Top 30 Stars Who SAVED Their Careers

Top-30-Stars-Who-Saved-Their-Careers

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most amazing celebrity comeback stories – even if those stars later faced further controversy or had setbacks.

#30: Elton John
It seemed there was no stopping Elton John in the 1970s. With massive sellers like “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” and “Captain Fantastic,” he was the coolest dude on Earth. But by the late ‘70s, the pressures of worldwide fame had gotten to him, and he was dealing with substance use disorder as well as an eating disorder. According to him, his general lifestyle was over-the-top in a way that was unsustainable. Though he didn’t ever completely fade, problems in his personal life seemingly affected his musical career, and John didn’t have a single Billboard top ten album in the 1980s. Luckily, he stopped using substances at the turn of the ‘90s and enjoyed a prosperous comeback, which was surely helped by “The Lion King.”

#29: Shania Twain
You may be asking yourself - whatever happened to Shania Twain? This Canadian singer was everywhere in the mid-‘90s, capturing hearts (and ears) with her distinct blend of country and pop. “The Woman in Me” was a huge hit, and 1997’s “Come On Over” is the highest-selling album ever by a female solo artist. Legit, it’s in the Guinness World Records. But she completely disappeared in the mid-2000s, having entered an indefinite hiatus. It wasn’t until much later that Twain revealed she had Lyme disease and that it had left her voice hoarse. She underwent vocal rehabilitation and returned to mainstream prominence in 2012 with a Vegas residency. She’s since continued to build her career through things like albums, more residencies, and tours.

#28: Robin Wright
The comeback of Robin Wright was so extensive and successful that some people may not know about her earlier accomplishments. Wright was a fairly big star in the ‘80s and early ‘90s, starring on the soap opera “Santa Barbara” and appearing in all-time movies like “The Princess Bride” and “Forrest Gump.” But then her career sort of just stalled, and most of the public attention centered around her rocky marriage to Sean Penn. Luckily, she eventually bounced back, and became arguably even more successful than before. Wright notably earned massive acclaim as Claire Underwood on “House of Cards,” earning six acting Emmy nominations and becoming one of the highest-paid actresses on TV.

#27: Eddie Murphy
It doesn’t get much bigger than Eddie Murphy. An undeniable legend, Murphy enjoyed enormous success throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s, being one of the biggest stars on the planet. But that all collapsed in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, when he made a number of curious career decisions. There were certainly some gold nuggets in the mud (hello “Shrek” movies and “Dreamgirls”), but he wasn’t the box office draw he once was, with many of his films underperforming out even outright bombing. Luckily, Murphy eventually rebounded with the critically acclaimed “Dolemite Is My Name,” and his hosting of “SNL” in 2019 drew its biggest TV crowd in over ten years and won him an Emmy. We don’t think he’ll fall off anyone’s radar again.

#26: Martha Stewart
For many celebrities, it’s almost impossible to come back from a jail stint. Back in 2004, businesswoman Martha Stewart was convicted in an insider trading case and spent five months in prison. But it didn’t take long for the comeback to begin. Stewart basically got back to work the second her feet touched the parking lot, and her company was again profitable by 2006 – just two years after her initial conviction. She also started “The Martha Stewart Show” the same year she was released, and it was nominated for six Daytime Emmy Awards, including Best Host. The strong work has only continued, and Stewart’s resurgence will be taught in comeback school. That’s a thing, right?

#25: Ryan Reynolds
You wouldn’t know it now, but Ryan Reynolds was struggling for a while there. His career throughout the 2000s and early 2010s wasn’t all bad, but it was still plagued by arguably mediocre rom-coms and box office bombs. By now, it’s been well established that his attempt at “The Green Lantern” was the stuff of infamous movie legend. It wasn’t until 2016 that Reynolds really turned his career around, and it was thanks to a little superhero flick called “Deadpool.” This role was basically tailor-made for the comedic actor, and his performance was widely acclaimed. Grossing nearly $800 million, it made Reynolds a bonafide movie star, and he has never looked back.

