walk to Remember
The Princess Diaries
How to Deal
Because I Said So
Saved!


She hasn't really gone anywhere. "Because I Said So" came out in 2007. Her roles may not be blockbuster hits, but she's been consistently working.

She hasn't really gone anywhere. "Because I Said So" came out in 2007. Her roles may not be blockbuster hits, but she's been consistently working.

Does she still sing at all?

Does she still sing at all?

Her recent album, 'Amanda Leigh', came out May 2009.

She also sang for Disney's Tangled in 2010.

Her recent album, 'Amanda Leigh', came out May 2009.

She also sang for Disney's Tangled in 2010.

Cool, thanks!! :cool: :D

In early 2011 she reprised her role in SCREAM 4 but the 4th sequel did not meet the success of the prior movies nor did it please the critics; with many calling it "unnecessary".

That's a laugh. I mean, seriously, how many sequels could be called "necessary"? Most of them are motivated by pure greed, and Scream 4 was no different. I've actually heard it got a bad rap from the critics.

That's a laugh. I mean, seriously, how many sequels could be called "necessary"? Most of them are motivated by pure greed, and Scream 4 was no different. I've actually heard it got a bad rap from the critics.

The reviews were very mixed. It actually got praised by the main critics like Roger Ebert for example.

Michael Clarke Duncan


He became a breakout star of the late 90s - early 2000s after appearing in the Bruce Willis blockbuster Armageddon in 1998.

He received an Academy Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actor for 1999's The Green Mile.



Shortly after that he then appeared in many films that underperformed in the box office and did not get great reviews:

Planet of the Apes (2001)
The Scorpion King (2002)
Daredevil (2003)





His most recent work consists of television appearances on "Two and a Half Men", "Chuck", "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody", and "Bones".

He also went into voice-acting for the 2 Kung Fu Panda movies and is part of the new "Green Lantern: The Animated Series".



He's been consistently active but did not become the huge star many said he would during the time of The Green Mile.

Good call. I thought MCD was excellent in The Green Mile, but that really was his only really noteworthy role. He has talent, but just hasn't really found consistent silver screen success.

That's a laugh. I mean, seriously, how many sequels could be called "necessary"? Most of them are motivated by pure greed, and Scream 4 was no different. I've actually heard it got a bad rap from the critics.

It was shot in my hometown in Michigan, so I like it regardless :p

I'm still waiting to see Emmy Rossum appear in something noteworthy. She made a heck of a splash in Phantom of the Opera, even the critics who hated the movie agreed on her talent - yet she followed it up with Poseidon, which was a mistake, and haven't heard of anything major since.

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^ She's another one who went to television.

She's on William H. Macy's Showtime series "Shameless" now.

Another name that doesn't seem to be that big anymore is Heather Graham.



She appeared in many supporting roles throughout the 1990s, but became a breakout star of the late 90s with Boogie Nights (1997), her first starring role which was in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999), and the comedy Bowfinger (1999).





Throughout the 2000s she then appeared in many films that either underperformed in the box office and indie dramas/comedies that did not reach wide audiences.

Her most recent movie, Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer, was a flop.

(However, she did appear in the box-office smash The Hangover in 2009. Her part was small though so it is not known as a "Heather Graham movie".)





In the television world she is known for her big flop "Emily's Reasons Why Not" on ABC back in 2006. It was canceled after only 1 episode.

I'm still waiting to see Emmy Rossum appear in something noteworthy. She made a heck of a splash in Phantom of the Opera, even the critics who hated the movie agreed on her talent - yet she followed it up with Poseidon, which was a mistake, and haven't heard of anything major since.

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Pre-Phantom, she had a small but pivatol role as Sean Penn's daughter in Mystic River, and got good notices for her work in Day After Tomorrow. I too never understood why she didn't have a bigger movie career after Phantom. She won the role knowing she'd be inevitably compared to the best known "Christine", Sarah Brightman. Not only did she rise to the challenge, but she made the role her own. :cool:

Keith Gordon- He played Arnie in John Carpenter's Christine, played Rodney Dangerfield's son in Back To School. Was also in Brian De Palma's Dressed to Kill, and was in The Legend Of Billie Jean.

It also seemed like he might have become a big theatrical movie director after he directed The Chocolate War, and A Midnight Clear(both great movies)

Gordon is directing many things on TV(including several episodes of Dexter)

Arnold Vosloo


He started out his career in the 1980s with small roles in overseas releases. In the early 1990s he took over Liam Neeson's role as Darkman in the two direct-to-video sequels.

He became a star of the late 1990s - early 2000s with the two Mummy films.

(He did not come back for the third)





The Mummy films were really his only success on the big screen.

After that he has had recurring/guest roles on many tv-series such as "Alias", "24", "Chuck", "NCIS", and "Bones".

Keith Gordon- He played Arnie in John Carpenter's Christine, played Rodney Dangerfield's son in Back To School. Was also in Brian De Palma's Dressed to Kill, and was in The Legend Of Billie Jean.

It also seemed like he might have become a big theatrical movie director after he directed The Chocolate War, and A Midnight Clear(both great movies)

Gordon is directing many things on TV(including several episodes of Dexter)

He is a better director than actor anyway so he should stick to directing

I'm surprised I didn't think of this one earlier - but one of the biggest movie star flops was wrestler Hulk Hogan (real name Terry Bollea).



During Hulk Hogan's huge popularity in the WWF in the 1980s he then tried to cross-over into motion pictures.

His first on-screen role was as a wrestler fighting Rocky in Rocky III.



