Actors\Actresses who should have made it big but didn't

[Legato]

"Nods to Davideaux"

Angela Basset is the perfect example of this thread. She was really good in What's Love Got To Do With It. She was also pretty good in Waiting To Exhale but yet it seems that she has been gettin less movie roles than actresses like Hallie Berry and even Beyonce.

So who do you feel that should have gotten their moment in the spotlight but seem to be overlooked in Hollywood?

[Bright-Raven]

Angela Bassett's not that great an example, really. She's been getting her share of work. It may not be the glamourous lead female roles, but those are not likely to come her way, due to the ageism in Hollywood. Keep in mind she is 47, and most producers want starlets in their 20s, maybe early 30s. She also was offered and passed on the Halle Berry role for Monster's Ball, so it's not like she's been completely ignored by Hollywood. She's moving into producing, which is common for many actresses once they move past the "ideal" age.

[Bright-Raven]

I'm having a hard time thinking of who might have gotten overlooked. I keep thinking of an actor / actress, but then I go to the IMDB and see that they all have received their fair share of work. Not every project's going to be Oscar caliber stuff, and not every performer has to be the top billing.

Anyone else thinking along similar lines?

Not saying the thread's not worth tyring to think of some people. I'll probably think of someone at some point.

[stealthwise]

Christian Slater is a pretty good actor who was supposed to be the "next big thing", but never quite made it for some strange reason. He's not that bad in most movies and he's got a lot of charisma. True Romance, A Few Good Men and a couple of other movies could have made him a star, but didn't.

[KenK]

Christian Slater is a pretty good actor who was supposed to be the "next big thing", but never quite made it for some strange reason. He's not that bad in most movies and he's got a lot of charisma. True Romance, A Few Good Men and a couple of other movies could have made him a star, but didn't.

He needs to stop grabbing women's asses. . . .and doing Uwe Boll movies!

[Legato]

He needs to stop grabbing women's asses. . . .and doing Uwe Boll movies!

That could be said about any actor or actress.

[Ontir]

Bassett keeps turning down rolls, like Storm, or the lead in "Monster's Ball."

Barry Tubb and Barry Pepper are prime examples. They've both had their moments, Pepper more than Tubb, but both continue to work, like in the Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada.

I once thought Daphne Zuniga was going to be HUGE!

Christian Slater's personal problems got in his way, though he continues to do good work.

[Legato]

I thought Ryan Phillipe would have ended up making it big. Before Episode 2 he was one of the actors considered for the role of Anakin.

[Scorpion13]

Jessica Lang was supposed to be the next big actress, but starring in Dino De Laurentis's crappy Kong remake snuffed out her career.

[Aggie]

lizabeth scott...she made a movie here and there playing the "femme fatale"...she was suppose to be the next jean harlow, but just ended up some old, dried up alcoholic...a more contempery example...though she's gotten her fair share of meaty roles...laura linney should be a lot bigger than she is...but then again i think it works for her not being a huge part of the hollywood establishment...she's too talented to be churning out crap like nicole kidman does...

[Tommy]

Allison Hannigan seemed like she might be breaking out of Buffy, but has not been in anything I can remember recently...

[Legato]

Lindsey Lohan had a good run since her movie Mean Girls but ever since she hanged out with Paris Hilton and got too skinny she hasn't been recieving alot of praise.

[Bright-Raven]

The only legitimate name listed here so far is Lizabeth Scott. (Thanks, Aggie, for an intelligent suggestion, even if I didn't like the dried up alcoholic comment.)

As for the others:

Alyson Hannigan: Currently starring in a supporting role on the CBS Comedy HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER every Monday night. Has both child star and typecasting stigmas pitted against her, and her adult roles and performances outside of BUFFY and AMERICAN PIE have been... well, crap.

Lindsay Lohan: Current flavor of the month and shouldn't even be considered for this list until her initial 15 minutes of "bubblegum teen idol boy toy" are up.

Ryan Phillippe: Why? I remember maybe four of his roles, and two of those wouldn't have even been mentionable but he was riding Sarah Michelle Gellar's then rising star. And that's not saying his performances were anything worth noticing.

Ontir's choices... Who the hell is Barry Tubb? Oh. "Wolfman" from TOP GUN and he was Jasper in the LONESOME DOVE TV series. Okay. Uhm... So? What makes him stand out as anything special?

Barry Pepper? Outside of THE SNOW WALKER and 61*, what has he really done that is really that stand out? I mean, more than half of his movies are ensemble cast war movies where he has been completely overshadowed by better performers. And to counter THE SNOW WALKER, you have crap like BATTLEFIELD EARTH, KNOCKAROUND GUYS, and 3: THE DALE EARNHARDT STORY. *cringe*

Christian Slater WAS the hot commodity. He just lost it with his personal problems, like a lot of actors do. Whether he'll ever get his "spot" back, who knows.

Angela Bassett, as I have said, has Hollywood ageism against her and she passes on roles a lot. She'll end up being a decent producer in time.

But the worst suggestion on this list so far has to be Scorpion13's nomination of Jessica Lange.

Jessica Lange was supposed to be the next big actress, but starring in Dino De Laurentis's crappy Kong remake snuffed out her career.

Riiiiight.

1982 "Tootsie" - Best Supporting Actress (WINNER)

1982 "Frances" - Best Actress (nomination)

1984 "Country" - Best Actress (nomination)

1985 "Sweet Dreams" - Best Actress (nomination)

1990 "Music Box" - Best Actress (nomination)

1994 "Blue Sky" - Best Actress (WINNER)

Golden Globes Awards

1976 "King Kong" - New Star of the Year (WINNER)

1982 "Tootsie" - Best Supporting Actress (WINNER)

1982 "Frances" - Best Actress (nomination)

1984 "Country" - Best Actress (nomination)

1990 "Music Box" - Best Actress (nomination)

1992 "O Pioneers!" - Best Actress in a Motion PIcture for TV (nomination)

1994 "Blue Sky" - Best Actress (WINNER)

1996 "A Streetcar Named Desire" - Best Actress in a Motion Picture for TV(WINNER)

1997 "A Thousand Acres" - Best Actress (nomination)

Emmy Awards

1996 "A Streetcar Named Desire" - Best Lead Actress in a Mini-Series or Special for TV (nomination)

2003 "Normal" - Best Lead Actress in a Movie for TV (nomination)

British Academy Awards

1982 "Tootsie" - Best Supporting Actress (nomination)

Olivier Awards (for British theatre)

2001 "Long Day's Journey Into Night" - Best Actress (nomination)

Women In Film Crystal Award
June 2000 - This award honors outstanding women who have helped to expand the role of women within the entertainment industry.

******

Yeah. That KING KONG did irreparable damage to Lange's career. :rolleyes: I can't imagine how many more movies she'd have been nominated or won awards for if not for that stinker.

Please - when you think of someone, look their credits up on the Internet Movie Database:

http://us.imdb.com/search

And when you're done with that, GOOGLE them and see what awards they may have been nominated for or have won.

[GabrielleWP]

As far as TV actors go : Ken Wahl / Wiseguy
The accident detrailed him in more ways that one, but no comeback. But he won a golden globe and was nominated for 2 emmys. Then blip, nada.

Daphne Zuniga The Sure Thing, Spaceballs, Gross Anatomy, then Melrose, then blip, alot of crap and now back on TV. She never really caught on, despite getting work, she's good and could've been big.


Cuba Gooding Jr Boyz in the Hood, Jerry Maguire (Oscar), As Good as it gets, then Snow Dogs? wtf? Boat Trip? again, wtf? Radio was ok but this guy should be getting top A material. He was on his way to being seriously the next big thing then he started doin crap, probably for the money. Well, suppose we all have to put food on the table. But whomever was managing his career needs to be spanked.


GWP

[eJm]

Lindsey Lohan had a good run since her movie Mean Girls but ever since she hanged out with Paris Hilton and got too skinny she hasn't been recieving alot of praise.
It's sort of unfair to say that because she hangs out with someone and got skinny (she's getting better, mind) that she isn't getting praise. On the contrary, she hasn't been getting any film roles that really cement her as a big star. I mean, when was the last time someone's career was made by a Herbie Movie?

Wait until Bobby, A Priarie Home Companion and Chapter 27 come out. Those will be the big make or break ones

[GabrielleWP]

I forgot Theresa Russell she was great in Black Widow but even though she gets work, she's far from being a big thing. She should've been.

[i_mmmchocolate]

Jeff Bridges is a fantastic actor that hasn't received the recognition he deserves.

[Dennis K]

the worst suggestion on this list so far has to be Scorpion13's nomination of Jessica Lange.



Riiiiight.

1982 "Tootsie" - Best Supporting Actress (WINNER)

1982 "Frances" - Best Actress (nomination)

1984 "Country" - Best Actress (nomination)

1985 "Sweet Dreams" - Best Actress (nomination)

1990 "Music Box" - Best Actress (nomination)

1994 "Blue Sky" - Best Actress (WINNER)

Golden Globes Awards

1976 "King Kong" - New Star of the Year (WINNER)

1982 "Tootsie" - Best Supporting Actress (WINNER)

1982 "Frances" - Best Actress (nomination)

1984 "Country" - Best Actress (nomination)

1990 "Music Box" - Best Actress (nomination)

1992 "O Pioneers!" - Best Actress in a Motion PIcture for TV (nomination)

1994 "Blue Sky" - Best Actress (WINNER)

1996 "A Streetcar Named Desire" - Best Actress in a Motion Picture for TV(WINNER)

1997 "A Thousand Acres" - Best Actress (nomination)

Emmy Awards

1996 "A Streetcar Named Desire" - Best Lead Actress in a Mini-Series or Special for TV (nomination)

2003 "Normal" - Best Lead Actress in a Movie for TV (nomination)

British Academy Awards

1982 "Tootsie" - Best Supporting Actress (nomination)

Olivier Awards (for British theatre)

2001 "Long Day's Journey Into Night" - Best Actress (nomination)

Women In Film Crystal Award
June 2000 - This award honors outstanding women who have helped to expand the role of women within the entertainment industry.

