Check out this list of actors and the movie roles that impacted their lives for the worse. Did one of your favorite movies make the cut?
Star Wars Episodes II & III - Hayden Christensen
WhenHayden Christensengot the role of Anakin Skywalker, it seemed like a jackpot. TheStar Warsfranchise was back in business and he’d be the main face of the prequels. He would forever be cemented as the man who became Darth Vader.
And that’s the problem.
With Christensen as the centerpiece of a critically panned series of films (at the time), he has had difficulty finding other roles due to being linked to the Dark Side of a beloved franchise. Reciting awkward dialogue such as “I don’t like sand. It’s all coarse, and rough, and irritating. And it gets everywhere. Not like you” to his love interest didn’t help, either.
Snow White - Adriana Caselotti
Adriana Caselottiwas cemented into public memory with her role in Disney’sSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Even if you do not recognize her name, you can definitely recognize the voice of Snow White. Sadly, that recognition caused more trouble than a poisoned apple.
In spite of being the fairest of them all, Caselotti had trouble getting roles afterSnow Whitebecause of her distinctive voice. Many producers and directors hesitated hiring her, because no matter what character she’d play, they would hear Snow White as soon as she opened her mouth.
Scooby-Doo - Freddie Prinze Jr.
The tongue-in-cheek comedy of the live-actionScooby-Doofilms brought a lot of smiles to a certain generation that were critically mixed but embraced by fans. Scoob and the gang solved the mystery in two successful movies. Yet it was no mystery to anyone that starFreddie Prinze Jr.was miserable.
During production of these films, Prinze was reportedly frustrated and felt jaded about acting, both in theScoobymovies and in general. He briefly retired from acting to write and produce content for World Wrestling Entertainment. Prinze eventually returned to act on TV shows, but in more personally rewarding roles.
The Love Guru - Mike Myers
In the late-90s into the 2000s, nothing could stop comedianMike Myers. After finding success with theWayne’s Worldmovies, Myers hit a gold mine with hisAustin Powersspy comedies. The funnyman could seemingly do no wrong.
Then cameThe Love Guru.
The Love Gurudid so poorly among critics and at the box office that it destroyed all of his momentum. Afterwards, Myers has slowly built traction back up in his acting career, taking small roles in films likeInglourious BasterdsandBohemian Rhapsody.
Showgirls - Elizabeth Berkley
The kid-friendlySaved by the BellTV show introduced millions of viewers toElizabeth Berkley. After the show ended, Berkley wanted to expand her roles beyond characters suitable for Saturday morning sitcoms. Saying “yes” to the lead role in the adult-themedShowgirls, however, was too much change, too quickly.
The harsh change of Berkeley’s public image backfired, and the bad reviews forShowgirlsdidn’t help her career either. She does continue to work in TV, including a stint onDancing With the Stars, but she never got a major role on a notable movie again.
Die Hard - Bruce Willis
Die Hard? Really? How did this movie ruin his life?Bruce Williswas a television actor at the time, and this movie cemented him as an action hero. To this day, people get into shouting matches over whether or notDie Hardis a Christmas movie.
If only Bruce could hear them.
WhileDie Hardcertainly gave Bruce Willis a film career, he had to sacrifice his hearing for stardom. An accident during filming left him partially deaf in his left ear. John McClane was an important role for Willis, but losing 2/3rds of his hearing in an ear probably wasn’t worth it.
Abduction - Taylor Lautner
Taylor Lautnerwas one of the hottest stars coming out of theTwilightseries. To strike while the iron was hot, Lautner tried to transition from teen idol to leading man in 2011’sAbduction. Unfortunately, Lautner would wish the film itself was abducted.
Abductiondid poorly at the box office, and critics skewered Lautner’s acting ability. Lautner’s close association with theTwilightfranchise didn’t translate into an audience outside of that fanbase. He would have trouble getting leading roles in films afterward, but now frequently teams up withAdam Sandlerin movies likeGrown UpsandThe Ridiculous 6.
Syriana - George Clooney
Syrianawas a very impactful film inGeorge Clooney’s life. The geopolitical thriller was critically praised, and was on several critics’ top ten lists for the best movies of 2005. Clooney also nabbed an Oscar, a BAFTA, and a Golden Globe for his performance, but at a heavy cost to his brain.
Clooney experienced a traumatic brain injury while on set, leading to long-term severe headaches and neurological side effects. It was so extreme and painful that Clooney contemplated taking his own life. Fortunately, he recovered after a few successful brain surgeries and regular therapy.
The Wizard of Oz - Judy Garland
Heralded for generations of movie fans,The Wizard of Ozwas a milestone in cinema. The shift from black-and-white to color film, the great costuming, and the imaginative world was the stuff of dreams for film goers.
Too bad that the movie was a nightmare for its lead actress,Judy Garland.
The producers and director constantly pressured Garland to lose weight, forcing her to take amphetamines, smoke cigarettes, and follow a restrictive diet to keep her weight down. Her male co-stars would also ignore her and wouldn’t speak with Garland on set. It was downright abusive.
Corky Romano - Chris Kattan
In the late-1990s,Chris Kattanwas a celebrated performer onSaturday Night Live. Much like otherSNLalumni, Kattan got parts in various films during breaks, but eventually left the cast to to try his hand at being a leading man. His first and last big attempt wasCorky Romano.
Corky Romanowas a box office bomb that was torn apart by critics, currently sitting at a 6% score on the Rotten Tomatoes website. Kattan’s career got a cork stuffed in it after the film’s release. While still getting bit parts, he hasn’t had a major role in a widely-released motion picture ever since.
