"Star-making" roles that backfired

Julia Ormond - Sabrina

Elizabeth Berkley-Showgirls

Emmy Rossum - The Phantom of the Opera

Let's make a list! Let's make a list!

Jimmie Wolk, 'Lone Star'%0D Heavily promoted FOX series that only managed 2 episodes on air.

Patrick Wilson in most of his feature films.

Very good one R5.%0D %0D %0D

Lisa Bonet and her breasts as Ephiphany Proudfoot in Angel Heart.

Thanks R7. I'm still hoping to see more out of Wolk because I like him a lot. But that show really wasn't as compelling as the marketing make it out to be.

Gretchen Mol in anything

Shia LeBouf in anything as someone expected to carry the movie.

Vera Farmiga in anything, including on the cover of The New York Times Magazine%0D %0D Same goes for Gretchen Mol on Vanity Fair cover and Julia Ormond on the Times Magazine cover

"Shia LeBouf in anything as someone expected to carry the movie."%0D %0D %0D %0D Almost everything he has done in the last few years has been a hit.%0D %0D

but he didn't carry it. People wanted to see the Transformers and would have gone no matter who had the role. Same with Indy Jones.

Prove they were going to see Shia.

Gale Harold-Vanished.

r14, didn't Eagle Eye (where he was the only star) make over $100 million in the US? I'm pretty sure it opened with over $30 million, too.%0D %0D %0D %0D I'm not a fan of his, but I'm not sure how you can say he isn't a star. His only real flop in recent years was that Wall Street crap, which would have flopped no matter what.

Some oldies ---%0D %0D Ewa Aulin --- CANDY%0D %0D Tom Tryon --- Otto Preminger's THE CARDINAL%0D %0D Jean Seberg -- Otto Preminger's SAINT JOAN although two years later she hit it big in France with BREATHLESS.%0D %0D Anthony Newley - DR. DOLITTLE%0D %0D %0D %0D

Dane Cook in anything he's done

Ten years ago, I would have said McBongo but the asshole managed to have a career somehow.

Adian Lester in "Primary Colors"%0D %0D Wasn't his fault.

Tommy Steele in

HALF A SIXPENCE

THE HAPPIEST MILLIONARE

FINIAN'S RAINBOW.

He was supposed to be the next "Julie Andrews".

Oy.

Twiggy in "The Boyfriend."

Brigitte Nielsen in both "Cobra" and "Red Sonja."

[quote]Ten years ago, I would have said McBongo but the asshole managed to have a career somehow.%0D %0D It does amaze me how some actors just fade away and others manage to wander from one flop or mediocre film to another, with nary a problem.

[quote]Vera Farmiga in anything%0D %0D Can you really say that when she was nominated for an Oscar? I'm not saying she's A-List now, but I should think she's at least in a solid position, which is actually all a lot of actors want.

"Tom Tryon --- Otto Preminger's THE CARDINAL"%0D %0D %0D %0D %0D Good example, although he at least managed to find success as a novelist.%0D %0D

Twiggy was really sort of adorable in "The Boyfriend."

Sally Kirkland's entire career qualifies.

R9, Jimmy Wolk has scored another pilot, "Georgetown," for next season.

And today's his 26th birthday.

Lauren Hutton in anything

"It does amaze me how some actors just fade away and others manage to wander from one flop or mediocre film to another, with nary a problem."%0D %0D I know, it is amazing isn't it?%0D %0D

Lipstick - Margaux Hemingway

But it did get her sister Mariel noticed.

There is an young man-who's always popping up as the lead in a TV series,his latest was one on the CW with actor Ray Wise that had a horror/comedic bent. I now see he's on an upcoming FOX series.%0D %0D Can someone name him? He looks short and scruffy-like a younger Scott Caan but I see his face nearly every season on some dumb series...

Thanks for the update R28. I'll be watching the schedule for 'Georgetown.' Hopefully it makes it and Jimmie won't keep showing up on lists like this. I completely fell for him in 'Front of the Class.'%0D %0D And of course I'll be happy to admister the birthday spankings.

Helen Slater in "Supergirl"

Clinton Spilsbury, "The Lone Ranger"

Anna Sten, "Nana"

R32, I think you're referring to Tyler Labine, who was great as the bonehead sidekick on "Reaper" a few years ago.

[quote]Sally Kirkland's entire career qualifies.%0D %0D Except for that pesky Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

Miles O'Keefe - Tarzan

Ooh, really good ones, r35!

Good one R38!

Millie Perkins -- THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK%0D %0D Diane Varsi --%0D PEYTON PLACE although she may have rebelled and left Hollywood by turning down roles. I know she resurfaced in the 60's in WILD IN THE STREETS.%0D %0D Geraldine Chaplin - DOCTOR ZHIVAGO%0D %0D %0D %0D

r32

You're thinking of Bret Harrison

Valley of the Dolls was supposed to be Patty Duke's big break out role for adult roles in films.

Matt Lattanzi in My Tutor.