******

Yeah. That KING KONG did irreparable damage to Lange's career. :rolleyes: I can't imagine how many more movies she'd have been nominated or won awards for if not for that stinker.

Please - when you think of someone, look their credits up on the Internet Movie Database:

http://us.imdb.com/search

And when you're done with that, GOOGLE them and see what awards they may have been nominated for or have won.

http://www.owned-pictures.com/owned-pictures/003.jpg

[Jared]

Yeah Scorpion not to pick on you but what on Earth made you think of Jessica Lange? She was one of, if not the, hottest legit actresses of the 80s and early 90s. Jessica Lange made her *debut* with King Kong, it hardly snuffed her career.

Anyway: Gretchen Mol. 'Rounders' came out years before the current poker craze and tanked. It seems like she hasn't been in anything notable for years.

Eliza Dushku: Seems like everyone had her pegged to be the Buffy alum most likely to hit it big. She should have taken the Faith spinoff over 'Tru Calling'.

Rachael Leigh Cooke. "She's All That" made her a pinup. 'Antitrust' was a vehicle for her and Ryan Phillipe, but it was lousy. But then either by choice or neccessity, it seems all she did for a few years was Indy films. Her last couple movies were straigh to video, and I think she had a guest part on Las Vegas.

Adrian Pasdar, star of the short-lived 'Profit', is a good actor who seems doomed to failed TV shows and pilots, like House of Frankenstein and some Touched By an Angel-ish show about investigating miracles.

Andre Braugher: He was riveting in 'Glory' and the underwatched show 'Homicide'. I was shocked and appalled to see him slumming as a sidekick in 'Hack' a couple years ago. Hopefully his new show on FX will give him the chance to show his stuff.

[Dennis K]

Andre Braugher: He was riveting in 'Glory' and the underwatched show 'Homicide'. I was shocked and appalled to see him slumming as a sidekick in 'Hack' a couple years ago. Hopefully his new show on FX will give him the chance to show his stuff.

They had an extended preview of his new FX show Thief on the other night, and it looks great, can't wait to see it.

[Tommy]

What about Pia Zadora? (I think that is how you spell her name...)

[Goldeneye]

Ryan Phillippe: Why? I remember maybe four of his roles, and two of those wouldn't have even been mentionable but he was riding Sarah Michelle Gellar's then rising star. And that's not saying his performances were anything worth noticing.


I would've agreed with you, but I thought he was pretty good in CRASH. I don't really consider him as someone who hasn't made it big yet, since he's still young and a pretty popular name.


Barry Pepper? Outside of THE SNOW WALKER and 61*, what has he really done that is really that stand out? I mean, more than half of his movies are ensemble cast war movies where he has been completely overshadowed by better performers. And to counter THE SNOW WALKER, you have crap like BATTLEFIELD EARTH, KNOCKAROUND GUYS, and 3: THE DALE EARNHARDT STORY. *cringe*

I think Barry Pepper is a perfect example of this. He's pretty good in smaller character roles, like the sniper in SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, but I thought he dwarfed Edward Norton in 25TH HOUR as an actor whenever they were on screen together. And I like Norton a lot.

[Erebus]

Austin St. John. The original and BEST Red Power Ranger, and my childhood hero.

[EZMOHR]

Has Matthew McCoughnay ever really lived up to the "A Time to Kill" hype. I mean he works steadliy, but he never got as big as that movie was supposed to make him.

Barry Pepper is a great choice. I remember the 25th Hour was supposed to be his big, big break, but he has not done much since then.

My orginal entry into this debate is Marisa Tomei. She won a freaking Oscar, and she has done not anything special since then.

[kalorama]

Jessica Lang was supposed to be the next big actress, but starring in Dino De Laurentis's crappy Kong remake snuffed out her career.

Snuffed out her career? How? She won two Academy Awards in the years after King Kong.

EDIT: I see I'm late to the party. Nevermind.

[cactusmaac]

Having watched Primal Fear, I thought Ed Norton would be the breakout star of his generation.

He's worked steadily since then and got a lot of notice for American History X, but I'd have thought he'd be a much bigger star than he is now.

[ragnarok_2012]

I think Ryan Phillipe is a very good actor, and I'm kinda surprised that he's generally thought of as just Reese Witherspoon's husband.

In the late 90's, I was utterly convinced that Jerry O'Connell would be an A-list actor.

[KenK]

I'll agree with Ryan Phillipe. I thought he'd have headlined a few more major films by now.

[kalorama]

My orginal entry into this debate is Marisa Tomei. She won a freaking Oscar, and she has done not anything special since then.

She was very good in in a substantial role in In The Bedroom.

Basically, we could crash this server just by listing every one of the "pretty young things" that popped up in some hot movie by some hot director, (or some hot TV show), that got a lot of hype and put her on the covers of a bunch of magazines in her underwear for a couple of years before she faded from the stage to be replaced by the next one (or 12). There are also several actresses in the 90s who, while still being beautiful, were the kind of innately "beautiful-but-intelligent" looking types that really seemed to make it difficult for them to convincingly portray hookers, strippers, or dumb girlfriends, thus limiting their chances to climbe the Hollywood ladder (in the days before women could be seen headlining thrillers and action movies on a regular basis).

A small sampling:

Heather Graham
Mira Sorvino
Julia Ormond
Minnie Driver
Kate Beckinsale
Jenna Elfman
Cristinna Ricci
Madeline Stowe (a huge shame, because she's a great actress who should have gotten much better roles)
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
Ashley Judd

[Jared]

Has Matthew McCoughnay ever really lived up to the "A Time to Kill" hype. I mean he works steadliy, but he never got as big as that movie was supposed to make him.


Too much time spent hitting the bong. Although Sahara was a successful, wasn't it?

[Dennis K]

I'd like to mention the late John Cazale, who had roles in The Godfather I & II, Dog Day Afternoon and The Deerhunter. John died back in 1978 of cancer, and there's no telling just how big he could have been.

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/eresources/exhibitions/sw25/gifs/dog.gif
http://www.mediacircus.net/godfather_________2.jpg

[Jared]

How about Amanda Peete. I know she's in Syriana, but she's not exactly headlining these days. For a while there, she was suppossed to be the next Julia Roberts.

[Dr. Hfuhruhurr]

The one that pops in my mind is Virginia Madsen. I can't even remember the film I first saw her in, but I remember thinking that she was going places.

The next time I saw her was in Highlander II.

[Magneto_X]

A small sampling:

Heather Graham
Mira Sorvino
Julia Ormond
Minnie Driver
Kate Beckinsale
Jenna Elfman
Cristinna Ricci
Madeline Stowe (a huge shame, because she's a great actress who should have gotten much better roles)
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
Ashley Judd

Graham was an "It Girl" for a while, then suddenly she just got lesser roles and vanished entirely. She kept doing these stupid romance comedies--she should have stayed playing serious roles, IMO.

Ormond, definitely. She rocks in everything. Loved her in First Knight.

Driver, not sure.

Beckinsale is probaly B-List, although she was A-List a few years ago (re: Pearl Harbour).

Elfman, she became a Scientologist and self destructed.

Ricci's been on permanent B-list. The reason she never became A-List is because she isn't "pretty enough" for Hollywood.

Stowe, definitely.

Mastrantonio, haven't seen enough of her to comment.

Ashley Judd is a major star. has been for years.

I'll add Elisabeth Shue.

[Legato]

Tom Arnold: As funny as this guy is he should have been up thare with Jim Carrey, Ben Stiller, etc.

[Magneto_X]

I think Barry Pepper is a perfect example of this. He's pretty good in smaller character roles, like the sniper in SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, but I thought he dwarfed Edward Norton in 25TH HOUR as an actor whenever they were on screen together. And I like Norton a lot.

He was great in Spun, too.

[Watchman]

Elizabeth Short
Sharon Tate

o.o

[Vaders shoeshine boy]

I know there's no way Billy Crystal should be mentioned here,but after seeing Robin Williams and Whoopie Goldberg get their gold statues,I keep hoping for him to do something else as brilliant as "City Slickers",and "Analyze This"-just was'nt it.

[Bright-Raven]

DennisK:

I think the "owned!" graphic was a bit much, man. I'd appreciate the removal of that post so that Greg doesn't have to chew you out.

*******

Thoughts on some of the other choices:
GabrielleWP-

Theresa Russell: I can see that, kind of. Every once in a while she'll have a stand out role, but she really moved on to TV movies a long time ago. It may well be that Hollywood's problem with her was that she starred in too many of her husband Nicholas Roeg's films. *shrugs*

Chocolate -

Jeff Bridges: 8 nominations for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor over the years, but has only won one time, and that for a lesser acknowledged award (1993 Best Actor for The Independent Spirit Awards for Independent Film AMERICAN HEART). I'd certainly consider that he deserved a win in the Academy Awards or Golden Globes for some of his various performances over his career. But he's hardly what I would call overlooked as a leading star actor.

