# Cinema's Greatest One Hit Wonders **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 12, 2006, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057 "2006-02-12T00:53:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/101 "2006-02-13T15:42:45Z")
> [@](#): > > Good point, The entire cast of Godspell pretty much disappeared also. > Lynn Thigpen went on to do lots of character work on TV, I saw her on Rosanne and a PBS kids show “where in the world is Carmen Sandiego” but no more movie roles that I recall. She was on Broadway a lot I think. > > The rest I never saw in anything. > > Someone let me know if I am wrong. You’re wrong. Some months back I looked up the cast of **Godspell** , I found that Victor Garber (Jesus himself!) has been pretty busy and visible, although I wouldn’t have recognized him: > **[Victor Garber - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001255/)** > > Victor Garber, Actor: Argo. Victor Garber has been in some of the most memorable projects of the past four decades. Victor has recently appeared in The Slap (2015), The Flash (2014), Motive (2013) and Web Therapy (2011). He is currently staring in... Lynne Thigpen was pretty busy , too. Hecjk, in Carmen Sandiego, she was The Chief! (She was also The President in Bicentennial Man) > **[Lynne Thigpen - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0858106/)** > > Lynne Thigpen, Actress: The Warriors. Multi-talented actress Lynne Thigpen was born Cherlynne Thigpen in Joliet, Illinois, on December 22, 1948. She performed in community theater and university theater productions while attending the University of... ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/102 "2006-02-13T15:45:46Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > My first thought was “Daryl Hannah.” She once made quite a “Splash,” then became better known for bad movies and her mostly memorable role was her song-and-dance with Jackson Browne and JFK Jr. She was great as the love interest in “Roxanne” which takes her off the OHW list. She was also the female lead in “The Last Days of Frankie the Fly” but it’s not really the sort of film that takes one off a OHW list. ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/103 "2006-02-13T15:52:53Z")
Two of the cast members of “Chasing Amy” come to mind. Joey Lauren Adams and the guy who played \_\_\_\_\_\_X. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/104 "2006-02-13T15:57:21Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Brad Dourif? Yep. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/105 "2006-02-13T15:59:07Z")
> [@Sage Rat](#): > > And of course let us not forget the wonderful **Vincent Gallo** who after making _Buffalo '66_ went on to become famous only for being one of the true great detestible creeps in the movie business. I just saw a few minutes of Buffalo '66 the other day, and ever since I found out what a shit bag this guy is, I can’t even like this movie anymore. I try really hard to separate the man from his art, but I simply can’t with this schmuck. ---
**Author:** ![haardvark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5ac83/32.png) [@haardvark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/haardvark)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/106 "2006-02-13T16:14:02Z")
He was the skeevy lawyer in this man-in-plane-crash-reevaluates-his-life film starring Jeff Bridges. _Fearless_? In any case, I’m sure the residuals from Amadeus and Animal House allow him not to sweat the casting calls too much. Oh! Other AH cast members: Stephen Furst (Flounder) was also in St. Elsewhere for quite a while…as well as in a shitty teen caper film, _Midnight Madness_, starring a full blown B-cast and a young Micheal J Fox. Peter whosit (Boone) was in **Crossing Delancey** with Amy Madigan. Here’s mine: the seminal bike flick, _Breaking Away_, centred on a foursome of boys: Dennis Quaid and Daniel Stern have enjoyed varying success, but what the hell happened to the other two? The star performer was in an episode of **Stingray** once… Speaking of bike flicks, _American Flyers_ had Kevin Costner, Rae Dawn Chong, Robert Townshend, Alexandra whosit from Baywatch, and…the main guy. Who I’ve never seen since. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/107 "2006-02-13T16:15:14Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > In a similar position was **George Lazenby**. While his _On His Majesty’s Secret Service_ is a well-regarded James Bond films, he had to content himself with minor roles thereafter. I’ll second the Lazenby nomination. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/108 "2006-02-13T16:32:37Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > What about the dude who played **Peter** in **Office Space**? It’s no Raiders of the Lost Ark but it’s a huge cult hit and I can’t think of anything else big he’s done. Whatever his name was, he was in Band of Brothers too. That was a few years ago too. ---
**Author:** ![zenith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zenith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zenith)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/109 "2006-02-13T16:33:31Z")
Robert Walker, who gave a brilliant performance in _Strangers On A Train_ . He died shortly after making that film and I can never watch _Psycho_ without thinking, that had he lived, Robert Walker would have made a much better Norman than Anthony Perkins did. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/110 "2006-02-13T16:47:10Z")
