# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/21 "2016-10-01T03:11:59Z")
I don’t know that you can ever call someone who is an actual box office draw an actor who shouldn’t be getting work anymore. Even if you think he or she sucks, if it’s a person that can sell tickets to a movie just by being in it, then they are earning their paycheck. I think what the OP is actually looking for, although he can correct me if I’m wrong, is actors who are not draws and not particularly good actors, yet still seem to be getting work for reasons no one can quite figure out. Patrick Wilson is that guy for me. I realize he’s James Wan’s go-to guy, and if James Wan thinks he’s perfect as a lead that’s great, but no one else should really be hiring this guy to carry a movie. He’s not even good playing off a better actor. I liked Lakeview Terrace, but I found Wilson completely unsympathetic despite the fact that Samuel L. Jackson was playing total psycho. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/22 "2016-10-01T04:03:57Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I don’t know that you can ever call someone who is an actual box office draw an actor who shouldn’t be getting work anymore. Even if you think he or she sucks, if it’s a person that can sell tickets to a movie just by being in it, then they are earning their paycheck. Yeah, you wonder if all the Tom Cruise haters realize that it is a business. Studios don’t get income according to the arbitrary acting judgments of fans only for the tickets they buy. So things like this in Forbes [Box Office: Tom Cruise Hasn’t Had A Real Flop In Nearly 30 Years](http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2015/07/30/box-office-tom-cruise-is-still-a-man-of-few-flops/#13b8214d18ee) may have some bearing on the subject of Tom Cruise’s suitability for acting jobs. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/23 "2016-10-01T04:19:06Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > My nomination: January Jones. Winner. And despite how much he seems like an awesome guy, I’ve got to nominate Keanu. The last thing I saw him in, _Knock Knock_, he was so bad that I felt sorry for him. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/24 "2016-10-01T05:26:11Z")
Oh, Keanu’s terrible, but personally I like to see him in movies. You know who I don’t like though? Gerard Butler. And although he’s considered A-list, I’m not really convinced that his presence in movies puts butts in seats the way a Tom Cruise or Will Smith does. He certainly didn’t save Gods of Egypt. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/25 "2016-10-01T05:33:01Z")
One person I think we’d all agree on is Steven Seagal, although major studios haven’t given him work in a couple of decades. But there’s still a market for his direct to video movies even though it’s all the same thing: 1. Problem exists 2. Steven Seagal shows up, notices problem 3. Seagal kicks everyone’s ass who is part of the problem 4. Seagal faces big bad guy at the end and kicks his ass as easily as he kicked the asses of the guys before him 5. Problem solved, Seagal has not yet sweat, much less actually been in any danger whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/26 "2016-10-01T05:46:46Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > Will Farrell. He can’t act, he is not funny, and he can’t act funny. The perfect Trifecta. \*Stranger than Fiction \*is one film he did great acting in. How… i have no idea. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/27 "2016-10-01T05:48:01Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Nic Cage Used to be good, too…☹ ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/28 "2016-10-01T05:51:18Z")
Oh yeah, Nicolas Cage. Cage to me is one of those guys who can be great in certain roles but should never have been a leading man. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/29 "2016-10-01T05:56:34Z")
Jessica Alba. Hot but can’t act, and is a real diva to work with. Katherine Heigl, can act, within limited roles, but thinks she is all that and a side of fries. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/30 "2016-10-01T06:00:08Z")
Megan Fox! Probably the epitome of that particular problem. And I’d note since I’m thinking of TMNT that I don’t like Will Arnett either. Those Turtles though, they should be in everything.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/31 "2016-10-01T12:45:07Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > **Ben Affleck.** Terrible actor, plus he always looks like he’s holding in a fart. I like him better in a supporting role, but not as the star. I wasn’t thrilled with his Batman portrayal. Evidently I have a lot of company with that 🙂 > [@](#): > > 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. That’s how I’ve always felt about Jack Nicholson. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/32 "2016-10-01T12:49:08Z")
I always thought that Nicholson could only do crazy but his performance in About Schmidt was outstanding. Now Clooney, I love that guy. My wife hates anything he’s in. Clooney’s a draw though, so he’s earning his roles, just like Cruise. Ben Affleck seems to have moved onto something he does better than acting… directing. The movies he’s directed have been very well received. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/33 "2016-10-01T17:01:51Z")
> [@kiz](#): > > I like him better in a supporting role, but not as the star. I wasn’t thrilled with his Batman portrayal. Evidently I have a lot of company with that 🙂 > > That’s how I’ve always felt about Jack Nicholson. Check out: Chinatown Five Easy Pieces Carnal Knowledge The Last Detail The Passenger All brilliant takes on different characters. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/34 "2016-10-01T17:49:13Z")
Jessica Alba is another actress who thinks she’s a super diva, when in fact she was just hot and not bad. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/35 "2016-10-01T18:01:33Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Say what you want about Cruise, but **Jack Reacher** and **Edge of Tomorrow** were loads of fun. > > …snip… Best part of Edge of Tomorrow was watching Cruise die over and over. And he had actual acting occur while doing it. > [@RealityChuck](#): > > Watch Anderson in _The Fall_ and you’ll change your mind. First thing I thought of. She was great in that. > [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > Will Farrell. He can’t act, he is not funny, and he can’t act funny. The perfect Trifecta. He and Adam Sandler are two reasons I will not watch a movie. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/36 "2016-10-01T19:45:50Z")
> [@Lok](#): > > He and Adam Sandler are two reasons I will not watch a movie. Those are definite warning signs, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/37 "2016-10-01T20:02:16Z")
Forbidden Hollywood’s They Shouldn’t Be In Pictures cites Juliette Lewis, Keanu Reeves and Melanie Griffith. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/38 "2016-10-01T20:50:35Z")
Will Smith. He only plays one character (an ‘alpha male’) and he sucks at it. I have no idea why he is famous. He was good in fresh prince, but that was 20 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/39 "2016-10-01T21:00:57Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > … Patrick Wilson is that guy for me. I realize he’s James Wan’s go-to guy, and if James Wan thinks he’s perfect as a lead that’s great, but no one else should really be hiring this guy to carry a movie. … He was very impressive (playing a character, not just a lead) in _Hard Candy_. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2016, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314/40 "2016-10-01T21:02:32Z")
Bill Paxton. He’s like watching a CPR dummy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-who-keep-getting-work-who-should-never-work-again/767314.md?page=3)