# Actors you're surprised never made it big **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 27, 2011, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-youre-surprised-never-made-it-big/587044 "2011-06-27T17:46:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-youre-surprised-never-made-it-big/587044/21 "2011-06-28T10:01:14Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Jason Carter- He played Marcus on Babylon 5. I’ve seen him in commercials since, but little else. > > I thought he’d be successful . Christ no. He has one of those awfully English accents that try so hard to sound like what an American things an English accent should sound like. I’d put money on it not being how he sounded like when he was growing up. The guy that played the Brit in Enterprise has the same problem. I can’t stand either of them, they make my ears hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-youre-surprised-never-made-it-big/587044/22 "2011-06-28T11:02:12Z")
Noah Taylor. I thought he outshone [sic] Geoffrey Rush in _Shine_ as the teenaged Helfgott and I really liked _Simon Magus_ but he seems to be puttering along with supporting roles in things like the \*Tomb Raider \*films and Tim Burton’s _Charlie and the Chocolate Factory_. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2011, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-youre-surprised-never-made-it-big/587044/23 "2011-06-28T11:27:52Z")
[Paul Le Mat](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0494432/) Started out as the cool but likable John Milner in _American Graffiti_ and won a Golden Globe. Made one movie every two years after that and then starred in Jonathan Demme’s underrated _Melvin and Howard_ and was nominated for another Golden Globe. Two years later won another Golden Globe as Farrah Fawcett’s abusive husband in _The Burning Bed_. All that followed were lots of nothing roles. I would have sworn early on he was going to be a huge star and lots of other people from his first movie did became stars. Such is life in showbiz. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-youre-surprised-never-made-it-big/587044/24 "2011-06-28T14:51:04Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Who are some actors who you swore were going to be top stars, but never really made it? > > I’m surprised and pleased that Madeleine Stowe has been in a lot of movies. But so few were really big pictures. I’ll always think of her as that woman in _Twelve Monkeys_. I saw her in _Revenge_ and _Stakeout_, and she seemed okay but nothing special. But she was SO good in _Twelve Monkeys_ that I agree with you-- she coulda shoulda been a bigger name. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-youre-surprised-never-made-it-big/587044/25 "2011-06-28T15:03:28Z")
Ben Foster. He absolutely steals the show from Christian Bale and Russel Crowe in [3:10 to Yuma](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0381849/) (the 2007 remake), and he’s fantastic in the just above average space-thriller [Pandorum](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1188729/). You might also remember him as the pierced up friend in [The Punisher](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0330793/) from 2004. He’s just phenomenal - he’s on my list of actors I’ll go out of my way to see, regardless of what they’re in. Yet he’s not as big as he deserves to be - I think it’s because he kind of resembles Justin Timberlake. Anyway, I love the guy. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-youre-surprised-never-made-it-big/587044/26 "2011-06-28T15:17:11Z")
I always wondered about Cary Elwes, but I guess he didn’t have much range beyond “wry”. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-youre-surprised-never-made-it-big/587044/27 "2011-06-28T15:33:58Z")
Lacey Chabert. credits? lots of voice acting, Lost in Space (1998 remake), and the brunette in Mean Girls. She was the only one out of those 4 girls (lohan, rachel mcadams, amanda seyfried) not to make it HUGe and it’s puzzling. i thought she was the most attractive one. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-youre-surprised-never-made-it-big/587044/28 "2011-06-28T15:58:06Z")
