Good looking actors who never became stars

Thanks for posting your headshot, OP. You are indeed cute, but most leading men have more rugged or chiseled looks. Anthony Edwards must have taken all your parts back when you guys were young.

My favorite hottie who should have been bigger is Steve Sandvoss from that Mormon homosexual film.

Brian Patrick Murphy from Dallas.

I’m not a troll or anything but isn’t this like the 600th thread about actors never becoming so and so? What is the obsession with this topic?

If that's Patrick Wilson in OP's photo, he's a pretty big deal, you know.

Read the caption at OP's pic, R4.

You have to have much more than just beauty to be a star in anywhere but the soaps.

Many Dataloungers never understand the idea of charisma when it comes to talking movie stars.

It's not Patrick Wilson, R4 - that's an actor named Sean O'Bryan. The headshot is from the 90s / early 00s, R1. If you want to know how he looks now, see the link below... Sadly for me, I do not look like him at all.

R6: DiCaprio can’t act, has no charisma, and is fat but he’s still considered the gold standard?

Back in the day, I thought Sean O'Bryan was so hot. He typically played the slightly innocent regular guy next door- often without a shirt.

He's aged well too.

Ramy Zada...

Doesn’t Armie own this thread?

William McNamara. He was gorgeous and in some major stuff, but he never really had a breakout career.

Russell Todd was one of the most gorgeous men I've ever seen, but besides a few roles in some 80's horror movies like Chopping Mall, Friday the 13th Part 2, and He Knows You're Alone, he's not really remembered for much. Granted, he wasn't exactly DeNiro in the acting department, but I've seen people make more with less.

Taylor Kitsch owns this thread.

A lot of people own this thread.

Chase Crawford

Jack Scalia might have worked a little too much to make this list, but he seemed like someone who they really tried to make a TV star ala Selleck circa Magnum, but never seemed to have a show that clicked and he never went on to the next level of stardom. In some ways he was a little like Robert Urich with the multiple series, but Urich had a little more success on a couple of series and I think ultimately was considered more of a star in the long run.

Ben Chaplin.

[quote] Brian Patrick Murphy from Dallas.

Oh, dear.

And SCREAM!!!!

Joseph Fiennes should be a much bigger name in the industry.

The guy who played Samantha's young boyfriend on SATC.

Bruce Campbell

Byron Schlumpkiss

Personally, I would say Julian Morris. I've never heard of him outside of DL and I think he's absolutely gorgeous but more of a jobbing actor than a star.

I would say Travis Fimmel, but he's actually worked pretty steadily (including in that Vikings show). I just thought he'd be a huge, huge stah after the CK underwear campaign had him plastered everywhere.

Jason Patric. He was well on his way then, poof, he just suddenly seemed to disappear.

You're funny, R5! You expect a DL poster t read! You're lucky the asswipe didn't post the same photo.

Sean O'Bryan used to be a regular at the Sports Connection in the mid 90s.

He'd often sunbath in his bikini underwear by the pool.

Shocked to read he got married to a woman.

My favorites in this category: Matt Keesler, Michael Biehn, Michael Paré (in photo)

R13, bitch that's Jamie Frame.

Good looking men are a dime a dozen

Jack Scalia’s Noo Yawk accent was too thick for him to get any major roles.

I was always bummed Richard Joseph Paul never had a bigger career. Good looking and not a bad actor. I wonder if playing gay in his first major credit in the CBS Schoolbreak Special "What If I'm Gay?" hampered him when he was starting out.

I think it did, R33. He was gorgeous.

Harry Hamlin

Wentworth Miller

I watched Quick Change the other night (new on Blu-ray) and Richard Joseph Paul was very charming in a supporting role. Should have had a bigger career or at least have been given better character actor roles.

I dunno the actor but maybe Richard Joseph Paul should have changed his name ? RJP doesn’t exactly roll off your tongue like Tom Cruise

Ben Murphy had a starring role in Alias Smith and Jones, but his TV presence afterward was minuscule. He had the good looks that could carry him far, I wonder what the reasoning was.

I admit, I took a bath with this picture taped to the tile over the faucet, and I had a whale of a good time.

Maybe they didn't suck the right cocks.

Loren Dean

Hart Bochner

Kevin Rahm. I saw him play the lead in an unsuccessful sitcom 20 years ago and thought he'd be a star, sort of like Jason Bateman. He's worked consistently but a star, no.

Also David Haskell.

Michael Landes, currently costarring in the hit series Cruel Summer in a dad role. I thought he was better looking than Dean Cain when he was on Lois and Clark and didn’t understand why they replaced him.

I'd forgotten about him, R45. He was very cute.

David Conrad when he was on “Relativity”. Was he just unambitious?

Another vote for Richard Joseph Paul. He was in a terrible surfer movie in the 80s (“Under The Boardwalk”) that I watched on HBO over and over just for his scenes.

Aussie actor Sam Reid. Had an number of leading roles in films in he early 2010s (Belle, '71, The Riot Club) and the ABC series the Astronaut Wives, but his career never took off and apparently he's back working in Australia.

Yes, Loren Dean. Sam Page.

Richard Tyson. He was in Kindergarten Cop and a bunch of movies he played a villain but the movie he should have been a star from was called “Two Moon Junction” (late 80s cheesy sexually fueled flick) with Sherilynn Fenn. She was blonde almost Marilyn Monroe like and he was gorgeous.

Ryan Kwanten

More Kwanten.

I thought Kwanten would be at least as big as Alexander Skarsgard, but he came up a few inches short.

Left looking up to Skarsgard.

Taylor Kitsch is a fug.

Taylor Kitsch is not fug. He's very "hairy" right now.

More hairy Kitsch.

everyone on the CW

Wow Kitsch looks so old in those pics. I loved him in FNL, thought he was hot. But didn’t see it off the show. Same think with Skarsgaard, gorgeous in TB, candids I found him down right fug.

[quote] Same think with Skarsgaard, gorgeous in TB

I never became a star because of my busy schedule on True Blood.

Johnathon Schaech for me. He seems to work solidly, but never became a star. I think he is/was gorgeous.

[quote] Johnathon Schaech for me.

Is he white?

Terrence Knox. Is he the least successful from the male cast of St. Elsewhere?

Skarsgard has good and bad angles. The pic in r54 is a bad angle. He was very sexy in Big Little Lies and it seems a lot of middle-aged women are obsessed with him now. He just joined season 3 of Succession. His career has mostly been lackluster, but he's still working all the time.

Taylor Kitsch was great in FNL, but doesn't seem to have much luck with his projects. He's not a bad actor and was great in the mini series Waco. Sadly, people don't seem to have faith in him anymore and he's only getting supporting roles and hardly ever works these days.

Joel Higgins did a TV movie with Katherine Hepburn after Silver Spoons...and absolutely nothing noteworthy after that. He was an extremely attractive and sexy man who should have at least worked as often as Gregory Harrison. Was it being involved with a sickeningly sweet family show that damaged his acting career?

Why didn't Jeff Fahey ever hit it big?

He seemed to have it all.

r47 He was pretty much the only reason i watched the Ghost Whisperer.

My submission to this thread is Sam Witwer of Being Human (US). He's been in several other shows and also does a lot of voice-over work as well as in a band. Although his face is kind of unique, i think he's gorgeous, especially on film more so than his pics.

R2 Do you mean Timothy Patrick Murphy from Season 7 of Dallas? He died of AIDS in 1988.

R68, I'd seen Sam Witwer but never knew his name until your post. He is indeed gorgeous.

Derek North

Sam Witwer was one of the better parts of the US version of Being Human.

Taye Diggs is pretty fine. He turns up on this/that show, but I really think he should have made it bigger at this point. He also looks like a genuinely happy person.

Mike Colter from Luke Cage is also pretty damn beautiful.

MacKenzie Astin. His IMDB is mostly crap. Is it because he’s a ginger?

Jon Bernthal is the sexiest guy in America.

Why isn't he a huge star like The Rock?

I've always had a soft spot for this guy. it helps that his voice is smooth as silk as well.

Kip Purdue was gorgeous and had a few opportunities to break out, yet mostly disappeared. Even if a Ryan Gosling level career was always a stretch, there’s no reason why he couldn’t have had the same success as an Ian Somerhalder.

I always had a crush on Paul Shenar who was in Scarface. A lover of Jeremy Brett I read, and died of AIDS in 1989. He was Polish/Slovenian.

