The Role That Killed Their Career...Or Saved It...

Mr. DS · April 23, 2009, 08:09:30 AM

After watching Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler last night, I started thinking about actors who's career was in the toliet until one role brought them back. Rourke in The Wrestler is a good example although I'd argue his performance as Marv in Sin City started the ball rolling. Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man is another prime example.

However, then there are the actors who's career is killed by a role. The one that always comes to mind for me is Michael Beck in Xanadu. He struck gold with his role as Swan in The Warriors but Xanadu killed his career.

Doggett · April 23, 2009, 08:19:40 AM

Anthony Perkins career was killed by Psycho

Hammock Rider · April 23, 2009, 08:20:56 AM

Elizabeth Berkley is ShowGirls.
An American hero, she sacraficed her career for the greater good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_HCqfmkEh4&feature=PlayList&p=44FE8A34B6FB6FF1&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=6

The Burgomaster · April 23, 2009, 08:23:15 AM

* John Travolta - saved by PULP FICTION

* Marlon Brando - saved by THE GODFATHER

* Frank Sinatra - saved by FROM HERE TO ETERNITY

AndyC · April 23, 2009, 08:51:12 AM

Quote from: The Burgomaster on April 23, 2009, 08:23:15 AM
* John Travolta - saved by PULP FICTION

And killed again by Battlefield Earth

Doggett · April 23, 2009, 08:54:54 AM

Quote from: AndyC on April 23, 2009, 08:51:12 AM
Quote from: The Burgomaster on April 23, 2009, 08:23:15 AM
* John Travolta - saved by PULP FICTION

And killed again by Battlefield Earth

Then resurrected in Hairspray

peter johnson · April 23, 2009, 02:03:10 PM

One of the single most tragic:

Faye Dunnaway . . . "Mommie Dearest" . . .

Watch Dunnaway in "Bonnie and Clyde" or "The Affair" or "Chinatown" or numerous other roles, and then reflect that this very wonderful and watchable actress had her career done in completely by the public reception to her performance as Joan Crawford in "Mommie Dearest". Prior to that, her films were all A-list, big budget, and she was an up-and-comer. Afterwards, even though she never stopped working & has a new film due out in 2009, she was never offered a major role in a big-budget film again. Even her brilliant turn in the Bukowski bio-pic "Barfly" failed to revive major interest in her. Gotta give her props for not giving up!

peter johnson/denny crane

RCMerchant · April 23, 2009, 03:33:31 PM

Quote from: peter johnson on April 23, 2009, 02:03:10 PM
One of the single most tragic:

Faye Dunnaway . . . "Mommie Dearest" . . .

Watch Dunnaway in "Bonnie and Clyde" or "The Affair" or "Chinatown" or numerous other roles, and then reflect that this very wonderful and watchable actress had her career done in completely by the public reception to her performance as Joan Crawford in "Mommie Dearest". Prior to that, her films were all A-list, big budget, and she was an up-and-comer. Afterwards, even though she never stopped working & has a new film due out in 2009, she was never offered a major role in a big-budget film again. Even her brilliant turn in the Bukowski bio-pic "Barfly" failed to revive major interest in her. Gotta give her props for not giving up!

peter johnson/denny crane

It's a shame....I actually enjoyed MOMMIE DEAREST quite a bit.

SON of FRANKENSTEIN saved Lugosi. Betwwen 1936 and 1939,the British Board of Censors put a ban on horror films,and Hollywood relied on British releasing for much income. Yet when DRACULA and FRANKENSTEIN played a re-release double bill in 1939-it did BIG box office and Universal decided to make a third Frankenstein film. Director Rowland V. Lee liked Bela,and expanded the part of Ygor to keep Lugosi working throughout the filming. It got Bela back to work,after a dry unemployed period in his carrear.

Jim H · April 23, 2009, 03:49:05 PM

Bit of an obscure one here.

For those who have seen Kung Fu Hustle.. The lead villain, called simply beast in the film, is played by Bruce Leong. He was one of the numerous Bruce Clones who popped up to fill in the void left by Bruce Lee's death in the 70s. Well, he wasn't one of the more popular ones, and his career never really went too far. His last film before Kung Fu Hustle was in 1988 - leaving a 16 year hole in his filmography between the two. Since Kung Fu Hustle, he's landed three more roles.

I dunno if his career will continue to stay afloat as an actor (though I think he deserves it - at 60, he's still in good shape and was quite entertaining in Kung Fu Hustle), but he certainly got a quite nice second shot at it thanks to Stephen Chow.

Mofo Rising · April 23, 2009, 04:00:01 PM

Well, it's a phenomenon a little well placed nudity can't achieve.

Heather Graham was a cute girl hovering around the edges of indie cinema for a decade or so with no fanfare. Then came her clothes-doffing role as Roller Girl in "Boogie Nights" and she has been a sex symbol ever since.

This is also true of Sharon Stone in "Basic Instinct."

Of course, neither of these two women are known for their acting ability.

Jim H · April 23, 2009, 04:04:37 PM

Quote from: Mofo Rising on April 23, 2009, 04:00:01 PM
Well, it's a phenomenon a little well placed nudity can't achieve.

Heather Graham was a cute girl hovering around the edges of indie cinema for a decade or so with no fanfare. Then came her clothes-doffing role as Roller Girl in "Boogie Nights" and she has been a sex symbol ever since.

This is also true of Sharon Stone in "Basic Instinct."

Of course, neither of these two women are known for their acting ability.

Sharon Stone was really good in Casino, the role that landed her an Oscar-nomination.

Maybe that's a credit to Scorsese's directorial abilities more than anything?

Doggett · April 23, 2009, 04:10:30 PM

Judge Dredd killed Sly's career

Rocky Balboa saved Stallones's Career

asimpson2006 · April 24, 2009, 06:54:15 AM

Quote from: RCMerchant on April 23, 2009, 03:33:31 PM

It's a shame....I actually enjoyed MOMMIE DEAREST quite a bit.

I liked Mommie Dearest as well and found it to be a shame it did that to her career.

AndyC · April 24, 2009, 07:46:22 AM

Quote from: doggett on April 23, 2009, 04:10:30 PM
Judge Dredd killed Sly's career

Rocky Balboa saved Stallones's Career

Prior to that, Cliffhanger saved his career after a hat-trick of flops: Rocky V, Oscar and Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot.

Mr. DS · April 24, 2009, 11:49:44 AM

Quote from: AndyC on April 24, 2009, 07:46:22 AM
Quote from: doggett on April 23, 2009, 04:10:30 PM
Judge Dredd killed Sly's career

Rocky Balboa saved Stallones's Career

Prior to that, Cliffhanger saved his career after a hat-trick of flops: Rocky V, Oscar and Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot.

Stallone is a prime example of this thread but he may hold the record for resiliency in Hollywood. For example, he does a film like Rambo then stars in Rhinestone.