Cindy Crawford - Fair Game %0D

Linda Harrison -- Planet of the Apes (film) and Bracken's World (TV). She was also Richard Zanuck's girlfriend.%0D %0D Marianne McAndrew-- Hello, Dolly!%0D %0D

Rosanna Arquette in Desperately Seeking Susan.

Brigitte Nielsen was a star. Both "Sonja" and "Cobra" were box office hits. Add to that "Rocky 4" and "Beverly Hills Cop 2". She was a terrible actress, but she had a solid track of hits, which is more than you could say of most of today's actresses.%0D %0D Forget Brandon Routh. I was always surprised that Sarah Douglas didn't become a bigger star after "Superman 2" Several critics took notice of her incredible beauty at that time. I remember Pauline Kael saying that she had a face that cameras worshipped.

Bridget Fonda, "Single White Female"; Jada Pinkett-Smith, "Boo"; Jayne Mansfield, "The Girl Can't Help It"; Brooke Shields, "The Blue Lagoon"; Kristy MacNichol, "The Pirate Movie"; Chris Kattan, "Corky Romano"; Dana Carvey, "Master of Disguise"; Andrew Dice Clay, "Ford Fairlane".

[quote]Ten years ago, I would have said McBongo but the asshole managed to have a career somehow.%0D %0D True, though for the longest time I didn't know whether to think of him as being at the bottom of the A-list or the top of the B-list.

Kyle Bornheimer in everything he's done thus far.

"Hello Again"--Shelley Long--her first post-Cheers film was supposed to be her big star-making role, It stiffed.

"She-Devil"--Roseanne Barr got massive press in the media when she was filming this. But it was just awful and Meryl walked away with the film. Not even Ed Begley Jr's ample ass made up for it.

Hurd Hatfield in The Portrait of Dorian Grey%0D %0D Joan McCracken in Good News%0D %0D Peggy Ann Garner in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn%0D %0D Suzy Parker in The Best of Everything%0D %0D All 4 were sensational in their respective roles. It just didn't lead to anything.%0D %0D

That's him,r42! But the guy in r36 link is also popping up on dead on arrival series.%0D %0D Harrison is very cute,but he must know someone higher up to be getting so many flop series in a row...

Cyndi Lauper- "Vibes"; Ann Magnuson- "Making Mr. Right"; Courtney Love- "The People vs. Larry Flynt"; Jennifer Grey- "Dirty Dancing"; Olivia Newton-John- "Grease"

Grease 2, for everyone involved.

R56- I agree except that it didn't hurt Michelle Pfeiffer.

Josh Hartnett in Pearl Harbor

Helen Slater in "Supergirl". Personally, I blame Faye Dunaway who ate everything but Helen's spandex. THIS is the film that ruined her career, not Mommie Dearest.

before landing her first major film role as Stephanie Zinone in Grease 2 (1982), the sequel to the smash-hit musical Grease (1978). The film was a critical and commercial failure, although Pfeiffer herself received some positive attention, notably from the New York Times, which said "although she is a relative screen newcomer, Miss Pfeiffer manages to look much more insouciant and comfortable than anyone else in the cast."[6] Despite escaping the critical mauling, Pfeiffer's agent later admitted that her association with the film meant that "she couldn't get any jobs. Nobody wanted to hire her."

She appeared in "Scarface" the next year, though. That film has become an (undeserved in my opnion) cult classic.

Yeah she got work but apparently felt it damaged her career in terms of the type of roles she could get. I remember the stink that surrounded that movie when it came out so I'm not surprised. She also spoke about other actors showing her zero respect.

Jane March in "The Color of Night"

Chris Klein in "Rollerball."

There was a significant gap after "Scarface" for Pfeiffer; her next role wasn't until "Into the Night" in 1985, which also flopped. She didn't really come into contention as a serious actress until 1988, when she had 3 big roles: "Married to the Mob", "Tequila Sunrise" and "Dangerous Liasons". From there, she was A-list until 2001, when she did "I Am Sam". Her career hit the doldrums again after that, with only "Hairspray" (an ensemble piece) and "Cheri" standouts. She's currently filming Gary Marshall's latest piece of schlock, but is coming up in "Dark Shadows", re-uniting her with Tim Burton.

Bella Darvi%0D %0D The Egyptian.

"Cheri" was one of my recent standouts, R64?%0D %0D Holy shit. I really am in trouble.

Brett Favre in "Little Brett"

Pfeiffer was touted for an Oscar for "Cheri" and was very good in that film. Pity it flopped.

Irina Demick and (Darryl F, Zanuck's mistress)%0D %0D The Longest Day%0D %0D %0D Kay Lenz - Breezy

[quote]Kyle Bornheimer in everything he's done thus far.

True, but I still like him and wish he would find a successful project. I think he's adorable.

Judy Greer is another one I like who can't seem to find the right project. Currently she's on the wretched MAD LOVE with Sarah Chalke and Jason Biggs.

Going back, I assumed Joseph Fiennes would become a huge star after SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE but his career never took off. Maybe he wasn't interested in a Hollywood career?