#24: Rob Lowe
The ‘80s belonged to Rob Lowe. The actor earned renown as a member of the Brat Pack, with roles in “The Outsiders” and “St. Elmo’s Fire,” among others. But his career took a hit in 1988, when footage leaked showing him being intimate with two people. One of them was a teen, though she was above the age of consent in Georgia where the event took place. It tarnished Lowe’s reputation, and it would be a while before he regained true cultural prominence, but it was a factor in his choice to get started on the path towards recovery. His comeback truly began in 1999 with an Emmy-nominated stint on “The West Wing.” He’d later go on to star in beloved projects like “Parks and Recreation.”

#23: Mandy Moore
You couldn’t escape Moore in the late nineties/early 2000s — and why would you have wanted to? She was a successful singer, with hit singles like “Candy” and the platinum-selling album “So Real.” She also made a splash on the big screen, notably appearing as Lana Thomas in “The Princess Diaries” before landing the starring role in “A Walk to Remember.” Then she kind of disappeared. Most of her music wasn’t hitting, and the movies grew increasingly obscure. But then Disney made the inspired choice to cast Moore as Rapunzel, and the rest is history. “Tangled” revived her career, and Moore did more voice acting work before killing it as Rebecca Pearson on the massive NBC drama “This Is Us.” She’s also been releasing music.

#22: Mickey Rourke
Few actors come back from retirement with such pizzazz. But then, Mickey Rourke isn’t just any actor. After a string of successful ‘80s films, Rourke fell upon hard times. His movies were bombing and earning harsh reviews, directors were publicly calling him “a nightmare” to work with, and he earned a Razzie nomination for “Desperate Hours” and “Wild Orchid.” The relentless disappointment caused Rourke to essentially retire, and he briefly pursued a career in professional boxing. He’d come back to the silver screen in the ‘90s, but it wasn’t until 2005 that he returned to widespread prominence as Marv in “Sin City.” He used this acclaimed role as a springboard into mainstream fare and earned his first Oscar nomination for 2008’s “The Wrestler.”

#21: Christian Slater
Appearing in the likes of “Heathers” and “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves,” Christian Slater was a huge heartthrob in the late ‘80s into the ‘90s. However, a string of personal problems put his career on hold. Slater dealt with various substance use and legal issues. For instance, he was arrested in 1994 for attempting to bring a weapon onto a plane, and he later spent time in jail for assaulting his then-girlfriend and a responding police officer. The work continued, but it was nothing to the caliber of his early ‘90s output. That is, until he landed the role of Mr. Robot on the acclaimed thriller of the same name. The role earned Slater much renown - and even his first Golden Globe.

#20: Dave Chappelle
In the early mid-aughts, this comedian’s career couldn’t have been any bigger. He was one of the most recognizable names in stand-up and his Comedy Central series, “Chappelle's Show,” was a massive success. He’d reportedly been offered a $50 million contract to keep the series going. But the fame seemingly got to Chapelle - specifically the cultural impact of his show. So, at the height of his popularity, he abandoned production of Season 3 and went to South Africa. Between 2005 and 2013, his public appearances were sporadic at best. His long-awaited return could’ve been a disaster, but he pulled it off with style, winning an Emmy for an “SNL” hosting gig and signing a massive deal with Netflix. However, Chappelle would go on to make several transphobic remarks that soured his comeback for some fans.

#19: Betty White
What other late star who reached her age can claim comparable popularity with younger demographics? Betty White had a successful career spanning decades, including roles in popular television series such as “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “Golden Girls.” With time, her roles became not only less high-profile but also fewer and farther between. When most actors would have been happy to retire, however, Betty White began a whole new phase of her career in the late aughts. She appeared in sketches for Craig Ferguson and Jay Leno, but it was a 2009 Snickers campaign that really connected White to a whole new generation. White hosted “SNL” at the record-breaking age of 88, establishing herself as a beloved comedic figure anew.

