Performers whose offscreen persona ruins their work for you

[Eats_Crayons]

This is not restricted to the film world.

Who are the performers whose real-life persona interferes with your ability to enjoy their work? Reasons of course may vary: Maybe you saw an interview in which the person(s) made racist comments or was(were) simply an ass, or maybe they have politics that are in radical opposition to your own, or maybe you have "insider info" on some of their backstage behaviour.

Example: I can not watch any Jean Claude Van Damme movie without thinking "You egotisical a**hole!" every time his face is on the screen. I find him totally unbelievable as a sympathetic character of any kind, especially if he tries to play the "nice guy". I can not enjoy his movies as a result. (Not that they are particularly well-crafted oeuvres from the start.)

I've seen him be a blatantly egotistical twit in many interviews and I've had friends who've had to work with him.

It is customary at the end of a shoot, to have a "wrap party" and typically the higher-ups give the crew small gifts as tokens of appreciation -- a materialistic way of saying "good job." Depending on where you stand on the food chain, the quality of your gift may vary. Crew members will often get baseball caps, jackets, maybe a nice (but not overly expensive) watch. JCVD crew gift? He gave the crew autographed pictures of himself.

[shrew]

David Boreanaz. He comes off like an idiot in interviews. Plus, did you see that piece of drek he married?

:shudder:

[Eve]

I must admit, some of the philosophies and/or bigotries expressed by Vanessa Redgrave, Mel Gibson, Lina Basquette, Jane Fonda and a few others do make my brain-pan hurt a bit when I watch them onscreen. Oh, and Emil Jannings, who actually moved back to Germany in the early '30s and joined the Nazi party? Feh! to him.

[Cervaise]

Alec Baldwin is an extremely talented actor; look at Miami Blues, for example, or note that the people who work on SNL consider him one of their all-time great hosts. Sadly, he's also a loudmouth putz who obnoxiously and grating expresses his liberal views, thoroughly embarrassing those of us who would otherwise claim him for our side. He's the Ann Coulter of liberalism.

[DPWhite]

I met a lot of the newsanchors and talking heads at the 2000 Dem convention in L.A. Suffice to say that Larry King is a real class act and a sweet guy who went to a lot of trouble to make time for his fans (one after the other). And I have to give Robert Novak credit. As unpopular as he was with the crowd, he was down on the floor talking to people and doing his job.

[BiblioCat]

Originally posted by Cervaise
Alec Baldwin .......... he's also a loudmouth putz who obnoxiously and grating expresses his liberal views.....Is he still here? I thought he was going to leave the country if Bush won. Should we go help him pack?
Loudmouth putz, indeed. That's putting it mildly. Oh, that's right, we're not in the Pit. ;)

[Guinastasia]

Any actor or actress that is a member of the cult of Scientology.

[CzechHistory411]

Wagner.

Perhaps he doesn't count as a performer, though.

-- CH

[Chupacabra]

Originally posted by Guinastasia
Any actor or actress that is a member of the cult of Scientology.

I'll second that. I love John Travolta in Get Shorty until I start thinking about all that Scientology crap.

[pesch]

I'm consistent in my inconsistencies. I'd agree about Cruise and Travolta, except I loved "The Color of Money" and would see "Mission Impossible" on DVD, and would go see "Pulp Fiction" (but not "Battlefield Earth" unless I was with good friends and some good drugs :D).

Larry King and Baba Wawa make my teeth itch, but that's because they're terrible butt-sucking interviewers. Then there's Greta von Sustern, who pats herself on the back for coming out about her plastic surgery (but didn't come out all the way, apparently, she's had more than she'll admit).

David Letterman's pretty abrasive off-screen, but that wouldn't stop me from enjoying his show.

Oh, Danny Bonaduce, sultan of sleaze. I'd run him over in a heartbeat. Yes, Danny, we know you're a media whore, but you're tedious and annoying. Just go away.

[pepperlandgirl]

Hehe, I love Danny Bonaduce. He's a morning radio host here in L.A., and I listen every morning. Yes, he is a media whore, but I think he's a funny media whore.

I'll 4th the Scientology cult members.

