# What performer did you think was gonna become a big star - but didn't **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 15, 2004, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-performer-did-you-think-was-gonna-become-a-big-star-but-didnt/255200 "2004-07-15T02:52:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-performer-did-you-think-was-gonna-become-a-big-star-but-didnt/255200/41 "2004-07-15T21:46:29Z")
Andre Braugher should be a huge star. After Homicide he has been good in mostly forgetable movies and tv shows. Looks like he is going to have a career in supporting roles ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-performer-did-you-think-was-gonna-become-a-big-star-but-didnt/255200/42 "2004-07-15T22:11:34Z")
> [@Spurious George](#): > > \*“Star Trek” veteran Michelle Forbes has landed the central role of the mysterious Miranda Zero in Mark Burnett’s “Global Frequency.” \* > > With impeccable timing, The Hollywood Reporter today says that > That’s a new “Alias”/“X-Files” type show from the producer of Survivor. I’d say that’s not nowhere. Awesome! Global Frequency is based on an action-packed comic book written by Warren Ellis. I’ve been wondering who would play Mirando Zero for a while now, since she’s one of two recurring characters–the rest of the cast every issue was always new, selected from the Global Frequency’s 1001 agents around the world, depending on what sort of mission was necessary. Linda Fiorentino would have been my selection for the tough, no-nonsense leader, but Michelle Forbes should be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-performer-did-you-think-was-gonna-become-a-big-star-but-didnt/255200/43 "2004-07-15T22:12:02Z")
> [@The Scrivener](#): > > [Keir Dullea](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001158/) … But since the 1960’s, his career has been mainly limited to TV. But he was on _The Star Lost_. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-performer-did-you-think-was-gonna-become-a-big-star-but-didnt/255200/44 "2004-07-15T22:30:42Z")
After “The Dangerous Lives of Alter Boys” and “Igby Goes Down” I was sure Kieren Culkin would be famous but he hasn’t done anything since Igby goes down. I guess it’s too early to say he’ll never be a big star but since he hasn’t signed onto a new project since Igby. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-performer-did-you-think-was-gonna-become-a-big-star-but-didnt/255200/45 "2004-07-15T22:35:46Z")
> [@Chastain86](#): > > **Skeet Ulrich** could have been very big. A younger carbon-copy of Johnny Depp, he was Neve Campbell’s boyfriend in the first “Scream” movie. IIRC, he decided to quit the acting biz altogether. Not sure why. Where did you get _that_ from? Ulrich was top billed in “Miracles” last season, and he’s got a TV movie in post-prod as we speak. > [@Ethilrist](#): > > **Mark Hamill** had a surprisingly dead-end career, The dead ends in question being the nerve endings in his face, which only partially reconnected when he required reconstructive surgery following a car crash just after Star Wars and reduced his facial mobility. He’s now one of the best known voice actors in the world, so it’s not been all bad for him either. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-performer-did-you-think-was-gonna-become-a-big-star-but-didnt/255200/46 "2004-07-15T22:41:29Z")
I always wanted to see more of **Jaye Davidson** , who was so spectacular as Dil in _The Crying Game_. It seems like he just vanished from the face of the earth. What happened to him? ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-performer-did-you-think-was-gonna-become-a-big-star-but-didnt/255200/47 "2004-07-15T22:57:48Z")
> [@don't ask](#): > > After watching Peter Weir’s _Gallipoli_ I confidently predicted Hollywood stardom for young star Mark Lee. I seem to recall that Mark Lee was involved in a car accident in South Australia several years later while filming another movie and his since been completely disabled (both physically and intellectually). ---
**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-performer-did-you-think-was-gonna-become-a-big-star-but-didnt/255200/48 "2004-07-15T22:59:33Z")
Tatum O’Neal, after she won an Oscar for her role in “Paper Moon” and was a co-Star of “Bad News Bears”, who would have guessed she would completely disappear for the next 30 years (due to drugs and bad decisions)? not me I always thought Julie Doc Hollywood and Mr. Saturday Night Warner had “it” and would be a star, maybe not Julia Roberts, but maybe like Sandra Bullock a few years back. Jennifer Flashdance Beal’s film future looked awful bright at one point. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-performer-did-you-think-was-gonna-become-a-big-star-but-didnt/255200/49 "2004-07-15T23:00:13Z")
> [@pugluvr](#): > > I always wanted to see more of **Jaye Davidson** , who was so spectacular as Dil in _The Crying Game_. It seems like he just vanished from the face of the earth. What happened to him? He was the villain in _Stargate_ and hasn’t really made anything since. IMDB says he’s moving around in the fashion world. ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-performer-did-you-think-was-gonna-become-a-big-star-but-didnt/255200/50 "2004-07-15T23:43:28Z")
> [@badomen](#): > > Orlando Jones? He was a writer on the show too. Had small parts in Office Space and Evolution, and was the spokesman for 7-up for a while (Make 7, up yours). > > Very funny guy, but he has seemed to disappear. I saw him twice last year in Drumline and The Time Machine. I really like him. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-performer-did-you-think-was-gonna-become-a-big-star-but-didnt/255200/51 "2004-07-15T23:48:59Z")
He also had a co-lead in Evolution. I don’t know if he’s done much since then, but I wouldn’t say he’s disappeared- he’s had some sizeable roles in big movies. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-performer-did-you-think-was-gonna-become-a-big-star-but-didnt/255200/52 "2004-07-16T00:40:30Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > I seem to recall that Mark Lee was involved in a car accident in South Australia several years later while filming another movie and his since been completely disabled (both physically and intellectually). Well, according to the [IDMB](http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0497826/), it hasn’t prevented him from getting 18 roles since 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-performer-did-you-think-was-gonna-become-a-big-star-but-didnt/255200/53 "2004-07-16T00:56:59Z")
