# Actors who keep getting work who should never work again. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 30, 2016, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314 "2016-09-30T21:33:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/1 "2016-09-30T21:33:06Z")
I mean because they are terrible actors. Some actors keep finding jobs in movies or TV and no one can seem to figure out why. I don’t even mean people like Adam Sandler, who keeps cashing huge checks. I mean actors who are dry as could be or just terrible at emoting. I have a patron saint for this: [Mahershalalhashbaz Ali](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNDg4OTczODE5Nl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMjgwMjA0Mg@@._V1_UY317_CR32,0,214,317_AL_.jpg) This man. He can not act at all. He’s dry. Dry like sandpaper. I see he’s in Luke Cage. Sigh. Another show I have to see that he appears in. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/2 "2016-09-30T21:38:00Z")
the shrill voiced chick that started in ellen and moved over to the nab show with the gay room mate and straight girl … I cant remember right now … the only variation in character was the second was drunk 90 percent of the time And shes in 40 commercials and red robin spokesperson …I think she had her own talk show for 5 minutes ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/3 "2016-09-30T22:37:27Z")
Tom Cruise ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/4 "2016-09-30T22:50:21Z")
Say what you want about Cruise, but **Jack Reacher** and **Edge of Tomorrow** were loads of fun. I’m gonna go with Sam Worthington. Bland, bland, bland. ---
**Author:** ![tenacious\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@tenacious\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tenacious_j)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/5 "2016-09-30T23:20:49Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > the shrill voiced chick that started in ellen and moved over to the nab show with the gay room mate and straight girl … I cant remember right now … the only variation in character was the second was drunk 90 percent of the time > > And shes in 40 commercials and red robin spokesperson …I think she had her own talk show for 5 minutes I think those are 2 different people. The girl from Ellen is Clea Lewis[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0507051/](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0507051/). The Red Robin girl is Melanie Paxson [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0601609/](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0601609/). Both have that cutesy voice that gets old really fast. I have never been a fan of Gillian Anderson. She bugged me in X Files and I don’t recall seeing her in anything and really liking her work. There’s something about the way she speaks, especially as American characters. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/6 "2016-09-30T23:22:36Z")
Watch Anderson in _The Fall_ and you’ll change your mind. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2016, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/7 "2016-09-30T23:41:21Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Say what you want about Cruise, “He was great in TROPIC THUNDER, in a role nothing like the one from COLLATERAL.” My nomination: January Jones. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/8 "2016-10-01T00:10:38Z")
I used to think this about Kate Mulgrew, but then she has been so delightfully over-the-top in “Orange is the New Black.” My ongoing complaint from her “Voyager” days is that it always looked like she was _acting_. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/9 "2016-10-01T00:18:32Z")
Kyle MacLachlan ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/10 "2016-10-01T00:24:08Z")
Nic Cage ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/11 "2016-10-01T00:46:36Z")
Will Farrell. He can’t act, he is not funny, and he can’t act funny. The perfect Trifecta. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/12 "2016-10-01T00:58:09Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Watch Anderson in _The Fall_ and you’ll change your mind. Yes, Anderson is great in _The Fall_. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/13 "2016-10-01T00:59:22Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > I’m gonna go with Sam Worthington. Bland, bland, bland. I’ll agree with this. I think I’ve seen him in three movies. Avatar, Terminator Salvation, and Clash of the Titans. He was terrible in all three. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/14 "2016-10-01T01:07:03Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I mean actors who are dry as could be or just terrible at emoting. > > I have a patron saint for this: > > [Mahershalalhashbaz Ali](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNDg4OTczODE5Nl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMjgwMjA0Mg@@._V1_UY317_CR32,0,214,317_AL_.jpg) > > This man. He can not act at all. He’s dry. Dry like sandpaper. Aw, hell no. There is a perfectly legitimate reason for him to keep getting roles: He’s fucking HOT. ---
**Author:** ![Melisande](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dec6dc/32.png) [@Melisande](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melisande)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/15 "2016-10-01T01:07:18Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > the shrill voiced chick that started in ellen and moved over to the nab show with the gay room mate and straight girl … I cant remember right now … the only variation in character was the second was drunk 90 percent of the time > > And shes in 40 commercials and red robin spokesperson …I think she had her own talk show for 5 minutes Megan Mullally? She doesn’t have a huge range, but she is good fun. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/16 "2016-10-01T01:13:03Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > Will Farrell. He can’t act, he is not funny, and he can’t act funny. The perfect Trifecta. Not always. [Stranger Than Fiction](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0420223/) ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/17 "2016-10-01T01:22:54Z")
> [@Melisande](#): > > Megan Mullally? She doesn’t have a huge range, but she is good fun. [This just came out a few days ago](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzae4DKexko). Warning: political commentary. Sorta? ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/18 "2016-10-01T02:31:00Z")
**Ben Affleck.** Terrible actor, plus he always looks like he’s holding in a fart. Speaking of smug, supercilious jerks: **George Clooney.** Well, with reservations. He’s great in any role which requires him to play a smug, supercilious jerk (_Ocean’s Eleven,_ etc.) But in more serious roles, I can never get past the fact that he’s basically playing George Clooney. Speaking of even more smug, supercilious jerks: **Tom Cruise.** He’s the anti-George Clooney, in that I _hate_ when he plays a smug, supercilious jerk, which is 90% of the time. I’ve never been able to watch _Risky Business_ more than halfway through because I just want to punch him in the face. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/19 "2016-10-01T02:46:50Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > Will Farrell. He can’t act, he is not funny, and he can’t act funny. The perfect Trifecta. Neither is Jim Carrey, although I haven’t heard much from him in the past few years. Amy Poehler isn’t funny either, and she’s really creepy too MHO. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/20 "2016-10-01T02:57:10Z")
**Wil Wheaton**. Well, he doesn’t really get cast in anything anymore, much to his frustration and confusion, but I think the reason is he’s not a very good actor. I like the guy in most of his other endeavours, but his acting stinks. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314.md?page=2)