#18: D'Angelo
Younger listeners might not recognize the name, but in the mid-90s, D’Angelo was widely considered the gold standard of R&B. And he’s been a major influence on countless musicians in the years since. With his 1995 debut album, “Brown Sugar,” he not only rocked the charts but instantly became a sex symbol. His 2000 follow-up, “Voodoo,” seemingly solidified this reputation. Then… he just disappeared. D’Angelo retreated from the public eye to deal with personal issues, including alcohol use disorder. Few artists can return after nearly a decade and a half and still feel relevant, but in 2014, he reclaimed his crown with “Black Messiah,” which was released to universal acclaim and earned him the Grammy for Best R&B Album.

#17: Kesha
After being robbed of her voice as both a woman and artist, Kesha revealed an entirely different side to herself. She exploded onto the pop music scene with a feature on Flo Rida’s “Right Round” before landing hits of her own including, "Tik Tok." However, her career was brought to a screeching halt in 2014 by a legal battle with producer Dr. Luke, whom she accused of abuse, among other things. Many artists would’ve given up, but Kesha found alternative ways to perform, and eventually returned in 2017 with the widely celebrated “Rainbow,” a deeply personal album about empowerment. She’s since continued to release albums, settled the suit with Dr. Luke, and is working on new music after leaving his label and changing her management.

#16: Eminem
There are few musicians who have had a bigger impact on popular music than Eminem. His lyrics terrified parents, his personal style inspired countless imitators, and many credit him with having made hip hop more mainstream in Middle America. Oh, and he starred in a critically acclaimed semi-autobiographical film because you know… why not? But in the mid-aughts, he was dealing with substance use, depression, and the death of his best friend, Proof. His comeback album, “Relapse,” was met with mixed reviews, but he’s just kept marching forward, repeatedly reasserting his dominance as both a hit-maker and one the greatest rappers to ever pick up a mic. He’s continued to take home Grammys, produce hit singles and divide critics and fans alike.

#15: Jason Bateman
A former adolescent star that earned roles in shows like “Silver Spoons,” Jason Bateman went on to star in films like “Teen Wolf Too.” But as the nineties progressed, the former teen idol’s career stalled big time. Getting cast in the acclaimed sitcom “Arrested Development” in the 21st century changed all that. Bateman demonstrated that his talent had very definitely matured, and he capitalized on the critical attention the show received by going on to garner laughs in huge comedies like “Horrible Bosses” and lending his voice to Nick Wilde in 2016’s “Zootopia.” He’s also given his fair share of solid dramatic performances, like his work on the Netflix series “Ozark.”

#14: John Travolta
Quentin Tarantino sure knows how to revive careers - or start them. John Travolta was a huge star in the 1970s, with the likes of “Grease” and “Saturday Night Fever” bringing him both acclaim and popularity. But the ‘80s were a tough time for the actor, and while “Look Who’s Talking” was a big hit in 1989, this was more of an outlier than an example of continued dominance. By 1994, he was regarded as a once-cool relic of the ‘70s. But then, he and Tarantino re-established what cool was with “Pulp Fiction.” The role earned Travolta his second Oscar nomination and put him back on the A-list.

#13: Demi Lovato
With their performances in the “Camp Rock” films and the Disney Channel series “Sonny with a Chance,” Demi Lovato became a teen icon. But what few people knew was that they’d been struggling with mental health issues and substance use disorder for years. Following an altercation with a dancer on tour, Lovato went to rehab, and nobody was sure if their career would recover. But they not only returned with new music, but also addressed their struggles publically, becoming a role model. They’ve continued to have ups and downs with substance use and mental health over the years, but in speaking frankly about her journey, they’ve established herself as an important and hugely influential voice.

