MomSkoop
Hollywood is a place where fame can arrive overnight, but it can disappear just as quickly. Some actors who once dominated the box office found themselves struggling to land even small roles.
Career downturns happen for many reasons—bad choices, personal struggles, or simply falling out of favor with audiences. Here are twelve stars whose once-bright careers took unexpected and dramatic turns.
1. Brendan Fraser
Remember when Brendan Fraser was everywhere in the late 1990s and early 2000s?
He starred in blockbusters like The Mummy series and George of the Jungle, capturing hearts with his charm and physicality.
But after years of demanding stunts, Fraser suffered serious injuries that required multiple surgeries.
His body broke down, and roles dried up almost completely.
Fraser also dealt with personal challenges, including a difficult divorce and depression.
For nearly a decade, he vanished from major films.
Thankfully, his recent comeback in The Whale earned him widespread praise and awards.
His story shows how physical and emotional tolls can derail even the brightest careers.
2. Lindsay Lohan
Few child stars shone as brightly as Lindsay Lohan did in her early years.
Movies like Mean Girls and Freaky Friday made her a household name by her late teens.
However, legal troubles and substance abuse issues soon dominated headlines instead of her talent.
Multiple arrests, rehab stints, and unprofessional behavior on set damaged her reputation severely.
Studios became reluctant to hire her, fearing she would be unreliable.
Her promising career collapsed under the weight of personal demons.
While she has attempted comebacks, none have matched her early success.
Lohan’s story remains a cautionary tale about fame’s pressures on young performers.
3. Armie Hammer
Armie Hammer seemed destined for A-list status after critically acclaimed performances in films like Call Me by Your Name and The Social Network.
His tall, handsome presence and acting chops made him a favorite for leading roles.
Then, in 2021, disturbing allegations surfaced on social media involving inappropriate messages and behavior.
The accusations were shocking and led to immediate professional consequences.
Projects dropped him left and right, and his agency stopped representing him.
His career came to an abrupt halt almost overnight.
Whether he can ever recover remains uncertain.
Hammer’s downfall demonstrates how quickly scandal can destroy years of career building.
4. Katherine Heigl
Did you know that being labeled difficult in Hollywood can end your career faster than bad acting?
Katherine Heigl learned this the hard way after her star-making role on Grey’s Anatomy.
She publicly criticized the show’s writers and withdrew from Emmy consideration, calling the material unworthy.
Later, she bashed her own romantic comedies in interviews, alienating directors and producers.
Hollywood insiders began viewing her as ungrateful and hard to work with.
Major roles stopped coming her way despite her obvious talent and previous box office success.
Her career never recovered its former momentum.
Heigl’s experience shows that attitude matters as much as ability in this industry.
5. Shia LaBeouf
Shia LaBeouf transformed from Disney Channel kid to Transformers action star seemingly overnight.
His edgy intensity made him stand out, and directors lined up to work with him.
But increasingly bizarre public behavior began overshadowing his performances.
He engaged in plagiarism scandals, wore paper bags on red carpets, and had multiple public meltdowns.
Abuse allegations from former partners further tarnished his image.
Studios grew wary of his unpredictability and the negative publicity he attracted.
Mainstream Hollywood roles became rare for him.
LaBeouf now works mostly in independent films, far from the blockbuster spotlight he once enjoyed.
6. Megan Fox
Megan Fox became an international sensation after starring in the first two Transformers movies.
Her beauty and screen presence made her one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actresses.
Everything changed when she compared director Michael Bay to Hitler in an interview.
Bay’s producer, Steven Spielberg, reportedly insisted she be fired from Transformers 3.
Other directors became hesitant to hire someone who publicly attacked powerful filmmakers.
Her career momentum stopped cold, and she struggled to find quality roles afterward.
Fox spent years in low-budget films before slowly rebuilding her career.
Her story illustrates how one ill-considered comment can have lasting professional consequences.
7. Cuba Gooding Jr.
Winning an Oscar should guarantee a long, successful career, right?
Not for Cuba Gooding Jr., whose career took a puzzling nosedive after his 1997 Academy Award win for Jerry Maguire.
Instead of choosing prestigious projects, he appeared in comedies that critics panned mercilessly.
Films like Boat Trip and Norbit damaged his credibility as a serious actor.
By the 2010s, he was working mostly in direct-to-video releases.
Legal troubles involving inappropriate behavior allegations further harmed his reputation.
His once-promising trajectory became a Hollywood mystery.
Gooding’s career shows that even Oscar winners need to choose roles wisely to maintain relevance.
8. Taylor Lautner
Taylor Lautner was a teenage heartthrob during the Twilight saga’s peak popularity.
Millions of fans adored his character Jacob, and he seemed poised for superstardom.
After Twilight ended, however, his film choices failed to connect with audiences.
Movies like Abduction and Tracers flopped at the box office despite his built-in fanbase.
Critics questioned whether he had range beyond playing the shirtless werewolf.
His career quietly faded as other young actors claimed the spotlight.
Lautner now works primarily in television with occasional small film roles.
His experience demonstrates how franchise fame doesn’t always translate to lasting success beyond that series.
9. Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer delivered unforgettable performances in Top Gun, The Doors, and Tombstone during his prime years.
His talent was undeniable, but his reputation for being difficult preceded him everywhere.
Directors and co-stars complained about his behavior on set, calling him demanding and uncooperative.
As word spread, fewer people wanted to work with him despite his abilities.
His career slowed significantly by the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Later, throat cancer robbed him of his distinctive voice, making acting even more challenging.
Kilmer’s career serves as a reminder that talent alone isn’t enough without professionalism.
His recent documentary showed a more vulnerable side to his story.
10. Mike Myers
Mike Myers created some of comedy’s most iconic characters, from Wayne Campbell to Austin Powers to Shrek.
He was a box office guarantee throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.
Then came The Love Guru in 2008, a critical and commercial disaster.
The film was so poorly received that it seemed to break his confidence completely.
Myers essentially vanished from Hollywood for over a decade afterward.
Reports suggested he became extremely selective and difficult during the filmmaking process.
His absence left a void in comedy that newer performers filled.
Only recently has Myers attempted a comeback with streaming projects, but his glory days seem behind him.
11. Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy dominated comedy in the 1980s with edgy, groundbreaking performances that pushed boundaries.
Films like Beverly Hills Cop and Trading Places showcased his incredible comedic timing and charisma.
In the 2000s, he shifted toward family-friendly films that critics found uninspired and repetitive.
Movies like Norbit and Meet Dave were box office disappointments that hurt his reputation.
The raw, daring comedian seemed to disappear behind fat suits and silly characters.
His career lost its edge and relevance among audiences craving his original style.
Recently, Murphy has attempted a return to form with projects like Dolemite Is My Name.
His story shows how playing it safe can sometimes backfire spectacularly.
12. Wesley Snipes
Wesley Snipes was an action movie powerhouse in the 1990s, especially with the Blade trilogy.
His martial arts skills and screen presence made him a bankable star in the genre.
Everything changed when he faced federal charges for tax evasion in the mid-2000s.
He was convicted and served nearly three years in prison, effectively halting his career.
By the time he was released, the action movie landscape had changed completely.
Younger stars had taken his place, and studios were hesitant about his troubled past.
Snipes has worked steadily since, but mostly in smaller, lower-budget productions.
His legal troubles cost him the prime years of his career when he should have been thriving.