Breakouts that broke down

Austin Roth Fri, May 9, 2008 at 12:39 PM EST

Wes had great potential but he did what many actors do in Hollywood, he got lost. I'll definitely checkout his doc. What about Mena Suvari? I can’t remember all the names but Wes Bentley definitely tops the list. The first time I saw him on the screen I felt mesmerized but somehow he was able to crush his career.

Katie Mon, May 5, 2008 at 11:37 PM EST

One of the other comments mentioned the documentary "My Big Break" that's coming out soon. Apparently the guy who made the movie lived with Wes Bentley and filmed him before, during and after he got his role in American Beauty. It's supposed to be pretty controversial. Supposedly, Bentley isn't too happy about the movie now and has been trying to stop it from coming out. I'm curious to know what he doesn't want people to see.

Beth Mon, May 5, 2008 at 01:16 PM EST

GP - Michelle Williams and Katie Holmes are so one-dimensional, same character different movies. Boring. And Winona - Watch the Age of Innocence or Dracula. She can't act.

GeeMoney Mon, May 5, 2008 at 07:42 AM EST

Eddie Furlong. He did T2, and a few years later did American History X, and then fell off the radar. I think he got more heavily involved in drugs. Such a waist!

GP Mon, May 5, 2008 at 06:29 AM EST

Beth: Michelle Williams is a succcessful movie star and Oscar nominee with HUGE potential and a strong career. Katie Holmes has a good career despite the rest. Only the Creek guys failed to live up to the hype.

GP Mon, May 5, 2008 at 06:26 AM EST

It's just stupid to put Winona Ryder on this list. She was a HUGE star, so she definitely fulfilled her potential. She just lost it later.

Beth Sun, May 4, 2008 at 12:29 PM EST

Forgot the cast of Dawson's Creek - Katie Homes, Joshua Jackson, James Van Der Beek, and Michelle Williams. They were entertaining for about 5 min and are all overrated.

Beth Sun, May 4, 2008 at 12:24 PM EST

Winona Ryder, Claire Daines, Jon Heder, Molly Ringwald, Sean Young, Brittany Murphy, Kate Bosworth, Jamie Foxx, The OC cast (never watced it but they were on every magazine cover).
Future Flavors of the Month - Hadyen Panettiere and Shia Lebeouf.

Anna Sun, May 4, 2008 at 08:30 AM EST

Neeve Campbell. Where has she been for the last decade?

Dru Sun, May 4, 2008 at 08:27 AM EST

Amah ... please watch "Moonlight" -- Shannyn is still going strong.

Dru Sun, May 4, 2008 at 08:21 AM EST

Dominique Swain was brilliant in "Lolita." Everything she's been in since was painful. But I will keep watching, because she has more brilliance ahead of her, I am sure. But I may have to wade through another dozen bad teen indie movies to get to it.

Rose Tyler Sun, May 4, 2008 at 07:39 AM EST

How about Jude Law? Do to over exposure and that bit about cheating with the nanny it seems his star isn't shining quite so bright these days.
Oh and Snarf maybe you didn't see "that kid from Speed Racer" in Into the Wild. I'm pretty sure he's got a long career ahead of him.

Sun, May 4, 2008 at 01:58 AM EST

Wasn't Tom Everett Scott also going to be the next Tom Hanks?

... Do we really need a new Tom Hanks yet?

monica Sat, May 3, 2008 at 11:25 PM EST

Seth Green - After "Buffy," he's always behind the camera.
Amanda Bynes - I saw "What A Girl Wants" for like the 8th time today and I can't figure out why she just doesn't latch onto Tina Fey or try out for SNL.
Michael Angarano - He showed promise in "Lords of Dogtown" and "Will & Grace," then he killed it with "Sky High."
Chris Lowell- I thought he was pretty funny in "Life as we know it," but then he got annoying in "Veronica Mars" and "Private Practice."
Chris Pine: I'm still waiting for Hollywood to give him a break.

Dan Sat, May 3, 2008 at 09:16 PM EST

Mark Wahlbg. Great in Boogie Nigts and ok in a few others but Planet of the Apes really showcased his uuhhhmmm "talent".

