The Downfall of Fame: 17 Actors Whose Careers Were Ruined by One Role

The Unforgiving Nature of Hollywood

Most movie stars can survive a flop or two, but some roles can irrevocably change an actor's career. Here, we highlight 17 actors whose careers took a nosedive due to a single performance.

Faye Dunaway in Mommie Dearest

Released in 1981, Mommie Dearest portrayed Faye Dunaway as a tyrannical Joan Crawford, leading to a backlash that affected her career for years. Dunaway later expressed regret, saying the film gave people the wrong impression of her.

Elizabeth Berkley in Showgirls

Showgirls (1995) was supposed to launch Berkley's career, but its initial failure left her bullied and ostracized in Hollywood. She reflected on the cruelty surrounding the film's release and how it impacted her career.

Shannen Doherty in Mallrats

After leaving Beverly Hills 90210, Doherty's role in Mallrats (1995) flopped, leading many to blame her for its failure and effectively ending her film career at that time.

David Caruso in Jade

Caruso left NYPD Blue for film stardom, but Jade (1995) was a costly failure that silenced his Hollywood prospects, forcing him back to television.

Sofia Coppola in The Godfather: Part III

Coppola's infamous performance in The Godfather: Part III (1990) was met with ridicule, but she later found success as a director, proving her acting career was not her true passion.

Rupert Everett in The Next Best Thing

Everett's role in this 2000 romcom with Madonna was a disaster that severely impacted both their careers.

Lea Thompson in Howard the Duck

In 1986, Thompson starred in Howard the Duck, a film she later said damaged her career despite enjoying the cult status it gained later.

Matthew Modine in Cutthroat Island

Cutthroat Island (1995) is one of Hollywood's biggest flops, which significantly hurt Modine's career despite his continued work in the industry.

Judge Reinhold in Vice Versa

Reinhold's career took a hit after Vice Versa (1988), leading him to leave Hollywood for a quieter life, reflecting on his past behavior.

Kelly Clarkson in From Justin to Kelly

Clarkson's film debut in this 2003 musical was a low point in her career, but her music saved her from being defined by it.

John Gilbert in His Glorious Night

In the silent film era, Gilbert was a star, but his first talkie revealed his unexpected voice, which critics panned, leading to his decline.

The Monkees in Head

The band's 1968 film Head was so poorly received that it effectively ended their careers as musicians and actors.

Maxwell Caulfield in Grease 2

Caulfield's career was derailed by this sequel, leading to years of underemployment in Hollywood.

Jennifer Grey in Wind

After Dirty Dancing, Grey's decision to get a nose job altered her career trajectory, leaving her unrecognizable to audiences.

Brandon Routh in Superman Returns

Routh's portrayal of Superman in 2006 did not lead to the expected career boost, and he struggled to find roles afterwards.

Meg Ryan in In the Cut

Ryan's venture into darker themes with In the Cut (2003) shocked audiences and led to her retreat from major roles, despite her pride in the film.

Greta Garbo in Two-Faced Woman

Garbo's career was effectively ended by this poorly received film, leading her into early retirement at just 36.

Hollywood's unforgiving landscape can turn even the brightest stars into cautionary tales, showcasing how a single role can irrevocably alter a career path.