Its this another Jake Ryan thread?? I was the star!!

Arjun Gupta: he's still young. But when i watched Seasons 1-3 of The Magicians, he really had a certain something.

Grant Show

Every beautiful man who played "the best friend" in gay films owns this thread.

One who really stood out was Frederick Weller in the 1995 Stonewall film. He was absolutely gorgeous in that film, and while still acting, if there was any justice in the world that film would have pushed him into the bigtime.

[quote] Kip Purdue was gorgeous and had a few opportunities to break out, yet mostly disappeared.

It was the mole.

Andrew Shue

R45 I agree with you, Landes was & is so hot. They replaced him on Lois & Clark with Justin Whalin bc with Teri & Dean being brunettes, they felt they needed more differentiation. Michale has aged extremely well.

I always felt like Andrew Shue was kind of feminine-looking.

Rob Estes, on the other hand, was grade A hunk. And yes, i watched (and loved) Silk Stalkings.

Feminine looking men are beautiful r86

Joel McHale. Maybe he can’t act? I don’t know, but that hasn’t stopped anybody else. Maybe it’s the button nose? But Kevin Bacon made it work.

I'm not sure why this guy isn't a star yet. I think he's so fucking hot.

Nicholas Holt. He really grew into those awkward features.

Kyle Bornheimer

We totally don't understand this, like, question.

Hunt Block. His stupid name didn’t help.

Ex James Bond, George Lazenby

Brad Johnson

Sean Patrick Flanery

Luke Macfarlane

Avan Jogia

WHET Lee Horseley?

who IS this handsome boy?

Has anyone mentioned Shawn Pyfrom who played Bree’s son in Desperate Housewives?

[quote]Chase Crawford

No one could spell my name.

"They" tried hard to make me happen, but failed. Maybe I should have changed my name.

I'm gonna guess that some of these guys never broke out because they are just "too pretty" and while pretty works in a few roles in your 20s it's hard to transition out of pretty and only a few can do it successfully (see Brad Pitt) when you're not playing the teen heartthrob parts. And some of these guys are so good looking that it may overshadow some of the roles they're going out for, unless they're going out for soaps.

There is also typecasting and making a bad career move with an early project, but the biggest issue is simply they got the wrong agent and bad luck.

Klinton Spilsbury. Has exactly ONE major acting credit.

Tim Matheson.

Kip Pardue, too.

Hart Bochner was one of the most beautiful men I'd ever seen in my life. He just oozed sex and there was a dangerous quality to him. Maybe Hollywood didn't know what to do with that.

It's also true that, if you're a really beautiful man or woman, it's hard to get cast in some of the most serious roles. It's almost as if being pretty can be a liability if you want to be taken seriously.

Maybe the Paul Rudd career trajectory is best. Show up on the scene as a beautiful young thing and then amaze everyone by having a sense of humor about yourself and find your niche in comedy. That seems to have worked well for him. If he wasn't funny, I'm not sure he'd be working much these days.

R49 OMG I loved Sam Reid! I thought he was brilliant in Belle and the only good thing about Tennison (the Prime Suspect Prequel that was rightly cancelled after one series). There were rumours on DL that he "is family" because he was very "close" with Douglas Booth for a summer. I just googled him and apparently he's seriously Aussie actress Philippa Northeast for a couple years now.

Anyways it appears he moved back to Australia a couple years ago by choice and had no interest in making it in Hollywood. This is from an interview he gave in 2019 (it's behind a paywall, but I pasted a couple quotes):

"For a decade, I've lived out of suitcases going from one job to the next. When I turned thirty, it was like everything just caught up to me almost overnight [laughs]. It's [acting] a very superficial business and really hard to sustain meaningful relationships. I guess I was lonely. London is fantastic but I didn't know a single person outside of the business. I realized everyone who means something to me was back here [in Australia]. It's amazing being able to have dinner with my family or grab a drink with my mates from school. Emotionally, I needed to come home. "

On Hollywood:

"I did the L.A. life for a quick minute [laughs]. It's not me. Everyone is obsessed about being or making a star. So many of the parts I read for were just complete shit."

On his career after moving home:

"My agents freaked out when I told them [laughs]. They said I would never find work here. I understood what they were saying. The opportunities just don't exist on the same level. But, hey, I've worked more in the past year than I had in the last three living in London."

Paul Shenar really was sexy as hell. Jeremy Brett was one lucky bitch-he was also in a relationship with the beautiful Gary Bond, who died from an AIDS-related illness like Shenar did.

Taylor Kitsch’s face is pleasant but so fucking bland-the type of face you’d forget the next day. Not distinctive at all.

R105 - to make matters worse, in that one film he made, his voice was dubbed by another actor.

Taylor Kitsch is kind of a special case here. He was two huge back-to-back budget films - John Carter and Battlefield - and they both bombed and were financial disasters.

That ended any hopes of being an A-list star.

I don't know if he's that great of an actor. He was one of the weaker parts of The Normal Heart ensemble.

Adrian Ross-Magenty. First spotted him in "Another Country". Then he was the brother Schlegel in "Howard's End" and had a nude scene (cut out) which is in the extras on the "Maurice" DVD.

[quote] Adrian Ross-Magenty.

I thought he was beautiful in Howards End.

Inspired by the Hairspray thread = Michael St. Gerard.

I feel bad for Taylor Kitsch. He seems like a good, down to earth dude. He's also very loyal and has dated a very bland local real estate chick in his hometown Austin for more than 10 years now instead of mingling with the typical Hollywood and supermodel crowd.

[quote] I don't know if he's that great of an actor. He was one of the weaker parts of The Normal Heart ensemble.

I think Kitsch is an ok actor. I thought his portrayal of David Karesh in Waco was good. I do agree he was one of the weaker parts of The Normal Heart. But, I thought he was heart breaking in the scenes leading up to Albert's death and the aftermath where he and Albert's mother had to Albert cremated because the hospital didn't want to help. I almost cried when I first saw that.

Sorry r112 here.

I meant to say BattleSHIP not Battlefield.

Oh please, Kitsch date that nutjob Minka Kelly first. She' send anyone to dating Civilians, (He's also far less good looking in person, trust me).

Was a tour guide at Universal way back when with OP's Sean O'Bryan and he was young and cute in that blonde small-eyed way, if you are into the Nordic thing (I was). But he was pretty much a dick, talked to nobody, never saw him smile once. Unfriendly to the extreme. Never really rooted for him as a result.

r108, devastatingly handsome. I only recall him from apartment zero, with colin firth

Why is Minka Kelly a nut job? She is very hot and far out of Taylor Kitsch' league honestly. Andy Cohen once admitted that when he had to fuck a female, he would choose Minka Kelly.

James Wolk. He was great in Mad Men, then did a couple of rando shows and disappeared.

James Wolk was woke before it became a thing.

r121 = Minka Kelly

R28, sunbathing in bikini underwear. What a sight! I am jealous.

R45, it was great to see him pop up in the second episode of Apartment 23 in bike shorts as Chloe’s dad.

He's gay, r13 and that's held against a lot of actors. Especially in the '80s.

Russell works the Steadicam now.

Romola Garai. I read she wouldn’t give Harvey what he wanted.

[quote] He's gay, R13 and that's held against a lot of actors. Especially in the '80s

Russell Todd has a great body.

Yes, Jon Bernthal is like the Rock or Jon Cena, only cool, r75.

He should be bigger, but I think Frank Grillo is taking all his roles. I really want him to pound me into applesauce, though.

Oliver Jackson-Cohen is not hot to me. But he's getting MORE than enough work.

Nicholas Hoult is a star, no need to mourn him.

I would add 3 more actors whose greatest success was during the 80s - Ken Olandt, Jeff Yagher and John Allen Nelson. All 3 had fairly long careers. Yagher is now a sculptor. Nelson actually moved to Ottawa.

I’ll post a current picture of each.

First up, Olandt.

It generally takes more than good looks to succeed as an actor although being good looking certainly helps. But good looking men (and women) are a dime a dozen. Generally talent is needed to have a career, although I'm sure there are actors and actresses who have gotten roles due to their looks alone.

Yagher

Picture at link.

Hayden Christensen

TREVOR FRICKIN' BLUMAS!!!!

Nelson

Bottom picture at the link.

Rob Estes always stuck me as someone who had "I'm never going to be a star" written all over his face. Something about his lack of charisma, his inability to act, whatever... he just exuded, well, nothing....

