# Worst working actors who are highly successful **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 23, 2009, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-working-actors-who-are-highly-successful/482545 "2009-01-23T00:10:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![LVBoPeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/858c86/32.png) [@LVBoPeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVBoPeep)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-working-actors-who-are-highly-successful/482545/81 "2009-01-23T23:57:13Z")
Man, I think I am 0-2 on people I don’t think are that bad because I really liked Naomi Watt’s in _The Painted Veil_. Honestly, I can’t remember seeing her in anything else though. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-working-actors-who-are-highly-successful/482545/82 "2009-01-23T23:57:48Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > I didn’t see Sweeny Todd but all I’ll say about Jack Sparrow and Willy Wonka is that just because you created a character doesn’t mean you created a _good_ character. If you don’t like Jack Sparrow then your opinion is meaningless. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![LVBoPeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/858c86/32.png) [@LVBoPeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVBoPeep)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-working-actors-who-are-highly-successful/482545/83 "2009-01-24T01:02:04Z")
deleted, my bad! ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-working-actors-who-are-highly-successful/482545/84 "2009-01-24T01:19:05Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > I liked David Caruso in the original NYPD Blue. There, I said it. > > Then he left to become a leading man (ha ha) in Hollywood. Man was that ever a dumb move. I remember seeing one movie in which he was confronted by some badasses and he said something like “you wanna dance with me?” It was freaking hilarious, skinny little carrot top trying to play a tough guy. And he was good in that series!!! Furthermore, I saw Caruso in an early episode of Miami CSI (or whatever it’s called). On that very same show, there was another NYPD Blue graduate - I call her tits because on NYPD, she like to put her hands on her hips and stick, ger tits out. She was a detective. She has an Irish name, as I recall. Anyway, in this early episode, Caruso plays it straight - no Sunglass gestures, no ridiculous poses, no cornfuckingball, heavyhanded line delivery. He was believable. Good, in fact. Then as time passed, the money factor took control, hammed the whole production up, and dumbed it down for the assholes of the world to watch in adoration. Months ago, I started a thread here denouncing Caruso, and I’m sorry I did. He’s probably quite uncomfortable acting way below his standards. Ah, but the money’s great. ---
**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:** [January 24, 2009, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-working-actors-who-are-highly-successful/482545/85 "2009-01-24T04:55:23Z")
This whole thread, and nobody’s mentioned Elisabeth Rohm? She is the David Caruso of the Law & Order franchise! “Is it because I’m a lesbian?” ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-working-actors-who-are-highly-successful/482545/86 "2009-01-24T05:16:51Z")
> [@tds1273](#): > > My picks have already been, but I had to give these a “really?” I haven’t seen Eastern Promises, but the audition scene in Mulholland Drive alone should at least save her from this list. Yeah, I agree. I haven’t seen EP but she was great in that scene. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-working-actors-who-are-highly-successful/482545/87 "2009-01-24T11:15:52Z")
I’ll strongly second Nicolas Cage and Kevin Costner and raise you Robin Williams. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Prize](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Sir\_Prize](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Prize)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-working-actors-who-are-highly-successful/482545/88 "2009-01-24T13:37:48Z")
\*\*Demi Moore \*\*out sucks everyone mentioned so far. (Except Madonna who isn’t really an actress.) ---
**Author:** ![spike404](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@spike404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spike404)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-working-actors-who-are-highly-successful/482545/89 "2009-01-24T14:08:32Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Oh come on, don’t you LOVE the way he takes off his sunglasses dramatically? And it NEVER gets old, no matter how many times he does it per episode. Every time he does the sunglasses bit I think of Robert Stack in “Airplane”. Caruso is the absolute worse! ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-working-actors-who-are-highly-successful/482545/90 "2009-01-24T14:50:19Z")
Will Ferrell. Start with a really unfunny line, and then scream it at the top of your lungs. He’s completely unwatchable. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-working-actors-who-are-highly-successful/482545/91 "2009-01-24T15:26:19Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > I realize he’s taking a break from acting, but I think the Governator should really be on this list. Well he did play [Hamlet](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCVc5TaPpe8) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-working-actors-who-are-highly-successful/482545/92 "2009-01-24T15:51:00Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > If you don’t like Jack Sparrow then your opinion is meaningless. 😛 I despise the _Pirates_ movie with the the heat of a nova; not even Kira Knightley can save them. But I enjoy Depp’s performance as Sparrow. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-working-actors-who-are-highly-successful/482545/93 "2009-01-24T16:01:29Z")
