The Big List of Dubious Stars

[Ed, Ego and Superego]

I got thinking about this while coming up with bad movie commandments in another thread. A fine tradition in bad moviemaking is giving star status to anyone within your budget who ever appeared in something a lot of people would have seen. Surprisingly, I actually found myself at a bit of a loss for specific examples. But I'm sure we can come up with quite a few.

I'll start the list with possibly my favourite bad actress, and a textbook example of a flash in the pan. Early success, one lucky break, big-time hype and rapid slide into obscurity, save for roles in such classics as Megaforce and Warrior of the Lost World. Yes, I'm talking about...

1. Persis Khambatta, whose name probably never appeared prominently in a movie ad without the title Star Trek: The Motion Picture somewhere near it.

Well does Megaforce count?  Also she passed away in 1998, but her acting was long over by then.  Maybe a comback would have been possible, but who knows?

[AndyC]

Well does Megaforce count?

Exactly the point. Megaforce, starring Persis Khambatta (Star Trek: The Motion Picture), Warrior of the Lost World, starring Persis Khambatta (Star Trek: The Motion Picture), Phoenix, the Warrior, starring Persis Khambatta (Star Trek: The Motion Picture).

[retrorussell]

Cameron Mitchell
John Saxon

Elliot Gould has been in some good movies.. but a whole slew of really, really bad ones.

[AndyC]

Well does Megaforce count?

Exactly the point. Megaforce, starring Persis Khambatta (Star Trek: The Motion Picture), Warrior of the Lost World, starring Persis Khambatta (Star Trek: The Motion Picture), Phoenix, the Warrior, starring Persis Khambatta (Star Trek: The Motion Picture).

Should also mention that although Persis was famous enough for her death to be news, the obituaries generally came with a nearly 20-year-old bald headshot of her. Now that's someone whose stardom hangs on one lucky break.