Tim Matheson has been working steadily for SIXTY years, since he was about twelve!

Although not always top-billed he has had an enviable Hollywood career.

Mark Umbers

Many of these actors worked a lot. That’s not the goal we are talking about. We’re talking about being a stah.

Julian Morris

Johnathon Schaech

R120 - I'm old enough to remember Hart Bochner in the movies Islands in the Stream and Rich and Famouse and the miniseries War and Remembrance.

Andrew Stevens also springs to mind. And Morgan Stevens. Were they related? Both very pretty.

[quote] And Morgan Stevens.

Great body.

Morgan Stevens’ beating by the LAPD 30 years ago is what derailed his career, R146.

Hart Bochner was to die for

The always spectacular Judson Mills - he has worked steadily on TV, but is nowhere near a star even though he is MUCH better looking than many so-called leading men who have a level of talent comparable to his own (and, in some cases, they are less handsome than he is, and worse actors).

By the way R119, thanks for the information on Sean O'Bryan - I have always found him extremely handsome and a good enough actor, but maybe he hasn't gone further in his career because he is not a team player? Thanks to you as well, R28; if I had seen him in speedos, I could have died and gone to Heaven!

Remember Leigh McCloskey in Dallas was beautiful

David Chokachi.

Edmund Purdom

Geoffrey Horne

Brian Bloom

Colin Morgan: He still works, but I thought he was going to be bigger after Merlin.

Kane Richmond was supremely beautiful, but never really became a "star". Nice physique, too.

Gardner McKay

no Tiki, no watchee

of the serial actors, Kane was actually not too bad of an actor as well (for the genre). He should have at least had a bigger B movie career. I think Buster has already been mentioned, but I always thought his looks, build and acting were a bit above a lot of the B movie actors as well, but while he never became an A-Lister, he was a pretty big name in his own way. The male ingenue of Mask of Fu Manchu, Charles Starrett, reminds me a little of Kane.

Ian Kahn. He was on a show called “Bull” in 2000/2001 and I thought he would be huge.

David Bacon

Peter Hermann. He was beautiful and shouldn't have been relegated to Percil ads.

Also, thanks to whoever posted Ramy Zada upthread.

[quote] shouldn't have been relegated to Percil ads.

That he was is especially heinous.

Judge Reinhold.

Brian J Smith

That Morgan Stevens story is pretty horrific. He settled with the LAPD and they basically settled with him because they were dealing with the Rodney King debacle (and this was before the verdict).

I wonder how Stevens feels about the defund the police movement. His career basically ended after the beating (although he did guest on a few tv shows including Melrose Place). Stevens even mentions here it pisses him off that the perpetrators were still working for the police, which shows you how much power they have.

Cheyenne Jackson owns this thread

[quote] Remember Leigh McCloskey in Dallas

That’s not how DL remembers him.

Grant Goodeve. He had a supporting part in Eight is Enough but never achieved a leading role in a ty show or movie. I was always confused by this, becuase I wanted to see a lot more of him. I still do.

Kristoffer Tabori (son of Viveca Lindfors). I think he later became a director but I always thought he was very good-looking back in his younger days.

Perry King

Trent Ford

Jon-Erik Hexum.

Why? Because pretty can be stupid.

Scott Wolf was supposed to be the next Tom Cruise because...

he looked a bit like Tom Cruise.

R162,

I worked with Peter a few years ago. He works consistently and is very handsome, and he is talented, but I'm not sure he has that IT factor to be a star. Maybe it's the roles he's had, or the lack of needing to be a star (cause his wife is making millions, so money is not an issue in that household), but he definitely has presence, and one day the right part in the right project might change everything for him.

Some actors just have charisma out the wazoo and you know it's just a matter of time before they explode into the star orbit. I remember seeing Timothee Chalamet, Mark Ruffalo and (gulp) Kevin Spacey in various Off-Broadway plays and sitting up and thinking: WHO IS THAT? Chalamet was the most recent, of course, and the play he was in was terrible, but damn, he was amazing and memorable. And in that original cast of History Boys on Broadway, Dominic Cooper sizzled with charisma, and in far smaller parts James Corden and Russell Tovey stood out and made themselves unforgettable. Their co-star Samuel Barnett can act circles around all three of them, and yet he is by far the least-known of the men mentioned.

DL Fave Alex Pettyfer, but we know what happened there

Jameson Parker

r177 Simon & Simon was pretty popular for awhile, Jameson just didn't seem to do much after that. I think he decided he was kind of over it after some guest stars and other shows.

OP posts script and a pic with no name.

Not playing "guess who".

R179 - why would you need to guess? When you click on the OP's pic, the guy's name appears under the pic.

Cam Gigandet

I went to high school with a semi famous actor that has the biggest dick I’ve ever seen that went on to a few blockbuster movies but I’m guessing he couldn’t keep it in his pants because he doesn’t do anything nowadays.

Eric Thal Grant Show Eric Roberts

[quote]I’m guessing he couldn’t keep it in his pants because he doesn’t do anything nowadays.

With his dick or with his career?

People are FREAKING out

[quote]in that original cast of History Boys on Broadway, Dominic Cooper sizzled with charisma, and in far smaller parts James Corden and Russell Tovey stood out and made themselves unforgettable. Their co-star Samuel Barnett can act circles around all three of them, and yet he is by far the least-known of the men mentioned.

Yet Samuel Barnett is the one I remember. Well, Dominic Cooper, too. But I'd forgotten the other two were even in THB.

Adrien Pasdar. Very good looking . I thought he was going to breakout especially after that wonderful short lived series that was canceled suddenly where he played a weird charcterr. Too lazy to look for the name.

Oh come on r182 please spill or at least give a good hint.

A friend of mine went to college with Hart Bochner and they stayed friends -- many years ago I went out with them to a bar (straight, totally) and it was remarkable. Hart is even better looking in person than on screen and the women in the bar behaved like Girls Gone Wild -- it was as if the entire bar's center shifted from how it was to being all about Hart.

I couldn't imagine what it must be like to know that everywhere you went, people were going to simply stare at you, or to know that, basically, just about anyone you wanted to sleep with will sleep with you. I didn't pick up any gay vibe from him at all but he had to be hit on often by guys as well as women.

Btw, he also seemed like a pretty nice guy -- smart, funny, and self-aware. Then again, he's an actor, so you never really know... And his career didn't go that far because he really was just too pretty for most roles.

I think I must have been the only one watching this show (Shannon’s Deal) in the late 80s. The ratings were terrible but I thought the lead actor, Jamey Sheridan, was charming and would go far.

His costar Elisabeth Pena had a better career though she died far too young.

Do you think playing the ultimate sleazeball in Die Hard negatively affected Hart Bochner’s career? He was so great and sexy in Apartment Zero (1988) and then played the unlikeable dickhead Ellis in Die Hard the same year. I’d hate to think so, but this guy should’ve been way bigger.

Cary Elwes

Billy Campbell

Matt Bomer. Very handsome man and has had a pretty decent career but never became a leading man type in movies. Granted I know being out and not much of an actor has kind of prevented a film career. On the other hand, Leo and Bradley are still considered leading men. So these Hollywood concepts of sex symbol and leading men really don’t mean much.

Not much of an actor? He graduated from the prestigious acting program at Carnegie Mellon, which is more than you could say for Leo....

R194: He plays himself all the time. His career is based on his looks. He won a golden globe because he threw his looks out the window. Showbiz is a fickle business and it doesn’t always respond to how talented or attractive you are. Luck plays a huge part. Not everyone who comes out of Yale Drama School is a prodigy.

The beautiful Sasha Mitchell owns this thread. Such a movie star but then bad TV and a bad ex-wife ruined it. (Okay tats too).

I think the gay thing really hurt Matt Bomer. I don't know what he's like in person, is he really that flaming?

"Spike od Bensonhurst", so hot and likable too.

R195, when did he "play himself" - you don't even know what his real personality is like so how can you say he's playing himself?

I’ll be so happy when the phrase “owns this thread” dies out. It’s so freaking annoying. There’s been at least five actors who have “owned this thread” according to various posters.

Fred Ward was in several box office hits and was also in some prestige films (Silkwood, Shortcuts, Henry & June) but never took off as a leading man.