Sarah Sat, May 3, 2008 at 07:13 PM EST

I disagree that it's "highly unfair" to call Julia Ormond a non-starting breakout. She lost any potential for the higher ground when she was in that awful Lindsay Lohan movie "I Know Who Killed Me".

dma69 Sat, May 3, 2008 at 04:32 PM EST

Eric Bana. I've seen three of this films: Munich, Troy, and Lucky You. He's good-looking but he's sooo bland and boring.

Eva Mendez. Can anyone name even ONE film she's been in? I can't.

Kim Sat, May 3, 2008 at 08:23 AM EST

Highly unfair remark about Julia Ormond. Hollywood built her up to take her down and she stepped away from all the madness. She has done some excellent work on stage and film.

Joe from NYC Sat, May 3, 2008 at 07:08 AM EST

Can we predict future breakouts that will break down? Try Ellen page.

Hamburge Royal Sat, May 3, 2008 at 04:01 AM EST

I think we should diferentiate betwee people who had a breakout and then continued to do smaller indies or TV like Adam Baldwin (Firefly), Rachael Legh Cook (11:14) or Keri Russell (Upside of Anger, August Rush, etc.) and people who were set (up) for stardom and just...disappeared. Like James Van Der Beek. There was a time when (he thought) he was bigger than the WB and now he does voice overs on 'Robot Chicken: Star Wars'...?

Sina Sat, May 3, 2008 at 03:56 AM EST

I hate to say this but Angela Basset. She was great in What's Love Got to do with It and after that she did like one good movie (Waiting to Exhale) and all the rest was horrible. I read that she was offered a lot of good roles but turned them down because she wasn't getting Julia Roberts type pay. Also Ving Rimes. He was good in Pulp Fiction and playing that boxing promoter but now all he does is tv movies or horrible tv show remakes.

Sina Sat, May 3, 2008 at 03:56 AM EST

I hate to say this but Angela Basset. She was great in What's Love Got to do with It and after that she did like one good movie (Waiting to Exhale) and all the rest was horrible. I read that she was offered a lot of good roles but turned them down because she wasn't getting Julia Roberts type pay. Also Ving Rimes. He was good in Pulp Fiction and playing that boxing promoter but now all he does is tv movies or horrible tv show remakes.

danielle Sat, May 3, 2008 at 12:34 AM EST

i remember when white oleander came out and everyone said allison lohman was supposed to be the next big thing and after matchstick men she really went nowhere. I mean she did a kiddy movie and a really bad NC-17 movie. Too bad, she was very talented.

Susan Sat, May 3, 2008 at 12:20 AM EST

Brad Rowe is in the indie film "Shelter",the gay surfer movie. He looks like Jack Johnson(!!) Still,it's not a big movie.
Chris Makepeace was also in the anti-D&D movie "Mazes and Monsters" opposite a young Tom Hanks. But it was Hanks' career that took off. Where's Makepeace? Especially now?
LOTR was a good vehicle for already solid actors (Blanchett,Mortensen,McKellen,Bean,even Bloom)-with Liv Tyler&Elijah Wood being the notable exceptions who have fizzled. But I'm sure Daniel Radcliffe will need an understudy when he performs "Equus" this summer on Broadway!

Nix Fri, May 2, 2008 at 10:03 PM EST

I don't think any of these is comparable to Bentley's case. Either they're celebrities we don't think deserve their fame, or their child stars who are on hiatus or quit the business, or people doing one or two notable things and then quietly vanishing. Wes Bentley was EVERYTHING young male hollywood for one season, and then nothing. Ironically people are mentioning Brad Rowe, and (being a fan of Chad Lindberg I know this), their story is a documentary film coming out soon -- "My Big Break". Perhaps that movie will have some answers. (Bentley, Rowe, Lindberg and the filmmaker shared an apartment during the struggling LA days of their lives.) I assume the film's premise of "three struggling actors looking for fame--and what happens when one of them gets it" refers to Bentley.

