Actors who were going to be The Next Big Thing—then fell off the face of the earth

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Julia Stiles and Kirsten Dunst were everywhere and then suddenly in absolutely nothing.

Looks like both of them have been working steadily over the past two decades. Dunst was nominated for an Oscar last year.

[Anonymous]

Jonathon Majors

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Julia Stiles and Kirsten Dunst were everywhere and then suddenly in absolutely nothing.

Looks like both of them have been working steadily over the past two decades. Dunst was nominated for an Oscar last year.

Women so hard on women. KD has been working nearly steadily since age 7. Took some time off for treatment of depression a while ago. Made her 3rd movie directed by a Sofia Coppola in 2017 along with Nicole Kidman, Elle Fanning and Colin Farrell, starred in a second movie, and a tv series on Showtime in 2019 . Had kids in 2018, 2021, made a movie, Oscar nom and got married last year.

[Anonymous]

Evangeline Lilly

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Evangeline Lilly

Are you serious?

[Anonymous]

I think it’s hard for a lot of young women who are initially very big in the teen or rom com roles—at some point they start to age out of those and also want to have kids which knocks out at least a year per baby for most of them. Then it’s hard to get back in and you have to figure out how to reformulate….Reese obviously is the queen of that but not every actress wants to or can do that.

Some of these people also had underlying mental health issues and being suddenly in the spotlight triggered that. I think that was the case with Terri Garr, who between Young Frankenstein and Tootsie was definitely a big thing, and then dropped out entirely for years to try to get their mental health under control and figure out if there was a way to be in the industry. I think also true of Sean Young and Kelly whatever from Top Gun and Witness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Saved by the Bell kids.

Seriously? They were all pretty hack actors.

Mario is very successful, I haven't Stopped seeing him since Saved By the Bell ended.

Leah Remini was also on Saved by the Bell, very successful.

Tiffani Thiessen 46 more credits than SBTB.


Mark Paul Gosseler, working.
While none are movie stars, I would disagree.

Maria Lopez: cheesy TV host
Leah Remini: mostly famous for King of Queens (terrible lowbrow show) and being an ex-Scientologist
Tiffani Thiessen: mostly famous for 90210. How long has that been off the air?
Mark Paul Gosselaar: quick, name what other show(s) he's been in
Elizabeth Berkley: Showgirls (yikes)
Lark Voorhies: *crickets*
Dustin Diamond: I won't speak ill of the dead, but he had low-level acting jobs, released a sex tape, and had some criminal charges filed against him.

Look, I loved the show, but that was basically the pinnacle of their careers.They were cute, funny kids, but I doubt that anyone thought they'd be the next Streep and Pacino. Or even the next Meg Ryan and Tom Cruise. They were never expected to be "The Next Big Thing," as the title of this thread says.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Evangeline Lilly

Are you serious?

Never heard of her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Evangeline Lilly

I kind of agree. Since Lost she has done the Ant Man movies (which in themselves are huge) but not much else. I think its that she stayed in Hawaii and didn't relocate to LA for her career that has had the most impact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wes Bentley after American Beauty

He almost died from a heroin addiction then worked in small roles for years before his comeback on Yellowstone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wes Bentley after American Beauty

He almost died from a heroin addiction then worked in small roles for years before his comeback on Yellowstone.

yeah that's horrible but not uncommon

[Anonymous]

Lara Flynn Boyle

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Evangeline Lilly

I kind of agree. Since Lost she has done the Ant Man movies (which in themselves are huge) but not much else. I think its that she stayed in Hawaii and didn't relocate to LA for her career that has had the most impact.

NP. I think a starring role in a huge Marvel franchise counts as not falling off the face of the earth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lara Flynn Boyle

This I agree with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dan Levy-he was EVERYWHERE

He was promoting "Schitt's Creek" so yeah, he was everywhere, but he hasn't vanished since it ended in 2020. He was already a writer/producer/presenter before he ever made "Schitts's Creek." He has three new shows he is executive producing right now. And he's not the kind of producer who's an actor getting a producer credit for vanity and extra money; he actually...produces.

Some folks on this thread seem to think that someone is on the rocks if they aren't constantly in front of the camera acting. And a lot of PPs here are tossing out names without even thinking to spend a nanosecond looking these people up. It's why the good Lord gave us the gift that is IMDB.

You are my spirit poster.