Fred was a nice looking guy in an unconventional way but he had two issues -- the first was that he saw himself as a leading man, and turned down some excellent secondary parts . The second was that he's basically a midget--5'6" at best.

Nine-year-old me thought he was hot as hell in Tremors. Loved the broken in blue jeans and t-shirt look.

I remember my mom telling me she thought Kevin Bacon was gorgeous in it, but I was all about Fred.

What probably hurts Matt Bomer is a lack of charisma. He's one of the most beautiful men I've ever seen, but he's never given a performance that went beyond competent and doesn't have much charisma to make up for it as many even worse actors have. As others have said, great looks will only take you so far. By the time you hit 40, you'd better have acquired some acting skills or your career will start shriveling up in a few years.

I really feel bad for beautiful people with limited talent. It must be awful to be on top of the world from 20 to 40 and suddenly watch all of that swirl down the drain through no fault of your own. If people only want to hire you for your looks, you better make the most of it and save up all your money to prepare for the inevitable fall.

"Charisma" is relative

R204: I agree but this affects female actors much more so than male actors. By the time an actress hits 40 and her tits start to sag, the roles start drying up. That’s why they have to start their own production companies. This affects men as well but I’ve seen plenty of mediocre (talent and looks) male actors carry on while many female careers basically diminish.

R195 Bomer is plenty talented. Get him an interesting role, like in The Sinner, and he's excellent.

Vincent Ventresca (Romy & Michelle, The Invisible Man).

James Warwick

Rick Rossovich.

Barry Tubb

Jeremy Northam

Hugh Dancy

Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder

R200 owns this thread.

I think Fred Ward has had a great career. I always found him so sexy. I used to rewind the scene of his butt shot in Henry and June. Even bald Ward was sexy.

Ian Somerhalder has the Matt Bomer problem. Beautiful man but perhaps too threatening and lacking in charisma. The difference is Bomer is the superior actor and thus has had the better career.

Weird to me that Bryce Johnson hasn’t really ever hit it big, because he has that approachable conventional likeable beefcake look everybody seems to respond well to (cf. Channing Tatum, Tom Hardy), and yet he also has quite a lot of understated acting ability.

But to date the most he’s managed is a few decent indies barely anyone has seen, and guest spots on shitty trashy teen shows like GLEE and PRETTY LITTLE LIARS.

Perhaps his head is too oblong, or his ears stick out too much.

I think both of R192's choices are spot-on. I would add Michael Paré:

Some Bryce Johnson for r217.

Tim Matheson:

I always thought young Michael Shanks was beautiful.

He was also apparently a pain in the ass on set but still liked better than his replacement, Corin Nemic.

I had a crush on Bryce Johnson. Then I forgot about him.

Billy Crudup

Billy Crudup had a decent career (some major movies) and was really good looking for awhile. Somewhere along the way he hit the wall HARD. i was watching The Morning Show last year and i couldn't quite place an actor, but he seemed familiar somehow. Did an IMDB inquiry an and behold it was Billy Crudup, or at least a very wizened version of him. Lots of wrinkles on his face, but he still has a great smile and a sparkle in his eyes.

Greg Sestero

...from the infamous film, The Room.

I think David Lyons finally returned to Australia after trying to make it big in the U.S. Someone at NBC had a huge hard on for him, as they put him in four series: E.R., The Cape, Revolution, and Game of Silence.

[quote]Cary Elwes

[quote]Billy Campbell

They appeared together in the Francis Ford Coppola "Dracula" film in 1992. They were both at the peak of their looks then, but went downhill not long after:

Daniel McDonald, brother of Christopher. Died young of brain cancer.

Corbin Allred (the actor, not the singer), who started as a sitcom teen and then...basically booked nothing else of note.

Not so much hot as pretty cute in certain lights, but certainly talented and reliable and nice-looking enough for the camera, if his handful of shoestring genre movies are anything to go by. If guys like Devon Sawa can still work steadily, then by now there’s no reason that Corbin shouldn’t have a second-string show on like Sci-Fi.

My pet theory is that the business was too sleazy for his cornfed Mormon sensibilities and that’s why he cut out early. He still teaches acting, though, so it can’t have been that traumatic for him. And hey, Kirk Cameron made it work...

Both Londons, Jason and Jeremy, ran through their moment of success pretty quickly.

David Corenswet

R231 five-year old Me wanted to marry Griff from PARTY OF FIVE. Fuck that bitch Julia.

Corbin Bernsen was, at best, fairly good looking, but he truly believed he was the handsomest man on tv, and acted that way. A powerful producer I know who worked with him said that Bernsen's ego was so enormous that it became impossible to work with the guy. Cb basically went into crappy direct to video movies and then moved to upstate NY where he walks around hoping people will recognize him.

^so he was Roger Dorn in real life?

Meat from Porky’s. Except for Kim Cattrall and Boyd Gaines, both of whom only did the first one, the rest of the young actors didn’t get much work once the franchise ended.

I can imagine countless discussions with his agent begging him to change his name.

R236 - Tony Ganios (one of my major heartthrobs) is on Twitter a lot.

The Londons may have been hurt because there were two of them.

Darren Criss

I always got Jason and Jeremy London confused. They truly did look almost exactly alike and even moved/spoke the same. That couldn't have helped them much. I'm sure they both went in for all the same roles.

Eric Close

Trevor Donovan

[quote]Eric Close

It would be fun if he, Aaron Tveit, and Eric Winter were to play brothers. Or maybe it would just be confusing.

Olivia Newton-Lez

R13, Russell Todd probably had too much baggage from being a former Calvin Klein model (kind of like Antonio Sabato Jr.). Being too pretty is also probably a handicap, unless you're a good actor as well.

He reminds me of a prettier James Marsden, who's a decent actor -- can play comedy or drama -- and is a little rougher around the edges.

R187, Adrian Pasdar has a HUGE list of credits. A lot of it is voice over work (which it seems 75% of actors have been doing for the last 10 years), but he's worked steadily since 1986.

Just not as a leading man.

Jeez R166, totally forgot about Morgan Stevens. Here he is on Entertainment Tonight, talking about the loss of confidence and self-esteem the beating took on him.

Brad Davis

Brad Johnson

Eric Close was hot as hell, R244.

I've never forgotten his nipples.

Paul Gross was the best looking man on TV and never quite made it. His Due South co-star Callum Keith Rennie wasn’t as classically handsome but was hot. I’d add Campbell Scott too.

R190 Jamey Sheridan was the boss in Law and Order Criminal Intent with the lovely Vincent D’Onofrio.

William McNamara owns this thread. So many pretty boys in the late 80's/early 90's at managed to secure some high-profile indie roles or a series, but he never managed to take off.

I haven't seen McNamara in anything in ages

Callum K Rennie, Paul Gross

Can I just interject someone none of you know - Kapil Jhaveri. Was the star of about five Bollywood movies, then disappeared. I saw all of them and he was SUCH a handsome hunk.

Paolo Montalban. Started at the top, and it's been downhill ever since.

Eric Bana

R257 his Hector was so good. So good. He codified that role for me, to the point he’s all I see when I read the original text.

R236 Some of the young actors from the Porky's movies were talented (Wyatt Knight, Mark Herrier, Scott Colomby and Kaki Hunter in particular). Tony Ganios wasn't a good actor really, but was good looking and had a lovable lunk quality to him. It's too bad they didn't work more.

The hunks of Battlestar Galactica were sent back on their home countries.

Ioan Gruffudd

R261, with a name like that, whaddya expect?

R241, aren't they twins?

Actor Max Martini (I’ll take his fine ass shaken or stirred) He was in Pacific Rim(job) with the delicious Charlie Hunnam and Idris Elba. He was in a few episodes of Burn Notice playing a douchebag.

Hello? A lead opposite Kidman and Dustin Hoffman, another cool role with John Cusack and Lily Taylor, cute as fuck and then...nothing.,

I swear, I can't even remember his name myself! I'll call him "Joe Lie:s" from "Say Anything".

Agree with a lot of those listed already:

Loren Dean Sasha Mitchell Dermot Mulroney Marc Singer Christopher Atkins Mark Hamill Mark-Paul Gosselaar

Sasha Mitchell hit gold when he was on Step by Step. An easy gig playing a doofus with weekly pay cheque and royalties. But he had some domestic violence issues and was fired from the show. So, it was more of a situation of personal problems affecting his career.

Ugh, i have NEVER thought Christopher Atkins was good looking. He always looked squinty and wrinkly and needed to gain some weight/muscle.