#12: Winona Ryder
In the late ‘80s and throughout the ‘90s, Winona Ryder was everywhere you looked. “Beetlejuice,” “Bram Stoker’s Dracula,” and “Girl, Interrupted” are just a handful of the high-profile movies in which she starred. Following a shoplifting arrest in 2001, however, she stopped acting. Rumors of substance use circulated. Seemingly overnight, she went from one of the biggest pop culture icons of her generation to a distant memory. It turns out that she was clinically depressed at the time and after taking a few years to focus on her personal life, she slowly returned to work. Ryder started small with indie movies, but they steadily got bigger. With her Golden Globe-nominated role in “Stranger Things,” she solidified her status as a comeback queen.

#11: Drew Barrymore
When she appeared in “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” which held the record for highest grossing film of all time for eleven years, Drew Barrymore absolutely stole the show. The adorable young actress went on to star in several other films until adolescence – and substance use disorder - sidelined her career. In the early ‘90s, she reminded the world how talented she was when she earned her 2nd Golden Globe nomination for “Guncrazy” and followed that up as mistress Amy Fisher. New opportunities then opened up for her with her “Scream” cameo leading the way. With hits like “The Wedding Singer” and “Charlie’s Angels,” Barrymore became a huge star again, and followed these up with more roles, as well as her own daytime talk show.

#10: Ellen DeGeneres
In the ‘90s, stand-up comedienne Ellen DeGeneres tried her hand at the lead in a sitcom and found herself in a big hit. She achieved even greater fame when both she and the character she played came out as gay. But a backlash soon developed and her popularity faded. In 2003 though, she had a double whammy: she delighted audiences as the voice of Dory in the huge hit “Finding Nemo,” and simultaneously earned a devoted following as the host of her own talk show. Having hosted the Oscars, served as a CoverGirl, and contributed to numerous causes, Ellen became a bigger star than ever. However, it’s worth noting that, in 2020, she came under fire for a “toxic work environment” on her show, which subsequently ended.

#9: Natasha Lyonne
During its heyday, “American Pie” made huge stars of its ensemble cast. Soon thereafter, Natasha Lyonne was appearing in everything from “Kate & Leopold” to “Blade: Trinity.” However, substance use disorder led to difficulties. In 2005, after a series of legal issues, she was hospitalized with a collapsed lung, a heart infection, and more. Few actors ever come back from such an extreme low, but Lyonne not only got healthy and returned to acting, but has since delivered her best work to date. She was an absolute scene-stealer as Nicky Nichols in “Orange Is the New Black,” but “Russian Doll,” which she co-created, co-wrote, and stars in, remains the crowning jewel of her comeback to date.

#8: Joaquin Phoenix
Only someone with the last name Phoenix can rise from the ashes not once… but twice. In 1989, Joaquin Phoenix, then credited as Leaf, retired from acting despite his success as a child star. Then, in 1995, two years after the death of his brother River Phoenix, Joaquin finally returned to the screen. By the early 2000s, he was a massive star. The second half of the decade, however, saw his behavior become increasingly erratic and in 2008, he announced his retirement from acting. Turns out it was all for a mockumentary, “I’m Still Here,” but the damage he did was real. Thankfully, filmmakers recognized his enduring talent, and his post-hiatus career has been defined almost exclusively by critically-acclaimed performances - and an Oscar!

#7: Michael Keaton
He was Beetlejuice. He was Batman! But by the early 2000s, he was essentially nowhere to be seen. Michael Keaton never technically stopped working, it just seemed like no one was offering him big roles anymore. The critics continued to commend his performances, but nothing he did generated much interest at the box office. It’s like Hollywood didn’t know what to do with middle-aged Michael Keaton until he aged into a more believably world-weary age bracket. With 2014’s “Birdman,” a film that was appropriately about an actor looking to make a comeback, he returned with a vengeance. The performance earned him an Oscar nomination, and roles in “Spotlight,” “The Founder,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” and more soon followed.