[Gala Matrix Fire]

I still remember Gerard Depardieu's claim that he frequently commited date rape, and that most young men do. Anyway, he's also ugly as a mud pit.

[CrankyAsAnOldMan]

I've started to read some things about Sean Connery as a person which are absolutely ruining him for me.

Charlton Heston, definitely.

[Already in Use]

Yeah, I'll fifth the Scientology dupes.

[lorinada]

I'll sixth the Scientology bit.

I was extremely disappointed to realize how far to the left James Garner was.

I never liked Bill Murray after I saw him on a late night talk show deriding Cary Grant for being gay.

[Sublight]

Apparently, Alec Baldwin is doing a lot of backpedalling about his comments on the election.
http://www.snopes2.com/inboxer/outrage/leave.htm

Count me in on the Scientologists. It doesn't ruin the work for me, but I have make an extra effort to get into it.

I was about to say Oliver Stone and his political views, but then his movies are his political views.

[beergeek279]

Originally posted by CzechHistory411
Wagner.

Perhaps he doesn't count as a performer, though.

-- CH

Richard Wagner died in 1883. I don't think it's fair to lessen his legacy because the Nazis listened to him...........does Charles Manson detract from the White Album?

Personally, I think that Russell Crowe's alleged behavior has diminished his work a little bit.

[Dirty Earthworm]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Woody Allen yet. Hilarious movies - a brilliant director - but I can't support anyone who would bone the barely-if-even 20-year-old daughter of the woman he was living with. (Weren't Woody and Mia married? Wouldn't that make Soon-Yi his step-daughter? Eeeww!)

-Dirty

[Katisha]

Oh, man, some of this thread is disillusioning -- bluethree went and spoiled a couple of movies I really liked... :(

Definitely agree about Crowe and Heston (although I do think the latter was wonderful in the Branagh Hamlet, much as I can't stand his politics).

OTOH, I don't think I'd be much of a fan of Cruise or Travolta in any case. :p

[stankow]

Originally posted by Dirty Earthworm
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Woody Allen yet. Hilarious movies - a brilliant director - but I can't support anyone who would bone the barely-if-even 20-year-old daughter of the woman he was living with. (Weren't Woody and Mia married? Wouldn't that make Soon-Yi his step-daughter? Eeeww!)
Nope and nope. Matter of fact, Woody and Mia weren't even living together. Though they had a long-term relationship, they maintained separate living quarters and were never married.

Yes, the whole Soon-Yi thing was creepy, but it wasn't as creepy as the late-night talk show hosts would have you believe.

[Green Bean]

Yup yup about Connery, Woody Allen, and any $cientologist.

Gwyneth Paltrow's comments about the movie Shallow Hal made me incapable of liking her in any role.

Michael Jackson's music is ruined for me--I can't listen to it without thinking of his unbelievable weirdness.

Schwarzenegger has ruined himself for me. I used to be a fan, and now I think of him as a major sleazeball.

But oddly enough, I like Heston and Ted Nugent in spite of their political views.

[JThunder]

That Barney fella is now unwatchable. Ever since I read about him wolfing down huge chunks of preschooler... <shudder>.

[sleestak]

I will not watch anything with Jane Fonda. She went to a country we were at war with and sided with them. While I think the war was a bad decision, I do not think that her actions were correct. If you disagree with the US policy and are a US citizen, do it in the US. She actively campaigned against the US in a country we were at war with. That, in my mind, is what a traitor does.

On top of that, she got rich in ways that her "Philosophical stance" is against. She made money, married a rich guy yet Millionairs-Billionairs are evil people who exploit the poor people in the world. That is until she became rich.

Slee

[Forbin]

I love Wagner's music.
Love it! In big giant bold letters, not coded here.

OTOH, he was a gigantic jerk.

Always borrowed money, never repaid, and had the gall to say that those that lent him money were lucky to have lent it to him.
Really. He said that.
Additionally, he had a fling with his principal benefactor's wife. He wrote "Tristan und Isolde" with her in mind.
Not by a long shot his only sexuall "indiscretion".

