# What actor has fallen the furthest since their Oscar? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 2, 2005, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-has-fallen-the-furthest-since-their-oscar/319660 "2005-09-02T00:29:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-has-fallen-the-furthest-since-their-oscar/319660/21 "2005-09-02T01:54:17Z")
Marlee Matlin sure hasn’t done a lot notable since “Children of a Lesser God.” As the Token Deaf Character, she might not have a lot of opportunity, but since she pretty much just won the Oscar for being deaf, there’s a certain logic to her career arc. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-has-fallen-the-furthest-since-their-oscar/319660/22 "2005-09-02T01:56:22Z")
F. Murray Abraham has done lots of made for TV movies, including supporting roles in cheesy biblical TV movies with fake beards and bad robes (both here and in Germany). Estelle Parsons had a comeback of sorts with _Roseanne_, but she was one of the few Oscar winners to do episodic TV guest shots with no big “special guest star” hooplah. She actually did a _Love American Style_ only 3 years after the Oscar. (Roseanne may be the only sitcom ever to have three Oscar winners on screen at one time: Estelle [a regular as Roseanne’s mother], Shelley Winters [recurring role as Estelle’s mother] and Red Buttons [brief recurring role as Estelle’s boyfriend].) Joel Grey has never come close to the Oscar winning greatness of The Emcee, and now Alan Cummings has chased him from the public memory. His nadir was probably a guest shot on _Alice_, but he’s had some distinguished supporting roles in TV movies and series since then. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-has-fallen-the-furthest-since-their-oscar/319660/23 "2005-09-02T01:57:00Z")
> [@Green Bean](#): > > I’m not sure that’s really fair. **Ray** was released in 1994, and Foxx won the oscar in early '95. **Stealth** was released in '95. Therefore, I’d assume that Foxx filmed Stealth long before he won the Oscar. Oh shit, I’m caught in a time warp! ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-has-fallen-the-furthest-since-their-oscar/319660/24 "2005-09-02T02:03:10Z")
\*\*Gwyneth Paltrow \*\* since _Shakespeare in Love_? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-has-fallen-the-furthest-since-their-oscar/319660/25 "2005-09-02T02:05:06Z")
Kinda Sorta related article [Agh! The Curse of Oscar!](http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,2722,00.html) ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-has-fallen-the-furthest-since-their-oscar/319660/26 "2005-09-02T02:29:58Z")
I beg to differ – Stallone is the best actor in the world at that one immortal role (his first big one) and its derivatives. If he’d realized that, he’d actually be respected today. Imagine if John Wayne had gotten an Oscar for _Stagecoach_, and then flitted from musicals to light comedy for the next couple decades: the Duke would today be the punchline of as many jokes as Rocky. > [@Casey1505](#): > > That wouldn’t have been much of a fall, though. And FWIW, **Eve** , while I will need lots of details added, I totally welcome 1920s-era stuff, and I don’t think I’m the only one. ---
**Author:** ![TJVM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b38774/32.png) [@TJVM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJVM)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-has-fallen-the-furthest-since-their-oscar/319660/27 "2005-09-02T02:33:39Z")
Another vote for Cuba Gooding, Jr. I agree with the above posters about Jamie Foxx; also, I’m looking foward to [Jarhead](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0418763/) . ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-has-fallen-the-furthest-since-their-oscar/319660/28 "2005-09-02T02:35:43Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > I think **Eve** and I are starting to meld into one person. You can be Ray Milland if I can be Rosey Grier . . . ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-has-fallen-the-furthest-since-their-oscar/319660/29 "2005-09-02T02:38:08Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > You can be Ray Milland if I can be Rosey Grier . . . I see you more as Pam Grier, **Eve**. Ah, but that would be a very different movie. ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-has-fallen-the-furthest-since-their-oscar/319660/30 "2005-09-02T02:47:10Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Kinda Sorta related article > [Agh! The Curse of Oscar!](http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,2722,00.html) You mean a writer for E! doesn’t understand [regression to the mean](http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/badscience/story/0,12980,1527588,00.html)? I’m shocked! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-has-fallen-the-furthest-since-their-oscar/319660/31 "2005-09-02T03:01:33Z")