#6: Keanu Reeves
Nothing says “my career just got a new lease on life” like having your name combined with the term “renaissance.” In the ‘90s, Keanu Reeves proved himself an unlikely action star who, understated acting style aside, is surprisingly versatile. “Point Break” and “Speed” made him successful before “The Matrix” launched him into the stratosphere. Unfortunately, there’s only one place to go from there, and the 2000s saw his star dulled by forgettable films. But he always remained likable, relatable, and down to earth, and in the 2010s, he finally started getting the adoration he always deserved. The “John Wick” franchise, a fourth Matrix movie, his epic role in “Always Be My Maybe” – the list goes on. Wherever you look, there’s Keanu, giving us a reason to smile.

#5: Mariah Carey
Every year, new artists make their presence known with hugely successful debut albums. But how many artists can you name who can make waves this big with their tenth studio album? The world is quick to get bored with the same old pop stars. By the mid-aughts, Mariah Carey’s heyday felt like it was squarely in the rearview mirror. With her 2005 album, “The Emancipation of Mimi,” however, she made herself feel relevant and in a way that would carry her forward for years to come. The beginning of the decade saw the singer-songwriter struggling on all fronts: professionally, personally, financially, and with her health. “Glitter” could’ve been the end, but she persevered and pulled off one of the most massive comebacks in music history.

#4: Britney Spears
One of the biggest pop stars of the late nineties, Britney Spears was unstoppable. In fact, her first single is one of the best-selling tunes of all time. She even dominated the Super Bowl halftime show in 2001. Then, about halfway through the noughties, things started to go awry. While dealing with her mental health, she became fodder for the tabloids. She made a small comeback in 2007 with “Blackout”, but personal issues troubled her until 2008’s “Womanizer” and “Circus.” By 2012, she had again taken the world by storm, with Forbes naming her the year’s highest paid female musician. Still, she was under a harmful conservatorship – it was terminated in 2021, paving the way for her to live her life on her terms.

#3: Neil Patrick Harris
For many years, most people didn’t know the name Neil Patrick Harris. If he popped up on our screens, the only name we thought of was Doogie Howser, the teenaged doctor Harris played early in his career. Harris seemed to fade away after the show came to an end – that is, until he appeared in the “Harold & Kumar” series as a self-aware version of himself. Taking that momentum to move on and star in “How I Met Your Mother,” Harris became the show’s breakout star. He’s since kept the momentum going with award show hosting gigs, high profile movie roles, a Netflix series, and his critically-acclaimed stage work.

#2: Matthew McConaughey
We love the Keanussance, but the McConaissance happened first and was arguably even bigger. Looking back now, it’s almost hard to remember what McConaughey’s career used to look like. For those of you who need a refresher… it was almost exclusively rom-coms. And that’s a genre that sadly you tend to age out of eventually. By the 2000s, they all just started to blur together. Then, suddenly, McConaughey just stopped saying “yes” to the rom-coms. Laying the groundwork with “The Lincoln Lawyer” and “Mud,” McConaughey blew audiences away in 2013 with “Dallas Buyers Club,” earning himself an Academy Award in the process. He followed it up with “True Detective” and “Interstellar,” among other notable roles, and in doing so, fundamentally altered (and saved) his career.

#1: Robert Downey Jr.
When he started out, Robert Downey Jr. was heralded as one of the best actors of his generation. His Oscar-nominated role in “Chaplin” and arresting performance in “Natural Born Killers” demonstrated his impressive range. But the actor’s publicized substance use problems made him too risky for producers and his star faded in the ‘90s. Eventually, Downey pulled off a historic comeback in the 2000s, reminding everyone of his versatility and skill with “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,” “Zodiac,” and more. His performance as Tony Stark/Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has solidified him as an icon of the big screen. That’s saying nothing of his Oscar-winning work in “Oppenheimer.” Needless to say, he’s once again regarded as one of the greats.

Which story did you find the most uplifting? Let us know in the comments below!