Hollywood has seen many talented actors and actresses over the years, but some have left their mark on the industry like no other. These iconic stars have won the hearts of millions of fans around the world with their exceptional performances. But, even though they were very successful and well-known at the time, some of these stars haven’t been doing so well since getting the highest honor.
Let’s revisit these eight iconic Hollywood stars who stopped appearing in big movie projects after becoming successful.
1. Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Hudson is a talented actress and singer who has been around in Hollywood for almost two decades. In 2007, she won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the unforgettable gem of a movie –– Dreamgirls. This was a huge accomplishment for the actress, but out of all the projects she signed on to, Dreamgirls was by far the most successful. And let’s not even mention the CGI funk that was Cats.
2. Cuba Gooding Jr.
Cuba Gooding Jr. won his Academy Award in 1997 for the movie Jerry Maguire, but ever since then, things have slowed down a lot. Gooding continued acting in movies and TV shows, but he never reached the same level of success as he did in the late 90s. He appeared in films such as Pearl Harbor, American Gangster, and The Butler. In recent years, Gooding has faced legal troubles, including allegations of sexual misconduct, and that’s an almost instant career killer.
3. Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck has received two Oscars: the first one for Good Will Hunting and the second one for Argo. Neither of them was for his acting skills, though. Affleck’s projects are usually universally hated or universally loved, and this dichotomy is what makes his career really fun to observe.
4. Mo’Nique
If you’ve never heard of Mo’Nique, we can’t blame you, but she did win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 2010’s Precious. However, her career did not take off in the way many expected. She publicly shared her disappointment with Hollywood’s lack of support for black women in the entertainment industry, which she believed was the reason for getting blacklisted in Hollywood. This led to her taking a break from acting for several years. Now she’s back, but her projects aren’t even B-tier material, with movies and TV shows like Bessie, Almost Christmas, and Empire.
5. Tatum O’Neal
Tatum O’Neal is famously the youngest actress to win an Academy Award for 1973’s Paper Moon. However, her career fizzled out right then and there. She appeared in a few movies and TV shows, but they were never the same caliber as in the good old days. In recent years, she has opened up about her struggles and focused on her personal life, including her relationships with her children.
6. Louis Gossett Jr.
Louis Gossett Jr. won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1983 for his role in the movie An Officer and a Gentleman. After winning the Oscar, Gossett continued to act in both film and television, appearing in films like Iron Eagle and Jaws 3-D and TV shows like ER and Watchmen.
7. Halle Berry
After receiving the Oscar for Best Actress in 2002 for her performance in Monster’s Ball, Halle Berry’s career continued to flourish. She went on to star in blockbuster films such as X-Men 2, Gothika, and Die Another Day, but then there was also the infamous Catwoman fiasco, which got Halle a Razzie award for Worst Actress.
8. Adrien Brody
After snagging the Oscar for Best Actor in 2003 for his role in The Pianist, Brody’s career took a dive. Even though he continued to act in several critically acclaimed films, the 2005 King Kong remake and the Matador’s Mistress, which never saw the light of day, received poor reviews and didn’t do well at the box office. Hopefully, Adrian shakes it off and starts climbing the Hollywood ladder again.