****

Jared -

Gretchen Mol: I can't think of a movie or series that she's been in besides the aforementioned ROUNDERS and that movie was nothing special.

Eliza Dushku: Well, TRU CALLING got horrible reviews and Fox nixed it like they nix everything they ever produce that's worth watching. You can't really claim her other films like WRONG TURN, SOUL SURVIVORS, THE NEW GUY and BRING IT ON were anything special in terms of performances (partly because the scripts / roles just weren't anything to write home about), and her cameo role in the Robert DeNiro film CITY BY THE SEA wasn't enough of a role to really warrant her any notoriety.

I'm beginning to think some of you feel it's easy to find the breakout projects and then nail the gig. It's not. 99% of what these people get offered is crap, and you don't always get cast for the 1% role you might have really wanted and you have to settle for lousy roles for the money. (Though seriously, TRU CALLING was the better choice than a FAITH spinoff in Dushku's case - nothing worse than being typecast into a singular role, and given that BUFFY and ANGEL died soon thereafter and the oft mentioned spinoff for Anthony Stewart Head for Giles never materialized...)

Rachael Leigh Cook: Cutie, definitely. High caliber actress? I don't know - I've yet to see her do anything but "fluff" projects as a leading actress. I think her most serious role might have been her part in the TNT Miniseries INTO THE WEST. And her would be breakout hi-profile TV series FEARLESS (through WB) never was released.
I'd say the jury's still out until someone offers her a legitimate role outside of what she's known for - the teenie bopper flick.

Adrian Pasdar: Was also a regular on CBS' Judging Amy from 2003-2005, and had a recurring guest appearance role on the hit ABC series Desperate Housewives just this past October - November. Can't get a much higher profile show than that.

Andre Braugher: Can't comment because I'm not that familiar with his work.

****

Emma Frost -

Pia Zadora: Has maybe ten projects to her career, most of them B and C list level quality. Hardly any reason to think she'd ever be a star?

*****

Goldeneye:

Didn't see CRASH, so I can't say about Phillippe's performance there, but I doubt it would be enough to wipe out the wrecks that were ANTITRUST, I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER and CRUEL INTENTIONS.

Your thoughts on Barry Pepper - I guess I'm still looking for the breakout role. Character actors are a necessity in Hollywood and I agree that he can do that very well, but not very many character actors make it "big". Don't agree about 25th Hour.

*****

Austin St. John: Serious case of one-role typecasting / Child Actor Syndrome, and I wouldn't consider any of the "Power Rangers" to be Oscar contenders. Not saying he couldn't be, but I can also see why he's not burning up the charts. He may well have gotten out of the business entirely, seeing as he hasn't had a role in over 7 years.

******

EZMOHR -

Matthew McConaughey: Has he ever done another role as serious as the TIME TO KILL role? I think perhaps the closest would have been his supporting role in CONTACT with Jodie Foster, but most of his leading role stuff has been fluff comedy like HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN TEN DAYS or THE WEDDING PLANNER. I've never watched FRAILTY to see what his performance in that was like, but that seems to be the only film he's done since CONTACT that might have warranted any notice.

Marisa Tomei: Yeah, I suppose it's been a while since her last heralded performance. (3 nominations for Best Supporting Actress for IN THE BEDROOM, 2001 - Hey, don't blame me, I didn't name the movie!) I dunno. I don't look at her as this great actress. I think a lot of people think fondly of her role in MY COUSIN VINNY, but I just don't see her as all that, myself.

******

Cactusmaac-

Ed Norton: Hm. Interesting choice. It's true he got a lot of awards and recognition for PRIMAL FEAR and AMERICAN HISTORY X. Also his performance in FIGHT CLUB the year after that. But he's also taken to producing and directing, and that will take you out of the hunt for acting.

******
Rags -

Jerry O'Connell: Uhm... no. SLIDERS was very bad once he took over production. JOE'S APARTMENT is a sick joke. KANGAROO JACK is just as bad. The only decent major role the man has had is as Woody Hoyt on CROSSING JORDAN. MAYBE his role in JERRY MAGUIRE, but certainly Cuba Gooding and Cruise outdid him there.

*****

Kalorama -

The sampling?

Heather Graham: Name me a decent movie she's been in, first. Her most hi-profile roles? LOST IN SPACE (crappy remake adaptation whatever mess), AUSTIN POWERS (crapfest), SAY IT ISN'T SO (crapfest), IN HELL (the comic was better). She's actually got to pick herself a decent role and do something with it before she'll become a top actress.

Mira Sorvino: Hm. I don't know. Just got a recent Golden Globe nomination for her role in the TV miniseries HUMAN TRAFFICKING. I guess with her you could say it's about time, seeing as it's been ten years since MIGHTY APHRODITE. Then again, when MIMIC and THE REPLACEMENT KILLERS are probably the two most well known things she's done in between, can't exactly be expecting much.

Julia Ormond: Uhm... I don't know. She's a pretty selective performer and much of the work she does wins awards of some kind. She may not be a huge box office draw, but she's pretty damned well respected.

Minnie Driver: Busy being a writer, producer, composer, and recording artist.

Kate Beckinsale: Errr... I can't say that the UNDERWORLD films warrant any notoriety for her. VAN HELSING was crap. That leaves BROKEDOWN PALACE, SERENDIPITY and PEARL HARBOR as her body of work. Not nearly enough to be considered a top draw actress.

Jenna Elfman: Outside of her Dharma role, she's done mostly voice work for animation and video games. Quite possibly because the money's good, the hours short, and can be easily worked around her TV show schedule's hiatus time. Whether she'll move into films or not remains to be seen.

Cristinna Ricci: 7 industry awards and nominations (4 wins). Usually overlooked in the mainstream because she plays in so many independent films. Something she does of her own choosing and is on the record as saying as much.

Madeline Stowe: I guess I can sort of see that. She seemed to be doing all right throughout the 90s to me, though.

Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio: Perhaps playing Marian in ROBIN HOOD opposite Kevin Costner killed her career? :evilsmile I don't know. I can't say I see her as a starlet, but certainly she is a strong actress who probably should be getting more supporting actress roles and just isn't being offered anything she considers worth the effort.

*****

More in next post.

[GozertheGozarian]

I'm not sure you're understanding the thread Bright-Raven. This is about what they could have been, not what they became.

[Bright-Raven]

Dennis K -

John Cazale: Well, like you said, he died young. No way of knowing whether he would have become a leading player or not. I think he probably would have become a character actor or supporting actor type.

*****

Jared -

Amanda Peet: Two words - eye candy.

******

Dr. Hfuhruhurr -

Virgina Madsen: You probably saw her in either ELECTRIC DREAMS or the theatrical release of DUNE first in the early 1980s. She's done a hell of a lot since then, and certainly more than crap like HIGHLANDER 2.

BLUE TIGER, GHOSTS OF MISSISSIPPI, and THE RAINMAKER in the mid 90s were probably her "15 minutes of fame". She's since moved on into made for TV movies and producing, but has 5 projects in production, so we should be seeing her out there again shortly.

*****

Legato-

Tom Arnold: pass.

******

Watchman-

Elizabeth Short: Was never in any movies. Her claim to fame sadly was being a murder victim and trying to get roles by sleeping with directors.

Sharon Tate: Maybe... hard to say. Only real role of significane was in VALLEY OF THE DOLLS. No way of knowing if her career would have taken off or if she would have been just another 60s bombshell passed over by the 1970s.

******

Vader's Shoeshine Boy -

Billy Crystal: No, he really doesn't belong here, but yes, he probably should get an award at some point before his career is over. But he hasn't been nominated since 1992 as an actor, so he'll probably get an Oscar as a producer or director, assuming he finds the right project.

******

Decent thoughts. Still looking for some possible inclusions myself. (I know, I know - I'm too picky.)

[Bright-Raven]

Gozer:

I understand the intention of the thread just fine. I'm saying none of these talents should have been anything more than they are, and that MOST of those listed have been extremely successful throughout their careers, and those that haven't been are either those who had their lives cut short, or they're eye candy (men or women)who either can't act to begin with or don't know how to get a decent role to play (and in all fairness it's hard to get really good roles in the business these days).

So, what the hell are you people expecting of these performers? Seriously! Not everyone is going to turn into a repeated Oscar winning performer. Not everyone becomes the top box office draw. Hell, if you want to talk about box office draws, then you're looking at the likes of Schwarzenegger, Stallone, Van Damme, and others of their style of films also and I think it's safe to say that very few people here would consider them to be any great shakes as legitimate actors. Pretty boy action stars, maybe, but not serious actors. Should they have been more than they were as performers? Pfft.

[Calamas]

The one that pops in my mind is Virginia Madsen. I can't even remember the film I first saw her in, but I remember thinking that she was going places.

The next time I saw her was in Highlander II.
The first time I saw her was in the HBO baseball movie Long Gone, say in the late 80’s. She been working steadily her whole career and got an Oscar nomination last year. I doubt she’s complaining.

[Calamas]

The first to pop into my mind is Ashley Laurence. She played the daughter in Hellraiser. From the moment I first saw her I thought, “Beauty and talent. There going to be no stopping this girl.”

I was wrong.

[Bright-Raven]

All right, I thought of a few *possible* choices, but I'm skeptical.

John Glover (AKA Lionel Luthor on SMALLVILLE), because he's always been cast in roles as a villain throughout his career (Voice of Riddler on BATMAN animated series, Dr. Jason Woodrue in BATMAN & ROBIN, the Devil in BRIMSTONE to name other well known roles), but he's been nominated for an Emmy Award 5 times and he's won at least one Tony Award (his dual role as John & James Jeckyll in LOVE! VALOR! COMPASSION!). It's a tough call. I think he's been typecast and if he can be nominated all these times for playing a limited style role, I suppose the next step is to see what he can do in a different role and maybe he can win instead of just nominated.