Going way back, I thought **Luana Anders** (1938-1996) would have made the big-time but never did. To me, her definitive role was as Tess in the original “Outer Limits” episode “The Guests”. At least Jack Nicholson acknowledged her in his 1998 Oscar acceptance speech. Speaking of “The Guests” episode, it also starred **Geoffrey Horne** , who I think fell under the “ **and introducing** ” curse. He was “introduced” in 'Bridge On The River Kwai". I believe Geoffrey Horne was also victim of yet another curse. Any actor who was ever referred to as ‘the New James Dean’ has invariably gone on to obscurity. Besides Geoffrey Horne, there were Lee Kinsolving, Christopher Jones and Michael Parks who all were going to be “the New James Dean”. Some folks have mentioned **Bruce Campbell** and I’m a fan of his too. Actually, just about anybody from that wacky wild west show “ **Briscoe County Junior** ” should have gone on to bigger and better things but didn’t. I especially liked **Kelly Rutherford** (Dixie Cousins). As for music, I always thought the group “ **Spirit** ” (founded in the mid-60’s) would make it big someday. The drowning death of their lead guitarist extraordinaire **Randy California** in January, 1997 certainly was an anti-climactic end to that group’s struggle for success. ---
**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:** [July 16, 2004, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-performer-did-you-think-was-gonna-become-a-big-star-but-didnt/255200/54 "2004-07-16T02:20:42Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > I seem to recall that Mark Lee was involved in a car accident in South Australia several years later while filming another movie and his since been completely disabled (both physically and intellectually). I believe you are thinking of Jon Blake who played the dashing good looking lead in _The Lighthorsemen_. It was his last film as he received severe injuries in a horrific accident while driving home at the end of filming. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-performer-did-you-think-was-gonna-become-a-big-star-but-didnt/255200/55 "2004-07-16T02:22:30Z")
> [@Rabid Child](#): > > **Christian Bale** : Not completely unknown, but not an A-List actor either. I figured he would become a household name and a huge star with _American Psycho_. Now I predict he’ll really boom with the new _Batman_ movie. Bale is great, but I’m afraid he may fall into a small group of actors who are too talented and versatile to become household names! He’s played such a variety of roles and does such a good job of bringing them to life (especially with the different accents) that it must be difficult for the average moviegoer watching one of his performances to remember that he’s the same guy who also did X, Y, and Z. I also suspect that earlier in his career some people confused him with Christian _Slater_. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-performer-did-you-think-was-gonna-become-a-big-star-but-didnt/255200/56 "2004-07-16T02:30:21Z")
> [@don't ask](#): > > I believe you are thinking of Jon Blake who played the dashing good looking lead in _The Lighthorsemen_. It was his last film as he received severe injuries in a horrific accident while driving home at the end of filming. Yes, I was mistakenly thinking of Jon Blake. My apologies. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-performer-did-you-think-was-gonna-become-a-big-star-but-didnt/255200/57 "2004-07-16T03:27:20Z")
> [@pseudotriton ruber ruber](#): > > You know the funny part oft his is when you remember watching actors whose names and credentials you can no longer recall. I’ve got an actress who played in some TV series that I’ve forgotten and her name–oh, yeah [mid-post memory burst] is Margaret Colin (?). Cute, gorgeous legs, and I thought–she’s going to be big. But her parachute never opened, and it;s sad I can recall even the name of the TV show I saw her on. Are you thinking of [Now and Again](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0212395/)? The entire cast of that show is made up of people who should be big stars, but aren’t–Margaret Colin, Eric Close, Dennis Haysbert, Heather Matarazzo, Gerrit Graham (mentioned by **Evil Captor** )… I guess it’s only fitting, because the show should have been a big hit, but wasn’t. As for the one I thought was going to be a huge star but isn’t–Aaron Eckhart. I watched _Erin Brockovich_ with my mom, and lemme tell ya–she ain’t exactly one to go for the biker type. But we both spent the whole movie going “ooo! He’s sooo cuuute!” But I guess he was sooo cuuute _only_ in that movie, since he’s not a big star. (Top billing in _The Core_ notwithstanding.) ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-performer-did-you-think-was-gonna-become-a-big-star-but-didnt/255200/58 "2004-07-16T03:34:07Z")
Naw. I loooked it up on IMDB and it was called LEGWORK. Amazing that name didn’t stay stuck in my memory, though her legs sure did. ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-performer-did-you-think-was-gonna-become-a-big-star-but-didnt/255200/59 "2004-07-16T03:43:05Z")
My own nomination for this thread: Diane Franklin I adored her in Last American Virgin, Better off Dead and Amityville 2. Nothing really significant since 1989. A mystery to me. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-performer-did-you-think-was-gonna-become-a-big-star-but-didnt/255200/60 "2004-07-16T03:46:20Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Andre Braugher should be a huge star. After Homicide he has been good in mostly forgetable movies and tv shows. Looks like he is going to have a career in supporting roles I agree with you about Braugher, but I expected his castmate Kyle Secor would become pretty famous, too. Looking at his [IMDB profile](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001717/bio), however, it doesn’t look like he’s done anything of much significance since then. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-performer-did-you-think-was-gonna-become-a-big-star-but-didnt/255200.md?page=2)