Top 10 Times Actors Ruined Their Own Lives
#10: James Woods
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Whether in front of the camera or behind a microphone, James Woods stood out as one of Hollywood’s most charismatic actors for decades. His stature would likely still be intact if only he stayed off social media. On X, or Twitter as the old guard still calls it, Woods has served as one of the loudest cheerleaders for former president Donald Trump. Supporting controversial politicians aside, Woods has come under fire for making homophobic and other insensitive comments. In 2018, Woods’ talent agency dropped him as a client while “Family Guy” cut ties with the fan-favorite guest star. Woods has vowed to sue the Democratic National Committee, claiming that “[his] career has been destroyed by these very people,” although his actions are his own.
#9: Felicity Huffman
With nepotism being all the rage, this Oscar-nominated actress probably could’ve gotten her daughter Sofia into a good college through name recognition or by making a sizable donation. Apparently, that wouldn’t have come off as privileged enough. Pursuing a more illegal path, Huffman was accused of paying someone to take her daughter’s SAT in 2019. She was one of several implicated in the Varsity Blues conspiracy, which included Lori Loughlin. Just as Loughlin and her husband had a brief stay in prison following guilty pleas, Huffman served two weeks in addition to paying a $30,000 fine and receiving 250 community service hours. Some may say she got off easy, but Huffman’s career has yet to recover. We wonder how Mr. Macy feels about this.
#8: Charlie Sheen
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By 2010, “Two and a Half Men” was the highest-rated sitcom in primetime and Charlie Sheen was TV’s most handsomely paid star, making just under $2 million per episode. Uncle Charlie had it made, but his issues behind the scenes soon engulfed his career like a mushroom cloud. Given how well the show was performing, Sheen still felt he wasn’t making enough, all while badmouthing creator Chuck Lorre. Between Sheen’s legal troubles and showing little improvement after multiple trips to rehab, Warner Bros. finally decided enough was enough, replacing the star with Ashton Kutcher. The series “Anger Management” capitalized on his notoriety, but Sheen has since become better known for his bizarre interviews. Too bad Sheen couldn’t monetize all of the “winning” memes he inspired.
#7: Jussie Smollett
Hate crimes remain a serious issue. When somebody fakes such a heinous offense, it not only takes attention away from those in need, but it slows progress that already isn’t moving fast enough. While staging a crime like this is unacceptable under any circumstance, getting a grasp on Jussie Smollett’s motivations is especially mind-numbing. The former child star achieved a breakout role as Jamal Lyon on the rating juggernaut “Empire.” Fans were heartbroken when they heard Smollett was attacked outside his apartment complex. That was until news broke that Smollett staged the incident, paying two brothers. Reportedly, Smollett’s actions stemmed from being “dissatisfied with his salary.” Jamal was noticeably absent from the final season of “Empire” as Smollett faced a storm of ongoing legal battles.
#6: Michael Richards
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This Emmy-winning comedian rose to icon status as Cosmo Kramer on “Seinfeld.” Following the failure of “The Michael Richards Show,” he disappeared from the limelight for nearly six years. When Richards resurfaced, it wasn’t a comeback, but rather a final nail in his career. Anyone who had never heard of TMZ or the Laugh Factory became familiar with both after footage of Richards’ racist on-stage tirade made the rounds. Richards’ attempts to apologize backfired, contacting Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton when many felt he should’ve been reaching out to the audience members he yelled at. Richards has never been able to live down the incident, only landing a handful of roles since. This includes playing himself in a meta “Curb Your Enthusiasm” story arc.
#5: Roseanne Barr
From her infamous “Star-Spangled Banner” performance to dressing up as the Führer for a magazine shoot, Roseanne Barr is no stranger to controversy. 2018 provided a clean slate. Her hit sitcom was back on the air, assembling long-time fans while gaining new ones. All she had to do was not say anything reprehensible. That said, Disney knew that they were taking a risk on Roseanne. Amid the show’s resurgence, Bob Iger recalled having lunch with Barr, telling her, “You’ve got to stay off Twitter… You’ve got a great thing going here... Don’t blow it.” So, what did Roseanne do? She went on Twitter, made some racist comments about Valerie Jarrett of the Obama administration, and blew it. Turns out the Conners don’t need Roseanne.
#4: Armie Hammer
Armie Hammer was seemingly on the verge of superstardom, especially with his acclaimed performance in “Call Me by Your Name.” The “House of Hammer” - as some have called it - came crashing down in early 2021 when a series of concerning texts between the actor and several women surfaced. While the legitimacy of the texts was called into question, further allegations painted a disturbing pattern of behavior on Hammer’s part. It wasn’t long until Hammer found himself dropping out of roles across film, TV, and theatre, not to mention losing his talent agency. The authorities chose not to seek charges due to limited evidence. With the allegations changing how many perceive Hammer, though, it’ll be much harder for him to find a job in this town.
#3: Danny Masterson
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A fixture of the late 90s and early 2000s - ironically thanks to a program called “That ‘70s Show” - Danny Masterson was instantly recognizable as Steven Hyde. While he never played another character quite as popular, Masterson still found steady employment through “Men at Work” and “The Ranch.” He became unhirable after multiple women accused him of assault. From 2018 onward, Masterson saw no new acting gigs, but his court appearances kept him in the public eye for the worst reasons. The controversy climaxed in 2023 when Masterson received a sentence ranging from 30 years to life. If successfully paroled after 25.5 years, Masterson would be roughly 72 when released. As shocked as fans were, the evidence against Masterson might’ve been hiding in plain sight.
#2: Kevin Spacey
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Winning two Oscars and helping to put Netflix on the map as Frank Underwood, Kevin Spacey’s career appeared invincible. In reality, Spacey’s career was as sturdy as a house of cards. It finally collapsed in 2017 when actor Anthony Rapp came forward in what would be the first of numerous high-profile allegations against Spacey. Netflix promptly fired Spacey while Ridley Scott reshot his scenes in “All the Money in the World.” Although Spacey has been cleared of the charges against him, the court of public opinion’s verdict remains generally unfavorable to say the least. Spacey nonetheless seems determined to make a comeback. Even if he finds work here and there, it’s hard to imagine Spacey ever regaining his standing as a bankable star.
#1: Bill Cosby
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Cliff Huxtable, Alexander Scott, America’s Dad, these are just some of the names that seemed destined to define Bill Cosby’s legendary career. That was all wiped out when Cosby’s history of assault allegations entered the mainstream consciousness. While rumors about Cosby had been circulating for years, many assumed they were exaggerated or baseless. It wasn’t until more women spoke up in 2014 that the public began to seriously question the comedy icon’s innocence. Cosby would be proven guilty in 2018, only to be released on a technicality after three years. Despite being a free man for now, there’s no question that Cosby ruined his life. He ruined numerous others in the process while also letting down a generation that once idolized him.
Which acting fall from grace shocked you the most? Let us know in the comments.