On the other hand, he may be having troubles as an openly gay actor in his late 50s in getting other roles.

******

Miguel Ferrer: I cannot find a single nomination (let alone win) for him as an individual anywhere in acting. He has one Screen Actor's Guild Award that he shared with the entire preliminary cast for TRAFFIC. Another actor well known for voice over work and as a villain role player, but more diverse than what Glover's been allowed to play seeing as he is on CROSSING JORDAN.

*****

Ben Browder: Probably best known to you all as John Chrichton on FARSCAPE, nearly his entire career has been made for tv movies and limited release television series. I wonder how the guy would handle a lead role in the theatrical release.

Oh, and he's yet another of the voice actors - did Bat Lash on the JUSTICE LEAGUE toons, among others.

*****

Alex Winter: Sort of kidding here, but hell, if Keanu Reeves can make it big, why didn't this guy? (He was the other half of Bill & Ted)

******

Not coming up with any actresses yet.

[Jared]

Ashley Laurence. I thought the same thing, where the hell is her career? Jamie Lee Curtis becomes famous, but not her?! Acorrding to some posts on IMDB she's a very good painter though. She still looks really good. IIRC, Diane Lane and Jennifer Connelly didn't really become majors stars until their late 30s, so maybe there's hope for her too.

Re: Ben Browder, it seems to me that actors from sci-fi fantasy TV almost never really break out. I doubt anyone from the Buffyverse, Farscape, the Stargates or later Star Treks will ever be a mainstream leading commodity, though there are some fine character actors among them.

[Ontir]

Ontir's choices... Who the hell is Barry Tubb? Oh. "Wolfman" from TOP GUN and he was Jasper in the LONESOME DOVE TV series. Okay. Uhm... So? What makes him stand out as anything special?

Barry Pepper? Outside of THE SNOW WALKER and 61*, what has he really done that is really that stand out? I mean, more than half of his movies are ensemble cast war movies where he has been completely overshadowed by better performers. And to counter THE SNOW WALKER, you have crap like BATTLEFIELD EARTH, KNOCKAROUND GUYS, and 3: THE DALE EARNHARDT STORY. *cringe*

Barry Tubb started out playing the son of Marlo Thomas and Martin Sheen in a TV movie called Consenting Adult, which is a favourite of almost every gay guy I know! He then did a few small films in Canada, and then was in a film called Warm Summer Rain, which I rather liked, with Kelly Lynch. To be honest, I hadn't seen him in much, though after perusing imdb, he's done far more than I was aware of, until the Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada which is hitting theatres now, and is extremely good. I've never seen him give a bad performance, and he just seemed to have that "it" that one needs to become a "big star."

As for Barry Pepper, the Green Mile Titanic, Enemy of the State, and the list goes on. He continues to work, and often in rather large films, but hasn't yet gone over the top, career-wise. I must, in all fairness, mention that he called into a proprietary, inside-the-industry service, similar to imdb, but more comprehensive, that a few of my friends work for, and asked to have Battlefield Earth removed from his resume!

Love the Jessica Lange stuff!

[Magneto_X]

The first to pop into my mind is Ashley Laurence. She played the daughter in Hellraiser. From the moment I first saw her I thought, “Beauty and talent. There going to be no stopping this girl.”

I was wrong.

Agreed. She was wonderful in all the Hellraiser movies she appeared in.

Heather Langencamp & Lisa Wilcox from the Nightmare On Elm Street movies,
Amy Acker, Debbie Rochon (the best B-actress *ever*), Leonor Valera (this lady disappreared after Blade 2!), Kelli Williams (her stint on The Practice should have made her a star), Steve Harris (same thing here) and Emily Perkins (Ginger Snaps should have gotten her mainstream attention, not her co-star Katherine Isabelle*).


*who's a decent actress but Emily runs rings around her in acting talent

[Bright-Raven]

Ontir:

Pepper's roles in GREEN MILE and TITANIC were not that significant and other performers and performances were much more important to the successes of those films, respectively.

*****

Ashley Laurence: Well, I haven't seen her in a major movie yet. (Hellraiser was no great shakes. Cult favorite, sure, but certainly nothing worthy of Oscar or Golden Globe or anything.) The rest of her work is primarily straight to video or made for TV. Kinda hard to be a superstar that way. Looking at her listing, I didn't even know she had a third of that to her credit.

Heather Langenkamp: Probably could have been bigger had her scenes in THE OUTSTIDERS and RUMBLEFISH not been deleted. Got typecast in the horror genre with the Elm Street films and SHOCKER. Her character in the ABC Comedy JUST THE TEN OF US was okay, but whenever you're in a huge family comedy, we all know that the youngest kids are the ones who steal the show.

If X-MEN had been shot 20 years ago, she would have been perfect for Kitty Pryde. Alas...

Not sure why she's had 5 year gaps in-between gigs twice now. Perhaps school or perhaps children. Still... certainly a maybe, if she had gotten some more serious roles.

Lisa Wilcox: Uhm... Why?

Amy Acker: Not enough roles yet. What the hell, man - need to be a star immediately?

Debbie Rochon: B-Movie Queen says it all. Is she good? For the kind of movies she does... yeah. Is it a shame she didn't move beyond B-Movies? Sure, why not. Can she do an A-List film, though? That, I couldn't say.

Emily Perkins: No major roles yet(sorry, but cult favorite GINGER SNAPS does NOT merit national attention). She manages to get a major role in a legitimate A-List film and receives critical notice for her performance? Then she'll skyrocket as yet another 20 year "overnight success". But she's mainly a TV movie actress and bit part player at that.

Kelli Williams: No theatrical films yet. Like Perkins, gets a decent role for an A-List movie and nails it, she'll get better notice.

Leonor Valera: No, she didn't disappear since BLADE 2; she just went international and did french and spanish films instead of English speaking films.

Katherine Isabelle: Has more work than Perkins and is younger, but a lot of her work is what I call "junk roles" (B and C list works and not even the leading actress in those). Never any A-List film significant roles yet. Perhaps yet another who just needs a decent role, but given some of the dreck she's chosen to play roles in, I tend to doubt it.

*****

Jared: Jamie Lee Curtis becomes famous, but not her (Ash Laurence)?

Well, first off you have to keep in mind who Curtis is related to - Hollywood royalty. Second, she was in HALLOWEEN, which is a far stronger, realistic horror film than HELLRAISER will ever be. Third, Curtis never allowed herself to be limited into a genre or role type.

I somewhat agree that a lot of TV SF actors seem to get overlooked outside of their roles. Could be typecasting, could be other reasons.

[Aggie]

what about clair danes??...based on her work on "my so-called life"...i thought she was gonna sky rocket to the top...and even though she's still pretty young, i thought evan rachel wood would blow up after "thirteen"...i'm still keeping my eye on her though.

[Norrin Radd]

Casper Van Dien - Starship Troopers

Loren Dean - Billy Bathgate, Gattaca

Keir Dullea - 2001

Gary Lockwood - 2001

Mark Hamill - Star Wars

Billy Crudup - Almost Famous, Big Fish (although he still has a chance)

Richard Grieco - If Looks Could Kill

[Legato]

I was going to say Casper Van Dien: I thought for sure he would have been the next Vin Diesel type of action star after Starship Troopers.

Mark Hamil: Eventhough he is well known as the voice of The Joker I still think he could have done bigger things than what he is doing now. Out of all the actors involved in the original SW Harrison Ford is the only one who really made it big.

[Bright-Raven]

Claire Danes: Has been getting more serious roles as of late and will likely mature into things nicely.

Evan Rachel Wood: Soon to hit the scene in films, probably within the next 12-18 months, if any of her upcoming films do well.

******

Casper Van Dien and Richard Grieco: Pretty boy actors who can't act.

Loren Dean: Maybe. Only one real leading role (MUMFORD), but I seem to remember him getting decent reviews for that.

Mark Hammill: Uhm... have you guys actually watched his work outside of Luke Skywalker? He's a terrible physical actor. As a voice actor he is aces, I certainly concur, but in live performance... very flat. And while he could have been a pretty boy actor, the motorcycle accident (and subsequent reconstructive surgery) sort of killed that.

Keir Dullea & Gary Lockwood: Products of their era, when there weren't that many "superstar" performers and many actors / actresses just did their job and went on to the next role. Both had plenty of work long before their roles in 2001: A Space Odyssey, and both continued in their normal routines afterward.

Billy Crudup: Not unless he takes some higher profile projects, which he has gone on record as not wanting (turned down TITANIC before DiCaprio, for example). Strong actor, certainly, but just isn't interested in being an icon performer and would rather play Broadway or in an art film as be in a major release. So, should he be bigger? Probably. But he doesn't WANT to be.

[Legato]

Cory Feldman: I thought he was good in Stand By Me but ever since that and Lost Boys he kept starring in crappy movies until he dissappeared in films entirly.

[Davideaux]

Josh Hartnett was supposed to be big, but I think his last "hit" was Hollywood Homicide.