??!! Why did women find him attractive? ??!!
He was a scumbag!

A certain Bordeuax (sp) wine merchant threatened to shoot him on sight.
Why?
Something about seeking the sexual favors of his wife.

Hatred of the jews?
Check.

That the nazis would enjoy his music means nothing to me. As stated above, he was dead, and had nothing to do with that.

Jerk?
You betcha.

[GusNSpot]

Danny Kaye = jerk delux
David Janson = great (now dead -frown )
Hank Jr. = jerk of first order
Joan Jet = geezzz what a witch
Cheap Trick = almost no-functioning due toi drugs.
Reba = great
Stevie Warner = great
Willy Nelson= what a cool dude.
Raymond Burr = good worked ass off for GI's in Korea in the early 60's.
John Wayne = good because............ Good neighbor as a matter of fact in NM.George Burn, Milto Berle, etc a lot of grweat people.
Ed Sullivan = jerk [arrogant AH)
Katie Jackson = would not go nude --- good for her
Learnord Nimoy = Nice as can be in person and not an extriemest.

[käse]

Billy Bob Thornton.

I like his work as an actor/director/writer [with "Slingblade" as an example]

I went to a "concert" of him. First of all: He can't sing, but what is worse; He's an absolute jerk on stage. Behaving like a spoiled child with tantrums.

Oh, and one more vote against Chalton Heston.

[greenlady]

Kathie Lee Gifford - no explanations needed.

Tom Arnold - I dunno, he's kinda sleazy to me in mind.

Drew Barrymore - don't even get me started.

[owlstretchingtime]

Mel Gibson - Anti British (stuff you Mel)

Bono & Sting - too preachy

[istara]

Seventhing the scientology thing.

[LorieSmurf]

Russell Crowe
Russell Crowe
and Russell Crowe.

The man is sexy IMHO, I like his acting (again IMHO), but damned if the man isn't a stupid jerky turd in real life. Pisses me off, that man.

[iampunha]

Julia "College guys are walking diseases" Stiles (http://www.angelfire.com/sc3/fsumermaid/julia_articles.htm).

"I meant that college guys are spreading diseases rampantly, which is quite possibly true, but I was just trying to be funny." Sure. Given the demographic you're trying to get to pay to see your movies, I'd say that was a bang-up job you did being funny.

Didn't know about Bill Murray. Guess that's one to add to my "not a nice person" list...

[Eats_Crayons]

Originally posted by Green Bean

Michael Jackson's music is ruined for me--I can't listen to it without thinking of his unbelievable weirdness.

I think I'll have to second that. IMHO, Michael Jackson has left "eccentric" way, waaay behind and is now in some uncharted realm of bizarre that kind of creeps me out. Whenever I hear him sing a song that tries to sound "sexy" I get the heebie-jeebies.

Rod Stewart - there's one I forgot. I think he's an ass, but my opinion hinges on one "incident" in my home town. For some reason, he went into THE punk bar. This was back in the 80s and we're talking three foot, orange mohawks, and noses pireced with safety pins. He decided he'd give the patrons a treat -- spontaneous performance. He lipsynched to one of his own tunes. He was such an ass that what resulted was a brawl (he was unharmed because he brought body guards).

Not that this incident was a vile offense of any kind, and he wasn't intentionally trying to be a dink, but I think of him as a complete yo-yo!

I'm surprised no one has mentioned:
Sinead O'Connor. While I'm indifferent to her antics, she has made it on to many snuff lists, I'm sure.

Roman Polanski- who (I believe) is still unable to set foot on U.S. soil because he'd face statutory rape charges.

[Scupper]

Seconds (or more): Roman Polanski, Russell "A-Hole" Crowe, Jane Fonda, Woody Allen, Michael Jackson

Mas:

Jenna Elfman - She's a $cientologist, which is bad, but she's a STOOPID $cientologist to boot.
Hedwig; The Angry Inch is my favorite musical ever.
You know how your head feels heavy when you're having a problem? It's actually mass that you can weigh. It's compressed mental energy.

And the prize-winner: Jenna would not sign autographs for an auction to raise money for children with HIV. Her reasoning was:

AIDS is a state of mind, not a disease.

