Oct 22 2008
10 Actors Whose Movie Careers Were Supposed to be Much Bigger
One of these five made the list
For the record I’m taking nothing away from these actors. In fact, I kind of like all of them in some way. It’s just that I clearly remember that at the time they debuted or were hyped there was this buzz about them. Almost a feeling that they’d be the next…..whoever.
And unfortunately it appears that their careers, while fine, just didn’t live up to the potential that the media was giving them. And be that as it may, I was kind of rooting for them.
For whatever reason, here are 10 Actors whose movie careers were supposed to be much bigger than they actually ended up being.
James Van Der Beek
Don’t get me wrong. I take nothing away from his days at Dawson’s Creek. Hell I loved him as the bully in Angus. The problem is that after Varsity Blues, Van Der Beek was definitely being hyped and many folks thought he could be an action movie guy, even a serious actor. Unfortunately the biggest movie he did after Varsity Blues was being a voice in Robot Chicken. He’s still got time as he’s only 31 but come on buddy!
Sarah Polley
Most people don’t know this but Polly was in the movie Adventures of Baron Munchausen as a little eleven year old.. It wasn’t until the movie Go that she started getting attention. Unfortunately her biggest appearance after Go was probably in Beowulf. No disrespect but I think that her teeth are the problem.
Piper Perabo
Remember how hyped the movie Coyote Ugly was? Unfortunately it was a terrible movie and that might have left Perabo short of the stardom it seemed she’d have. At least it didn’t affect the careers of Mario Bello, Bridget Moynahan and John Goodman. But let’s face it. Perabo is not that famous. I’ve seen her on Disney recently and I think her biggest movie since Coyote Ugly was Cheaper by the Dozen. It’s too bad because I think she’s hot.
Chris Klein
Mr. Hunky Chris Klein. Other than Election and the American Pie series, what in the world has happened to this guy? Handsome dude with lots of charm. I’d have thought he’d be a shoe in for chick flick roles. Almost a Hugh Grant type of guy. Well let’s hope he revives his career with Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li
Jennifer Grey
Man that’s a shame
It’s amazing how one bad movie and a crappy nose job can put you in the desert. It was Dirty Dancing (and maybe Ferris Bueller’s Day Off) that set the stage and it was 5 years later Wind, knocking it all down. I miss Jennifer Grey. She was such a cutie back then. Well, she did appear on Friends once in 1995.
Ally Sheedy
From the Brat Pack. From 1983-1986 Ally Sheedy was big time. The Breakfast Club, St. Elmos Fire, Wargames, Short Circuit. That’s a damned good resume. Post 1987? Wow. What in the world happened? And Sheedy was VERY hyped back in the 80’s. Personal problems did lead to her demise but it’s a shame. Her best movie post 1987 was by far Only the Lonely.
*I could also bring up Molly Ringwald here.
Haley Joel Osment
There’s not much to say. He just got really weird looking once he hit puberty. I don’t think we’ll be seeing him anytime soon.
Morris Chesnut
Now this guy, I thought he’d have made it. Boyz in the Hood was one of, if not the biggest movies of the early 90’s. I would have thought the rugged looks and charming personality would have landed him some big time roles. It was nice to see him again in 2003 in the movie Confidence but Chestnut never hit superstardom. He’s a good actor but I don’t think he ever reached his potential.
Vin Diesel
From Fast and the Furious to The Pacifier. In four short years he went from one of the biggest hunks in Hollywood to a guy that just doesn’t do good movies anymore. Perhaps he’ll revive himself in the latest Fast and Furious. You gotta go with what works. Makes me wonder though. How the hell do these things happen? I didn’t even know Chronicles of Riddick had a sequel.
Jason Biggs
One could argue that Biggs has had a successful career. Of the American Pie guys though, everyone thought he’d have the biggest career. And it’s by far been Seann William Scott instead. Biggs was being talked about as the next Ben Stiller and frankly Jersey Girl might be his biggest movie since American Wedding.
*Ladies and gentlemen. For all you commenters out there who will inevitably say things like “Who are you? You’re just a nobody loser. At least they are in movies. At least they have a career. Who are you to judge these people?”
To that I say shut the hell up. This is an article, an opinion. And let’s face the facts. These actors were hyped and people did think they’d be big stars. I’m not taking away anything from them. They have much better careers than me. But you can’t argue that they did make it in the ways they were expected to.
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FIRST!
just to clarify riddick didn’t have a sequeal it was a sequal to Pitch Black
Are you kidding me? The Pacifier was awesome! I downloaded it when I saw Vin Diesel was in it, thinking it’d be your typical no-brains action movie (oh come on, we all like those even if some of us won’t admit it). Then I saw the Disney logo and basically went “wtf is this?”. Almost turned off at that point. Glad I didn’t. The movie was a lot of fun!
[…] 10 ACTORS THAT CAREERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN BIGGER […]
Thanks for the clarification on Riddick, I didn’t know that.
Of all these actors, though, who would you say actually had the biggest career?
I would say Ally Sheedy.
Sarah Polley was great in Dawn of the Dead. She has moved behind the camera now and is a damn fine director. Her latest film was nominated for an Oscar and won a load of other awards.
check it out:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0491747/awards