[Norrin Radd]

Lance Guest
Harry Connick Jr.
Chris Tucker
Bill Paxton
Bill Pullman

[Wild Card]

What about Pia Zadora? (I think that is how you spell her name...)You're kidding, right? Well you did spell the name right. Remember the cotorversy was that she won the Golden Globe for Best New Comer before the movie was eligible to win anything and her then millonaire husband was accuse of buying the award for her. (SCTV even did a hour long skit base on that (expt that it was SCTV winning all of the awards.)) Also
from iMDb:
Became the first thespian to "win" back-to-back RAZZIE Awards when she was named Worst Actress of 1982 for Butterfly (1982) and Worst Actress of 1983 for The Lonely Lady (1983) - thus making her the RAZZIE equivalent of Luise Rainer.

[Wild Card]

Tom Arnold: As funny as this guy is he should have been up thare with Jim Carrey, Ben Stiller, etc.
I say just the opposite becuse he was basly riding the coattails of his ex-wife.

[GabrielleWP]

I say just the opposite becuse he was basly riding the coattails of his ex-wife

Anyone who saw True Lies knows that isn't true. That was probably him at his best, fast paced, funny and I enjoyed it when he was on screen.


I'm going to add Trini Alvarado to the list. She's been in some bigger pictures, is a good actress and should've caught on, but hasn't.

[Legato]

Anyone who saw True Lies knows that isn't true. That was probably him at his best, fast paced, funny and I enjoyed it when he was on screen.

Also in that prison movie with Edward Furllong. I dont know if that was Tom's first serious role but he was pretty creepy as the perverted rapist.

[mgs]

I'd say:

Eliza Dushku

Alicia Witt

Mena Suvari


Not that they would've made it BIG, but at least, big-ger than they have, so far...

[Magneto_X]

Mark Hamill - Star Wars

Agreed. he could definitely have been at least B-list. Wonder why he chose to stick to voice acting, though.

Billy Crudup - Almost Famous, Big Fish (although he still has a chance)

He's done. IIRC last year he got arrested for having sexual relations with a 12-13 year old cousin of his.

Richard Grieco - If Looks Could Kill

He's only good at one role: being a smart alec badass, and he can barely do that anymore because he's not in shape and hasn't improved at all (unlike Johhny Depp--who kept getting better after 21 Jump Street).

[Magneto_X]

Josh Hartnett was supposed to be big, but I think his last "hit" was Hollywood Homicide.

Decent actor, but usually just goes for roles that allow him to phone it in. Perhaps Affleck was a bad influence on him during Pearl Harbor.

He is under-rated, though. He is excellent in Black Hawk Down.

[Magneto_X]

Chris Tucker


Could have gone the Mike Myers route* but just does minor roles in crappy movies and remakes. Maybe his heart just isn't in movies as much as comedy (unless the money is there).

*Pooty Tang was brilliant

[Bright-Raven]

Corey Feldman (and Corey Haim): Child Actors, basically, and in Feldman's case in particular, with his Michael Jackson affectation and his various run-ins with the law, really alienated himself from moving onward to bigger things.

Lance Guest: Uhm, the only thing I know I ever saw him in was THE LAST STARFIGHTER, which is certainly a classic cult SF film of its era. But even then I wouldn't say that performance suggests he would have moved into stardom. What other major roles has he had?

Harry Connick, Jr.: Basically he's a musician first, actor second. No reason for that to change.

Chris Tucker: Poor man's Eddie Murphy at best. Not remotely close to superstar.

Bill Paxton: Well, this one's a tough one. Should he be bigger? I think there's a case to be made. On the other hand, he sort of shoots himself in the foot with junk roles like SPY KIDS and CLUB DREAD. But yes, when he was involved with major hit films like APOLLO 13, TWISTER, TITANIC and others, he probably should have gone up the ladder.

Bill Pullman: Hm. I don't know. I think he just took on too many lame projects throughout his career.

Tom Arnold: Well, I tend to compare Tom Arnold to Kevin James (King Of Queens), and I think the latter is a vastly more entertaining performer in the comedic sense. But that's just my opinion.

Eliza Dushku's already been discussed. Moratorium on all BUFFY / ANGEL / FIREFLY performers, male or female. None of them really have had enough work to be considered as overlooked, and the vast majority of them, when you look past their work in Whedon's stuff, are bad.

Alicia Witt: Pretty face. What performance really makes her stand out as being ready to be a superstar, though? I can't think of anything?

Mena Suvari: Eye Candy, basically.

******

Some more possibles:

Piper Perabo: Hasn't really had any success outside of COYOTE UGLY. Was cute in the ROCKY & BULLWINKLE movie. Perhaps her most hi-profile role since has been in the ensemble casts for Steve Martin's CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN franchise. Not sure if she has the skill to take it to the next level, or if she's just another pretty face.

(Joke but somewhat serious) Leif Garrett: Think about this for a moment. Poster Teen Idol of the late 70s and early 80s. He was in the original cult classic WALKING TALL as Sheriff Pusser's kid. He was in THE OUTSIDERS alongside the likes of Matt Dillon, Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, and Diane Lane...
He was all over the freaking place. Now look at him. He's doing disco flashbacks on VH1. *snicker* I'm not saying he should or could have been more, but certainly during his teen idol years, people must have expected bigger and better things out of this guy, right?

Ah, here's one: Timothy Hutton. Roles in the early 80s in such classics as ORDINARY PEOPLE, TAPS, ICEMAN, TURK 182!, and THE FALCON & THE SNOWMAN might have made you think he was on the fast track to superstardom, but by the time the 90s rolled around, he was almost exclusively in TV movies.

[Magneto_X]

Lacey Chabert: Decent actress. Just hasn't been in many roles to show her range, which I think she has. Or potentially does.

This girl should be having the fame Lyndsay Lohan has. She's prettier, more intelligent and more talented.

Liev Schreiber: This guy is a great character actor. Good at being jerks (re: Manchurian Candidate, Scream 2, Phantoms) and good guys (RKO 281: The Battle Over Citizen Kane, The Sum Of All Fears). Reminds me of Joaquin Pheonix.

[GabrielleWP]

Leif Garrett

Bad car accident and heroin stopped him short.
But oh how cute he was.

[Norrin Radd]

Carey Elwes
Brendan Fraser
Jason Scott Lee
John Corbett
Edward Burns
Dougray Scott
Matt Dillon

[Legato]

Eric Roberts: I find his acting to be pretty decent but it seems he will forever be stuck doing nothing but made for tv/video movies.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

I think Sean Young was headed for big things, but her going a little nutty after a horseback-riding accident bumped her from playing Vicky Vale kinda derailed her career. But, she did a lot of good work prior to that.

[Dennis K]

Brent Spiner. Probably stuck in the public's mind as "Data" for good. At one time I heard they were considering doing a Laurel & Hardy biopic and Spiner had been cast as Stan Laurel. I'm still waiting on somebody in Hollywood to step up and make a movie out of Caleb Carr's The Alienist. Spiner would be perfect as Dr. Lazlo Kreizler.

[marshal99]

Chris Tucker: Poor man's Eddie Murphy at best. Not remotely close to superstar.


A poor man's eddie murphy who gets to cash in frigging 40 million for just 2 movie deals - rush hour 3 and an unconfirmed movie. I don't know about you but for that kind of money , that guy can stay home and put his legs up and not worry about putting food on the table. Who cares about fame when you got money ?

[SPAfreak]

Sarah Polley is one in my opinion. Unfortunately she's pretty much done it to herself with the choices she's made in what roles to take. She does a lot of smaller/indie productions and she does a fantastic job in them. It's a shame that most of America has only seen her in Dawn of the Dead or Go.

[kalorama]

Sarah Polley is one in my opinion. Unfortunately she's pretty much done it to herself with the choices she's made in what roles to take. She does a lot of smaller/indie productions and she does a fantastic job in them. It's a shame that most of America has only seen her in Dawn of the Dead or Go.

She was outstanding in The Sweet Hereafter (and also very good in a film called Guinevere with Stephen Rea)

[Magneto_X]

A poor man's eddie murphy who gets to cash in frigging 40 million for just 2 movie deals - rush hour 3 and an unconfirmed movie. I don't know about you but for that kind of money , that guy can stay home and put his legs up and not worry about putting food on the table. Who cares about fame when you got money ?

IIRC that's the Pay Or Play deal. Hollywood actors do this all the time. Celebrities, anyway.

Although Tucker never struck me as someone with that kind of clout.

Chris Rock, maybe---but not Tucker.

[kalorama]

IIRC that's the Pay Or Play deal. Hollywood actors do this all the time. Celebrities, anyway.

Although Tucker never struck me as someone with that kind of clout.

Chris Rock, maybe---but not Tucker.

In terms of film, Tucker has (or at least had, if he hasn't squandered it) more clout than Rock. The Rush Hour movies were huge commercial hits (at least the first one was). Rock has never really headlined a major box office success.

[Bright-Raven]

Rush Hour was Jackie Chan. No Chan, no Chris Tucker. Sure, it's nice that Tucker gets to ride Chan's coattails. Big deal. Owen Wilson did the same thing with the SHANGHAI KNIGHTS films, but at least Wilson arguably has some talent and can play in roles opposite other actors. Tucker hasn't really shown anyone spit.

By the way, Brent Spiner was one I was thinking of, and glad to see someone else brought him up instead. I keep thinking they should do a new Sherlock Holmes with him in the lead (partly based on his Data as Holmes, but obviously Spiner would have to take it further). I'd also like to see him in some comedic roles.

[kalorama]

Rush Hour was Jackie Chan AND Chris Tucker. They were co-headlining stars and both were necessary for the film's success, as was also the case with Wilson in Shanghai Knights. (To wit, how much box office success has Chan had lately in film's in which he hasn't been paired up with a recognizeable American costar as a foil?) They both benefitted from the film's success in terms of Hollywood clout, at least in the short term.

