Actors/actresses who made career-defining mistakes - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Big C · 05-08-2009, 03:53 AM

Sometimes, an actor/actress makes a career decision that they don't live down.

What are some you can recall?

To me, the first name I think of is Lori Rom; I will alwas remember her as someone who passed up the opportunity of a lifetime when she decided not to do "Charmed."

Given what that did for Alyssa Milano's career, I think Lori's decision may have been one of the biggest career blunders anyone could ever commit.

To me, she'll be "the girl who threw away a chance at stardom."

70s show watcher · 05-08-2009, 04:09 AM

shelley long leaving cheers comes to mind

Dusty's Fan · 05-08-2009, 08:42 AM

Possibly Jerry Van Dyke's turning down the producers of Gilligan's Island, who offered him the lead role, and also not accepting a chance to replace Don Knotts who had left TAGS.

TJL · 05-08-2009, 10:00 AM

McLean Stevenson made a big blunder - he even admitted it years later - when he laft M*A*S*H after the third season, and his showbiz career never recovered.

megamanj2004 · 05-09-2009, 03:29 AM

Jeff Conaway - outside of later working on Babylon 5 in the '90s, Jeff leaving Taxi caused not only his career to flop all over the place, heck his own personal lofe is just as big on shambles as his career. He couldn't even last long very long on all those god-awful reality shows he did in recent years. And look where he's at now!

Heck, he can't even pass a simple rehab rehab test on "Celebrity Rehab" and nearly lost his life when was on "Celebrity Fit Club." Doesn't the drug life say something there, Jeff?

janet42 · 05-09-2009, 07:08 AM

Jeanine Riley left "Petticoat Junction" after 2 years thinking she could do better.
Except for doing 2 years on "Hee-Haw" and 1 season "Dusty's Trail", haven't heard much about her since.

catlover79 · 05-09-2009, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusty's Fan

Possibly Jerry Van Dyke's turning down the producers of Gilligan's Island, who offered him the lead role, and also not accepting a chance to replace Don Knotts who had left TAGS.

Thankfully for him, along came Coach. I couldn't imagine anyone else playing Luther Van Dam.

megamanj2004 · 05-09-2009, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Thankfully for him, along came Coach. I couldn't imagine anyone else playing Luther Van Dam.

Wasn't Jerry Van Dyke also part of the drastically cheapened and re-tooled cast of the final season of "Airworlf?" in 1986-87?

catlover79 · 05-09-2009, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by megamanj2004

Wasn't Jerry Van Dyke also part of the drastically cheapened and re-tooled cast of the final season of "Airworlf?" in 1986-87?

No - that was BARRY Van Dyke.

megamanj2004 · 05-09-2009, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

No - that was BARRY Van Dyke.

Why do I keep getting those Van Dykes (minus Dick) mixed up again!

catlover79 · 05-09-2009, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by megamanj2004

Why do I keep getting those Van Dykes (minus Dick) mixed up again!

I don't know.

Are there any other Van Dykes in the business besides those three?

browneyes106 · 05-09-2009, 07:14 PM

David Caruso leaving NYPD Blue.

catlover79 · 05-09-2009, 07:16 PM

Tammy Grimes, who turned down the role of Samantha on Bewitched. The role then of course went to Liz Montgomery, who went onto sitcom immortality. Also, Shelley Long leaving Cheers.

Marvo301 · 05-09-2009, 07:22 PM

David Caruso leaving NYPD Blue to become a movie star. Gee that worked out well. I can't remember a single movie he was in!!

Mr. Television · 05-09-2009, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

David Caruso leaving NYPD Blue to become a movie star. Gee that worked out well. I can't remember a single movie he was in!!

Kiss of Death is the only one I can think of.

05-08-2009, 03:53 AM	#1
Big C I Heart Angie Watson Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 21, 2006 Posts: 3,531	Actors/actresses who made career-defining mistakes Sometimes, an actor/actress makes a career decision that they don't live down. What are some you can recall? To me, the first name I think of is Lori Rom; I will alwas remember her as someone who passed up the opportunity of a lifetime when she decided not to do "Charmed." Given what that did for Alyssa Milano's career, I think Lori's decision may have been one of the biggest career blunders anyone could ever commit. To me, she'll be "the girl who threw away a chance at stardom."

05-08-2009, 08:42 AM	#3
Dusty's Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 13, 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,092	Possibly Jerry Van Dyke's turning down the producers of Gilligan's Island, who offered him the lead role, and also not accepting a chance to replace Don Knotts who had left TAGS.
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05-08-2009, 10:00 AM	#4
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	McLean Stevenson made a big blunder - he even admitted it years later - when he laft MAS*H after the third season, and his showbiz career never recovered.
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05-09-2009, 03:29 AM	#5
megamanj2004 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 21, 2004 Posts: 2,361	Jeff Conaway - outside of later working on Babylon 5 in the '90s, Jeff leaving Taxi caused not only his career to flop all over the place, heck his own personal lofe is just as big on shambles as his career. He couldn't even last long very long on all those god-awful reality shows he did in recent years. And look where he's at now! Heck, he can't even pass a simple rehab rehab test on "Celebrity Rehab" and nearly lost his life when was on "Celebrity Fit Club." Doesn't the drug life say something there, Jeff?
	__________________ 10 AND A HALF YEARS GOING STRONG!!! Last edited by megamanj2004; 05-11-2009 at 01:45 AM.

05-09-2009, 07:22 PM	#14
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	David Caruso leaving NYPD Blue to become a movie star. Gee that worked out well. I can't remember a single movie he was in!!
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05-08-2009, 04:09 AM	#2
70s show watcher Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 20, 2008 Location: between point place and studio 8 h Posts: 4,549	shelley long leaving cheers comes to mind

05-09-2009, 07:08 AM	#6
janet42 Three's Company Fan! Senior Member Join Date: Feb 22, 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,757	Jeanine Riley left "Petticoat Junction" after 2 years thinking she could do better. Except for doing 2 years on "Hee-Haw" and 1 season "Dusty's Trail", haven't heard much about her since.

05-09-2009, 07:14 PM	#12
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,094	David Caruso leaving NYPD Blue.

05-09-2009, 07:16 PM	#13
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Tammy Grimes, who turned down the role of Samantha on Bewitched. The role then of course went to Liz Montgomery, who went onto sitcom immortality. Also, Shelley Long leaving Cheers.