10 Movie Actors BANISHED to TV

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at major actors whose declining success on the big screen seemingly drove them to television, whether or not they had a resurgence. What are your favorite TV turns and comebacks for movie stars? Join the cast in the comments.

#10: Katherine Heigl

TV was the ideal stepping stone for versatile "Grey's Anatomy" star Katherine Heigl. And after her breakout lead role in "Knocked Up", she also became one of the most promising rom-com headliners of the 2000s. Unfortunately, critical and commercial success declined in the 2010s. Worse, Heigl gained a reputation of being difficult to work with. She ultimately tried to regain credibility with a comeback to TV drama, but "State of Affairs" was canceled after just one season. The leading lady subsequently stuck to other relatively short-lived TV gigs, including CBS's one-and-done "Doubt" and the last two seasons of "Suits". However, as the industry examines its own misogyny, public opinion towards Heigl seems to have shifted, and her work on “Firefly Lane” has been praised.

#9: Chris O'Donnell

In 1992, Chris O'Donnell scored a Golden Globe nomination for "Scent of a Woman". The following year, he got a Razzie nod for "The Three Musketeers". He spent the rest of the '90s building a hit-or-miss resumé, before his popular appeal was dashed by the era-definingly awful "Batman & Robin". It looked like O'Donnell was doomed to fade into obscurity. But after he landed "NCIS: Los Angeles" in 2009, G. Callen became one of primetime's leading law enforcement officers. O'Donnell did not appear in a feature film between 2010 and 2023, but his steady TV work may have saved his legacy. With the end of "NCIS: LA" after 14 years, it's time for another reinvention.

#8: Reese Witherspoon

By the 2010s, Reese Witherspoon seemed to be relinquishing her role of America's Sweetheart, with her work in more serious movies not resonating. It was reportedly not the easiest period in her life, and many will remember her confrontation with a cop in 2013. She made waves with 2014’s “Wild”, earning an Oscar nomination. But overall, her big screen work wasn’t what it had been in her “Legally Blonde” peak. Eventually, she took a chance on the bold frontier of television with "Big Little Lies". It was a hit, and Witherspoon’s sharp performance proved she was still a star. She earned further acclaim for "Little Fires Everywhere" and "The Morning Show." With high-profile producing credits and challenging roles, she's made the most of this pivot.

#7: Christian Slater

Christian Slater was one of Hollywood's most recognizable actors in the '80s and '90s. But after the failures of several ambitious films in the 2000s, he wound up in many poorly received projects. He mostly stood out with guest and voice work on TV during this period. Finally, in 2015, Slater staged a big comeback as the titular hacker on USA Network's "Mr. Robot". The show garnered a dedicated following, and its massive acclaim all but revitalized the veteran actor's credibility. That mostly meant more credible TV roles, though he is in the film game too. Until he can fully reboot his movie superstardom, Slater's distinct voice can always be heard on the small screen.

#6: Barbara Stanwyck

Ziegfeld girl Barbara Stanwyck entered the film industry just in time for the talkies. She became one of the leading starlets of Hollywood's sound era, best known for her groundbreaking femme fatale persona. She even made a splash on television with "The Barbara Stanwyck Show" and "The Big Valley". Still, this was her most high-profile work at the time. Stanwyck left film in the '60s, but stayed prolific on TV. A few years after winning a Golden Globe for the star-studded miniseries "The Thorn Birds", she effectively retired altogether in 1986. Stanwyck's film career may have fallen victim to Tinsel Town ageism. Rarely playing the victim, though, she maintained her stardom and legacy as a leader in entertainment.

#5: Cuba Gooding Jr.

The ‘90s saw a meteoric rise for Cuba Gooding Jr. His Oscar-winning portrayal of Rod Tidwell in “Jerry Maguire” gave him endless momentum. He kept this popularity going in the new millennium, but not always among critics. As the quality of his projects declined, the bulk of the leading film roles he could secure went straight-to-video. Of course, some of the movies he had supporting parts in earned praise, like 2014’s “Selma.” Still, it was mainly his TV and stage work drawing in attention. Gooding was especially renowned as the star of “The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story”. However, dozens of sexual assault allegations and charges against him began emerging in 2019, casting a dark shadow over his career.

#4: Kristen Bell

It didn’t take long for Kristen Bell to become a TV must-watch. With the trifecta of “Veronica Mars”, “Heroes” and “Gossip Girl” pretty early in her career, she was practically guaranteed long-term film success. But after her big break in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”, she headlined a string of arguably forgettable flicks. Despite box office success, Bell proved a more versatile lead in voice acting. She returned to small-screen residency with Showtime’s “House of Lies”, before NBC’s acclaimed “The Good Place” fully reminded people of her talent. A successful revival of “Veronica Mars” in 2019 took that further. Bell is now best-known for her TV work, though that’s not to say she doesn’t make memorable silver screen appearances, especially in the animation world.

#3: Elizabeth Taylor

Few Hollywood stars can measure up to Elizabeth Taylor. She was recognized as one of the most iconic women in the world, who starred in many of her era's biggest and most influential films. However, even her clout in Hollywood declined with age and sensationalization of her personal life. By the 1980s, she was working primarily on stage and in a variety of TV shows. This notably included a stint on “General Hospital” and a couple of brief appearances on “The Simpsons”. Taylor, however, remained a relevant public figure even after her retirement in 2007. Her legacy is now defined as much by her acting range as her glamor. In her later career, though, Hollywood left her few options outside of television.

#2: Bob Hope

Recent generations may be most familiar with Bob Hope through his TV work. But the vaudeville-forged comedian was one of the biggest box office draws throughout the 1940s and ‘50s. With an equally prolific radio and stage career, he was bound to conquer television from its advent. It wound up being his safety net after a series of flops cost him top billing at theaters by the early ‘70s. Yet Hope remained one of TV’s top personalities until his retirement in 1998. Ironically, he may be best-known for hosting the Oscars a record 19 times. Hope’s own renown in film may have sadly been short-lived. But TV kept the dynamic entertainer an icon for much of his career and beyond.

#1: Winona Ryder

Winona Ryder was the It Girl of the '90s. She had built a diverse filmography and received two Oscar nominations before she was 25. But the early 2000s brought backlash over shoplifting and Adam Sandler's "Mr. Deeds". From there, the basically blacklisted Ryder largely appeared in independent comedies. She subsequently landed some elevated projects in both mediums in the late aughts and into the 2010s, before working nostalgia in her favor as Joyce Byers on "Stranger Things". The Netflix megahit and Ryder's standout performance really brought her back into the limelight. With further acclaim in the miniseries "The Plot Against America", she's due for a full-blown comeback. First, though, there's the matter of one of the most cinematic shows on the smart screen.