> [@tds1273](#): > > My picks have already been, but I had to give these a “really?” I haven’t seen Eastern Promises, but the audition scene in Mulholland Drive alone should at least save her from this list. > [@mswas](#): > > I don’t remember that scene, but she was truly horrible in Eastern Promises. Enough that it detracted from the overall experience. She was pretty bad in King Kong and absolutely phoned it in in The Ring 2 (I know, I know, my fault for watching that one.) But yes, Eastern Promises was what I was thinking of. Her suckage was a particularly flagrant offense because of how good that movie would’ve been without her. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-working-actors-who-are-highly-successful/482545/94 "2009-01-24T16:02:32Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I despise the _Pirates_ movie with the the heat of a nova; not even Kira Knightley can save them. But I enjoy Depp’s performance as Sparrow. It was “fun” in the first movie. It wore thin in the second. It was annoying as fuck in the third. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-working-actors-who-are-highly-successful/482545/95 "2009-01-24T16:04:37Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > It was “fun” in the first movie. It wore thin in the second. It was annoying as fuck in the third. I really should have said that I enjoyed the first one. I was unable to make it through the second. But not because of Depp. Does Not!Legolas die in the third one? I ask hopefully, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-working-actors-who-are-highly-successful/482545/96 "2009-01-24T16:18:02Z")
> [@Sir\_Prize](#): > > \*\*Demi Moore \*\*out sucks everyone mentioned so far. (Except Madonna who isn’t really an actress.) Oh hells, YEAH. I was bored and watching Ghost on TV once, and she was so awful. She made Swayze look like Brando. And she’s gorgeous, but after watching her act, it just made her look a lot less better in my eyes. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-working-actors-who-are-highly-successful/482545/97 "2009-01-24T16:18:50Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I really should have said that I enjoyed the first one. I was unable to make it through the second. But not because of Depp. > > Does Not!Legolas die in the third one? I ask hopefully, of course. I don’t know. I sold my soul to the devil in exchange for getting rid of my memory of that movie. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-working-actors-who-are-highly-successful/482545/98 "2009-01-24T16:25:38Z")
> [@Sir\_Prize](#): > > \*\*Demi Moore \*\*out sucks everyone mentioned so far. (Except Madonna who isn’t really an actress.) Demi is not so bad ,but she chooses movies like she is retarded. ---
**Author:** ![Windwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/5e9695/32.png) [@Windwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Windwalker)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-working-actors-who-are-highly-successful/482545/99 "2009-01-24T19:42:10Z")
**Tom Cruise** in this thread? He’s a decent actor, above average at least. He’s just looney tunes IRL, is all. He doesn’t make the top echelon because, as someone said, he’s never really able to disappear into the role, but few actors can. **Demi Moore** sold me on G.I. Jane, though Striptease was an abomination and I haven’t seen her in anything else. **Andie McDowell** worked well enough in Groundhog Day, but everything else she’s been in has produced pretty crappy performances. She’s a good candidate, which is a shame, considering the fact that I think she was one of the prettiest women in Hollywood (though yeah, she just projects blandness when she acts). **Keanu** is probably spared the title considering his acting style being fine for movies like The Matrix and even The Devil’s Advocate. His brief role in Dangerous Liaisons was comically bad, which just happens whenever he strays from his narrow range. **Will Ferrell** would have won the title in my mind if it were not for Stranger Than Fiction. He has the potential to pull off a Jim Carrey by getting away from his unfunny comedy and doing drama well. **Jennifer Aniston** knows her limits and does OK in most of her roles. I would like to nominate someone like **Molly Shannon** (or any of the SNL crew, actually, since most of them are just horribly unfunny), but most of them just aren’t really all that successful on the big screen, Ferrell notwithstanding. As for **Scarlett Johanssen** , she was good in Lost in Translation, which automatically disqualifies her. And she’s abso-freaking drop-dead beautiful, so stop hating. 🙂 \*\*Kevin Smith \*\*is a pretty awful actor, but I guess it’s good he only ever plays Silent Bob. Still, his expressions and gestures are just exaggerated and unfunny; I know he’s supposed to be a straight man to Jay’s schtick, but he’s not a very good one. Meh, I don’t know who to pick. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-working-actors-who-are-highly-successful/482545/100 "2009-01-25T01:55:28Z")
> [@Windwalker](#): > > \*\*Meh, I don’t know who to pick. Rob Schneider, Rob Schneider, Rob Schneider. Man, I can’t believe I’m the only one who’s mentioned him before. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-working-actors-who-are-highly-successful/482545.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worst-working-actors-who-are-highly-successful/482545.md?page=6)