R268, Christopher Atkins is a gay favorite -- he was attractive as a twink and is still attractive today.

Chris as a twink:

Chris as a mature man:

Dougray Scott. He was adorable in the princess movie with Drew Barrymore.

He was originally cast as Wolverine in X-Men back in 2000 or so, but had to pull out when filming on Mission Impossible 2 ran long. Then Hugh Jackman took the role...

I wonder how different Scott’s career would’ve been if he had played Wolverine? Maybe not much different, X-Men wasn’t great of a film series, but perhaps he would’ve been in the public eye more.

Jackman nailed the Wolverine character, anyway.

I thought Gary Sandy was attractive and a very likable straight man on WKRP. I was surprised that he never landed another role as a sitcom regular when the series ended. Someone like Linda Bloodsworth-Thomason should have snatched him up.

Forbes March and Victor Webster

[quote]I wonder how different Scott’s career would’ve been if he had played Wolverine? Maybe not much different, X-Men wasn’t great of a film series, but perhaps he would’ve been in the public eye more.

Because of him not doing that role he potentially missed out on everything Hugh did which includes: X-Men, X2, X-Men: The Last Stand, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, The Wolverine, Logan and X-Men: Days of Future Past.

That's a lot of cash right there from playing the same character and the only reason it stopped is that Hugh made it clear he was done with it.

I see a two guys mentioned who were on the Joss Whedon payroll, specifically Tahmoh Penikett and Enver Gjokaj. Now that Whedon is poison, their chance to hit it big is pretty much nil. Enver is a decent actor, but I agree his name is a roadblock for dumb Americans.

R273 - wow, I'd never heard of Victor Webster before - that's one beautiful hunk of man!

I loved Sasha Mitchell in "Spike of Bensonhurst". It's funny, my dad always hates every movie we take him to, but he really liked that one.

[quote] I thought Gary Sandy was attractive and a very likable straight man on WKRP.

Sweet Jesus, Gary was one of my first TV crushes. So, so sexy. He also appeared as hustler creep in "Some of My Best Friends Are" with Rue McClanahan, and was in the short-lived but fun Norman Lear sitcom "All that Glitters" with a pre-Dallas Linda Gray as a secretly trans news anchor. I haven't seen much of him since WKRP, but I think he popped up somewhere not too long ago... Desperate Housewives? Anyway, Gary is 75 now and was only married once, 6 years, no kids.

Gary Sandy must have been a proud, proud man. The way his dick was SO apparent under the tight jeans he wore, I would be a little shy about that. I’m surprised he didn’t have a full-frontal role in a movie. At least pose for Playgirl, that issue would have been sold pit in two hours.

273 & 276 Mmmm, Victor Webster is STILL hot, maybe even hotter, now that he's aged. He's worked pretty steadily according to IMDB. Perhaps he just didn't want to be a BIG movie star, but he has definitely been working.

r275 Although he doesn't really have any name recognition, i've always though Tahmoh Penikett is a uniquely hot guy. He reminds me of a past FWB also born in Canada. I've seen him here and there, and he also seems to work fairly regularly.

When Victor Webster was first on Days of our Lives he really was easily one of the most beautiful looking men I’d ever seen.

Mark Shera

Billy Wirth was in a miniseries with Hart Bochner called "Children of the Dust". I must have watched it 20 times. Wirth was the hero and Bochner the baddie. Both so good-looking.

^ I see Crazy Jim Caviezel was in that, too

Yes, but he wasn't really good looking at the time. Or maybe he wasn't styled to be hot. I didn't notice him at the time.

Matt Dallas

Tim Guinee. In an alternate universe he has Nathan Fillion’s career.

R287, Does he have Nathan Fillion's ass?

Scott Porter

Henry Czerny

This deaf little cutey Sean Berdy

Jamie Kennedy and Skeet Ulrich

Brian Peppers

R281, here's Victor Webster's naked ass from "Sex & The City":

I met Billy Wirth in person at a small house party at some straight , rich douchey guys Greenwich Vilage townhouse. We showed up the same time and he was with some pretty model type. He was that gorgeous and very nice and down to earth. Did not ping at all. He is gorgeous but not a very good actor. He showed up in this really cute movie over 10 years ago called “ The Talent Given Us” he was very good in it but I think it was because he was playing himself . He is still gorgeous.

Victor Webster showing his big uncut cock in his nude shoot with Cori Nadine:

More naked Victor Webster:

R268.

He’s blond.

This is Datalounge.

That is all they care about.

Personally, I never really thought of him as hot either.

And more naked Victor Webster:

Henry Czerny is also a really good actor. He was amazing in The Boys of St. Vincent

Henry Czerny was fucking Dana Delany before finally settling down…he wed in the early 2000s and I think he is still married. He always had a slightly menacing quality which may have helped typecast him.

Philip Winchester has had several big breaks but he still isn’t a household name.

Well, “Winchester” is…but not him.

Zach Galligan.

Zach was arrested for shoplifting a while ago, yes?

Usually, the pretty ones with the slightly menacing vibes don't tend to do as well. Jason Patric, Ian Somerhalder, Chace Crawford, Hart Bochner, Russell Todd, etc. are all so pretty that they look almost frightening at times. Maybe some people are uncomfortable with that. Sharon Stone is like the female version of that. Beautiful and sexy, but there's something potentially dangerous about her that was well utilized in erotic thrillers, but people have a harder time watching her in a feel good comedy.

The one I don't understand not becoming a big star is James Wolk. He's pretty, but he has the warmest, most inviting face and sweetest smile. He's the perfect boy next door. Total marriage material. Maybe he's too sane and not driven enough for the business.

r305 I think your assessment of Wolk is totally right on. He always looks like he's on a verge of a smile (when he's not smiling). I'm watching him right now in "Zoo." Not the greatest show, but watching him keeps me interested.

Trax Colton (real name Louis Morelli): hot guy, Henry Willson discovery, 20th Century Fox contract player. Made two pictures - a bit role in "Marriage-Go-Round" and the lead as an Olympic track star in "It Happened in Athens" (1962). After that - nada. Evidently he did okay in "It Happened in Athens" and even dated his co-star Jayne Mansfield for a while but then disappeared. Left show business and is still alive in his early nineties. No idea what happened (or didn't happen).

Rick Jason (real name Richard Jacobson): Starred in "Sombrero" (1953) for MGM - a studio executive's wife was crazy about him and nagged her husband to give him a multi-year contract. He should have taken it but had been under contract for another studio for years and wasn't given anything and refused MGM's repeated generous offers. Ended up on television in smaller and smaller roles. Really handsome and a trained talented actor.

R301, Henry Czerny played the villain on "Revenge" for several seasons.

R288, I'm not R287 but I thought Tim Guinee was way hotter than Nathan Fillion.

Another pic of Tim. I do see the resemblance to Nathan:

Tim Guinee is a really good actor

There's always been something about Tim Guinee that makes me think he's going to have a nervous breakdown at any moment. I'm not sure he can play anything near comedy, can he?

Cameron Bancroft

R307, Rick Jason is very good-looking; I love long-faced, dark-haired men. He aged well, too.

Eric Balfour. So hot (to me, anyway).

Victor Webster showing some bush #1:

Victor Webster showing some bush #2:

Glenn Corbett of "Route 66." For that matter, the person he replaced, George Maharis, too.

When Muriel’s Wedding came out, all my friends lusted after the swimmer (Daniel LaPaine)…but the sad looking parking attendant who has a crush on Muriel (Matt Day) was more my type.

Both Day and LaPaine have worked steadily in Australia and the UK since but neither became a star on the level of Toni Collette.

Looking at recent photos I’d say Day has aged better than LaPaine too.

[quote]Cameron Bancroft

You would have thought his mother Anne could have opened some doors for him.

R320

She was too busy opening up for Dustin Hoffman.

Can't believe no one has mentioned 80's hunk John Terlesky.

R322, I always thought Seann William Scott had a similar quality to him.

Yup, I can see that, except Scott was a lot more crazed.

John James from "Dynasty" and "The Colbys"

British actor Tom Ward left the popular UK series “Silent Witness” several years ago and has had very little on his IMDB filmography since. He was always very charming and likable on the show.

Danel Lapaine lost his looks distressingly rapidly but he’s become a solid character actor in stuff like the UK series Catastrophe.

