Actors Who Never Lived Up To Being Major Movie Stars!?

[Brian Damage]

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.

[JamesG]

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".

[Liza]

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.

[Brian Damage]

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.

[MrCleveland]

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

[70s show watcher]

Originally Posted by Liza

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.

he 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

[Liza]

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.

[Brian Damage]

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.

[JamesG]

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.

[catlover79]

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.

[70s show watcher]

Originally Posted by JamesG

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

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by 70s show watcher

i have never even heard anything about this movie

Trust me, you didn't miss anything!!!

[JamesG]

Originally Posted by catlover79

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.

[catlover79]

^ Got it.

[Liza]

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

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...