Clive Owen in Closer - this was supposed to turn him into the next big thing, but it didn't happen. Pity, because I like him a lot.

I know, R71, He was in that Madonna, Guy Ritchie, BMW short film close to ten years ago. I remember the DVD in the mail. I watched it and thought he was one sexy fucker. He's talented but always wasted. He's perfect in that Madonna thing.

Malcolm Gets in Caroline in the City

I wonder about Malcolm Gets, R73. He seemed to be perfectly cast and handsome and funny. His range was small. You saw "Adam and Steve"? I do think he has talent (and rilly good hair) just not broad talent.

Barbra Streisand in "Funny Girl"

Everything else seemed second-rate after that film.

I'll never forget when Malcolm Gets first took his shirt off on CITC. I was absolutely floored at what a fucking hot body he had.

[quote]Going back, I assumed Joseph Fiennes would become a huge star after SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE but his career never took off. Maybe he wasn't interested in a Hollywood career?%0D %0D He was still trying to pursue an acting career in the US with that failed series last year, so I suspect that's not the case.%0D He's just the less talented younger brother of a real actor.%0D

and a bit of a drip from what I've heard.

Brian Bosworth in STONE COLD

GLITTER was supposed to make Mariah Carey a movie star.

Lenny von Dohlen in "Electric Dreams". Oh, those eyes!

r35 posted Klinton Spilsbury, which is the biggest one I can think of -- a complete unknown given the lead role in a big-budget remake of The Lone Ranger. (In Andy Warhol's diaries, Warhol mentions meeting him; at the beginning of the evening, he talked about his wife and by the end of the evening he was drunk and told Andy about getting fucked by Halston, so rumors that he was a casting-couch coochie were true.)

Apparently Spilsbury was a gigantic pain in the ass on set and he refused to come back and do looping, so the producers just overdubbed EVERY line he had.

But what really killed the new movie was when the old Lone Ranger, Clayton Moore, announced that the producers of the new movie forbade him from making personal appearances in the familiar Lone Ranger mask. The old guy had been doing it for years, including for a lot of charity appearances, and the public backlash against the new movie sank it.

Klinton Spilsbury never made another movie and no one seems to know whatever happened to him. But he was gorgeous - 6'5" of lean muscle.

Kate Bosworth in "Blue Crush", a surfer movie that bombed in spite of her publicist's efforts. Her career failed to take off, and I don't know if she ever got another leading role.%0D %0D

Joseph Finnes is a good choice - talented, good looking, in two Best Picture nominees in one year PLUS being the romantic lead for the two leading Best Actress contenders (Paltrow and Blanchett). Also, you are the title character in the winner for Best Picture. WTF?!?! That is a massive fail.

Kate Bosworth was Kevin Spacey's leading lady in that film musical ego trip he directed about Bobby Darin, so yes, she her career really did not take off. Around that time she was also rumored to have been favored to take the role opposite Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes got the part instead.She was very pretty, so maybe she will turn up on an HBO or network series some day. %0D %0D Anyway some of the names mentioned here are ludicrous, but R82's name is perfect and lives up to, and even exceeds, the purpose of the thread.

Bret Harrison was good in that movie Extract with Jason Bateman and Mila Kunis. He played Kristin Wiigs pool boy love interest.

Kim Darby - True Grit%0D %0D Sue Lyon - Lolita%0D %0D Rita Tushingham - A Taste of Honey

Michael Biehn: Terminator, Aliens, AND The Abyss. Even James Cameron gave up on him.

Blue Crush actually did OK I thought and did put Kate Bosworth on the map. Then they tried to make her an adorable romcom star in Win a Date With Tad Hamilton, which did flop. She got more leads via Kevin Spacey: Lois Lane in Superman Returns which would have been starmaking for the right actress, but she didn't do it justice, and also the female lead in 21, which was a modest hit in 2008. So she has had a career of sorts.

Lucky Vanous, WEHT him after all the Pepsi hub-bub?%0D %0D And from the ridiculous to the sublime.....that young actress who dies at the end of Stage Door....look, I've even forgotten her name? Oh yes, Andrea Leeds! Now there was a star-making role that really went no where.

Tony Bill -- COME BLOW YOUR HORN although he did become a successful producer.%0D %0D Don Francks -- FINIAN'S RAINBOW.%0D %0D

Hayden Christensen in Star wars%0D %0D Everybody else seem to have escaped being labled as bad actors because the movies were so bad, but not him.

Bobby Rydell -- BYE BYE BIRDIE. Did he ever do another movie?

Catherine Burns -- LAST SUMMER and RED SKY AT MORNING both with Richard Thomas. She got an Oscar nomination for SUMMER. Did a play or two in NY but then she disappeared.

[quote]Jane March in "The Color of Night%0D %0D I remember the hype surrounding her clearly and thinking that she would never be a star because the poor girl has the face of a rodent.

March gave one of the most amazingly sensuous performances in "The Lover" and she was gorgeous. By the time she got to "Color", the lines of her face had changed, she lost her baby fat and looked like Alyssa Milano's ugly sister.

