# What's the worst final movie of an actor's career? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 22, 2002, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-final-movie-of-an-actors-career/125089 "2002-08-22T15:50:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-final-movie-of-an-actors-career/125089/1 "2002-08-22T15:50:59Z")
A lot of people are interested in how stars got their starts - what was their big break, what role was the turning point in their career. But not me. I’m more interested in how they left us! Some actors go out in style, with their final movie appearance being at worst a fine film, and at best a classic. Others go out in disgrace, making bad films because they need the money, or because their egos got in the way of sound, sensible decisions. So what are your choices for the Worst Final Movie in an Actor’s Career? Here are some from me, off the top of my head: **Flesh Feast** (1969) - Veronica Lake. She coproduced it, too; she hadn’t acted since the late 1940s. **Hillbillies in a Haunted House** (1967) - Basil Rathbone. No longer the swashbucklin’ foil of yesteryear, or Sherlock Holmes. **The Sinister Invasion** (1968) - Boris Karloff. He actually made four films virtually simultaneously in 1968, all in Mexico. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-final-movie-of-an-actors-career/125089/2 "2002-08-22T16:19:28Z")
Cafe Society ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-final-movie-of-an-actors-career/125089/3 "2002-08-22T16:23:05Z")
:smack: :smack: :smack: :smack: I’m so freaking dumb. That’s the second time I’ve done that. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-final-movie-of-an-actors-career/125089/4 "2002-08-22T16:27:10Z")
As much as Bette Davis and Joan Crawford disliked each other, they have to be posthumously snickering at _Trog_ (Joan) and _The Wicked Stepmother_ (Bette). ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-final-movie-of-an-actors-career/125089/5 "2002-08-22T16:28:41Z")
**The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu** , a gawdawful “comedy” starring Peter Sellers. Released a few weeks after Sellers’ death, and only a year after his Oscar-nominated performance in **Being There** , this shabby bit of celluloid was a low end to a great career. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-final-movie-of-an-actors-career/125089/6 "2002-08-22T16:30:37Z")
And Bette walked off the set of **Wicked Stepmother** , too. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-final-movie-of-an-actors-career/125089/7 "2002-08-22T16:39:20Z")
Raul Julia ended with “Street Fighter” based on the video game ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-final-movie-of-an-actors-career/125089/8 "2002-08-22T16:44:20Z")
Well, I can give you a two-fer: “Dracula vs. Frankenstein” One of the worst horror movies ever made… around 1970 or so. And it marked the last film appearance ever for two well-known actors: Lon Chaney Junior and J. Carroll Naish. Not the way I want to remember either guy ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-final-movie-of-an-actors-career/125089/9 "2002-08-22T16:45:52Z")
According to IMdB, Raul Julia was in **Down Came a Blackbird** , a cable film released in 1995. I think that’s his last role. Also, Sellers died during the filming IIRC of **Trail of the Pink Panther** in 1982 (wasn’t that the one where they had to use a replacement for some scenes?). ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-final-movie-of-an-actors-career/125089/10 "2002-08-22T16:47:27Z")
More recent history… Raul Julia - **Street Fighter**. There is an asterisk though, according to [imdb.com](http://imdb.com) he appeared a fairly well reviewed _TV_ movie called **Down Came a Blackbird** which came out after Street Fighter. Can’t say which project he finished last… ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-final-movie-of-an-actors-career/125089/11 "2002-08-22T16:48:33Z")
Damn, triple-simulpost! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-final-movie-of-an-actors-career/125089/12 "2002-08-22T16:50:49Z")
What a great topic idea. I have nothing to contribute, but I like the topic! ---
**Author:** ![Fibonacci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df788c/32.png) [@Fibonacci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fibonacci)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-final-movie-of-an-actors-career/125089/13 "2002-08-22T16:55:48Z")
No contest. Bela Lugosi in **Plan 9 From Outer Space**. Recognized as the worst film ever made. Bela died during filming, so they used a stand in to finish. It doesn’t get more ignoble. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-final-movie-of-an-actors-career/125089/14 "2002-08-22T17:07:54Z")
Another: Errol Flynn’s final movie was **Cuban Rebel Girls** (1959). In the movie (which also featured Flynn’s final girlfriend, 15-year-old Beverly Aadland) Flynn, playing himself, aids the rebels overthrowing the Batista regime. Yes! He helps Castro! ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-final-movie-of-an-actors-career/125089/15 "2002-08-22T17:13:43Z")
Man, I’m _always_ late when I have a good answer! [sub]Peter Sellers[/sub] ---
**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:** [August 22, 2002, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-final-movie-of-an-actors-career/125089/16 "2002-08-22T17:14:42Z")
Arthur Godfrey’s last film was [Angel’s Brigade](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0078778) (also known as Angel’s Revenge for all you MST3K fans out there…). Now there’s a stinker. Zev Steinhardt ---
**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:** [August 22, 2002, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-final-movie-of-an-actors-career/125089/17 "2002-08-22T17:24:20Z")
Jackie Gleason: **Nothing in Common** Steve McQueen: **The Hunter** ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-final-movie-of-an-actors-career/125089/18 "2002-08-22T17:26:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gobear \* > \*\ ***The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu** , a gawdawful “comedy” starring Peter Sellers. Released a few weeks after Sellers’ death, and only a year after his Oscar-nominated performance in **Being There** , this shabby bit of celluloid was a low end to a great career. \*\* No, You’re thinking of David Niven (Sellers died twqo years earlier). In additon to the double, Rich Little dubbed some of Niven’s lines. ---
**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:** [August 22, 2002, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-final-movie-of-an-actors-career/125089/19 "2002-08-22T17:36:17Z")
I think Mae West’s final movie is more in-line with the OP. [Sextette](http://us.imdb.com/Details?0078238) ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-final-movie-of-an-actors-career/125089/20 "2002-08-22T17:36:23Z")
Orson Welles died shortly after doing the voice of Unicron in _Transformers: The Movie_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-worst-final-movie-of-an-actors-career/125089.md?page=2)