Nice.

[Smashed Ice Cream]

Rivers Cuomo ruined Weezer for me. I've been a big fan for years, but never paid a lot of attention to press about the band, etc.

Recently GuitarWorld ran an article about him that had just WAY too many snarky comments from him about his fans, how he never talks to them because they're obnoxious, etc. As much as I love their music, I just can't make myself like them anymore.

[Pencepon]

Add me to the anti-Scientology group. I don't want to get into trying to spell eighthing...eighththing...dang.

I try not to delve too deeply into the lives of the stars for this very reason. Otherwise, some perfectly good movies would be lost to me forever.

[LindyHopper]

Nathan Lane, Martin Short, and Jim Carrey all suffer from what I would call "I'm always acting!" syndrome. They're just insufferably pretentious and annoying in interviews (well, Jim Carrey's not pretentious), and they can't actually just be normal people. Every comment is tossed off with a flourish, and they're always performing. Just grates on my nerves something awful.

[dangermom]

:( What did Danny Kaye do? I love Danny Kaye...

Several of the people mentioned above.

Milton. Great poet--awful, awful man. And as long as I'm on authors, Karen Blixen (aka Isak Dinesen). She was snotty as could be.

[LolaBaby]

Janet Jackson

She threw a diva sized tantrum when Renee Zellweger was supposed to introduce her at some awards show and was pissed off because Renee wasn't a "big enough star" to be introducing her. Ewww.

[TeaElle]

Jumping on the anti-Scientology bandwagon. Unwillingness to line the Co$'s pockets means that I still haven't seen the South Park movie, drat it all.

I am also repulsed by fashion models who brag about and embrace their ignorance. Reading Tyra Banks going on about not caring about all of the places that she's been fortunate enough to travel to just devastated me. How selfish and insipid can someone be?

Rosie O'Donnell's unfettered hypocrisy destroyed her in my eyes, no matter the good she's attempting to do for gay adoptive parents.

Any personality who refuses to give autographs to fans who approach them in a polite manner gets me -- especially when they tell fans "I'll sign something for you if you send a SASE to my foundation and include a $10 donation." Yes, Jane Seymour, I'm glancing in your pathetic direction.

My eye is jaundiced toward R. Kelly now, too. I'll be glad if the allegations are disproven, but I'm not holding my breath.

Valerie Harper made some nasty anti-Canadian comments during her failed bid for the SAG presidency, and really, her entire campaign was pretty muddy. Major points lost.

Ed Asner lost all cred in my eyes by calling my nana before the 2000 election (via an automated recording) and trying to scare her into voting Gore by insinuating that she'd likely die of starvation and untreated disease if Bush were elected. Fearmongering in the elderly is just cheap and nasty.

Danny Glover and Richard Gere made some truly stupid comments after 9/11 - but I'll wait to see if they keep their "blame America first" stuff up before I come to final conclusion.

Lastly, Tipper Gore still holds a place of infamy in my heart for using her influence to waste the time of the U.S. senate in hearings about rock music, and remaining completely in favour of the movement which spurred the entire debacle. It's called the First Amendment you ignorant woman. Look into it. Grr.

[scm1001]

musicians here in britian

Mick Hucknell (simply red)
Gallagher Brother (oasis)
Jay Kay (jamiroquai)

all talented, like their music, but boy are they the biggest headed bunch of prats out. Listening to an interveiw is like sitting through someone screeching down a blackboard.

[Caffeine.addict]

tlw
Jumping on the anti-Scientology bandwagon. Unwillingness to line the Co$'s pockets means that I still haven't seen the South Park movie, drat it all.

Are you sure about that? I haven't been able to find any references to them being members of the church of scientology. Isaac Hayes who plays Chef is but the creators have actually been somewhat critical of Scientology.

I have to agree with everyone who has mentioned Travolta. I like him in Get Shorty and Pulp Fiction but his status as a Scientologist creeps me out.

I hate Madonna but I can't think of any one incident that would explain why.