Some of y'all don't understand what the word "backfire" means.

R97, I agree.

I cannot for the life of me figure out how Peggy Ann Garner's role in A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN was supposed to make her a star, and more, how that turn in an enormously successful movie backfired.

Holy shit, r82! Stupid name aside that man is fucking gorgeous. I was a kid when that Lone Ranger movie came out but I never saw it - had no interest. I see it came out in 1981 though. I imagine it couldn't compete with the popularity of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. Too bad Klinton couldn't be persuaded to do gay porn.

Barbra Streisand in "Funny Girl"%0D %0D No, Streisand was already a huge star before the movie of Funny Girl.%0D %0D R52, correct, She Devil sucked and didn't make Roseanne a film star, but the British mini-series was FANTASTIC and creepy as hell:

Eric Bana - The Hulk.

Alyson Reed- A CHORUS LINE

Raoul Bova in "Under the Tuscan Sun"%0D He just couldn't handle the English.%0D

Pia Zadora - The Lonely Lady

Jake Gyllenhall, "Prince of Persia"%0D %0D An epic it was not.

Judy Tyler - Bop Girl Goes Calypso and Jailhouse Rock.%0D %0D Oops, maybe her failure to make it in movies doesn't count since she was killed in a car accident right after filming Jailhouse Rock.%0D %0D Never mind.

Rex Smith PIRATES OF PENZANCE although his bulge in those tight, tight, tights, almost makes up for that bore of a movie.

I think Elizabeth Berkely is the best answer so far. Should have been a star making role but actually destroyed her career and made her an industry joke. Most of the other people listed did not become big stars because of these roles, but also were not killed by those roles. Most have kept working, albeit in lesser capacities.

I agree R108, most of the others listed don't fit the bill at all because the films/roles they were in were not "star making" and/or the actors themselves were never expected to become the next star. Showgirls even had a high profile director.

Showgirls was written for Madonna and Drew Barrymore. That would have an interesting coupling, with both of them being bi.

But the film is so perfectly campy as is, I wouldn't change a thing.

My contribution to the thread would have to be Justin Guarini in From Justin to Kelly. I actually like it, though, as a so-bad-it's-funny movie.

Another example might be Grant Cramer in Hotbodies. It made money but did nothing for his career. IIRC, his mother was someone famous but he became best known as a friend of Kato Kaelin.

How about that Andrew Dice Clay movie? Does that count?

Tom Green in "Freddie Got Fingered". Was that supposed to launch him into the Jim Carrey - Adam Sandler comedy stratosphere? If so big time backfire because his career basically ended after that.

I thought "Showgirls" was written for Sharon Stone, who turned it down because she thought it was porn. Berkely's complete inability to act would have forstallen any career even if Showgirls had been a success. Frankly, it's the best thing she's ever done because it's the only thing she'll ever be remembered for.

I'm surprised no one mentioned Loren Dean in "Billy Bathgate"- that boy had NO EXPRESSION in his face or acting! And he was working opposite Dustin Hoffman! Deservedly he's never been heard from again.

Peggy Ann Garner in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is very comparable to Sue Lyon in Lolita and Millie Perkins in The Diary of Ann Frank.%0D %0D Young unknown girls who were the highly publicized focal point of their enormously successful films and then pretty much disappeared afterwards. Maybe it was their own choice....I don't know.%0D %0D Well, Sue did Night of the Igunana, but still....nothing more.

I always felt like Peggy Ann Garner was reincarnated in the 60s/70s as Pamelyn Ferdin. They looked like they could be mother-daughter.

Jake Gyllenhaal in "Prince of Persia"

Eric Bana in "Munich"

Jude Law, "Alfie"

Cuba Gooding Jr, "Jerry Maguire"

Johnathan Schaech, "That Thing You Do!"

Guy Pearce, "Ravenous"

Whoever said Eric Bana in Hulk is ridiculous, he got tons of work after that. Unfortunately, none of it really stuck.

R120, are you kidding?

Cuba Gooding Jr had a ton of movie roles after Jerry Maguire! Didn't he even win an Oscar?

Afaik, the only reason CGJr's career failed is because he appeared in lameass family "comedies" like that one with the huskies.

Brett Harrison is on V. Or was. Probably that show is doomed, too.

Bruce Jenner in Can't Stop the Music.

Joan Goodfellow - BUSTER AND BILLIE

#121, he's not a star- he's a joke.

r120, I thought I was the only person who remembered Johnathon Schaech!%0D %0D %0D %0D What a gorgeous man. No talent or charisma, but, damn, he was handsome.

[quote]#121, he's not a star- he's a joke.

I completely agree with you that Cuba Gooding Jr is a joke, not a star.

But for a while there, he was a big deal, and the media promoted him as a serious and talented actor.

I'm still sad about Julia Ormond -- there wasn't anything off-putting or bad about her (unlike the odd Cuba Gooding Jr). It was just bad timing.

