10 Actors Who RUINED Their Legacy

10 Actors Who RUINED Their Legacy

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for 10 actors who ruined their legacy.

For this list, we're focusing on actors who had, at one time, built an extremely long, successful and beloved career, before irredeemably marring all of that with controversy. They aren't always completely out-of-work today, but their reputations are damaged to the point of being lost.

#10: Steven Seagal

The no nonsense action movie genre found something of a blockbuster home in the 1990s, and back then Steven Seagal was establishing himself as one of its leading faces. But, while he might have gone down in cinema history as one of the greats, he instead has a long and disturbing list of sexual assault and harrassment lawsuits to his name, spanning from the early ‘90s to the present day. He also regularly makes the news for his long term friendship with (and admiration for) the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. In 2016 he obtained Russian citizenship, and in 2018 he was made Special Envoy to the US by Putin. All of which means that Seagal is now a far cry from his film career, and any legacy he might’ve had has long since disappeared.

#9: Charlie Sheen

In the ‘80s and ‘90s, Charlie Sheen was prime lead actor material. The son of Martin Sheen, he scored key roles in a string of successful pictures, including "Platoon" and "Wall Street". In the twenty-first century, he was known for "Two and a Half Men". But then came a series of high profile scandals, including allegations of domestic violence and sexual abuse. Sheen publicly disclosed that he was HIV-positive in 2015, but controversy erupted following multiple reports that he hadn’t revealed his condition to previous partners. Perhaps Sheen’s most infamous episode came in 2011, however, with his headline-grabbing "tiger blood" and "winning" interview. In the years since, the actor has made attempts at a comeback… but he’s now inescapably been tarred as a kind of cautionary tale of fame and excess.

#8: John Travolta

Not everyone can claim to have once been the epitome of cool, but this guy definitely can. From his breakout role as the T-Bird Danny Zuko in "Grease" to a definitive outing as Vincent Vega in “Pulp Fiction”, Travolta probably should be an unrivaled legend by now. In between those two movies, however, the ‘80s were a rough time for his career. And, for the most part, ever since “Pulp Fiction” it’s also been… dicey. Travolta’s unwavering dedication to Scientology has always been controversial, and has potentially alienated him from fans. Again, though, it’s an onscreen regression that’s probably done the most damage. "Battlefield Earth" is regularly described as one of the worst movies of all time - and Travolta headed the bill. It’s a film that’s heavily tied to Scientology, as well, given that it’s an adaptation of a novel written by the movement’s founder, ​​L. Ron Hubbard.

#7: Roseanne Barr

As the title star of a hugely successful sitcom running from the late ‘80s to the late ‘90s, Roseanne Barr was seen by many as the voice of a generation. Her character was one that the whole family could get behind and, when “Roseanne” was rebooted in 2018, she looked set to capture a whole new audience. However, with one tweet she lost it all. A hugely controversial post led to her freshly returned show being axed within hours. And despite attempts to apologize, Barr couldn’t regain her following or reputation. So much so that, today, despite a decades-long career, she’s most famous for those words on social media.

#6: Robert Blake

In terms of longevity before scandal, few can rival Robert Blake. He came to fame as a prolific child actor, most notably as one of MGM’s “Little Rascals” in the early 1940s. As an adult, he became known for intense performances in films like "In Cold Blood", and in the TV series "Baretta." However, his personal life took an incredibly dark turn in 2001, when his wife was found murdered - fatally shot while sitting in Blake’s car, just outside of a restaurant at which they had dined. Blake was the prime suspect in the case, which developed into a multi-layered conspiracy, as his trial captivated the nation. Although he was acquitted of criminal charges, the cloud of suspicion never fully lifted. A civil case followed and, in 2005, Blake was found liable for his wife’s wrongful death, and ordered to pay $30 million.

#5: Ellen DeGeneres

While DeGeneres is best known as an (at one time) major draw for daytime television, she made her name as a pioneering sitcom actor. Over the years, she became an LGBTQ+ icon, she’s long been a campaigner for animal rights, and in general she had a reputation for being one of the nicest people around. But the higher they are, the further they fall… and when allegations emerged that she had created a supremely toxic work environment on her show, well, it shattered her carefully crafted image. Former employees came forward with accounts of bullying, intimidation, and claims that all Ellen was really responsible for was a culture of fear. It drastically contradicted DeGeneres' on-screen persona, leaving many fans feeling betrayed and her brand totally in tatters.

#4: Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson was once a Hollywood heavyweight, a charismatic leading man, and an acclaimed director. For studios, at one stage, he was about as bankable as it was possible to be. But, that all feels a very long time ago. In more recent years and decades, a string of public outbursts has exposed a darker side to the actor. Anti-Semitic remarks made during an arrest for a DUI, racist tirades, and domestic abuse allegations have turned Gibson, instead, into one of Hollywood’s most divisive and controversial figures. He has mustered something of a comeback, most notably gaining critical recognition as director of the 2016 war film, “Hacksaw Ridge”. But there’s no doubt that his off-screen actions have overshadowed his achievements.

#3: Kevin Spacey

As a double-Oscar winner, Kevin Spacey was hailed as a chameleon-like performer, and an undoubted member of A-list acting royalty. With his name on the bill, a movie stood an extremely good chance of doing well. And his skill in playing deeply unsettling characters, in particular, was highly revered. Spacey’s career came crashing down, though, when multiple allegations of sexual assault and misconduct surfaced, in 2017. The accusations spanned decades, with many involving young actors and colleagues, all of which painted a disturbing picture of abuse of power. Many of the cases against Spacey are ongoing, but his name is now synonymous with the film industry’s dark underbelly.

#2: Woody Allen

As a writer, director and actor, Woody Allen’s is one of the longest and most decorated careers of all. Countless actors, comedians and filmmakers also list him as one of their influences. However, Allen’s legacy became irrevocably intertwined with the sexual abuse allegations made against him in relation to his adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow. While never criminally charged, the claims (and the ensuing custody battle with Mia Farrow) cast a long shadow over his work. Some of Allen’s former collaborators have distanced themselves from him, over the course of time. Some of his films have been met with protests and boycotts in the past. An at-best complicated relationship with his wife Soon-Yi Previn (who he met when she was a child, as she is also an adopted daughter of Mia Farrow) is another reason why Allen’s legacy is tarnished.

#1: Bill Cosby

He was known as America's Dad in the 1980s, thanks to his beloved and acclaimed portrayal of the warm and relatable Cliff Huxtable in “The Cosby Show”. But Bill Cosby’s image today is at complete odds with what it once was, as it became clear - starting in 2014 - that underneath his wholesome persona there lurked a dark secret. Multiple allegations of sexual assault were made against Cosby, including that he drugged his victims, with the many claims spanning almost the entirety of his career up until that point. Cosby was ultimately convicted and sent to prison for three to ten years, in 2018. That conviction was overturned in 2021 and he was released. But America’s Dad will never again be thought of in the same way.