Stars that bucked your expectations

Let’s see:

[ol]
[li]Cuba Gooding Jr. - After Jerry McGuire it looked like he had the world at his feet (at least he could have been the next Will Smith). Now he’s straight-to-DVD.[/li][li]Dan Aykroyd - Thought he was very funny in the original SNL and Doctor Detroit. His career as a leading comedic actor never seemed to pan out.[/li][li]Jerry Orbach - Always knew that he was extremely talented after I saw him singing on The Mike Douglas Show and after he starred briefly in the Murder, She Wrote spinoff The Law and Harry McGraw. Had no idea that he would have been the best thing to happen to the Law & Order franchise during its entire run. [/li][li]Richard Gere - Thought he would have been an “elder statesman” in Hollywood by now. Now he’s a virtual recluse.[/li][li]Dennis Quaid - Thought he would have been the “go to” actor in the 2000s. Seems to have fizzled out and now he’s a character actor (when he can get work)[/li][li]Jasmine Guy - Much sexier and a much better actress than Halle Berry. Never hit it big.[/li][li]John Lone - Great actor who could have Hollywood’s top East Asian actor. Fell off the map and never came back.[/li][li]Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson - While he’s not a Shakespearean actor, he has more than proven that he can hold his own in comedies and dramas.Certainly the best wrestler-turned-actor in the business.[/li][li]Kurt Russell - In Hollywood since he was a kid and a strong actor. After a series of bombs in the 1990s, he has virtually disappeared.[/li][li]And finally…Robert Downey Jr. - After his drug problems in the 1980s/1990s, I thought that he’d be dead. Now he is one the biggest stars in Hollywood and likely will be for at least the next decade.[/li][/ol]

When I saw American Pie, I was convinced that Shannon Elizabeth had a huge career ahead of her. I was wrong.

Not especially pertinent to the OP specifically, but a look at the roster for the tv show Freaks & Geeks is pretty amazing. All these unknown actors who later became stars.

Also it’s a freaking amazing tv show. Only lasted 1 season…

Eric Roberts would be amused by this.

I first saw him in that abomination “Cool World”. He was the most watchable thing in it & I was happy years later when I realized it was him in that movie & that he’d gone on to bigger & better things.