Johnny Knoxville - "Jackass"

Sorry, R129, that would be Johnny Knoxville - "Dukes of Hazard"

Victor Rasuk in Lords of Dogtown

Alex Pettyfer in "Beastly"

[quote]Brett Favre in "Little Brett"

Brett Favre in "There's something about Mary"

Michael Bergin in anything.

John Goodman - "King Ralph"

He's a character actor, not a leading man.

Jennifer Garner in 13 Going on 30

Roseannes second ex-husband tried for a film career in "The Stupids" and flopped. He vanished soon afterwards.

Speaking of Johnny Knoxville does his lookalike Josh Duhamel count?

r128, except for the fact that poor Ormond was (and is) as homely as a mud fence, with no Charisma whatsoever.

Neely O'Hara in anything.%0D %0D

Star-making Roles That "Backfired"????

140 responses and no one mentioned John Erik Hexum.

Brad Davis in Midnight Express.

Although, that may have to do with his serious substance abuse issues.

Sam Jones and Melody Anderson in FLASH GORDON. Their first and last big starring roles.

Karen Allen with RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. She was the break out star but her career went nowhere after that.

Clive Owen owns this thread. They're still trying to make him happen.

R144 - Karen was in Starman and a few other things after Raiders. I don't think Raiders hurt her career any.

R144 Karen could never recreate the success of Raiders. By the mid-80s her career was dead. She appeared in an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. That's pretty much dead.

No one said Jessica Lange as Dwan in King Kong? She'd never have worked again....but smartly she started fucking famous men.

R145 - She never had the success of Raiders again, but most actors don't get a Raiders. She was a working actress for a long time after Raiders.

I heard Spielberg was pissed at Allen after Raiders, which is why the second one was done as a prequel so they wouldn't have to use her.

When thy were in the early stages of the 4th one, it was Lucas who insisted they had to bring back Marion.

[quote]I heard Spielberg was pissed at Allen after Raiders, which is why the second one was done as a prequel so they wouldn't have to use her.

Why?

I always thought Any Irving must have been mad she didn't get the part (or any part in any of his movies.) Isn't that why she married him?

R149, Karen said (tv interview or magazine) that Spielberg didn't need actors. That the way he used actors was like props and she felt that it was sorta beneath her. Spielberg was furious after that. Her career nosedived after that.

Catalina Sandino Moreno in "Maria Full of Grace"

Josh Hartnett really owns this thread. Did anyone mention Tom Hulce or F. Murray Abraham?

Phoebe Cates - "Bright Lights, Big City"

[quote]Jennifer Garner in 13 Going on 30

LOL.

Routh in Superman? I know he still kind of works, but...meh.

I don't think Garfield of the Spiderman reboot was as memorable to audiences as they'd hoped, even though they'll still push him and he'll probably work in decent roles for the rest of his life.

R153 gives an interesting response. I've always felt a strange kinship to Phoebe Cates. I feel like I would've done what she did in her situation. Worked hard at her job, known when the end was coming...married someone I got along with, and used our shared earnings over time to build a family.

[quote] I've always felt a strange kinship to Phoebe Cates. I feel like I would've done what she did in her situation. Worked hard at her job, known when the end was coming...married someone I got along with, and used our shared earnings over time to build a family.

I think that is called "being a wife"

Anna Hathaway - Batman Rises

Sally Kellerman.

She was nominated for Best Actress in M.A.S.H and promptly disappeared to pursue a career in television commerical voice-overs.

Larry Craig.

His "Do Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect UP?" Was so bad, he should have been arrested.

Supporting Actress r158...did she turn down the TV show?

No, the TV version of MASH, that was Loretta Swit, not the girl I mentioned. I have a really good one coming up!

Meryl Streep hasn't amounted to much.

Peter Sarrazin.

He was Barbra Streisand's husband in the perfectly awful and completely forgettable, "For Pete's Sake!" (Remember the pork belly jokes that meandered through the film?)

But heck, this was supposed to be a huge summer Streisand comedy that flopped badly, and soon after this he was seen doing Alpo dog food commercials on TV, and being the handsome out-of-focus background boyfriend standing by a tree with a bicycle built-for-two behind his girlfriend in Tampon commercials. Poor guy.

Oh! And remember Brenda Vaccaro? From Midnight Cowboy fame? Nominee for best supporting actress. 10 years later you hear her on the TV with that croaking voice, "I LIKE TAMPONS!" She admitted she had to do Tampon commercials because she was about to lose her house. Poor girl.

LOL@ Nobbs, you old 5 time loser dyke.

Peter Sarrazin was excellent masturbatory material on those late night childhood trips downstairs to watch The Reincarnation of Peter Proud on HBO.

R164. you're thinking of Michael Sarrazin may he R.I.P.

Loren Dean

Wasn't Michael Sarrazin also in "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" with Jane Fonderella?

Jennifer O'Neill, "Summer of '42", BIG HIT movie in summer of '69.

Gary "Pass Me The Ganja" Busey, for everything he ever attempted after that Academy Award nomination.

Beyonce owns this thread. Dream Girls was suppose to make her into a leading lady.