> [@pancakes3](#): > > Lacey Chabert. credits? lots of voice acting, Lost in Space (1998 remake), and the brunette in Mean Girls. > > She was the only one out of those 4 girls (lohan, rachel mcadams, amanda seyfried) not to make it HUGe and it’s puzzling. i thought she was the most attractive one. Well, I don’t know if the second two there would count as making it huge, but they’re certainly doing better than her, and she was also one of the main characters in Party of Five, so I agree - it is surprising. She was so fetch. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-youre-surprised-never-made-it-big/587044/29 "2011-06-28T16:02:34Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > I always wondered about Cary Elwes, but I guess he didn’t have much range beyond “wry”. I think he’s pretty big. Princess Bride definitely put him on the map. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-youre-surprised-never-made-it-big/587044/30 "2011-06-28T16:08:19Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > I always wondered about Cary Elwes, but I guess he didn’t have much range beyond “wry”. > [@tdn](#): > > I think he’s pretty big. Princess Bride definitely put him on the map. I guess it depends on what you mean by “big” - he seems to have gotten a lot of supporting work, but the only other leading role I see from a quick glance at IMDB is Robin Hood: Men in Tights. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-youre-surprised-never-made-it-big/587044/31 "2011-06-28T16:09:28Z")
Haley Joel Osment seemed like a fantastic actor as a child – not just a “child actor.” But going by [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haley_Joel_Osment#Filmography) it looks as if he’s been doing not much beyond video game voice work for the past ten years. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-youre-surprised-never-made-it-big/587044/32 "2011-06-28T16:23:19Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > Christ no. He has one of those awfully English accents that try so hard to sound like what an American things an English accent should sound like. I’d put money on it not being how he sounded like when he was growing up. > > The guy that played the Brit in Enterprise has the same problem. I can’t stand either of them, they make my ears hurt. They’re both British by birth and upbringing. I think you may not know just how MANY different English accents there are, not to mention Scotland and Wales. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-youre-surprised-never-made-it-big/587044/33 "2011-06-28T16:35:42Z")
> [@bump](#): > > They’re both British by birth and upbringing. > > I think you may not know just how MANY different English accents there are, not to mention Scotland and Wales. I’m British. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-youre-surprised-never-made-it-big/587044/34 "2011-06-28T16:46:24Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > I guess it depends on what you mean by “big” - he seems to have gotten a lot of supporting work, but the only other leading role I see from a quick glance at IMDB is Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Don’t forget Saw. He has more range, he just got stuck in wry. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-youre-surprised-never-made-it-big/587044/35 "2011-06-28T16:58:09Z")
Aidan Quinn (The Handmaid’s Tale, Benny and Joon, Songcatcher) – a good-looking guy and a pretty good actor. He isn’t unsuccessful, but he never broke into the top tier at the box office. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-youre-surprised-never-made-it-big/587044/36 "2011-06-28T17:06:47Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-youre-surprised-never-made-it-big/587044/37 "2011-06-28T18:41:42Z")
> [@Greg\_Charles](#): > > Aidan Quinn (The Handmaid’s Tale, Benny and Joon, Songcatcher) – a good-looking guy and a pretty good actor. But he has that voice. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-youre-surprised-never-made-it-big/587044/38 "2011-06-28T19:03:35Z")
> [@Snickers](#): > > Ben Foster. He’s good.. but always slightly creepy. I think that is what held him back. He had a few good roles (3:10 was kind of his big break out and then his follow up, The Messenger was rell received) and some high profile stuff like X-men 3 and the aforementioned 3:10 to Yuma, but wasn’t ever given a movie to carry. Doubtful that he will. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-youre-surprised-never-made-it-big/587044/39 "2011-06-28T19:25:53Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > Don’t forget Saw. He has more range, he just got stuck in wry. I was thinking of _The Crush_, _Cradle Will Rock_, _Seinfeld_. But yeah, those were all kind of a long time ago. Looking at his recent history, he hasn’t done much. I think he’s a good actor, and very good looking, but a little generic. I’d have a hard time picking him out of a crowd. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2011, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-youre-surprised-never-made-it-big/587044/40 "2011-06-28T19:36:02Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I was thinking of _The Crush_, _Cradle Will Rock_, _Seinfeld_. But yeah, those were all kind of a long time ago. Looking at his recent history, he hasn’t done much. He was great in PSYCH, as the world’s greatest art thief: so smooth that he never leaves any clues! Because he never stole a damn thing! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-youre-surprised-never-made-it-big/587044.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-youre-surprised-never-made-it-big/587044.md?page=3)