He then tried to do action films and some family-friendly roles but most of them got horrible reviews and quickly faded away:

Suburban Commando (1991)
Mr. Nanny (1993)
The Secret Agent Club (1996)
Spy Hard (1996)
Santa with Muscles (1996)
The Ultimate Weapon (1997)
Assault on Devil's Island (1997)
3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain (1998)


He also starred in a short-lived tv-series "Thunder in Paradise" that lasted only 22 eps. back in 1994.



His most recent role was a voice-over part in Gnomeo & Juliet (2011).

Another big athlete that flopped as an actor was Shaquille O'Neal.



Shaq's acting debut was in the basketball drama Blue Chips starring Nick Nolte in 1994.

Then he starred in the widely ridiculed children's comedy Kazaam in 1996.

Then he did another widely ridiculed role in the comic super-hero film Steel in 1997.



His most recent role was a cameo in The House Bunny (2008).

Four other athletes who really didn't make a dent as movie stars:

Howie Long
John Cena
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Brian Bosworth

There were also a few talk show hosts who did movies that didn't really go anywhere.



One was Jerry Springer in 1998's Ringmaster.

The film got horrible reviews and a bad box-office run. It remains as Springer's only starring role on the big screen.



Another one was Horward Stern in 1997's Private Parts.

While Private Parts got mostly positive reviews and a decent run in the box-office, it also is Stern's only starring role on the big screen.

David Birney had 2 tv shows in the 70's. Bridget Loves Bernie and Serpico. He starred in a wonderful mini-series"Testimony Of Two Men" in 1978. Critics applauded his performance and predicted that this mini-series would make him a major star. But it never happened. It's too bad as in my opinion he is a great actor. But he has continued to make tv movies and performed on Broadway. "Centennial"& "Testimony Of Two Men" are my favorite mini-series ever!Unfortunately TOTM never got the recognition it deserved. It hasn't been shown on tv since the early'90's. But recently I found a website which has it available on dvd. If you ever get the chance to see it please watch it! It is based on Taylor Caldwell's best seller. David Birney is outstanding! And yes, he is Meredith Baxter Birney's ex husband.:)

This is to add to the list of musicians who didn't quite make it at the movies.
There may be more but this list comes to me at the moment...



Britney Spears


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Released at the height of Britney Spears' early fame she said she wanted to do a movie. Crossroads was released in 2002 to negative reviews and a bad box-office run.

Britney Spears has not done a movie since.









Mariah Carey


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Mariah Carey's acting debut was in the 1999 rom-com The Bachelor.

Then came the infamous Glitter that was released to bad reviews and disappeared from the theaters. Carey herself said that she "blames" the bad run of her film due to the release date, which happened to be on Sept. 11, 2001.

Most recently she received lots of praise for her supporting role in Precious back in 2009, but her starring roles have flopped.









Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini


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Back in 2003, FOX decided to give the first winner and runner-up of "American Idol" their starring role in a movie-musical.

The film was met with bad reviews and lots of ridicule upon original release.









Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson


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Rapper 50 Cent's acting debut was in 2005's Get Rich or Die Tryin' which was based on his life. The film got bad reviews and also a bad run at the box office.

In recent years 50 Cent's movies have mostly been direct-to-DVD and he's become a frequent collaborator with Val Kilmer.









The Spice Girls


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Spice World, starring The Spice Girls, was released in 1997 during the time when the group had world-wide fame.

Though the film was a huge financial success many critics hated it. This film remains as the only starring role of The Spice Girls.









Jessica Simpson


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Jessica Simpson's acting debut was in The Dukes of Hazzard. While the film was a success at the box-office, it was met with the hate of critics as well as the actors from the original tv-series.

Simpson's next starring roles were not successful at all with Employee of the Month (2006), Blonde Ambition (2007), and Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous (2008).









Whitney Houston


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Whitney Houston's acting debut was in 1992's The Bodyguard. While the film was a box-office success many reviewers did not like Houston's performance.

Houston's next role was in Waiting to Exhale in 1995 which got recognition for being the first film with an African-American cast.

Houston's last starring role was in 1996's The Preacher's Wife. While the film was a modest hit, Houston has not starred in another film since.

Her most recent acting role was in the tv-movie Cinderella back in 1997.

Lolita Davidovich never became a household name.



She received lots of praise for starring opposite Paul Newman in 1989's Blaze, having beat out over 600 people for the role.

She then appeared in successful films of the 1990s such as JFK and Cobb.

She then did a string of television movies throughout the rest of the 1990s.



By the 2000s she seemed to be out of the theaters and has since gone on to television bit parts.

She has appeared on "Monk", "The Guardian", "The L Word", "CSI", "Criminal Minds", "Curb Your Enthusiasm", and "Cold Case".

Barry Watson's movie career didn't exactly go too well.

Most people know him as Matthew Camden from the tv-series "7th Heaven".

He tried to get into movies while doing "7th Heaven".





Barry's movie debut was the flop Teaching Mrs. Tingle in 1999.

Then came the 2002 comedy Sorority Boys which also flopped.

Then he did the 2005 horror film Boogeyman. While the film was a modest box-office hit the critics hated it.





In recent years Barry was on the short-lived series "Samantha Who?" and he has an ABC Family movie in the works.

Another singer who didn't become a movie star was world famous opera singer Luciano Pavarotti.


He only did one theatrical film in his career, which was 1982's Yes, Giorgio, where he played an opera singer.

The movie was a flop and the critics blasted it. Pavarotti never returned to the big screen.