10 Celebs Who Went to Prison: Where Are They Now?

Top 10 Celebs Who Went to Prison: Where Are They Now

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be checking in on the most notable celebrities who served prison time, and seeing what they’re up to now.

#10: Felicity Huffman

Widely known for her role in ABC’s “Desperate Housewives,” Felicity Huffman found herself in hot water when she was implicated in the 2019 college admissions scandal. Huffman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services fraud after it was revealed that she had paid someone to manipulate her daughter’s SAT scores. She was sentenced to 14 days in jail and released two days ahead of schedule. Also implicated was “Full House” actress Lori Loughlin, who received a two-month prison sentence. Since her release, Huffman has largely retreated from the public eye, only appearing in an episode of “The Good Doctor”. She is set to reprise the role in the spin-off series “The Good Lawyer”.

#9: Wesley Snipes

They say nothing in life is certain except death and taxes. Hollywood star Wesley Snipes would come to learn this in 2008 when he was sentenced to three years in federal prison for willfully failing to file his tax returns. Prior to this scandal, Snipes had gained popularity for his collaborations with director Spike Lee, and his iconic role as Blade. The actor was released from prison in April 2013 and returned to the big screen in the ensemble action flick “The Expendables 3”. His comeback was solidified in 2019, earning critical acclaim as D'Urville Martin in “Dolemite Is My Name” alongside Eddie Murphy. Two years later, Snipes reunited with Murphy for the long-anticipated sequel “Coming 2 America”.

#8: Mark Wahlberg

Today, he’s a celebrated Oscar-nominated actor, but Mark Wahlberg had a troubled reputation during his teenage years, marked by racially motivated attacks. One notable incident occurred in April 1988, when he physically assaulted two Vietnamese-American men in one day and hurled racial slurs at them. Wahlberg was arrested and later pleaded guilty to felony assault, serving 45 days of a three-month jail sentence. However, he managed to turn his life around, steadily raising his profile in Hollywood and earning acclaim for his performances in films like “The Departed” and “The Fighter”. He has also appeared in blockbusters such as the “Transformers” franchise and the 2022 video game adaptation “Uncharted”.

#7: Lauryn Hill

Lauded as one of the greatest rappers ever, Lauryn Hill found global fame with hip-hop trio The Fugees, and later as a solo artist. Her debut solo album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” received widespread acclaim and the distinction of being the first hip-hop album to win the Album of the Year Grammy. Yet, Hill struggled with the pressures of fame, leading to a self-imposed exile. In 2012, she was charged with tax fraud for failing to pay about $1 million in taxes and sentenced to three months in prison. Since then, Hill has contributed to projects like 2015’s “What Happened, Miss Simone?” and the “Queen & Slim” movie soundtrack. In 2023, she embarked on the 25th anniversary tour of “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”.

#6: Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan rose to prominence as a child star for her double role in 1998’s “The Parent Trap”. However, her transition from teen idol to Hollywood leading lady was marked by significant legal troubles, mostly stemming from substance use disorder. Lohan was arrested twice in 2007 for driving under the influence and sentenced to one day in jail. Two years later, while attending the Cannes Film Festival, she missed a court-mandated hearing, resulting in a 90-day jail sentence. Due to overcrowding, she only spent 14 days behind bars. These setbacks had a significant impact on her career. Nevertheless, Lohan made a comeback with the 2022 Netflix rom-com “Falling for Christmas,” after signing a multi-picture deal with the streamer.

#5: Tim Allen

Back in 1978, Tim Allen was an up-and-coming stand-up comedian working in Detroit, Michigan. In October that year, he was arrested at the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport and served over two years in prison for drug trafficking. Allen could have faced a possible life sentence if he didn’t cut a deal with prosecutors to rat out other drug dealers. Following his release, Allen continued with his comedy career and, a decade later, landed the role of Tim Taylor on the ABC sitcom “Home Improvement”. He gained additional recognition for voicing Buzz Lightyear in the “Toy Story” franchise and for his turn as store chain executive Mike Baxter in “Last Man Standing”. Allen has remained sober for more than two decades.

#4: Martha Stewart

This domestic diva and gardening guru built a media empire for herself with her lifestyle and homemaking tips. That empire came close to crumbling in 2004 when she was convicted of misleading investigators regarding a 2001 stock trade. This led to a five-month sentence at the Federal Prison Camp in Alderson, West Virginia. But any speculation that Stewart’s empire would crumble after her release fell flat on its face. Instead, the resilient entrepreneur made a triumphant comeback, launching more successful businesses and TV shows. In 2023, she made history as the oldest model ever featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue. Her current net worth, as reported by some publications, sits at around $400 million.

#3: Robert Downey Jr.

Anyone familiar with the life of Robert Downey Jr. knows that he defied great odds to still have a successful career in Hollywood today. Downey began acting as a child, before establishing himself in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. However, towards the end of the ‘90s, the actor faced severe legal troubles due to substance use disorder. He spent six months in jail in 1997 for missing a court-ordered drug test, followed by nearly a year behind bars in 1999 for the same offense. Fortunately, Downey turned his life around. In 2008, he became Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a role he played until 2019. He also won critical acclaim in 2023 for portraying Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan's “Oppenheimer”.

#2: O. J. Simpson

The 1995 murder trial of O. J. Simpson is well-known globally. The former football star and actor was charged with the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. Simpson was famously acquitted of the crimes, although many believe he committed them. In 2007, Simpson faced a new legal challenge, this time for armed robbery. He was convicted of 12 criminal charges and sentenced to 33 years in prison, ultimately securing parole after nearly nine years. Since his release, Simpson has led a relatively quiet life in Las Vegas, occasionally sharing his views on sports, politics and even notable murder trials on social media. He was taken off parole in 2021 and is now a free man.

#1: Bill Cosby

Once celebrated as “America’s Dad,” Bill Cosby fell drastically from grace after dozens of women accused him of sexual assault, with some cases dating back to the 1960s. In 2015, Cosby was indicted on charges of aggravated indecent assault for an incident that occurred in 2004. After two criminal trials, he was found guilty and sentenced to three to ten years in prison. However, in 2021, this conviction was overturned on a legal technicality and Cosby was set free. Despite this, he has faced civil lawsuits from his accusers, one resulting in a $500,000 payout. Cosby is now reportedly working on a docuseries about his life, a memoir, and a comeback comedy tour, although the latter has been put on hold.


What other celebrities with troubled pasts did we miss? Let us know in the comments.