C Thomas Howell in The Outsiders.

Michael Sarrazin had a pretty good career.run in the late 60s/early 70s. He was later reduced to playing the love interest in Morgan Fairchild's big screen debut, THE SEDUCTION. That bomb was supposed to make Fairchild a major movie goddess. I, however, was more interested in Andrew Stevens, who played her stalker.

Sam Jones Flash Gordon

[quote]Jennifer O'Neill, "Summer of '42", BIG HIT movie in summer of '69.

1971

Eric Roberts "King Of The Gypsies". They even had a network special featuring the premiere of the film way back in 1978. i was amazed that they were pushing this then unknown so much.

Martin Hewitt in "Endless Love". Good actor, great body...unfortunately remembered mostly for this *horrible* Brooke Shields vehicle

Piper Perabo in "Coyote Ugly" Lisa Kudrow in "Analyze This" WE Shelley Long did after "Cheers"

Chris O'Donnell - Batman & Robin

I haven't read the whole thread so I'm not sure if he's been mentioned but Mark Hamill gets my vote. He did the 3 Star Wars films then what? He really disappeared after that.

Barry Pepper - Battlefield Earth

Just to add to my previous post - R177 - Mark Hamill couldn't act his way out of a paper bag which is probably why he never really worked after the Luke Skywalker role ended for him.

Who keeps giving these old threads CPR?

Well, you just did for one, r180.

[quote]Eric Roberts "King Of The Gypsies". They even had a network special featuring the premiere of the film way back in 1978. i was amazed that they were pushing this then unknown so much.

Actually I think that one worked for a while....Eric Roberts was great in Star 80 and The Pope of Greenwich Village....seemed like he was going to be huge and a great actor but then coke got him.

Ryan Reynolds in Green Lantern and the Change Up. He was Peoples sexiest man alive right before those movies came out. I think they were expecting him to become a huge star but that didn't quote work out.

Agree about Hamill R179

Orlando Bloom in Elizabethtown. A chance at leading man and nada.

Treat Williams.

From Hair and Prince of the City (flop), to Lifetime movies.

Ray Combs was plucked from obscurity to host FAMILY FEUD when Richard Dawson retired. But ratings dropped and the producers lured Dawson out of retirement. Combs was bounced. Within a short time he suffered a mental breakdown and committed suicide.

Anna Sten in Nana, We Live Again and The Wedding Night. Sam Goldwyn desperately wanted her to be the new Garbo. She wasn't a bad actress, but never clicked with fans.

How many "star-making" roles did Kate Bosworth have?

Kate Bosworth's "star making" role was Win a Date With Tad Hamilton, which bombed badly.

Jesse Metcalfe with John Tucker Must Die.

Fred Ward in "Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins." It was supposed to be a series of movies but no one went to see it. Loved Joel Grey's character, though.

Taylor Lautner - Abduction.

[quote] Brooke Shields, "The Blue Lagoon"

The Blue Lagoon was a big hit for Brooke Shields, I think you're talking about Endless Love. Brooke Shields has been in showbiz forever now.

Anna Faris in The House Bunny

"Dune" for Kyle Maclaghlin (sp?)

And was "Krull" meant to launch Ken Marshall? He had been in that lavish Marco Polo mini-series around the same time.

Kyle was in Blue Velvet two years later and Twin Peaks not much later after that.

I don't know about backfired, but what happened to Wentworth Miller from Prison Break?

He's working on a film called The Loft, R198. It's an adaptation of a really popular Belgian film. James Marsden also stars.

Anne Hathaway in Les Miserables

R195 The House Bunny was actually a modest hit for Faris and allowed her to transition out of supporting roles and the tired Scary Movie franchise. It even gave her a chance to headline another wide release film (which flopped).

Gretchen Mol's Vanity Fair cover is infamous but I'm still trying to figure out which 1998 role they thought was going to make her a star. Was it her dull, mousy character in Rounders or her dull, mousy character in Celebrity? Either way, Famke Janssen upstaged her in both films.

I think 2006's Eragon was supposed to make leads Ed Speelers and Sienna Guillory into stars, but it killed both of their careers for many yrs (Speelers only just recovered this yr with a inconsequential role on Downton Abey and Guillory has crawled back to the Resident Evil series she turned down to do Eragon)

Beyonce- Dreamgirls

Josh Hartness

Beyonce

Sue Lyons

Roseanne Barr

Gretchen Mol

Sophia Coppola

Jamie Foxx

Millie Perkins

Sharon Tate

Chris Rock

Kate Jackson

what was Kate Jackson's star making role

Of all the Twilight people, I hope Taylor makes it. Not the same "sturm und drang" of the rest...

Matthew Lillard-"Scream"

Skeet Ulrich-"Touch"

Parker Posey-"Party Girl" (her character was supposed to be "the Holly Golightly of the 90s", and Posey the next Audrey Hepburn)

two 80s French actresses making their big American debuts:

Valerie Kaprisky-"Breathless" (couldn't act)

Valerie Quennessen-"Summer Lovers" (meh...)

