Hollywood doesn’t forgive. One moment you’re on top, then you’re not. In some instances, though, the downslide shouldn’t surprise anyone, as all it takes is a string of rotten performances or a mega box office bomb to blacklist a star from the industry. Still, how do you explain the actors who disappear from showbiz after a major breakout role then? That’s where it gets interesting and complicated.
Even though the world of glitz and glamor appeals to the outside audience, it isn’t always as remarkable for the people on the inside. Success comes in different shapes and forms for others, and that’s okay because life would be boring otherwise. In some instances, actors lose interest in Hollywood and all it has to offer. It could be that they wanted to experience a slice of normality, or grew sick and tired of playing political games to secure parts, so they choose another path to take. Other times, performers struggle to be seen as anything more than the popular characters they portrayed on screen; it isn’t that they turn their backs on the entertainment industry, rather that the industry does it to them.
It’s quite the conundrum, because do we consider the actors to be tapping out at the peak of their popularity or vanishing before reaching another potential level of stardom? Debate away as we look at the 10 actors who disappeared from Hollywood after one major role.