WHET Rupert Penry-Jones? He was very pretty, seemed to have star potential and then it just didn’t happen for him.

Chase Williamson from “John Dies At The End” which came out almost 20 years ago. His credits following that movie is comprised of mostly B movies.

Paul Shenar and Frank Langella were linked romantically in SF in the 70s. I've seen a lot of these men on Murder She Wrote.

[QUOTE] Chase Williamson from “John Dies At The End” which came out almost 20 years ago. R328

WTF? John Dies at the End came out in 2013. Since when is 8 years ago also 20?

Anyway, Williamson also appears in Beyond the Gates and The Guest. Neither of them are blockbusters, but have a cult following and are quite good. Agreed that he is extremely cute in a Topher Grace kind of way. He has indie-film vibe all about him though, so no surprises there.

[quote] Can't believe no one has mentioned 80's hunk John Terlesky.

Oh yes. He was absolutely sexy as hell. Much better looking as a brunet. Apparently straight however. Maybe that's why...

Frank Langella is family?

[quote/] Frank Langella is family?

Never heard that one before, but can't say I'd be surprised.

Mmmmmmmmmm.....John Terlesky!

Langella wrote a book about his interactions with famous dead women. He tells the story of approaching a sleeping Jackie Onassis (at either his or her home) & simulating a gun shooting at her head to get her attention. He immediately realized the error of his ways, but it was too late as Jackie was horrified about his insensitivity. The one story that didn’t involve a deceased woman & the lone one he couldn’t vouch completely in its authenticity (although he believed it to be true) was about Queen Elizabeth. As he told it, sometime in the ‘70s, Elizabeth was being a pain in the ass in the company of her mother, who wasn’t having it. “Who do you think you are?!” asked the Queen Mother.

Paul Shenar also bagged Jeremy Brett

[quote] WTF? John Dies at the End came out in 2013. Since when is 8 years ago also 20?

Meant to type 10 not 20. Stay calm.

R337

Hope you're not an accountant.

John Beck

Paul Shenar had the best voice ever

Agree about Hart Bochner - gloriously beautiful and sort of 'outed' now for photos on that yacht, and Terrence Knox who was beefy and sexy.

Morgan Stevens' story was tragic. Beaten by the cops in the early 90;, his face never recovered. He's 70 now. His co-star on A Year In The Life was the late David Oliver, who like Timothy Patrick Murphy, started on soaps and died of AIDS at the age of 30. David was the deal.

David Oliver was gorgeous

Would love to see a recent pic of Morgan. Haven't seen him in years.

R331, Terlesky turned to directing in the 1990's, very successfully too.

Maxwell Caulfield unknowingly helped many a young gayling in the 80s reach orgasm.

[quote]Glenn Corbett of "Route 66."

Glenn Corbett had a long, successful career as a leading man and a supporting actor in both TV and film. I would not include him on this list.

But he didn't really become a star that people remember. Even George Maharis -- who may have been named already -- is known better than Corbett.

John Saxon had a long career, but I don't think anyone would consider him a 'star'. He was in War Hunt w/Robert Redford in 1962. Redford is a household name, yet Saxon, while still known among sci-fi and maybe Bruce Lee fans, is long forgotten.

[quote]But he didn't really become a star that people remember. Even George Maharis -- who may have been named already -- is known better than Corbett.

It's true that there is a very real distinction between "working actor" and "star." Many of the people named in this thread have been working actors for years. It's just that they never became stars on the order of a Brando, Cruise or Pitt, which is what the thread is supposed to be about.

Chris Eigeman

Robert Scott Wilson

I'm surprised neither of Northern Exposure's actors, Rob Morrow and John Corbett, attained the fame I thought they would. I'd fuck both of them.

John Corbett gave us this in Portlandia. How many other actors have sported erection onscreen.

Robert Burke

Is Yannick Bisson considered a star? If not, is there life after "Murdoch?

Chrissy O'Donnell

The guy that played Vera’s first sidekick on “Vera”. Can’t recall his name. One of the most achingly beautiful men I have ever seen.

[quote]WHET Rupert Penry-Jones? He was very pretty, seemed to have star potential and then it just didn’t happen for him.

He's 50 now, so he aged out of his pretty boy looks.

Rupert Penry-Jones has an extremely punchable face. He looks like a smug, posh twat who deserves to be repeatedly punched.

Australian Marcus Graham. In the 1990s he had aspirations to be the next James Dean but didn't make it.

Michael St. Gerard (Hairspray '88)

Peter Nelson (V)

Jay Underwood (Boy Who Could Fly)

R352 see R348.

R237 Enver was great on Dollhouse. If Joss was still with Marvel, maybe he would have given him a bigger part.

R260 Tahmoh works consistently. But he’s a very private person and i think there was a stalker at some point.

R271 Dougray is on Batwoman now 😆

David Call.

Michael St. Gerard was hot

R362, I read that about some actors who I suspect are fearful of social media more than they want to "protect their privacy." I suspect it may have more to do with their fear of looking foolish and ruining their mysterious handsome persona - which is admittedly a real concern. Sometimes these good looking actors who never became stars didn't become stars because they are hampered by boring personalities and not the brightest minds. That could easily be revealed on SM. Better to say nothing and protect your image.

Thomas Wilson Brown (Honey, I Shrunk The Kids; Welcome Home Roxy Carmichael) missed his window of opportunity though he is an attractive man.

More recent pic

R367, oh my. Better now. Thanks.

Trevor Donovan?

Patrick Wilson...did he get tired of the Hollywood game? Isn’t he one of the few contemporary US actors who have a strong stage background.

Luke Macfarlane.

Bill Sage

R353's Robert Burke & R372's Bill Sage co-starred in "Simple Men."

"Simple Men" was a vastly underrated movie -- offbeat story, great acting, a wonderfully strange dance scene, and very handsome men.

Matthew Perry’s dad (left).

[Quote] I read that about some actors who I suspect are fearful of social media more than they want to "protect their privacy." I suspect it may have more to do with their fear of looking foolish and ruining their mysterious handsome persona - which is admittedly a real concern.

E.g Henry Cavill

A truly beautiful man, R237.

I always thought Scott was the one bum note in Ever After, R271. Brilliant film and Scott is a capable actor but he just didn't hit the spot on that occasion.

Bruce Boxleitner. I always thought he was cute as a nerdy guy in Tron. He looked good in the sequel, too. He’s a handsome older man.

Here he is in Tron on the right and Tron Legacy on the left.

Rick Rossovich...he seemed on the cusp after a string of successful films like The Lords of Discipline, Roxanne and Top Gun. He even had a tv show for a bit. But he hated Hollywood and now he flips houses or something like that...he was so beautiful.

Parker Young

Pete Koch was a handsome actor, but his body was perfection (see "Heartbreak Ridge"). And he had one of the best backsides in the business.

Mario Van Peebles.

And here he is at SIXTY years old, still lookin' great. With his son...

Oh my. Mario is better looking than his son.

Mario aged really well

Yup. Black don't crack.

r379 Bruce Boxlietner was my pre-teen crush. I thought he was gorgeous on Scarecrow and Mrs. King. Mrs. King didn't deserve him.

Matthew Fox was the lead in TWO hit TV shows, but never really became a 'name'.

My horny teenaged self soiled countless bedsheets and towels on account of Lucky Vanous. My ideal man to this day even pushing 60. Glad he never married.

Fuck! Matthew Fox was pretty in Party of Five. Pity he turned out to be a misogynistic, homophobic, drug-addled alkie.

R390, per his Wikipedia page, Lucky Vanous was married (to a woman) from 1989-1996.

Keanu’s BFF and Dogstar band mate, Robert Mailhouse.

Yeah, the fact that Matthew Fox appears to be an asshole may have something to do with why his career stalled.

Is Keanu's buddy married?

richard simmons

I doubt that R394. He made ZILLIONS of of those two shows...especially 'Lost', so he never has to work again and could probably care less. All luck of course as no one really tuned in because of his participation...

Two things can be true.

Matthew Fox was notoriously an asshole, R397.

Matt Nolan from Boys Life: The Disco Years.

Michael ontkean

Michael Ontkean's downfall was quite swift after he kissed Harry Hamlin.

Re: Michael ontkean from a Harry Hamlin interview

“Before the cameras rolled, however, Hamlin suggested to Ontkean they go for "a really kind of romantic, very soft, only slightly open-mouthed kiss."