R206

Kate Jackson starred in a large budget theatrical release movie titled "Making Love."

Very seriouso oontent for the time. Oscar buzz, all that. She played the happy wife of a man who comes out as gay and then falls in love with Harry Hamlin? Chicken or egg. I forget. Someone will correct me. I saw it, but remember little. It was kind of Ordinary People in a more controversial dilemma.

She was also up for the Meryl Streep role in Kramer vs. Kramer. I think she qualifies for this thread. She didn't get it, or any others.

Melanie G. in WORKING GIRL

*content

Susan Lucci

Elizabeth McGovern in "Ragtime"; she really blew it with her shrill, over-the-top, semi-retarded Evelyn Nesbit. It took her 30 years and "Downton Abbey" to finally live it down.

Peter Strauss and Susan Blakely for "Rich Man, Poor Man." Even though it was a limited series television show, it was supposed to launch their careers as major stars. The only cast member to strike it big was Nick Nolte.

Both Strauss and Blakely continued to make a bunch of tv movies and series, they never made it to the big screen.

Mitch Gaylord in "American Anthem"

Taylor Kitsch - John Carter of Mars

Bruce Boxleitner used to be the kind of being The Next Big Thing. Both "Tron" and the TV series "Bring 'Em Back Alive" were supposed to make him a huge star, and they both flopped big time (although surprisingly "Tron" acquired a cult following).

Kurt Thomas "Gymkata" one of the worst movies ever made.

[quote]Elizabeth McGovern in "Ragtime"; she really blew it with her shrill, over-the-top, semi-retarded Evelyn Nesbit. It took her 30 years and "Downton Abbey" to finally live it down

Well, she was nominated for an Oscar for "Ragtime" so I don't think it's accurate to say it backfired.

.

Breafast on Pluto for Cillian Murphy. After that movie he's so pretty, he's better suited for leading actress roles than leading man.

Might have been mentioned earlier but it is worth repeating because it sort of defines this thread:

Rupert Everett - My Best Friend's Wedding

"Gymkata" still makes me laugh.

Taylor Kitsch - John Carter (2012) Taylor Kitsch - Battleship (2012) Taylor Kitsch - Savages (2012)

Who'd HE blow?

Michael Sarrazin worked with a lot of screen beauties: Jacqueline Bisset, Jane Fonda, Julie Christie, Charlotte Rampling, Gayle Hunnicut, Susanna York, Barbara Hershey, Barabara Streisand, Margot Kidder, Ava Gardner...

Billy Crudup in ALMOST FAMOUS.

Craig Wasson - first in "Ghost Story", then in "Body Double"

Harland Williams for "Rocketman"

Brian Wimmer for "Late For Dinner"

Charles Rocket as "the next Chevy Chase" in the aborted 1981 season of "Saturday Night Live"

Bill Campell in 'The Rocketeer'. It was back to TV for him after that. But at least he showed his hot naked ass again (as he did in Tales of the City) in the J-Lo movie where he played her evil abusive husband.

Billy Campbell with THE ROCKETEER

Mitt and Ann Romney in Election 2012.

r221 - Roops worked fairly steadily up until then. MBFW was his breakthrough role in America and led to a decent stretch of period pieces, so I wouldn't say it backfired.

I'm surprised he hasn't had more high profile character roles though. He must be a shit to work with.

Nikki Blonsky in Hairspray-she had a leading role in a well received, star-ridden musical and even received a golden globe nomination, but is now working as a hair sweeper at some hair salon.

Linda Blair in The Exorcist

Dakota Blue Richards in The Golden Compass

Armie Hammer in pretty much everything he's done so far

"Armie Hammer in pretty much everything he's done so far"

The Lone Ranger was his "Battleship"

Rachel Ward in Sharky's Machine

Isn't Alex Pettyfer doing the re-make of Endless Love?

Yahoo Serious -- Young Einstein

Justin Guarini and Kelly Clarkson -- From Justin to Kelly

Maxwell Caulfield -- Grease 2

Olivia WAS a huge star after Grease but unfortunately she followed it up with Xanadu. The movie flopped but the music was hugely successful. I believe her other choice was Cant Stop the Music so she was doomed either way.

Alex Pettyfer in a remake of Endless Love?! That should be hillarious! Even the original one, directed by Franco Zeffirelli, was pretty awful.

Zeffirelli was also famous for finding fresh young talents to star in his movies, but since looks were more important to him than acting abilities, his new stars faded pretty quickly (Leonard Whiting, Graham Faulkner, Jodi Bowker, Olivia Hussey...). But on the other hand, some people who debuted in his movies became pretty big-Tom Cruise, Ricky Schroder, Angela Bettis, Johnathon Schaech...

Alex Pettyfer is like Patrick Wilson: he SHOULD have all the qualities necessary to make him a star, but when he's on the screen, nothing happens.

It doesn't help that he's such an asshole, either.

Paris Hilton in The Hottie And The Nottie. Did Jennifer Beals do much after Flashdance? I've never seen it and was too young to remember her career, but she became a household name. I just can't name another film she was associated with.