I really have no idea how many people Tucker has displayed his saliva to, so I can't really comment on that.

[Vaders shoeshine boy]

I think that John-Erik Hexum (NBC's Voyagers ) would've had some of Val Kilmers roles enventually if he had'nt accidently killed himself. Go fig-shot himself with a prop gun whose blank catridges flash had enough bang to kill him.

[Ontir]

Tracey Scoggins

I met her once, and she was quite nice, but beyond that, there was a big push with her, early on in her career, but they always had her palying the long-suffering virginettes, which never really worked. Then, she was cast in Lois & Clark as Cat Grant. When I saw her there, I said, "OH! She's 'the Bitch!'" By which I am referring to what Morgan Fairchild was told, early on in her career, "Ingenues are a dime a dozen, but a good bitch is hard to find!" and it's true. To be tough, even ruthless, and still alluring and compelling is an interesting combination, and I hope in future people see her more the way JMS saw her, when he brought her onto Babylon 5 and then Crusade.

Speaking of John Erik Hexum - who would be huge, were he still alive - where's Emma Samms? She was his fiancee, at the time of his death, and was then on General Hospital before going on to Dynasty and the Colbys before vanishing into thin air.

[Magneto_X]

Tracey Scoggins

I met her once, and she was quite nice, but beyond that, there was a big push with her, early on in her career, but they always had her palying the long-suffering virginettes, which never really worked. Then, she was cast in Lois & Clark as Cat Grant. When I saw her there, I said, "OH! She's 'the Bitch!'" By which I am referring to what Morgan Fairchild was told, early on in her career, "Ingenues are a dime a dozen, but a good bitch is hard to find!" and it's true. To be tough, even ruthless, and still alluring and compelling is an interesting combination, and I hope in future people see her more the way JMS saw her, when he brought her onto Babylon 5 and then Crusade.


Agreed. She was great in Lois & Clark and Babylon 5.

Speaking of Babylon 5 Bruce Boxlieghter (sp?) should have become a star by now. He was basically Captain Kirk for a new generation in that show. :)

[kalorama]

Bruce Boxlightner?

He was a new generation Captain Kirk only in the regard that he's acting chops were just as weak as Shatner's but without the odd quirks that made Shatner amusing/interesting to watch. His career played out right where it was intended: smack dab on the C list of made for TV movies.

[Ontir]

Boxleitner did OK for himself. He had several successful series, including the Scarecrow & Mrs. King and then Babylon 5. By the time he was on the latter, he'd married "Laura Ingalls," and they have a few children together, and some separately. Mrs. Boxleitner AKA Melissa Gilbert has also been rather busy for the last several years, as President of the Screen Actor's Guild, and often in battle against "Rhoda" star Valerie Harper.

He's at least doing better than me! I live in a dumpy one-room with no kitchen in Hollywood. He and his live in a gated community in Chatsworth, and are neighbours with Howie Mandel! :eek: :D

[Jared]

And I doubt he has any illusions about where he is. I remember an TV Guide ariticle about a sci fi movie he was in, which he humously described as "a cut-rate Jaws, and I'm a cut-rate Roy Scheider."

And he's the voice of the President of the United States in a bonus featurette for Dawn of the Dead.

[discostu]

Michael Madsen, yeah I know he was in Kill Bill, but he should be huge by now... He's still kicking himself for turning down Travoltas role in Pulp Fiction.

[Vaders shoeshine boy]

Michael Madsen, yeah I know he was in Kill Bill, but he should be huge by now... He's still kicking himself for turning down Travoltas role in Pulp Fiction.

Was he the one who told Bruce Willis to "sit down" in Sin City?

[GabrielleWP]

Adding another to the list : Charlie Korsmo
# Can't Hardly Wait (1998) .... William Lichter
# Hook (1991) .... Jack 'Jackie' Banning
# The Doctor (1991) .... Nicky MacKee
# What About Bob? (1991) .... Sigmund 'Siggy' Marvin
# Heat Wave (1990) (TV) .... Jason (age 12)
# Dick Tracy (1990) .... 'Kid'/Dick Tracy Jr.
# Men Don't Leave (1990) .... Matt Macauley

He was a steady working actor and good, then nothing. So I looked it up. Come to find out he's one of those that walked away from it to attend school and just accepted a postion with the Missile Defense Team of the U.S. Government.
Which is amazing because I bet he could still be working very hard today in Hollywood.
Michael Madsen, yeah I know he was in Kill Bill, but he should be huge by now... He's still kicking himself for turning down Travoltas role in Pulp Fiction.

He has 13 movies in production or completed (post production). Its a crap shot as to which will hit it big if any, but I'm still hoping he pulls it out and gets big. He had moments in Kill Bill Vol 2 where I just thought, "Wow, this guy is really good". I just hope another top director gives him a good role. Cos there really isn't anyone out there like him. Not the same smokey voice, sexy eyed, bad ass.
Inglorious Bastards directed by Tarintino seems to be his best shot, since he seems to have the lead. Only time will tell though.


On a final note, hope you guys have a Merry Christmas! :D

[Trystenn]

He was great in Spun, too.
Barry Pepper was in Spun? Who was he?

[Valmore]

I would have thought Matthew Modine would have had much more success than he did. Sure, he was in "Full Metal Jacket" and the video all high school wrestlers have to watch - "Vision Quest." But what happened, man? You were supposed to be a star! Not a guy getting steady work of minor roles.

[discostu]

Was he the one who told Bruce Willis to "sit down" in Sin City?
yeah that's him.

[Lord_Archive]

Rush Hour was Jackie Chan AND Chris Tucker. They were co-headlining stars and both were necessary for the film's success, as was also the case with Wilson in Shanghai Knights.

Agreed. Some people, no matter how talented they are, simply cannot capture a movie audience by themselves.

Chan just needs someone silly to sidekick with. Tucker made for a great sidekick in the Rush Hour movies because he's loud and obnoxious. Wilson was merely ok in the Shanghai series because he's just not that funny. He's just too laid back to be the "other side" of Chan.

There are a few duos that have had great chemistry together that Hollywood should have done more with. Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans, and Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russel to name a couple. Its hard to say that Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller have have had chemisty, because when they get together, they may play well together but they just bore me.

Also, Kevin Smith needs to stop thinking he's a serious director and just keep doing the silly stuff with Jay and Silent Bob movies. He's got a great duo there and he's just got too much ego to keep running with it and not fix what ain't broke.

[marshal99]

I always thought Dennis Quaid should be a major star but he has never break out , he has had good starring roles for so many years but for some reason , he's never really taken off as a major leading man , instead more known for being Meg Ryan's husband (at least until their divorce).

[mgs]

Mena Suvari: Eye Candy, basically.
ugh! I saw a recent pic of this girl, on Allure magazine cover, at least she used to have a distinct look, now she just looks like every other typical blond beauty who has no personality in showbiz, ughh....

[KenK]

I always thought Dennis Quaid should be a major star but he has never break out , he has had good starring roles for so many years but for some reason , he's never really taken off as a major leading man , instead more known for being Meg Ryan's husband (at least until their divorce).

Are you kidding?!?! I'd say his career's been on a strong rebound! Yours, Mine, and Ours, aside, he's had his hits recently, especially with In Good Company and Day After Tomorrow.

[Magneto_X]

Kathryn Morris, she's awesome in Cold Case. She's even good in Paycheck.

[kalorama]

Forrest Whitaker

[Phoney Bone]

The posterchild for typecasting, Linda Blair.

[Ontir]

Allison LaPlaca!

She was on the early Fox sit-com Duet, which then morphed into Open House. She was then on the original ER - the sit-com with Elliot Gould, Dennis Boutsikaris, and... George Clooney. Then, she was Rache'ls boss, who had a thing for Chandler on Friends for awhile. She's a great "broad" in the Barbara Stanwyck, Rosalind Russell tradition, and it's too bad she's so under-appreciated!

[Ontir]

Dougray Scott

After Everafter he was the new "it" guy. He landed the part of the bad-guy in MI-II, and was meant to be Wolverine in the X-Men, but an injury suffered on the MI-II set, put him out of commission, and Singer et al couldn't wait. As a result, the part was recast, and it turned out to be a starmaker for Hugh Jackson.

[Ontir]

ugh! I saw a recent pic of [Mena Suvari], on Allure magazine cover, at least she used to have a distinct look, now she just looks like every other typical blond beauty who has no personality in showbiz, ughh....

I met her once, about 3 years ago. She was quite nice. While we're on the subject though, what ever happened to Wes Bentley? He was so great an enigmatic in American Beauty, but has effectively faded into obscurity since then.

[EZMOHR]

I met her once, about 3 years ago. She was quite nice. While we're on the subject though, what ever happened to Wes Bentley? He was so great an enigmatic in American Beauty, but has effectively faded into obscurity since then.


That is the one that bothers me the most. I think I heard he was ultra-choosey about his parts (He pissed off Sam Raimi and lost the Spider-Man role, He accepted and then turned down the role of Lestat in Queen of the Damned.) Then finally, he became so damn choosey, he can only play Blackheart in the Ghost Rider movie. Too bad, because I thought he could have a damn good career after Rickey Fitz in American Beauty.

[Magneto_X]

Laura Harris (24, The Dead Zone, Going Greek, Dead Like Me):

She even runs her own production company, Rocket Chicken International Pictures.

www.imdb.com/name/nm0364977

[Vaders shoeshine boy]

B.T.W.,whatever happened to Roberto Bergnini? (I luv-a you all!)