Sam Fri, May 2, 2008 at 09:58 PM EST

Ep Sato, you mentioned my pick - Adam Baldwin. He's a great, underrated actor who should have had more success. I'm just glad he seems to be making a bit of a comeback in TV. He's the best thing on "Chuck."

yeni Fri, May 2, 2008 at 09:24 PM EST

Erika Christensen, after Traffic I thought for sure she was going to be big. Never happened.Recently saw her on SVU and it reminded me of how much talent she has.

kelsey Fri, May 2, 2008 at 09:18 PM EST

May I suggest Frances O'Conner? She's a British actress who was in Mansfield Park and The Importance of Being Earnest a few years back. I thought she was great. I don't know if she's still working.

To the person who mentioned The Prince & Me, I feel your pain. I liked Julia Stiles.

BrandonK Fri, May 2, 2008 at 09:14 PM EST

I immediately thought of Jason Biggs.

Leigh Fri, May 2, 2008 at 08:35 PM EST

There are some 80s actresses that I wonder where they are now and what happened to their careers. I somewhat know where Molly Ringwald is, but her career really fizzled. And she tried a comeback with a horrible sitcom called "Townies," I think.

I also wondered what happened to Amanda Peterson, who was opposite Patrick Dempsey in "Can't Buy Me Love." She was fantastic in that movie, and I thought she was going to be a star. Where is she now? Same question for Kerri Green.

sari Fri, May 2, 2008 at 07:53 PM EST

I enjoyed the comment that said, "Anyone remember the kid from Free Willy?" HAHAHAhA

Matty Fri, May 2, 2008 at 06:59 PM EST

Adam Brody, he was supposed to be 'The New Tom Hanks' like Shia Laboeuff (sp) is now and he's practically vanished since 'The OC' ended. The last I saw him was playing Anna Faris' drug dealer in 'Smiley Face' (which BTW should've been released to theaters instead of being dumped off on DVD)

whit Fri, May 2, 2008 at 06:46 PM EST

Now I'm definitely aging myself, but Kelly McGillis and Elizabeth McGovern (both from the 80's) really never went anywhere, despite a lot of talent. Too bad.

Alan Fri, May 2, 2008 at 06:01 PM EST

Tom Hulce's Tony was as a producer for Spring Awakening, not as an actor.

Nia Vardalos hasn't really shown much promise after Greek Wedding. I would've said Anna Chlumsky, but apparently she's making a comeback. This might seem out of place, but Ally Sheedy after her first comeback with High Art. Elizabeth Hartman after a couple of really great roles, including an Oscar nod for A Patch of Blue, in the 60s. Angela Bassett, I'm sorry to say, never really was able to live up to the promise of What's Love Got to Do with It, although Waiting to Exhale was a bit of a hit.

Zod Fri, May 2, 2008 at 05:24 PM EST

Chris Makepeace - he was in Meatballs and My Bodyguard, two massively popular movies, then he just fell off the face of the planet.

Fri, May 2, 2008 at 04:57 PM EST

Claire Danes always seemed like she was supposed to really break out, but it never happened. Of course, she'll probably never live down stealing the boyfriend of a woman who's 7 months pregnant.

Michelle Fri, May 2, 2008 at 04:53 PM EST

How has no one mentioned Tara Reid?

Theresa Fri, May 2, 2008 at 04:52 PM EST

How about Ashton Kutcher? He was supposed to be this huge movie star, but instead has put out crappy movie after crappy movie, a couple of reality shows, and is now mostly famous just for who he married (and for being moderately pretty).

Also, I have to vote for Julia Stiles. Yes, she went to college, but her profession is still actress. Her movies just suck, and she's kind of annoying (I saw a free screening of The Prince and Me and still felt like I paid too much).

Ep Sato Fri, May 2, 2008 at 04:37 PM EST

Hands down, I'd say it's Adam Baldwin. The guy really showed some potential as Ricky Linderman in the Bodyguard. Then he did DC Cab and Full Metal Jacket before disappearing. Not until Firefly did he finally start to gain some recognition. Nowadays he's always cast as the big brute alpha male and I'm just happy to see him on tv. But if he'd been in some a class gems post Bodyguard, he might have been an a lister instead of a lifelong "Character" actor.