Patrick Wilson at least seems like a nice, but boring, buy on screen. Pettyfer comes off like a boring douchebag.

Did anyone mention Helen Slater? Picked out of nowhere to be Supergirl, then a supporting role in Outrageous Fortune, a lead in The Legend of Billiejean, and then.....dud. She seemed so lifeless anyway.

Correction! Slater was in Ruthless People, not Outrageous Fortune. Sorry!

Anything Armie Hammer gets cast in.

"I've never seen it and was too young to remember her career, but she became a household name. I just can't name another film she was associated with."

Jennifer Beals never became a big star, but she's had a perfectly respectable career as a B-list leading lady, and did "The L Word" on TV.

She's still beautiful at 49. Damn.

Armie Hammer's career was going along fine until the Lone Ranger, and luckily for him Johnny Depp (who can afford to take the hit) is getting most of the shit for that. If Hammer falls back into supporting roles for a couple of years (or permanently--that just may be where he belongs) he should be fine.

Paz Vega - Spanglish

Patty Lapone - Witness.

[quote]Melanie G. in WORKING GIRL

You have to be kidding. That movie made her a star. Did you mistake the purpose of this thread?

"Armie Hammer's career was going along fine until the Lone Ranger"

Mirror Mirror and J. Edgar both flopped

He wasn't first or second billed for either of those, r250.

That's sad about Nikki Blonski. Aren't there any roles for a morbidly obese, 4'11" unattractive girl? It seems like she could do stage work, or something.

I guess Armie learned that you just can't purchase good roles in Hollywood.

[quote]Patty Lapone - Witness.

Lapone was in Witness? As what? Please tell me they didn't try to cast her, of all people, as one of the Amish?

Ryan Gosling in Gangster Squad and Crazy, Stupid, Love

Henry Cavill in Man of Steel

Shia la Douche in everything he is in

Lapone was the sister of Harrison Ford's character.

It was an extremely small part. Maybe she just did it as a favor to someone.

[quote]It was an extremely small part. Maybe she just did it as a favor to someone.

LuPone has been pretty honest about not getting many offers post-Evita. I'm sure a role in a big budget feature with a top star was not just a favor.

fuck man, who do people think patti lupone is? she's a nobody. bring up a nobody who did a bit part in a 30yo film lol. you know what? whats her name, audra mcdonald, she fuckin sucked on private practice...

Alex Pettyfer might actually be a psychopath.

Bumping this one and a half year old thread... cause I'm thinking of 50 SHADES OF WHATEVER.

It's fun to look back on some of these names (Armie Hammer? Paz Vega? Oh, dear.) and realize that the DL cynics were absolutely correct.

Who else?

Olivia Wilde in anything

Michael Biehn - Terminator

Michael Biehn - Aliens

Michale Biehn - The Abyss

Can't say we didn't try.

Jack O'Connell in Angelina's Unbroken.

Although the movie was a hit, AJ sucked up all the publicity for herself.

Chris HEMSWORTH in Rush. Chris Hemsworth in Blackhat.

Proof that THOR is the star but not the guy who plays him.

Lorna in Grease II

[quote]Lenny von Dohlen in "Electric Dreams". Oh, those eyes!

He has the AIDS you know.

Christopher Atkins, Blue Lagoon

George Lazenby in "Her Majesty's Secret Service"

Ryan Gosling on his daily pap run with Eva Mendez

Joseph Gordon-Levitt in everything

Chris Hemsworth in Rush, Blackhat and In The Heart Of The Sea

James Franco in 127 Hours

Blake Lively in The Town

Tom Hulce, F. Murray Abraham, and Elizabeth Berridge in "Amadeus."

Xanadu

Madonna in "Desperately Seeking Suzanne"

r64, way to forget her best role. The Fabulous Baker Boys. I didn't read through all the responses if already mentioned.

R272 DSS was a big hit though and Madonna got good reviews

It's alright because Madonna had that music career to fall back on

You know becoming the biggest selling and richest female artist in the history of music.

Saw Helen Slater listed upthread for Supergirl. Another star-making vehicle that was a big bomb for her was The Legend of Billie Jean. The only successful thing to emerge from that film was Pat Benetar's Top 10 hit song Invincible. To be fair, Slater did well as a supporting player and was in Ruthless People, The Secret of My Success and City Slickers. Some actors just can't carry a film.

Alicia Silverstone...Clueless to Batman & Robin. Then poof, acting oblivion.

Cam Gigandet...gorgeous, given a lot of hype in the run up to the God awful Burlesque, with Christina Aguilera.

And then he seems to have disappeared.

People like Madonna or Michael Jackson or even Prince shouldn't apply since their music careers was MUCH BIGGER than the big "movie stars" of the day

And acting was a part time thing for them

At their peaks they were bigger than ANY A list movie star

[quote]Madonna in "Desperately Seeking Suzanne"

This made me laugh really hard.

Teri Garr "One from the Heart" Cher "Chastity"