Michael Richards tops my list. Back in the '90s I thought he was a comedic genius and I was sure this guy was going to have the most successful post-Seinfeld career. In fact I was actually looking forward to watching The Michael Richards Show in 2000. But then it tanked, he never really did much else and what career he did have was pretty much destroyed during the infamous n-word tirade of 2006.
So who are some others that you thought would be huge, but fizzled?
(Sorry, to me Kramer always looked like one step above homeless and smelled bad. Had to get that off my chest.)
American Beauty featured Wes Bentley, Mena Suvari, and Thora Birch in supporting roles. None of them have done much since, and that was a well known high profile movie.
Wes Bentley especially. He was actually one of the people considered for Spider-Man, and I remember thinking at the time that he would make a great Peter Parker.
Tahnee Welch had a great start in Cocoon. After that a few tv roles and European movies. She hasn’t done anything since 1999.
She has her moms beauty (Raquel Welch) and she seemed very talented. I thought she’d have similar success.
It always kind of amazes me that if you look at their careers outside of American Beauty, none of them have ever really done anything of note.
Thora Birch had Ghost World and Mena Suvari had American Pie, but American Beauty was just a tremendous fluke for all of them.
Laura Linney should be allowed to star in whatever movie she feels like. Though I sometimes think she works exactly as much as she wants to.
(She’s also kind of full of herself, but she’s talented enough that I forgive her.)
Alison Doody from the third Indiana Jones.
I know she was offered Eowyn, but had to turn it down when she was pregnant. I just thought she’d be more famous.
Full of herself?
Alicia Silverstone.
Just a tiny bit. I recall an interview she did on Bob Edwards Weekend on NPR some months back; she spoke of how she felt, though she had never directed a movie herself, that she could give advice to experienced directors about other actors’ performances. I remember thinking, “Wow–that must be annoying. You’re lucky you’re so freaking talented, or someone would have strangled and/or blacklisted you by now.”
I was just thinking about Thora Birch the other day when American Beauty came up, and wondered why her career never took off (outside of her role in Ghost World). I also recently saw a commercial for a Lifetime movie (during Project Runway, the only time that I watch said channel) about some pregnancy pact. Sad, that.
I agree. She was very good in the film, AND fantastically beautiful.
Sheena Easton the original American Idol.
Great looks, great body, great voice, she not only acts well, she used to be an drama teacher and a cute little Scottish accent. All this and yet, Sonny Crockett kills her off and that’s that.
Best line from her came from an interview with Australian talk show host, Rove McManus
Rove asked her advice about marriage. She replied “you’re asking ME about marriage?”
Easton’s been married four times none which lasted more than 2 years.
Going back, there’s Carrie Snodgrass. She got raves for Diary of a Mad Housewife, getting an Oscar nomination and winning a Golden Globe. She left acting, though, to live with Neal Young (and to care for their son), so her career went nowhere.
I thought Lauren Holly was on her way to superstardom, particularly after being seen in Dumb and Dumber. She’s gorgeous, and a great actress(see picket fences).
But she mostly still does small movies or small roles in bigger movies.
How can you possibly take someone seriously when their name is Doody?
Agree about Tahnee Welch.
I should also mention Jason Biggs. When I saw him in American Pie, I was certain he was going to be the next great comic star (sort of the equivalent of what Seth Rogen is today). But it looks like he’s done mainly supporting roles since then.
David Strathairn works a lot and appears to do very well for himself without being incredibly famous. He is one of the most talented actors working today and I would cast him in pretty much anything if I were a director.
I always thought Adrian Paul and Casper Van Dien would end up doing better. Not great. But better.
Eva Mendes is striking (to me anyway), so I certainly would not mind if she started showing up more often. I also think Christina Ricci really can act.
And there was that 3 seasons on NCIS in a major role.