# 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:** 9
**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 15, 2006, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/161 "2006-02-15T17:37:51Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > Now that you mentioned it, how **about** Bo Derek? 10 should have made her a star – did she do anything else of note? Tarzan was just mention and she did Bolero. Then she did “lesser movies”. 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 15, 2006, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/162 "2006-02-15T17:39:52Z")
> [@What Exit?](#): > > Tarzan was just mention and she did Bolero. Then she did “lesser movies”. > > Jim Thinking about it, did she ever have a moive role where she kept her clothes on? Was it while she was under 40? ---
**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 15, 2006, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/163 "2006-02-15T17:49:39Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > **Miles O’Keefe** as Tarzan in the Bo Derek version – surely the most underplayed Tarzan in history. So underplayed that I never even realized it was him. For the longest time (we’re talking YEARS here) I conflated the Bo Derek Tarzan and _Greystoke_, and thought Christopher Lambert starred with Derek… > [@CalMeacham](#): > > He turned up as Ator in two Ator movies (one of them showed up on MST3K, inspiring “Miles and Miles O’Keefe”) “Who is this stranger with pecs like melons and knees of fringe?” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/164 "2006-02-15T17:59:06Z")
> [@Maus Magill](#): > > How about Sam J Jones from Flash Gordon. > > Sure he had a supporting role as Bo Derrick’s husband in 10, but what else? He was the millionaire’s chauffer-enamored son in _My Chauffer_, a great favorite of the submariners on many a West-Pac (the movie, not Sam Jones – not that there would be anything _wrong_ with that). ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2006, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/165 "2006-02-15T18:08:31Z")
> [@What Exit?](#): > > Juliet was Olivia Hussey and she did largely disappear. > > Jim I suspect so. But when Zefirelli did a miniseries on the life of Christ, he went to Ms. Hussey for the role of Mary (the virgin, not the hussy). ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/166 "2006-02-16T05:16:53Z")
> [@Sleel](#): > > My contribution: the guy who played Jim Craig in The Man from Snowy River, Tom. . .something. He was in that film, the sequel, Return to Snowy River, that ties up the big flapping loose ends from the first movie, and that’s all I can remember ever seeing him in. That was a Disney film, I’m pretty sure it was his first real role, he was pretty good and the movie was good quality, especially for Disney, and he had that good-looking charm thing going for him. I’m surprised he didn’t get more work after that. **Burlinson**. These days he makes a living impersonating Frank Sinatra in ads and soundtracks, his voice is presumably much better than his acting. Wonderfully, he did do a minor film _The Time Guardian_ with another candidate here - **Carrie Fisher** , no less. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/167 "2006-02-16T05:23:48Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > **Miles O’Keefe** as Tarzan in the Bo Derek version – surely the most underplayed Tarzan in history. Also by far the [hottest](http://www.briansdriveintheater.com/tarzan/milesokeeffe/milesokeeffe1.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Treviathan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/838e76/32.png) [@Treviathan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treviathan)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/168 "2006-02-16T05:39:55Z")
I’ll submit the actress (whose name escapes me, but I think might be **Iben Hejle** or something similarly Scandinavian) who played John Cusack’s girlfriend Laura in _High Fidelity_. I haven’t seen her in anything since - at least not in any North American productions. Also, did **Haing S. Ngor** appear in anything after winning an Oscar for _The Killing Fields_? ---
**Author:** ![mike1dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@mike1dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mike1dog)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/169 "2006-02-16T05:43:41Z")
The lead in Breaking Away never had another hit did he? Christopher was his name I think. I did see him on some Law and Order episode once though. ---
**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 16, 2006, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/170 "2006-02-16T06:00:47Z")
> [@mike1dog](#): > > The lead in Breaking Away never had another hit did he? Christopher was his name I think. I did see him on some Law and Order episode once though. Dennis Christopher? ---
**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 16, 2006, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/171 "2006-02-16T13:23:50Z")
**Tania Mallet** plays Tilly Masterson (the sister of the girl who gets painted gold. Till’s the one with the gun who gets her neck broken by Oddjob’s hat) in **Goldfinger** , and had no other movie roles: > **[Tania Mallet - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0539965/)** > > Tania Mallet, Actress: Goldfinger. Tania Mallet was born in Blackpool, England. Her English-born mother, Olga Mironoff, was of Russian descent, and had been a beautiful chorus girl. Her father was a successful English car salesman, Henry Mallet. Her... ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/172 "2006-02-16T13:41:37Z")
I seem to have missed any mention of Keir Dullea, who starred in _2001_ and has had only minor roles since, as far as I know. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/173 "2006-02-16T15:08:19Z")
Karen Allen’s also in **The Perfect Storm**. Bit part, but she’s there. How about that guy who played Neil in **Dead Poets’ Society**? He’s been in a coupla other things, but being in Sly Stallone’s awful **Driven** might have killed what was left of his career (and I _love_ CART racing). Speaking of Dead Poets’, before **That 70s Show** came along, I always, always thought of the guy who plays Red as “Neil’s dad.” I’ve seen him in various other TV shows and movies (so I guess he can’t count as a one hit wonder), but I always think of him as Neil’s dad. So in my mind, that role pretty much defined him. No way Brad Dourif belongs on this list. Mark Hamill maybe, but (as has been noted) he’s been quite successful in voice talents. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/174 "2006-02-16T17:28:50Z")