[Kirayoshi]

B.T.W.,whatever happened to Roberto Bergnini? (I luv-a you all!)He did a live-action movie "Pinnochio", casting himself as the wooden puppet who wanted to be a real boy. Despite the fact that the actor is in his 50s! To my knoweldge his Pinnochio is the only movie to receive a 100% rotten rating at rottentomatoes.com. That movie was reviled like no other before it, and it pretty much killed his career, at least in the States. He's probably cranking out movies in Italy, so he's happy.

I would like to nomiate Sophie Marceau. She played the dauphin who fell in love with William Wallace in Braveheart, then she played the evil Elektra King in the James Bond movie "The World is Not Enough". She was supposed to be in the running for the female lead in "The Da Vinci Code" but they gave that role to Audrey Tautou. Haven't heard much from her lately.

Someone asked about Minnie Driver. We last saw her as the prima donna in the movie version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom of the Opera".

I would almost nominate Natalie Portman, although she did land a plum job as Evie in the much-ballyhooed "V for Vendetta". But I still find it funny that the actress who played Queen Amidala's body double Rabe, Keira Knightly, is getting better roles("Pirates of the Carribean", "King Arthur", "Love Actually", "Domino", "Pride and Predjudice") than the actress who played Queen Amidala. Boy did George Lucas bet on the wrong horse!

[StoneGold]

I would almost nominate Natalie Portman, although she did land a plum job as Evie in the much-ballyhooed "V for Vendetta". But I still find it funny that the actress who played Queen Amidala's body double Rabe, Keira Knightly, is getting better roles("Pirates of the Carribean", "King Arthur", "Love Actually", "Domino", "Pride and Predjudice") than the actress who played Queen Amidala. Boy did George Lucas bet on the wrong horse!
I think it might be less that, and more what the role does to you. I mean, ignoring the fact that she got rave reviews in stuff like Closer and Garden State, which would kind of blow the theory that she's not getting the big parts (did you really use King Arthur as evidence? Tell me you didn't.) But even it it was, Star Wars movies have a tendency to typecast most of their actors.

[marshal99]

Are you kidding?!?! I'd say his career's been on a strong rebound! Yours, Mine, and Ours, aside, he's had his hits recently, especially with In Good Company and Day After Tomorrow.

Considering he's been around since the 80s, his fame never ever quite reach up to the top A-list billings of someone like Brad Pitt or Leonardo DiCaprio. Sure , he still have good main actor roles but he's just not A-list which i thought he would have been after he played Jerry Lee Lewis in the late 80s.

[Leslie Lee III]

Bruce Campbell, Jared Leto, Stuart Townshend

[ChrisII]

I've noticed Hammil mentioned here, but what about Carrie Fisher? Although she's had a sucessful career as an author, post-SW trilogy her acting career has been mainly composed of cameos and small roles-Although her issues with her mother, her drug abuse, disastourous relationships and other stuff has not helped.


TPM stars Jake Lloyd and Ahmed Best also pretty much vanished off the face of the Earth....


Not sure what will become of the FIREFLY/SERENITY actors. Alan Tudyck's been in some high-profile roles in Dodgeball(as the pirate guy) and also in I Robot (Although he was mainly a CG character in that). Nathan Fillion's doing what looks like a bad horror movie, not sure about Gina Torres, Morena might be Wonder Woman...Adam Baldwin mainly seems to be doing B-movie roles..not sure about Jewel Staite or Sean Maher, Ron Glass is doing well, but unfortunately Summer Glau is doing one of those sci-fi channel movies :(

[Ontir]

Ford, Fischer, and Hammill were paid scale for their work on Star Wars, but given a cut of all merchandising of their characters in perpetuity to make up for the meager pay. During one of her more disasterous substance runs, Fischer sold or signed this away for quick payment, so she doesn't get the cash anymore, the others still do. Both men essentially do whatever work interests them, but Ford is more driven by paycheck than Hammill. While Fischer only acts occassionally, she's written several successful novels like Surrender the Pink, and the successfully adapted Postcards From the Edge, and continues to work regularly as a script-doctor for Hollywood. I once passed her office on the Universal Lot, whilst lining their waste-baskets with my resumees about five years ago.

[kalorama]

Star Wars movies have a tendency to typecast most of their actors.

That may have been true (to an extent) of the original cast, in large part because they were mostly unknown before Star Wars. But most of the key players in the prequel's were wll-established, well-known vets with established careers and track records.

Both men essentially do whatever work interests them, but Ford is more driven by paycheck than Hammill.

That seems like an unneccesary (and likely inaccurate) swipe at Ford. What, he should turn down the money? I'm sure Hammill would happily take the $20 mill paychecks if someone was offering them. I think Ford is a guy who over the course of his career has carved a niche for himself, been incredibly successful at mining it, and has managed to reap the financial benefits of playing to his strengths (and the audiences desires) as an actor. He's not a guy people are interested in seeing in low budget talky art films. He knows it, Hollywood knows it, and everybody responds accordingly.

Nothing wrong with that.


Considering he's been around since the 80s, his fame never ever quite reach up to the top A-list billings of someone like Brad Pitt or Leonardo DiCaprio. Sure , he still have good main actor roles but he's just not A-list which i thought he would have been after he played Jerry Lee Lewis in the late 80s.

Dennis Quaid was certainly on the A-List in the 80s, albeit for a brief run. You can't really compare his height to younger guys that are hot today, because the nature of the movie business (and the hype machine surrounding it) is much different now than it was then.

[Ontir]

That's not a swipe at Ford. He's said repeatedly, that it's a business, and in business, people need to be paid, and that he feels he's worth the money. I'm not arguing either way, but he clearly is driven by paycheck. Some actors will cut their fee, or defer pay for material. He believes, and has said, that if the material is worth it, the money will be put together.

Hamill, on the other hand, does small projects, and sometimes rather odd projects, if he finds them interesting.

[kalorama]

That's not a swipe at Ford. He's said repeatedly, that it's a business, and in business, people need to be paid, and that he feels he's worth the money. I'm not arguing either way, but he clearly is driven by paycheck. Some actors will cut their fee, or defer pay for material. He believes, and has said, that if the material is worth it, the money will be put together.

Hamill, on the other hand, does small projects, and sometimes rather odd projects, if he finds them interesting.

Because no one will pay him for big projects.

Ford's movies, collectively, have grossed well over $1 billion dollars. His movies have been successful, in large measure, simply because he was in them. He's what people pay to see, and the studios have made a king's ransom off that fact. Wanting to be paid a fair share of an enterprise that's earned a massive fortune based primarily on his appeal is good business and common sense. But it's not the same as being "driven by a paycheck."

Generally, bankable name actors will cut their fees to facilitate financing for smaller movies that can't get big studio financial backing. Ford doesn't make those kinds of movies, so he doesn't need to cut his fee, any more than Brad Pitt would for Mr. and Mrs. Smith II or Tom Cruise would for Mission Impossible XIX. Apples and oranges.

You make it sound like Ford is a hack mercenary who only cares about money and Hammill is a selective genuine artist. The fact is that Hammill's career as an actor of any note was effectively over after Star Wars. It's not like he's passing up big studio jobs to do smaller projects. He's not being offered big studio jobs. Any acting work he can get is a bonus.

[Ontir]

I NEVER said he was a hack! HE has said, REPEATEDLY, in interviews, that he goes where the money is. He says when he worked for less money, he was given less respect, so he doesn't work for less money. He also says that it's a business, and in business people need to get paid. I'm only telling you what the man has said himself!

Mark Hamill does things differently. He just does. It's neither good nor bad, it's just what he does. Don't read anything more into it, and certainly don't blame me, if you do.

[Vaders shoeshine boy]

Rosie O'Donnell was not that big as an actress,but she never should've left her talk show. (It was one the better shows on ABC and a better talk show than most of the other stuff they had on since then.)

Speaking of O'Donnells-how has Chris's career gone since the Batman movies?

[Paradox]

Ontir needs a little reality check:

Mark Hamill does things differently. He just does. It's neither good nor bad, it's just what he does. Don't read anything more into it, and certainly don't blame me, if you do.

Sorry, I've gotta go with Kal here. Mark does things the way he does because he HAS to. Very few (if any) are going to give Mark Hamill a "leading man" role. He just doesn't fit the profile. He languished in obscurity for years except for his Star Wars work. He found a nice niche working animation voice and that's good. He's talented, to be sure, but he never was, nor will he ever be a "star". **shrugs** His looks work against him. You know how the "biz" is.

[KenK]

I think it might be less that, and more what the role does to you. I mean, ignoring the fact that she got rave reviews in stuff like Closer and Garden State, which would kind of blow the theory that she's not getting the big parts (did you really use King Arthur as evidence? Tell me you didn't.) But even it it was, Star Wars movies have a tendency to typecast most of their actors.

Shoot, I'd forgive King Arthur, as I find Domino to be the more offensive blemish on Knightley's resume.

But to say Portman's career hasn't been as good as Knightley's? I'd say they're more or less on equal ground.

[KenK]

Considering he's been around since the 80s, his fame never ever quite reach up to the top A-list billings of someone like Brad Pitt or Leonardo DiCaprio. Sure , he still have good main actor roles but he's just not A-list which i thought he would have been after he played Jerry Lee Lewis in the late 80s.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. If anything, Quaid's just been smart about his career. It's only recently that you've seen him headlining three or four movies in a single year, and if most of these films end up doing well at the box office and with critics, how can there be any question of his status in Hollywood?