Laura M Fri, May 2, 2008 at 04:17 PM EST

So glad to hear that Hulce won a Tony Award last year! That's great for him - but still, he and Abraham should have been bigger stars in Hollywood, IMO. It is in fact possible for brilliant, non-heartthrob actors to be stars and have great Hollywood careers - just look at Paul Giamatti, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and John C. Reilly. So why Abraham and Hulce rarely get cast is still beyond me.

Raven_Moon Fri, May 2, 2008 at 04:16 PM EST

I'm adding Britney Murphy. She was so great in "Girl, Interrupted" and in smaller qirkier films like "Zack & Reba" & then she seemed to hit it big with the awful "Just Married." With exception to an occassional small role, she has seemed to fizzle out.

CltAndrew Fri, May 2, 2008 at 04:05 PM EST

These have already been mentioned, but the first people who popped to mind were Julia Ormand, Gretchen Mol and Matthew McConaughey (he hasn't done anything to really deserve his level of fame). Juliette Lewis is another one I remember being told was a future Oscar winner and major talent. After Natural Born Killers and Cape Fear, where has she been? I also have to defend Marisa Tomei. Sure, her MCV Oscar was not merited, but she has acquitted herself with excellent turns in In the Bedroom and Better the Devil Knows You're Dead.

Sandy Fri, May 2, 2008 at 03:53 PM EST

I'd have to add Colin Farrell to this list. He seemed to be on EVERY "Ones to Watch" list but aside from some interesting smaller films, he's not broken out like everyone said he would. Not sure if that's deliberate on his part or because of the crazy behavior he indulged in for a while, but he's still working fairly steadily so people recognize his talent.

Fri, May 2, 2008 at 03:52 PM EST

Haven't seen anyone mention Marisa Tomei. Before we take back Cuba's Oscar lets confiscate her's first. After the oscar she's been relegated to supporting roles, the lowpoint being her role as Ashley Judds best freind in a rom com. I beleive Haley Joel and Julia Stiles went to school instead of pursuing full time careers. More power to the kids who prefer an education to 15 minutes of fame. And Matthew MacConaughey is quite possibly the worst person to ever appear on film.

Greg Fri, May 2, 2008 at 03:51 PM EST

the chick from whale rider. But i guess thats because she got pregnant at like 17.

dma69 Fri, May 2, 2008 at 03:29 PM EST

I would say pretty much the cast of American Pie 1, 2, and American Wedding (with the sole exception of Alison Hannigan). They're all either doing one crappy film after another (Jason Biggs, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Chris Klein, Seann William Scott), have run-ins with the law (Natasha Lyonne), trying comebacks on reality shows (Shannon Elizabeth), or never had talent to begin with (Chris Klein, Tara Reid, Shannon Elziabeth, Sean William Scott).

tcrab Fri, May 2, 2008 at 03:06 PM EST

Eric Roberts and Mickey Rourke ( since he effed up his face)

Fri, May 2, 2008 at 03:01 PM EST

Tom Hulce won a Tony Award last year. He's doing just fine.

wildecat Fri, May 2, 2008 at 02:08 PM EST

Laura M - excellent call on Abraham and Hulce. They were brilliant, not just "flavor-of-the-month-hottie"-types like so many of the Vanity Fair "stars" are, and then....nothing. My best guess is that they've been doing lots of theater, but I don't really know.

jemgirl Fri, May 2, 2008 at 02:03 PM EST

I think the haley joel osment comment is unfair. He was smart and went to high school and now is ending his second year at nyu. kids like abigal breslin should only be doing a movie a year so both they and the public don't get over exposed. I see him as a charecter actor in the future because he seems to want to be an actor instead of a star.Plus he is still a bit akward in a cute way but not by hollywood standards. in five years he should be good.

Kerri Fri, May 2, 2008 at 01:55 PM EST

My first reaction to this question was Josh Hartnett. After "Pearl Harbor" (albeit a pretty sucky movie in its own right) he was poised to be the next big thing....but then we went and picked pretty much every crappy movie that came after.

