10 Actors Who Starred in One Movie Then QUIT

10 Actors Who Starred in One Movie Then QUIT

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at actors who had one significant film role and then bowed out from the silver screen for good… other than maybe a cameo or background role.

Alicia Rhett

“Gone with the Wind” (1939)

“Gone with the Wind” is still the highest-grossing movie of all time after inflation. One would assume that everyone associated with this epic would have a long future in Hollywood. While that was certainly the case for Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable, this would be Alicia Rhett’s only screen credit. Rhett auditioned for the role of Melanie Hamilton, which ultimately went to Olivia de Havilland. Rhett was instead cast as India Wilkes, Ashley’s sister. Although her screen time was brief, Rhett solidified her place in cinematic history. Rhett nonetheless wasn’t interested in being a star, living out her life in Georgia where she worked as a portrait painter and radio announcer. When she passed in 2014, Rhett was among the film’s last remaining cast members.

Thelonious Bernard

“A Little Romance” (1979)

Although this little film featured established stars like Laurence Olivier, the titular romance was shared between two newcomers: Thelonious Bernard and Diane Lane. Chances are you’ve heard of the latter, who’s still acting 45 years later and even became an Oscar nominee. Bernard, meanwhile, is best known for playing Daniel Michon, a movie-loving French boy who falls for Lane’s Lauren. Despite picking up a couple of accolades for his performance, Bernard’s only other credit was a bit part in 1981’s “The Boy Soldier.” Focusing on his studies, Bernard sought a career in dentistry. He currently lives in Nantes with his wife and kids. Like their characters, Bernard and Lane would bid each other adieu. They’ll always have Paris, however.

Olga Mironova

“Come and See” (1985)

A lack of established actors only adds to the realism in Elem Klimov’s “Come and See,” one of the most tragic anti-war films ever produced. Olga Mironova made her debut as Glasha, a Soviet partisan nurse during World War II. She bonds with a naive young soldier named Flyora, played by Aleksei Kravchenko (also in his first performance). Their early scenes are among the film’s only glimpses of hope. We’d say their future seems bleak, but that would imply they have a future together. After a 10-year hiatus, Kravchenko returned to acting and is still active. Mironova lived a private life with no other roles to her name. It’s been said that she became involved in choir, but Mironova has left few footprints to follow.

Dorothy McGowan

“Who Are You, Polly Maggoo?” (1966)

After watching “Who Are You, Polly Maggoo?,” you might have a few other questions. To answer one of them, no, this isn’t a real documentary, but it is a unique send-up of the fashion industry. Polly Maggoo isn’t a real supermodel either, although she was played by one. Dorothy McGowan modeled for photographer William Klein, who branched out into film with his satire. After playing the titular Polly Maggoo, McGowan could’ve followed the same trajectory as many other models turned actresses. McGowan opted to quietly settle down, retiring from the limelight and having two children. She lived into her early 80s, passing away in 2022. In another interesting connection to cinema, McGowan’s brother James was the inspiration for the lead negotiator in “Dog Day Afternoon.”

Danny Lloyd

“The Shining” (1980)

Danny Lloyd was only six when he landed the role of Danny Torrance in Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 adaptation of “The Shining.” Lloyd wouldn’t appear in another theatrical film until the 2019 sequel “Doctor Sleep.” Ewan McGregor took over the Danny Torrance role, but Lloyd can be spotted during a baseball game. One might assume “The Shining” was such a horrifying experience that Lloyd never wanted to act again. While “The Shining” was traumatic for some actors, Lloyd has fond memories of the production, as the crew shielded him from the scary scenes. Lloyd didn’t even realize he was in a horror film at first, because Kubrick convinced him he was working on a drama. Although Lloyd went on other auditions, he left acting behind to become a community college professor and family man.

Eminem

“8 Mile” (2002)

Eminem might not have been an unknown name in 2002, but the rapper’s acting abilities hadn’t been tested outside of an uncredited role in “The Wash.” There were no guarantees that his performance would be able to carry “8 Mile.” Of course, it didn’t hurt that the film was semiautobiographical with Jimmy “B-Rabbit” Smith’s life mirroring Eminem’s. In addition to winning two MTV Movie Awards for Best Male Performance and Breakthrough Male Performance, Eminem became an Oscar winner with the song “Lose Yourself.” Although Eminem clearly didn’t leave show business, “8 Mile” was essentially his acting mic drop aside from some cameos as himself and documentaries. Yet, he came close to accepting lead roles in major films like “Mad: Fury Road” and “The Fighter.”

Carrie Henn

“Aliens” (1986)

Carrie Henn hadn’t acted a day in her life when agents visited her school, looking for a young unknown to play Newt in James Cameron’s “Aliens.” Henn’s expressive facial features got their attention and she proved to be a natural. Although Newt is in constant peril, Henn bonded with much of the cast and crew, including the actors in the alien suits. She became especially close with Sigourney Weaver, behind and in front of the camera. Not wanting to grow distant from her family, Henn gave up acting and pursued a career in education. While Henn is still teaching, she’s kept in touch with Weaver, occasionally makes convention appearances, and if a student brings in a copy of “Aliens,” she’s happy to sign it.

Charmian Carr

“The Sound of Music” (1965)

The eldest von Trapp child, Liesl was sixteen going on seventeen in “The Sound of Music.” In reality, actress Charmian Carr was in her early 20s, only about seven years younger than Julie Andrews. At the time, Carr was modeling while attending college. Despite having no experience acting or singing, one of Carr’s model friends knew director Robert Wise. She sent him a photo of Carr, who unexpectedly received a phone call. Outside of some brief TV work - including another musical role in Stephen Sondheim’s “Evening Primrose” - this Best Picture-winning blockbuster was Carr’s only cinematic contribution. Carr dedicated her life to motherhood and interior design, taking on high-profile clients like Michael Jackson. “The Sound of Music” stayed close to Carr’s heart, writing about her experiences and participating in retrospectives before she died in 2016.

Peter Ostrum

“Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” (1971)

Young talent isn’t easy to come by. Fortunately, this film’s casting director found five golden tickets. Julie Dawn Cole and Denise Nickerson, who played Veruca and Violet respectively, had a few other roles following “Willy Wonka.” While Paris Themmen has worked behind the scenes, Mike Teevee is his only theatrical film role. Likewise, Michael Bollner has no film acting credits other than Augustus Gloop. Perhaps most surprisingly, Peter Ostrum didn’t seek stardom after winning over audiences as Charlie Bucket. The option was on the table with Ostrum receiving a three-picture deal. Ostrum walked away from the offer and although he considered revisiting acting, working with animals as a vet was his passion. Ostrum sometimes wonders about the career he left behind, but has no regrets.

Renée Jeanne Falconetti

“The Passion of Joan of Arc” (1928)

Born in Pantin, France, Renée Jeanne Falconetti was a stage actress when Carl Theodor Dreyer approached her about playing the lead in 1928’s “The Passion of Joan of Arc.” It’s been debated whether or not this was Falconetti’s first true screen credit, as much of her life remains shrouded in mystery. What can be said with certainty is that “Joan of Arc” would become Falconetti’s legacy. Almost a century later, Falconetti’s performance is still viewed as one of the most emotionally raw and agonizing in cinematic history. Regardless, Falconetti was more accustomed to the stage where she remained for the rest of her acting career. Her death in 1946, much like her life, remains something of an enigma. Yet, she left behind an immortal performance.

Which actor do you wish starred in more than one movie? Let us know in the comments.