Now C. Thomas Howell(if he hasn't already been mentioned), there's a career that never reached its potential! Shoot, the only cast member from the Outsiders to really acheive and more importantly maintain "A-list superstar" status is Tom Cruise, surprising, considering what little purpose his character in the Outsiders served! For the life of me, I can't even remember his character's name! But dammit if this man hasn't built himself into a Hollywood institution. More often than not, this man's movies are making over a hundred million dollars, and with M:I-3 comin' out this summer, I don't see that trend ending anytime soon. Meanwhile, the guy who was arguably THE star of The Outsiders, has long since been relegated to direct-to-video schlock, even a sequel to one of his most memorable films, The Hitcher, a good 18 years after the fact! Who asked for a damn sequel to the Hitcher?!?! One of the best highway suspense movies of our generation for god's sake! Let's not even talk about Ralph Macchio, Patrick Swayze, Matt Dillon(although he's gotten some plum roles recently), or Emilio Estevez!

[StoneGold]

Shoot, I'd forgive King Arthur, as I find Domino to be the more offensive blemish on Knightley's resume.

But to say Portman's career hasn't been as good as Knightley's? I'd say they're more or less on equal ground.
The only reason Keira might be a little higher, Natalie's never had the title role. But a good chunk of that, perhaps to get around the typecasting, she's been a bit more selective of her non-Star Wars roles.


Oh, and she hasn't shown her tits in a movie.

[Tobias March]

I always thought Brooke Adams fromInvasion of the Body Snatchers and The Dead Zone could have done better. I just checked her imdb record. It's depressing.

[KenK]

Oh, and she hasn't shown her tits in a movie.

And lord knows there were so many chances for her to show the goods in Closer.

[Leslie Lee III]

Oh, and she hasn't shown her tits in a movie.

And in doing so made feel just a little bit more fake as a film. A whole movie centered around people speaking brutally honest and we have a stripper who doesn't get naked. Someone more committed could have gotten that role.

[StoneGold]

Someone more committed could have gotten that role.
From what I heard, she did. But it made the director feel all creepy, so he cut the scenes.

[KenK]

And in doing so made feel just a little bit more fake as a film. A whole movie centered around people speaking brutally honest and we have a stripper who doesn't get naked. Someone more committed could have gotten that role.

I guess that's the point. it's not that we see any of these people's sexual activity, but seeing how they deal with it. And it's not that her character didn't nude up, 'cause we see scenes of her removing and putting on her bra and panties. In the context of the film, it makes sense that we wouldn't necessarily see Portman nude. . . .It would have been nice, though! :D

[Leslie Lee III]

From what I heard, she did. But it made the director feel all creepy, so he cut the scenes.

From what I heard she asked for them to be cut then made some excuse about the director not liking them either because he's like her "dad" or something. I don't even think she's hot or particularly want to see her naked but that totally took away from the fim.

[Jared]

Shoot, I'd forgive King Arthur, as I find Domino to be the more offensive blemish on Knightley's resume.

But to say Portman's career hasn't been as good as Knightley's? I'd say they're more or less on equal ground.


Knighlty's career right now seems to be bomb-proof.. No matter how many movies she stars in tank at the box office, the stink of failure doesn't adhere to her. And there's some Oscar hype around her for Pride and Prejudice. It reminds me alot of Charlize Theron, who's had way more flops than hits, yet it doesn't seem to affect detract from her paydays or her ability to land award-oriented roles.

[Ontir]

Sorry, I've gotta go with Kal here. Mark does things the way he does because he HAS to. Very few (if any) are going to give Mark Hamill a "leading man" role. He just doesn't fit the profile. He languished in obscurity for years except for his Star Wars work. He found a nice niche working animation voice and that's good. He's talented, to be sure, but he never was, nor will he ever be a "star". **shrugs** His looks work against him. You know how the "biz" is.


Maybe now, but he was a big draw when the Star Wars trilogy was going, and he CHOSE not to do other things. He had a pretty steady career going prior to the first film's success. In fact, it was because of the success of the first one, that he set up the accident to get out of Eight is Enough (he was the original Tommy Bradford). They wouldn't let him out of his contract, so he set up an accident to get just injured enough that they'd have to replace him. He miscalculated, and nearly killed himself. He got what he wanted, but at a rather steep price.

With the success of the films, and the money that came with it, he spent a great deal of time racing cars and/or motorcycles, which further screwed up his face. He goes after things that interests him, and I've heard repeatedly, that he puts his own money into many of those projects. Even now, after all this time, I'd bet most producers would be willing to take a meeting with "Luke Skywalker!"

[Kirayoshi]

Anyone remember Jennifer's big sister Meg? Meg Tilly was in The Big Chill and Agnes of God, then she dropped off the radar. Last thing I remember her in was a tepid re-remake of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers". She also appeared in an obscure British piece called "The Girl in a Swing", based on a novel by Richard(Watership Down, Shardik) Adams and memorable only for extended scenes of Meg's full-frontal nudity. I actually saw the movie once out of curiosity, having read the book. Stick with the book.

[Ontir]

Jennifer Tilly began acting first, but her sister Meg's career took off faster. Meg, the former dancer, has written 3 (I think) novels in the last several years, and not done much in terms of acting. She was good in Bodysnatchers, Abel Ferarra's re-remake of Invasion of the Bodysnatchers.

OH, BTW, it's being re-re-remade as we speak!

[kalorama]

Anyone remember Jennifer's big sister Meg?

I'm pretty sure Meg is the younger of the two.

Even now, after all this time, I'd bet most producers would be willing to take a meeting with "Luke Skywalker!"

I'll take that bet.

[kalorama]

As for other names: Karen Allen.

I just watched Starman (again) on DVD last night and was struck (again) by how good Allen was. She was extremely talented, beautiful, and had a strong screen presence. How she didn't manage to become a star, at least on the Sigourney Weaver level of 80's actresses, is beyond me.

[Lubichev]

Mira Sorvino

Alex Winter (Bill S. Preston. Esq.)

[blackdragon6]

kadeem hardison

morris chestnut

andre braugher

tupac shakure

bruce campbell

ernest dikinson-he was suppose to be the next spike lee

allen payne

[Lubichev]

andre braugher


OH YES!! Should have been the next Denzel.

He can almost act circles around him already.

[KenK]

kadeem hardison

morris chestnut

andre braugher

tupac shakure

bruce campbell

ernest dikinson-he was suppose to be the next spike lee

allen payne

Well, Tupac did kinda DIE! And Ernest Dickerson was never gonna be the next Spike Lee. I'm convinced Juice was a total fluke.

[Davideaux]

OH YES!! Should have been the next Denzel.

He can almost act circles around him already.

I love Andre but he's more of TV guy than Denzel. I'm certain he'd be great in movies too but Denzel's got a better 'look' and is thus more marketable.

I wish Andre Braugher got more roles and I'm looking forward to his FX show.

[kalorama]

Ernest Dickerson isn't an actor. And except maybe in some alternative universe, Kadeem Hardison was never even in the same neighborhood as a slight chance at stardom.

[StoneGold]

As for other names: Karen Allen.

I just watched Starman (again) on DVD last night and was struck (again) by how good Allen was. She was extremely talented, beautiful, and had a strong screen presence. How she didn't manage to become a star, at least on the Sigourney Weaver level of 80's actresses, is beyond me.
If memory serves, she went into semi-retirement to have a kid.

[Tish-the-Scorpion]

Well, Tupac did kinda DIE! i still think he qualify for this thread.dieying did kinda screw up his career.as for ernest i don't know.maybe he needs better material *shrugs*

[Cam63]

Lindsey Lohan had a good run since her movie Mean Girls but ever since she hanged out with Paris Hilton and got too skinny she hasn't been recieving alot of praise.

Lohan has some natural talent, but needs to get well, stop bitching about her " rivals " and stop getting drunk with society skanks.

[Valmore]

bruce campbell

Bruce is one the biggest "B" actors who ever lived. Frankly, I'm not certain he could have ever been better than that. He's a fun actor for goofey action films or a second star on mythological tv shows and stuff, but I don't think he's ever had the acting chops to be a true leading man.

[KenK]

Bruce is one the biggest "B" actors who ever lived. Frankly, I'm not certain he could have ever been better than that. He's a fun actor for goofey action films or a second star on mythological tv shows and stuff, but I don't think he's ever had the acting chops to be a true leading man.

Furthermore, I don't think he's really had aspirations to be an A-lister. He's always liked doing what he's been doing, and there's a great following for that whole b-movie genre. In that context, he's about as biggest star around. Him and Jeffery Combs are arguably the kings of the B-Movie genre.

[Kirayoshi]

Sorry, double post. Nothing to see here, move along.

[Kirayoshi]

I'm pretty sure Meg is the younger of the two.I concede to your wisdom in this matter. I just double-checked with imdb.com. Jennifer Tilly was born in 1958, Meg in 1960, thus putting Jen ahead.

Meg just seemed older, that's what threw me. Maybe because Jennifer tends to play more chirpy, airheaded characters. Oh well...

Speaking of Megs, anyone remember Meg Foster? I recall her from a few TV stints, and she had the most striking eyes I've ever seen. The palest blue eyes ever, the irises were almost white. Seriously, I thought she was blind. I think she played blind roles on occasion. I also recall her as Hester Pryne in a PBS production of The Scarlett Letter.

[kalorama]

I remember Meg Foster very well. Her eyes were haunting. She was one of those actresses in the 80s and 90s who would pop up in guest-starring roles on TV all the time. During the 90s she showed up on a lot of sydicated sci-fi/action shows.