If you look at Cuba Gooding Jr’s IMDB listing, you’ll see he followed up his Academy award winning role in _Jerry Maguire_ with the challenging role of “liquor store clerk” in _Do Me a Favor_. If not the furthest, he must have fallen the fastest. ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-has-fallen-the-furthest-since-their-oscar/319660/32 "2005-09-02T03:07:18Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > \*\*Gwyneth Paltrow \*\* since _Shakespeare in Love_? Made me think of Helen Hunt, “As Good As It Gets” (1997). ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-has-fallen-the-furthest-since-their-oscar/319660/33 "2005-09-02T03:11:04Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#): > > If you look at Cuba Gooding Jr’s IMDB listing, you’ll see he followed up his Academy award winning role in _Jerry Maguire_ with the challenging role of “liquor store clerk” in _Do Me a Favor_. If not the furthest, he must have fallen the fastest. I’m gonna go out on a limb and guess that that was also filmed before his Oscar and fame. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-has-fallen-the-furthest-since-their-oscar/319660/34 "2005-09-02T03:16:31Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > So, what’s Marisa Tomei been up to, lately? Oscar nomination a few years ago. ---
**Author:** ![The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_King_of_Soup)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-has-fallen-the-furthest-since-their-oscar/319660/35 "2005-09-02T03:33:36Z")
The OP didn’t say anything about falling the fastest, just the furthest, so I’ll nominate Ernest Borgnine. He had a quick trip to the top but it’s been pretty much a fifty-year slide since. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-has-fallen-the-furthest-since-their-oscar/319660/36 "2005-09-02T04:00:04Z")
Regarding Gwyneth Paltrow, sure she’s been in a couple of less than stellar movies since her oscar (bounce, view from the top), but she’s also been in a couple good ones like Sylvia or the Royal Tennenbaums. She’s got a few in the works that look promising and one that is about to be release that I am a bit excited for (Proof). She has a long way to go before she’s in Cuba Gooding Jr. territory. Another I’ll add to the list is Mercedes Reuhl. ---
**Author:** ![MilTan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-has-fallen-the-furthest-since-their-oscar/319660/37 "2005-09-02T04:17:56Z")
> [@The King of Soup](#): > > The OP didn’t say anything about falling the fastest, just the furthest, so I’ll nominate Ernest Borgnine. He had a quick trip to the top but it’s been pretty much a fifty-year slide since. Hey now. He had his own _navy_. That’s gotta count for something! ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-has-fallen-the-furthest-since-their-oscar/319660/38 "2005-09-02T04:33:34Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > I’m of the opinion that winning an Oscar allows someone to make crap for many, many years afterwards. > > But who’s fallen the furthest? > > For the purposes of this conversation, let’s limit the Oscar-winning to Best Actor/Actress/Supporting Actor/Supporting Actress. This automatically disqualifies Sylvester Stallone. > > Is it Kim Basinger, who made the horrible _Cellular_ and _Elvis Has Left the Building_? > > Let’s try to keep it contemporary, as well. Hearing about someone from the '20’s is of no interest to me, either. Basinger was quite good in **The Door in the Floor** in 2004. Too bad it was seen by so few. ---
**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:** [September 2, 2005, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-has-fallen-the-furthest-since-their-oscar/319660/39 "2005-09-02T04:41:03Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Joel Grey has never come close to the Oscar winning greatness of The Emcee, and now Alan Cummings has chased him from the public memory. His nadir was probably a guest shot on _Alice_, but he’s had some distinguished supporting roles in TV movies and series since then. Come now…even a guest shot on _Alice_ can’t compare to the nadir that is playing an ancient, incredibly stereotypical Chinese kung-fu master in the fine Mickey-Rooney-in-Breakfast-At-Tiffany’s tradition in [Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins](http://imdb.com/title/tt0089901/). ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-has-fallen-the-furthest-since-their-oscar/319660/40 "2005-09-02T04:44:21Z")
> [@Green Bean](#): > > I’m not sure that’s really fair. **Ray** was released in 1994, and Foxx won the oscar in early '95. **Stealth** was released in '95. Therefore, I’d assume that Foxx filmed Stealth long before he won the Oscar. > > And I agree that doing big-budget schlock is quite different from doing crappy B-movies. Nicolas Cage spent many a year as Jerry Bruckheimer’s gigolo, but I’d assume that was because he chose to do those movies, rather than because he couldn’t get anything better. > > Cuba Gooding Jr., on the other hand… Hey, uh, **Mr. Green Bean**? Dude? Uh… you may want to, like, check your calender… or something… because apparently 10 years have gone by that no one told you about… It’s already the 21st century, dude. Oh, and even tho I quit… could you pass that thing over here? Thanks… Oh, and hey… uh… all you posters who read this and didn’t see anything wrong with it… could you also pass that on over? Thanks… 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-has-fallen-the-furthest-since-their-oscar/319660.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actor-has-fallen-the-furthest-since-their-oscar/319660.md?page=3)