> [@Treviathan](#): > > Also, did **Haing S. Ngor** appear in anything after winning an Oscar for _The Killing Fields_? No. Unfortunately, Dr. Ngor was murdered in a 1996 robbery by members of an ethnic-Asian street gang. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/175 "2006-02-16T18:02:39Z")
> [@Snickers](#): > > How about that guy who played Neil in **Dead Poets’ Society**? He’s been in a coupla other things, but being in Sly Stallone’s awful **Driven** might have killed what was left of his career (and I _love_ CART racing). Um, if Neil is the character in DPS whose dad now plays Red, then Neil is Robert Sean Leonard, who can be seen weekly in a major supporting role on _House_, one of the more popular dramas. He had an uneven career for awhile (some not-good movies, did a lot of stage work - he was masterful as the younger son in _Long Day’s Journey Into Night_ when I saw it), but his his star has hardly faded into complete obscurity. > [@Snickers](#): > > Speaking of Dead Poets’, before **That 70s Show** came along, I always, always thought of the guy who plays Red as “Neil’s dad.” I’ve seen him in various other TV shows and movies (so I guess he can’t count as a one hit wonder), but I always think of him as Neil’s dad. So in my mind, that role pretty much defined him. Agreed. I didn’t realize it until year’s later, but he’s also the villain in _Robocop_. And another villain in that movie, the one that got mutated by the toxic waste, was also the doc on _ER_ that lost an arm. I first recognized him from _Fame_, where he played the gay kid. ---
**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 16, 2006, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/176 "2006-02-16T18:17:35Z")
> [@Ichbin Dubist](#): > > I seem to have missed any mention of Keir Dullea, who starred in _2001_ and has had only minor roles since, as far as I know. Actually, I came back to this thread specifically to mention him. Keir Dullea (pronounced KEER Duh-lay) was the ‘subject’ of a great essay by Truman Capote about the fleeting nature of pop culture fame entitled “Kier Dullea, Gone Tomorrow”. Anyway, I see this thread seems to be primarily about actors, but one of the great one-hit wonder _directors_ of all time has got to be Charles Laughton who made the flick **Night of the Hunter**. Laughton (well-known as an actor) directed this one picture and was so upset at it’s initially poor box office take that he swore never to direct again - and actually never did. The film however is one of the greatest thrillers to ever come out of Hollywood. ---
**Author:** ![psiekier](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psiekier/32/116_2.png) [@psiekier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psiekier)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/177 "2006-02-16T18:59:42Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > **Carrie Henn.** Played Newt in **Aliens.** Only role. Why don’t you put her in charge? 😉 > [@Yeester](#): > > **Merriam D’Abo** without IMDB I can’t name the movie I remember her from, but MAN was she cute. Late eighties early nineties. I think she has recently been on Law and Order: CI I remember her pouring champagne down her back in _Playboy_ to celebrate her becoming a Bond girl. The movie you’re probably thinking of is _The Living Daylights_ with Timothy “Prince Barin” Dalton as 007. > [@waterj2](#): > > And **Meat Loaf** , of course. (OK, maybe not on film so much, but he had at least a major role in Fight Club). He was “Tiny”, the bouncer in _Wayne’s World_: **Wayne:** Hey, Tiny, who’s playin’ tonight? **Tiny:** Uhhh… Jolly Green Giants and the Shitty Beetles. **Wayne:** _[laughs]_ The Shitty Beetles? Are they any good? **Tiny:** No, man - they suck! He also had a role in the Steve Martin movie _Leap of Faith_. Me? I nominate **Lance Guest** , who played the small-town-boy-turned-intergalactic-hero Alex Rogan in _The Last Starfighter_. I loved that movie, but I know he never went on to anything else of cinematic interest. On the DVD, he introduces the “special features”, and he looks just like he did in it except that he now had a beard and looked a little older. **Grig:** Xur think’s you’re still on Earth. Classic military strategy- surprise attack! **Alex:** It’ll be a slaughter! **Grig:** That’s the spirit! **Alex:** No, _my_ slaughter! One ship against the whole armada?!? Plus, it wasn’t until I saw it again all those years later that I relized under all that makeup that Grig, his alien navigator, was The Old Man from the _Robocop_ movies. If you hear the voice and see the mannerisms, it’s obvious even with all the creature effects. They also mention that they specifically wanted Robert “The Music Man” Preston to play the part of Centauri because they wanted someone that everyone on Earth could readily identify as somewhat of a con man. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/178 "2006-02-16T19:28:44Z")
> [@psiekier](#): > > He was “Tiny”, the bouncer in _Wayne’s World_: > > **Wayne:** Hey, Tiny, who’s playin’ tonight? > **Tiny:** Uhhh… Jolly Green Giants and the Shitty Beetles. > **Wayne:** _[laughs]_ The Shitty Beetles? Are they any good? > **Tiny:** No, man - they suck! I always assumed it was “The shitty BeAtles”. And of course, the next line is: **Wayne** : Then it’s not just a clever name ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/179 "2006-02-16T19:55:34Z")
A few people mentioned Jack Wild in this thread. Sadly, Wild destroyed his health with drinking and smoking. He developed oral cancer which has left him disfigured and unable to speak, drink or eat. He is writing a book about his life now. I think of Dennis Christopher too when I think about this kind of thing. I think he could play an older brother to Gwyneth Paltrow if needed. Tom Hulce too. He’s been in other stuff sure, but nothing close to the promise he showed in Amadeus. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057/180 "2006-02-16T20:05:01Z")
I loved Robin Wright in The Princess Bride. I almost didn’t recognize her in Forrest Gump. That’s two for her–but has she done anything else? Besides marry Sean Penn? (I’m being good and not looking her up on IMDB). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cinemas-greatest-one-hit-wonders/344057.md?page=10)