Instead, he said Ontkean "put his hand behind my neck and came in and just shoved his tongue down my throat."

Sounds sexy

I’d pick ontkean over Rinna wonder if he fantasises about that kiss.

I wonder how many takes they had of the kissing scene and the subsequent sex scene.

Henry Cavill

Tom Welling

R402, Harry's full of crap. What career? Clash of the TItans?

He'd be long forgotten if it hadn't been for L.A. Law.

Johnny Messner, made a few "B" movies

Gordon Warnecke, co-star of Daniel Day-Lewis in "My Beautiful Launderette" was gorgeous but didn't age well.

Kent McCord, not much after "Adam-12"

Al Corley, "Dynasty" then obscurity

Josh Holloway, should have been a bigger star

Adam Rodriguez

Wilmer Valderamma

Vincent Spano

Brian Wimmer from "China Beach"; cute with a great body (he went shirtless a lot on that show)

Has Derek Theler been mentioned yet ? Because he should be - god damn

Wimmer was a hottie

I was hot for Wimmer, too.

R. E. Rodgers on Oz is gorgeous, and fully-frontal, as were many of the cast members, It was in every actors' Oz contract. It gave the director authority to film them naked at his request.

r413 His dick was big old flopping site when we finally saw him naked on OZ. I wanted him in me deeply.

I remember the flopping, too!

Kirk Acevedo had a few full-frontals in Oz. He didn't become the star I thought he would. Boy, was he hot.

I just rewatched The Opposite of Sex, and jeez, Ivan Sergei was hot in that. He still works, but he never became a big star.

Jack Wagner

The guy from Flash Gordon, Sam Jones? I think he was my first gay crush when I was a kid...those tiny leather pants. Apparently Queen Elizabeth watches that film every year with her grandparents which I find hilarious and awesome.

Shea Farrell

Lee Pace

The always beautiful Greg Vaughan.

Jamie Sheriden has bells palsy. It slowed down his career for awhile.

[quote]Apparently Queen Elizabeth watches that film every year with her grandparents

Does she haul the TV down to the crypts?

R418, here's the Playgirl shoot that Sam Jones did -- (lots of cock):

Some great choices on here, but also quite a few names who DID become 'stars'.

Tom Welling, Matthew Fox, Bruce Boxleitner, etc -- they all had and or are still having their time in the sun. None of them became George Clooney or Brad Pitt, but they were certainly stars on television.

Kevin Conroy

r417 Jack Wagner is a notorious asshole who let fame go to his head Early with All I need and GH success. He treats people like shit.

R426, He became a voice-acting star, so that's something.

Eric Balfour...

If you want a hit TV series, don't hire him. Other than SIX FEET UNDER, what else was he in that was successful?

R417 Well that partly explains why he didn't become a big star. That and his not great acting. But he was hot for a minute. When he had that terrible song out trying to be the next Rick Springield.

Even though he's done quite well for himself, I would say Max Greenfield. He's such an outstanding actor whose talent warrants being cast in major roles (both comedic and dramatic) but he's mostly found his lane co-starring in other people's sitcoms. Not that there's anything wrong with that (whatever pays the bills) but I think he should have a bigger career.

Has Dale Midkiff been mentioned?

Kevin Conroy's career was slowed down by illness which made his slight frame look very gaunt. Glad to see him doing well as the voice of Batman and looking well last year on the CW crossover.

Kevin Anderson

David Leon

Barry Watson, so damn cute.

Mike Vogel. So good looking but seems like the series he is in never go anywhere.

Zeljko Ivanek

Wyatt Knight from "Porky's" was a good choice. I believe he came to a sad end, though.

We could also include all the unsuccessful clients who were represented by agent Henry Wilsson in the Fifties and Sixties. (For every Rock Hudson, there was a Cal Boulder).

R233 Some of my friends told me I looked like him and I lived off that high for a while. Of course he aged badly. I aged a little less badly but nobody ages all that well.

Ahhh, Cal Bolder! Fuck me, Frankenstein! I had no idea he died 15 years ago.

Barry Tubb

Brian Wimmer from China Beach seemed destined for stardom.

R443 I recall having the biggest crush on Brian Wimmer.

Jason Gedrick

Matt Lanter.

Absolutely gorgeous, films beautifully, and has that classic all-American look. Works fairly regularly, but nearly everything he does gets cancelled. Not a lot of range as an actor, and fairly limited (he has this thing when he acts where it's like he's doing this affected 'look I'm an actor' thing), but overall not that bad. I think the whole Evangelical Christian thing limits what he does, so he often picks boring "family" based projects that really don't show off what he's capable of, and what he's really got - which is the looks and body. And since he started doing voice-over work, he makes solid money there that doesn't push him to pursue harder/better on-screen material.

[Quote] Absolutely gorgeous, films beautifully, and has that classic all-American look.

He does have the all-American look. Other than that....meh. I'm sure the bisexual thing limits his choice in roles too.

Lanter says he’s bi? I had no idea. I thought he has always claimed to be straight (but then I’ve never followed his career that closely — or rather make that not at all).

R448 lol no he's never said that. But that man ain't straight.

Not really trying to swim against the stream here but Hart Bochner (son of Dynasty's Lloyd Bochner) never did anything for me. Neither did another favorite, Matt Bomer. I actually think some of these guys lack star quality because they look like old time Sears Roebuck models but they don't have interesting faces at all.

Eddie Mecca

Matt Adler had some momentum in the 80s, appearing in several films, most notably NORTH SHORE in which he was the lead. He seems to primarily do voice acting now although even that is sporadic. He’s been married to Laura San Giacomo since 2000.

Breckin Meyer

Vhhh

Greg Evigan

Sam Robards

Adrian Pasdar

Tom Drake, the "boy next door".

I'm sure the fact that he was gay hurt Drake's career

If we're talking strictly looks here, Milo Ventimiglia should be a huge star because physically he's absolutely beautiful. But then, so was Gregory Harrison back in the day and it did not take him far beyond the confines of television.

R450 exactly. Bradford dillman and Jeffrey Hunter and John gavin belong in this category. Good looking actors but lacking that certain thing that would make them stand out more.

Dana Ashbrook

Does Paul Rudd count? While he’s known and I know he headlines “ant man” he’s somehow still not that big a star, is he? While Adam driver is working with the best of the best for example, I struggle to find good films that Paul Rudd has been in. I do like him by the way but frustrated that his output is not that aligned with my tastes.

They're not a-list but both Adrian and Milo have worked consistently since Heroes ended.

Sam Robards really was adorable in the Paul Mazursky film Tempest. And his body was hot as hell. I have a feeling he turned down a lot of teen films which could have made him a star.

R461 Thanks for agreeing with me. But I have to take exception to Jeffrey Hunter, he was really a standout in some things (The Searchers, The Frogmen, for ex). He was more of a character actor who had leading-man looks. Maybe if he'd lived longer he'd have been more popular as an older man.

James Healey from Dynasty. Being arrested for assault pretty much ended his career

Not sure why Tim matheson is on this list. As mentioned above he’s worked for 60 years and works steadily.

Breckin Meyer is very cute but not a star. Plus he’s tiny like 5’3.

[quote]Not sure why Tim matheson is on this list

R468 Because he never became a star. The theme of the thread is "Good looking actors who never became stars".

[quote]As mentioned above he’s worked for 60 years and works steadily.

And never became a star.

[quote]Breckin Meyer is very cute but not a star.

Hence, his inclusion on this thread.

Well, there‘s onlyfans nowadays….

Robert Webber

Tim Matheson is a star. Most of these guys have been long forgotten. Animal house sealed Matheson into a the pop culture zeitgeist.

Don’t be tiresome, R472. He never became a star like his contemporary Richard Gere did. Nowhere close.

Tim was no star after what he did to me (read the book).

[quote] Milo Ventimiglia should be a huge star because physically he's absolutely beautiful.

Inverted nipples and a nerve issue preventing him from moving his lip properly. I think he's cute but I can see how people wouldn't. He is offsetting a lot of that now by being bulked up and well worked out.

[quote]Dana Ashbrook

I haven't seen him in a few years but he was very attractive in person the last time I dealt with him.

[quote]Does Paul Rudd count? While he’s known and I know he headlines “ant man” he’s somehow still not that big a star, is he? While Adam driver is working with the best of the best for example, I struggle to find good films that Paul Rudd has been in.