Snarf Fri, May 2, 2008 at 01:46 PM EST

Actually Vanity Fair has a tendency to trumpet (insert ingenue/your star's name here) as the next big thing, only to have them dissapear.
My guess of the next one to pull a vanishing act is the kid in Speed Racer. Trust.

Rebecca Fri, May 2, 2008 at 01:29 PM EST

Haley Joel Osment - he was touted as the next big thing, and is now doing voiceovers for videogames.

Robb Fri, May 2, 2008 at 01:13 PM EST

Rachel Leigh Cook. I remember people going on how she had such incredible screen presence in She's All That.

I never understood that, as I thought she had the screen presence of wet underpants. Nor was she good in her next few starring roles (err. ... Josie and the Pussycats). But even still I feel bad for people whose careers go nowhere.

Dixie Fri, May 2, 2008 at 01:12 PM EST

Jan Michael Vincent seemed primed to become a big star and then just sort of fizzled. That one's pretty easily explained, though--drugs, alcohol, and run-ins with the law.
Not so easily explained is the fate of Austin O'Brien, my childhood crush from My Girl 2 and The Last Action Hero.

NineDaves Fri, May 2, 2008 at 12:53 PM EST

LeeLee Sobieski is a great call. I'd also add Julia Stiles in the mix. And I think a few years from now, we'll be saying the same thing about Jennifer Hudson (though it pains me to even think that!)

Auriana Fri, May 2, 2008 at 12:42 PM EST

Sean Patrick Flannery - He was amazing in the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, not to mention worth drooling over. Since then he's done a few off straight to dvd movies.

MsDaisy Fri, May 2, 2008 at 12:39 PM EST

I seem to recall a great young comedic actress a few years back that appeared to have a very bright future. I thought at the time that she could be the next Jody Foster. Now what was her name? Oh yeah, Lindsay Lohan.

jcarla Fri, May 2, 2008 at 12:33 PM EST

Cuba Gooding Jr is still working but after Jerry Maguire he kept making stupid, stupid choices (last one I can think of 'Daddy day Camp". Shudder).

mark in nyc Fri, May 2, 2008 at 12:29 PM EST

Cuba Gooding Jr. Is there anyway we can take his oscar back? Boat trip? Daddy Day Care 2? Norbitt?

Lucinda Fri, May 2, 2008 at 12:29 PM EST

I thought Samantha Mathis should have become a huge star after her performance in Pump Up the Volume, but she's only doing guest TV spots now.

Bea Fri, May 2, 2008 at 12:03 PM EST

What the heck happened to Barry Miller? He was great in "Saturday Night Fever", "Fame" and "Peggy Sue Got Married" then disappeared completely.

amah Fri, May 2, 2008 at 11:54 AM EST

Oooh, I was thinking of Brad Rowe, too! The guy from Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss (which I never saw) that was touted as "the next Brad Pitt!"

Fri, May 2, 2008 at 11:53 AM EST

Adrian Brody

Fri, May 2, 2008 at 11:53 AM EST

Cuba Gooding and Natasha Lyonne.

Laura M Fri, May 2, 2008 at 11:52 AM EST

There is a long list of "hot, young starlets" that quickly fizzle because they weren't that talented to begin with.

But if you want to talk about two brilliant, truly talented actors that made a splash and then inexplicably disappeared, how about F. Murray Abraham and Tom Hulce, who were both nominated for Oscars for their brilliant performances in "Amadeus" (Abraham won), and then after that their careers just went nowhere. I don't get it. I just don't get it.

Fri, May 2, 2008 at 11:52 AM EST

Your publicist can only do so much before people starting figuring out that you have no talent.

Tony Fri, May 2, 2008 at 11:49 AM EST

Alicia Silverstone got killed by Batman and Robin also. Excess Baggage, which came out later that year, was terrible as well.

