# Actors you were sure would make it big, and they didn't **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 26, 2013, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-were-sure-would-make-it-big-and-they-didnt/677194 "2013-12-26T03:47:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-were-sure-would-make-it-big-and-they-didnt/677194/221 "2014-01-10T16:03:59Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > The problem with this thread is that any actor any of us could name for whom the response from everyone else isn’t “Who the hell is that?” already has achieved more than the vast majority of actors. Maybe the people we’re mentioning aren’t “A-list” actors making $20 million per role, but there are just a handful of those. Exactly, there’s probably a dozen A-List actors. Maybe two dozen if you get really generous (and include TV actors). Go back a few years and read up on all the “Is the A-List Actor Dead” hand-wringing. It happens every time the list drops under ten names. Which is often, because no one can agree on who’s an “A-List” actor anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-were-sure-would-make-it-big-and-they-didnt/677194/222 "2014-01-10T18:46:17Z")
[Paul Schneider](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0773973/?ref_=tt_cl_t3). The guy turns in terrific performances in every film he’s in. He gets steady work, but it’s someone’s sister’s husband type roles. He deserves a better career. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2014, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-were-sure-would-make-it-big-and-they-didnt/677194/223 "2014-01-11T18:47:29Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > Danielle Brisebois (sp?) from All in the Family…hot babe w/a primo rack when she grew up-same fate as Judge. Went into music (New Radicals, solo stuff, songwriting) ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-were-sure-would-make-it-big-and-they-didnt/677194/224 "2014-01-13T09:45:04Z")
He’s not a professional actor, but Joe Kucan was the face and star of the best-selling Command and Conquer series for over 15 years. [He plays Kane with such intensity](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=kane+nod&sm=3), I’m amazed he’s never acted in anything else. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-were-sure-would-make-it-big-and-they-didnt/677194/225 "2014-01-13T10:16:47Z")
What about James Marsters, who played Spike on _Buffy_ and _Angel_? Based on his popularity with fans, he looked like he was a sure bet to become a big star; instead he has pretty much been limited to recurring roles in a few shows since then. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-you-were-sure-would-make-it-big-and-they-didnt/677194.md?page=11)