He is a star. He's no Nicole Kidman or Kate Winslett BUT he was never going to be that. They're dramatic actors. Adam Driver is a dramatic actor. He fits in with that group.

Paul Rudd is a comedic actor so he's automatically in a whole different group. Wouldn't even be nominated in the same category as the others.

Paul Rudd is a star in the way that Ryan Reynolds, Chris Pratt, Seth Rogen or Owen Wilson is. He is comfortably an A-/B+ List Comedy actor.

Sean Faris , 39, good looking guy who’s worked steadily since 2001. Unfortunately, he’s going the tattoo route that so many other dummies are as well these days.

R332 Frank Langella cruised me a few times in NYC. I always assumed even before being cruised that he was gay. He must have lived on the UWS because it happened a couple on upper Broadway and another time in the theater district on a night that I had seen him in either Match or Frost/Nixon. Talented, tall actor who resembled Gore Vidal somewhat. This was late 90s/early 2000s. Never bought that he dated Whoopi Goldberg!

Kyle Howard was so fucking cute

R12 William McNamara is a sex addict. He told his story in this book.

I thought Al Santos would have gotten more mileage from the t.v. show GROSSE POINT (2000-2001). It was a smart show with a strong cast and good writing. One of the running gags was that the show’s “father” lusted after Santos’ Johnny. Other than appearing as one of the victims in JEEPERS CREEPERS 2 his career never got off the ground.

I loved Grosse Pointe, too. Whatever happened to Irene Malloy? I wonder if Al Santos changed his name. That’s a name for an old character actor, not a hot young dude.

R481, Al is short for Alfredo Santos. He's Portuguese. Irene Malloy quit acting years ago. She has been focusing on music writing/performing/teaching and directing and writing musicals.

I loved Kyle on Orange County and don't think he’s had much attention since dating LC.

Long thread.

Has anyone mentioned Ken Olandt?

Not to be confused with Ken Olin who was adorable before he got fat.

R484 I think he was mentioned. I haven't read the whole thread, either. Speaking of Orange County, what about some of the actors on The OC? If they've already been mentioned, sorry. Also, Linden Ashby (on Melrose Place) was very good looking, never became a star, last big role was as Sheriff Stilinski on Teen Wolf, where he was still kinda a hot older dilf.

Yes, Ken O. was mentioned by more than one of us.

R486, Out of Rachel Bilson, Mischa Barton, Adam Brody, Ben McKenzie, Olivia Wilde, etc.? Olivia Wilde's personal life has taken center stage for quite a while after Mischa straightened herself out. I think the real disappointment was Adam Brody who seemed to be on his way for a while then started flopping once he was done with Scream 4. It seems like Ben McKenzie ended up having the most solid career in things people have seen but like the rest of them he never became a "star." He at least has been the lead on more than one long-running series following up the OC with Southland and Gotham.

Speaking of that time period, "That 70s Show" gave us Ashton Kutcher who became a notch below a big star (thanks to Demi Moore) but not necessarily for his work, while Topher Grace was the disappointment there even if he had a good start. Other cast members have worked, some even consistently, but they never made it in that way.

R488 I thought they were all pretty bad on “the oc” from the very beginning. In “friends” it took a few seasons for them to start phoning it in, but they seemed to phone it in from the beginning on “the oc”. I’m not surprised none of them went on to much more, mischa seemed more destined for model type endorsements rather than movie stardom, as far as I’m concerned bilson and mckenzie are rather forgettable and Brody is simply a character actor.

R489, I felt the exact same way about everything you said. I'm still surprised Ben McKenzie has had such a great tv career.

Jennifer Aniston, of course, became a star and Courtney Cox at least had a solid A-/B-list film career even if she never reached her full potential. I think Jennifer was always going to end up a TV star since she had been on that path even before Friends until her relationship (and the end of it) with Brad Pitt catapulted her upwards.

[Quote] Also, Linden Ashby (on Melrose Place) was very good looking, never became a star, last big role was as Sheriff Stilinski on Teen Wolf, where he was still kinda a hot older dilf.

He'll forever be known as Johnny Cage from Mortal Kombat. But i liked Linden on Teen Wolf.

[Quote] but they seemed to phone it in from the beginning on “the oc”. I’m not surprised none of them went on to much more, mischa seemed more destined for model type endorsements rather than movie stardom, as far as I’m concerned bilson and mckenzie are rather forgettable and Brody is simply a character actor.

That's because they were over it by the time season 2 started. They all got big heads and acted like divas on set. Rachel's always worked consistently on TV. But Ben had Gotham and now Adam's part of the Shazam movies.

[quote]He'll forever be known as Johnny Cage from Mortal Kombat. But i liked Linden on Teen Wolf.

That's true. Anyhow even on Teen Wolf he was still good looking as an older guy.

R492 everyone on Teen Wolf was good looking (except Gerard) 😄

Steve Lyon from Campus Man & some other things.

He looked better than Arnold, acted better than Arnold & was younger than Arnold.

Nick Kiriazis who played Father Antonio on Sunset Beach =

Also SB's Nick Stabile -

I thought sex god Adrian Bellani would've been a big famous action star by now...

Rick Rossovich

Robert F. Lyons (from The Todd Killings)

I was watching TCM last night, and they had a marathon of the Agatha Christie "Miss Marple" movies of the early Sixties. Of course, Margaret Rutherford appeared in all four films, but so did an actor named Charles Tingwell, who played the exasperated, but helpful, police inspector. I guess most DLers would find him to be a typical character actor of British movies of that decade, but I found him to be extremely handsome in a wholesome sorta way.

I mentioned this in one of the gossip threads, but I had a friend who worked on The O.C., and he said that McKenzie and Brody started phoning it in early. Brody wanted a film career and thought that the show was holding him back, while McKenzie only cared about using his then-new fame to get into clubs and pick up girls. He also said that Barton didn't leave by choice, like she claimed, but was fired due to drug issues.

He had nothing but good things to say about Rachel Bilson.

I just could never get into “the OC” it just seemed like everybody on that show was bored and it was just the same tired tropes that we’ve seen before and that annoying phantom planet theme song.

[quote]I just could never get into “the OC” it just seemed like everybody on that show was bored and it was just the same tired tropes that we’ve seen before and that annoying phantom planet theme song.

I'm the one who brought the show up. I agree with you. I only watched a few episodes. I'm actually rather glad the actors didn't become stars because they lacked something. Maybe R501's post explains some of it. I was a young teen and thought the show was a little too cold and cynical for me, and I didn't think the characters had teen experiences -- though I think the critics considered it the antidote to "sappy" 90210.

Michael Woods

Craig Sheffer. Wouldn't call him super handsome but def good looking an a good actor.

*and

The OC burned through storylines very quickly and became repetitive by the end. The love triangles were out of control.

And i fucking hated Craig on Some Kind Of Wonderful. But i loved him and hated Paul Johansson on OTH.

R105 Andy Warhol interviewed Spilsbury during his promotion tour, later describing the interview as "nutty," because Spilsbury was "blowing his whole image" during their conversation. Spilsbury told Warhol that, before making the movie, he had been an art student married to a rich woman and that they had a baby together. He went on to state she had left him because he needed too much time with his own thoughts, a detail that Warhol found amusing. Spilsbury told Warhol that he was a friend of actor Dennis Christopher and had fallen in love with him, and that he also had later fallen in love with actor Bud Cort. Warhol described Spilsbury as "very drunk" during the latter part of the interview, and the latter also mentioned that "he'd been picked up by Halston and woke up in bed with Halston."

Do people look at the active thread list? I found this thread via a Google search a little while ago and now it suddenly has a new reply.

In my alternative universe, Klinton Spilsbury is living with Michael Schoeffling. And their closest friend is Lisa Gerritsen.

Frederick Weller. After his turn in Stonewall (1995), I expected big things to happen for him. Nope. Ain't that the story for 99% of Hollywood. I guess no one saw the movie.

R459, that, and the fact that he had the charisma of wet cardboard.

Paolo Montalban. Started at the top...and...........

Well, since people are now mentioning soap actors, I'm surprised Robert Tyler didn't work any other than a few bit parts after leaving Loving. Even more so, I'm surprised no other soap pursued him for a role. He was pretty popular.

Doesn't this thread make you appreciate that we all have Timothée!

R515, Did you miss the "Good looking" part in the title?

And now that we're at it, what about Ryan Kwanten?