Luckily George Clooney made it out of that trainwreck alive (Arnold and Uma Thurman were pretty well established by then, so they were able to weather a clunker)

Ron Mwangaguhunga Fri, May 2, 2008 at 11:44 AM EST

Shelley Long, Skeet Ulrich ...

Anonymous Fri, May 2, 2008 at 11:41 AM EST

Of course as already mentioned... Gretchen Mol, that was just ridiculous. She had one movie coming out and they started refering to her as the next Grace Kelly.

Brad Rowe-Anyone.
Who is Alison Lohman

There is a long list of folks who have stuck around and I wish wouldn't--Kate Bosworth, Matthew McCoughaney (however you spell it) and Kate Hudson.

Sarah Fri, May 2, 2008 at 11:23 AM EST

You know, I this occasionally pops up in my mind when the Vanity Fair Hollywood issue comes up. I'm going to have to go with:
Julia Ormond: remember, everyone made such a big deal about her being in a bunch of movies with her in the central love triangle (Legends of the Fall, First Knight, Sabrina) and they all ended up sucking.

Leelee Sobieski: "Ooh, she looks like Helen Hunt" but turned out to be insufferably annoying

Stephen Dorff: I don't get him. Why do I even know his name?

paige Fri, May 2, 2008 at 11:11 AM EST

anybody remember that kid from Free Willy?

kana Fri, May 2, 2008 at 11:00 AM EST

Alicia Silverstone! good call Ceballos.

keiren63 Fri, May 2, 2008 at 10:55 AM EST

The thing to do is to look at the old Vanity Fair covers Annie Liebovitz shot of young Hollywood...who the mag thought was important that year. Interesting to see who is the star they thought they'd be (Kate Winslet, Nicole Kidman) and who isn't (Jada Pinkett-Smith, Brittany Murphy, Claire Forlani). A couple of the covers feature a pile of actors in the "where are they now" category. http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/22960721.html#cutid1

Nose Fri, May 2, 2008 at 10:50 AM EST

Yeah, Ceballos, you're right. She sort of disappeared after American Beauty. It must be difficult to be a 20-something female actor in Hollywood these days, if for no other reason than parts in movies are being given to the likes of Paris Hilton and Jessica Simpson.

keiren63 Fri, May 2, 2008 at 10:48 AM EST

I think of the ones who got a HUGE publicity push and then never really panned out: Gretchen Mol on the cover of Vanity Fair when she'd done darned near nothing because they were convinced that she was the next big thing; waaay back when, Michael Pare had three movies in a row and everyone told us he'd be the next big star and he just fizzled into B-Movie land. And I would argue that although he works and gets magazine covers, Matthew MacConaughey has never once shown himself to be the huge talented A-list Paul Newman-like star that we're constantly told he is. He'll work forever...but he won't be a star who is remembered...he'll be the Gig Young of his generation!

amah Fri, May 2, 2008 at 10:46 AM EST

Shannyn Sossamon(sp)? She was in a couple of Heath Ledger movies in the early '00s, and then that was it. She seemed/s like a cool chick to me!

Ceballos Fri, May 2, 2008 at 10:36 AM EST

Actually, Nose, I'd go with another one of Bentley's "Beauty" co-stars.

Mena Suvari had "American Beauty" AND "American Pie" in the same year, and I thought she was very good in each (excellent in "Beauty" actually). So, although she was solid in "Six Feet Under" for a bit, to see her pretty much drop off the map since then ("Loser", "Rumor Has it") has been disappointing.

I'd also add Alicia Silverstone's name to the mix. Though her fall isn't as precipitous as Suvari, I still don't think she has the career she probably should have given how good she was in "Clueless" and how popular she was in the 90s.

That just shows you it's just tough (for actresses, especially) to keep their careers hot and relevant for an extended period.

Winona Fri, May 2, 2008 at 10:21 AM EST

Gretchen Mol pops in my head for this one.

Nose Fri, May 2, 2008 at 10:14 AM EST

Wes Bentley's co-star Thora Birch has not been in too many mainstream projects. She is a great talent. I also never understood why Bradley Cooper from Alias/Kitchen Confidential never broke through to superstar status. He's got the leading man looks and talent to match.