> [@haardvark](#): > > …snip… Peter whosit (Boone) was in **Crossing Delancey** with Amy Madigan. I should have remembered that one, I saw it when it came out but not since. > [@haardvark](#): > > Here’s mine: the seminal bike flick, _Breaking Away_, centred on a foursome of boys: Dennis Quaid and Daniel Stern have enjoyed varying success, but what the hell happened to the other two? The star performer was in an episode of **Stingray** once…snip… The one kid was the Tough Kid/Great player from the original Bad News Bears and he had a role with Tom Cruise in the Outsiders I think. Jim ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/111 "2006-02-13T16:51:27Z")
> [@What Exit?](#): > > The one kid was the Tough Kid/Great player from the original Bad News Bears and he had a role with Tom Cruise in the Outsiders I think. I was wrong, I had to check. Ralph Macchio was the short kid in the Outsiders. He was Jackie Earl Haley and was in all 3 Bad News Bears movie. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/112 "2006-02-13T17:14:07Z")
How about Alex Winter? He made a nice splash with Keanu Reaves in the two Bill & Ted movies. Since then…? Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/113 "2006-02-13T17:26:38Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > My first thought was “Daryl Hannah.” She once made quite a “Splash,” then became better known for bad movies and her mostly memorable role was her song-and-dance with Jackson Browne and JFK Jr. Most recently, she had a pretty large role as Elle Driver in the two _Kill Bill_ movies. I’m not sure that’s enough to overcome one-hit wonder status, but younger moviegoers might still recognize her. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/114 "2006-02-13T17:38:42Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > My first thought was “Daryl Hannah.” She once made quite a “Splash,” then became better known for bad movies and her mostly memorable role was her song-and-dance with Jackson Browne and JFK Jr. Hey, now…she played Morticia in _Addams Family Reunion_! How can you not call that a hit? Oh, god…it actually hurt to type that. I may need therapy if my emotional scarring from that movie can overtake my natural sarcasm… ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/115 "2006-02-13T18:06:57Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Oh, I’m very familiar with that thing. I grew up watching it. (I wonder if we’ve still got it on tape?) My thinking was that the show made him famous, and then came the movie. IIRC, they shot the movie concurrent with the first season. The show might have made him famous in those few months but I don’t think he got huge until syndication. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/116 "2006-02-13T18:13:22Z")
I’ll go for **Michael J. Pollard**. He was the alien boy on the other side of mirror opposite Angela Cartwright in a classic B&W Lost in Space episode, then got nominated for an Oscar as C.W. Moss in Bonnie and Clyde, then…nada. He resurfaced in _Roxanne_ as one of the firemen, and was the bum who freezes to death in _Scrooged_, both twenty years after his heyday, and that’s about it. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/117 "2006-02-13T18:16:09Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > IIRC, they shot the movie concurrent with the first season. The show might have made him famous in those few months but I don’t think he got huge until syndication. My understanding was that the show was extremely popular in its day, prompting the other two networks (yeah, there were only three back then) to create their own tongu-in-cheek superpower shows, that were called _Captain Wonderful_ and _Mr. Terrific_. Neither did well. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/118 "2006-02-13T19:02:09Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Hey, now…she played Morticia in _Addams Family Reunion_! How can you not call that a hit? > > Oh, god…it actually hurt to type that. I may need therapy if my emotional scarring from that movie can overtake my natural sarcasm… I considered posting the same thing, and my fingers wouldn’t do it. They actually cramped and started bleeding. And all I’ve seen is the movie poster. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/119 "2006-02-13T19:03:21Z")
Has anybody yet mentioned **Tallulah Bankhead** , a star on Broadway and a diva (back when the term ‘diva’ actually meant something special), but her only memorable film role was in Alfred Hitchcock’s _Lifeboat_. After that epic showcase, her next most memorable ‘screen’ performance was playing a one-off villain on ‘Batman’ (she was the Black Widow.) And what about **Heather Matazzaro** from _Welcome to the Dollhouse_? She never followed up that performance with anything nearly as memorable. I think she was on a WB teenybop soap, or something or other. But that’s not saying much after being ‘weiner dog.’ ---
**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:** [February 13, 2006, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/120 "2006-02-13T19:17:17Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > Jennifer was in the huge _Dirty Dancing_, then got her nose fixed and never did anything significant again. Did I miss anyone mention her role as Ferris Bueller’s sister Jeannie? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057.md?page=7)