Huh? Did anyone in 2001: A Space Odyssey go on to fame and fortune? A starring role in a Kubrick film is as good, for most actors, as entering the Witness Protection Program.
Just in case you’re serious:
O’Neal was already a huge star when he made *Barry Lyndon - one of the biggest stars of the 1970’s, actually. Ht movies he made before BL include Love Story, What’s Up, Doc *and *Paper Moon. *His career faltered in the 1980’s and never really recovered, but you can’t say he never became a bigger star: he *was *a bigger star.
Yeah, this is clearly a generation gap thing. I have never even heard of any of those movies, let alone seen them.
Paper Moon at least is well worth seeing. Best thing Ryan O’Neal ( or his daughter Tatum for that matter ) ever did, Barry Lyndon possibly excepted.
OK, someone else: Barry Pepper. I have liked this guy in everything I’ve seen him in, from Saving Private Ryan to the hugely-underrated Knockaround Guys (which also featured Dennis Hopper, John Malkovich, Vin Diesel and Tom Noonan) - so where the hell is Barry now? His filmography listed on Wikipedia for the past few years looks depressingly slim. Was it Battlefield Earth that destroyed his reputation?
She did seem (deserved or not) to have a reputation as an unstable kook.
When I first heard that “the guy who played David Helfgott in Shine” had been nominated for an Oscar I said “Oh yeah - the one who played him as a teenager, right?” Er, no. And not to begrudge Geoffrey Rush his accolade but I thought Taylor had acted rings around him, an opinion confirmed when I later saw him in Simon Magus.
Mostly since then I’ve only spotted him in supporting roles, like the tech guy in the Tomb Raider films or as Charlie’s dad in the Tim Burton Charlie and the Chocolate Factory film. A pity, methinks.
Tate Donovan. His career fizzled out until recently, but his two fiances’ careers took off, Sandra Bullock and Jennifer Aniston.
Brendan Fraser. Now you are probably thinking to yourself “but that guy is a big star!” and yes, I agree. He works all the time. But he seems to be stuck in kids’ adventure movie roles. I was convinced he was going to become a MEGAstar, like a Brad Pitt level A list box office draw. I’m still confused that he isn’t.
I don’t understand why he doesn’t do more serious film (I cannot believe I just used the phrase “serious film” in a sentence, but whatever), the kind that gets real attention from the critics … and if the guy doesn’t like drama, and I agree that he has a great comic presence, then why isn’t he doing smart comedy?
He’s in “Extraordinary Measures” with Harrison Ford, which seems to be a serious drama.
You must not watch much TV. There are tons of ads for his upcoming drama with him starring opposite Harrison Ford.
This is true, I don’t watch TV commercials, so I haven’t seen the trailers. I’m glad to see he is taking steps to address the concerns I have about his career. 
I noted on IMDB the other movie he has coming out is called Furry Vengeance, so I sincerely hope that the Harrison Ford drama is what sticks.
Might this have something to do with it?[
](Farrah Forke - Biography - IMDb)
mmm, I guess not, she was in *Wings *just after.
Back when **North Dallas Forty **came out, I was sure I’d be seeing a lot of Dayle Haddon. But, alas, no.
I also thought Linda Kelsey from (Billie Newman on Lou Grant) would have a big career in TV.
From what I’ve seen of him in interviews, and articles about him, he’s somewhat of a goofball in real life, so he may choose goofy comedies and Mummy-type of adventure movies for fun, rather than they’re all he can get.
He is one of my favorite actors though, and I agree that he has dramatic talent as well, so I would like to see him do more movies in general.
Terry O’Quinn has been a working supporting actor since the 80s, where I became a fan due to his regular roles in shlocky horror movies. I always kept saying “Man, this guy is good and will break it big soon.”
Lost has given him a mainstream gig, but I still think he should have been A-list DeNiro/Pacino level.
Teri Garr had a decent acting career, but never really broke out as a star like I thought she would. She was gorgeous in Young Frankenstine. Maybe she was typecast as just a comedic actress.
Pete Postlethwaite
Dragonheart, The Usual Suspect, ummm . . . something else.
Very good dramatic actor that had a dry sense of humor in his roles.