Becoming a renowned face in Hollywood can be a long, winding journey, and these A-list actors who sabotaged their career certainly took a wrong turn somewhere down the road. While some may have encountered issues with alcohol or drug abuse, others have simply made some poor decisions regarding the roles they took on. When it comes to acting, your talent can be rewarded with box office earnings and awards, but maintaining a steady level of success in the entertainment industry can be a real struggle. Constant competition, new faces, and aging are only some of the barriers that a-list actors need to manage.
In a previous article we wrote about the 5 biggest celebrity stoners and how they’ve handled their love for marijuana throughout their careers. In this case, bad habits, loss of motivation, or lack of interest from the industry have ruined top-notch celebrities’ status. So, here are some of the a-list actors who sabotaged their career.
5. Halle Berry
How does one go from being the first African-American woman to win an Oscar for Best Actress (2002), to starring in a CBS TV show called Extant? Well, Halle Berry’s unfortunate fall from Hollywood’s A-list occurred shortly after her stunning performance in Monster’s Ball, when she became part of the X-men franchise in 2003. However, what really threw her off the pedestal of the best-paid actresses was her poor choice of roles: starring in both Gothika and Catwoman, the movies flopped and were disliked by critiques. And in spite of her efforts to regain her prestige, Halle never quite made it back to the top.
4. Mike Myers
If you think back to the comedy television grid in the 90’s, it’s likely that a few names will come into mind. Mike Myers was one of these: after launching his career on Saturday Night Live in 1992, the comedian starred in the cult film Wayne’s World, thereby solidifying his name in the industry. But it was his enactment of the epic Austin Powers and Shrek characters (the movies grossed over $1 billion) which made him a superstar. However, after a very poor performance in box office flop The Love Guru (2008), Mike retreated from the limelight altogether.
3. Adam Sandler
Another SNL star that made it to the big screen in 1995 is Adam Sandler. His role as Billy Madison turned him into one of the most sought-after comedy actors, making him part of Hollywood’s elite. But after several hit-films like Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy, and 50 First Dates, Sandler’s career started spiralling downwards. His 2008 performance in the movie You Don’t Mess With the Zohan was an absolute flop and unfortunately, so was every movie that followed it.
2. Renee Zellweger
Towards the end of the 90’s, Renee Zellweger appeared on the movie screens as Tom Cruise’s love interest in Jerry Maguire, but her career really took flight in 2001, when she starred as the lead role in Bridget Jones’ Diary. In a matter of months, she became one of Hollywood’s most wanted, and her roles in Chicago and Cold Mountain proved that she had what it takes, bagging a Golden Globe and an Oscar, respectively. However, a spread of four consecutive box office flops led the actress to disappear from the limelight, and she hasn’t taken on any roles since 2010. Nonetheless, the third Bridget Jones movie will hit the cinemas this year and there’s still time for a comeback.
1. Nicolas Cage
Some might argue that Nicolas Cage’s talent is limited and his roles were unimpressive, but the truth is that for over a decade he was a certified A-list Hollywood star. In fact, he even won an Academy Award for his performance in Leaving Las Vegas in 1995, which led to other major roles in films like Face/Off, Gone in 60 Seconds, and Lord of War. But as his fortune grew with every box office hit, so did his spending and after avoiding tax payments on many of the luxury homes, cars, and islands he bought, Nick Cage was in a bind. With the IRS breathing down his throat, he took on every role offered, but as the money rolled in he joined our compilation of A-list actors who sabotaged their career.