[Koffing]

Originally posted by brujo
tlw


Are you sure about that? I haven't been able to find any references to them being members of the church of scientology. Isaac Hayes who plays Chef is but the creators have actually been somewhat critical of Scientology.

I have to agree with everyone who has mentioned Travolta. I like him in Get Shorty and Pulp Fiction but his status as a Scientologist creeps me out.

I hate Madonna but I can't think of any one incident that would explain why.
Isaac Hayes? A $cientologist?

...

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

There is no joy in Muddville.

[Boyo Jim]

I Remember Andy Garcia apperaing in Miami proclaiming that Elian Gonzales should be allowed to decide where he should live. How old was the kid? 7? I remember I wanted a gun and a car at that age.

[Guinastasia]

Originally posted by lorinada

I never liked Bill Murray after I saw him on a late night talk show deriding Cary Grant for being gay.

Cary Grant was GAY? Are you sure you're not thinking of Rock Hudson?

:confused:

(not that there's anything wrong with that, but, I've never heard that...)

Oh, and yojimboguy reminded me of someone else-Gloria Estefan. I used to like her music, but after seeing her down there campaigning for Elian's wacko relatives...

As far as Jenna Elfman goes-those are the beliefs of $cientology, so she's not alone....and I actually used to like her in the first season of Dharma and Greg.

[Eats_Crayons]

Originally posted by Scupper

And the prize-winner: Jenna would not sign autographs for an auction to raise money for children with HIV. Her reasoning was:

Quote:
AIDS is a state of mind, not a disease.
Dooooh... That just ruined all things Jenna Elfman for me.... Oh, well. I wasn't much of a fan anyway,

[Eve]

"Cary Grant was GAY? Are you sure you're not thinking of Rock Hudson?"

—Cary Grant may have been bisexual. He had several marriages and relationships with women, but there's also evidence he had a long-term relationship with actor Randoilph Scott.


Back to the OP, painter Jacques-Louis David was hugely talented, but he also turned against his original sponsors, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, and was one of the people who voted to have them executed. He also did a very nasty sketch of Marie on her way to the guillotine, and really kissed-up to Napoléon.

[Zap_Rowsdower]

Not an actor but a sports celeb.

Charles Barlkley--I heard a story, never motivated enough to find out if it is true, that he engaged in a competition with a high school girl shooting free throws. If he lost he would go to her school and talk to the students, or something like that. I do not remember the rest of the story, but he lost and never upheld his end of the bargain. If the story is true then he is a mega-a**hole.

[illuminati]

Originally posted by scm1001
musicians here in britian

Mick Hucknell (simply red)
Gallagher Brother (oasis)
Jay Kay (jamiroquai)

all talented, like their music, but boy are they the biggest headed bunch of prats out. Listening to an interveiw is like sitting through someone screeching down a blackboard.


Liam yes Noel no.

I love all of Oasis' work but I wont go and see them life because of Liam.
Some one needs to sit him down and tell him to act his age.

He makes himself look like an uneducated, layabout, yob. He gives all people living in Manchester and a bad reputation. He is the example my friends give when doing the old 'Northerners are stupid and our ruining this country' argument with me just because they know how much he annoys me!

Noel on the other hand is the talented song writer behind the band who is constantly trying his hardest to hold the group together, when it seems Liam is attempting to do the exact opposite. If only Noel could do all the singing and Liam could go and fester in a dogdy bedsit somewhere on his own!

[Politzania]

Originally posted by Eve
[B]—Cary Grant may have been bisexual. He had several marriages and relationships with women, but there's also evidence he had a long-term relationship with actor Randolph Scott.

"You'd do it for Randolph Scott!"

Sigh - I'll never hear that quote the same way again.... :D


Ob OP Answer:
I'll have to agree with Alec Baldwin belonging on this list -- I wasn't a fan of Bush either, but the "move to Canada" quote was stoopid.

[Guinastasia]

Cary Grant may have been bisexual. He had several marriages and relationships with women, but there's also evidence he had a long-term relationship with actor Randolph Scott.


Huh. Well I'll be damned. I never knew that!


While I have never seen anything he was in, any movie that features Ronald Reagan would probably have me blowing chunks.