10+ Actors Who Stupidly Left A Movie Where They Professed To Be Good For It, Only To Never Famous Again

Over the years, there are plenty of actors who turned down potential roles. Although they became incredibly famous before and now were invited to star in blockbusters, they rejected the offer. Many of them were a part of the movie and grabbed huge attention but for various reasons, left the projects at an early stage.
We’re self-aware enough to know they certainly portray the iconic roles well though actors and actresses who landed these roles did a great job.
These actors stupidly left a movie or TV series thinking they were too good for it because they don’t want to be popular again. They perhaps see a lot of downsides and feel they aren’t worth getting them.
Below are 10+ actors who dared to go away from a movie and TV series to never be popular one more time. Read these articles to see more interesting ones: 9 Times Actors Got it Wrong and Turned Down Roles, and 11 Characters That Were Turned Down By Huge Stars But Ended Up Becoming Iconic.

#1 Stuart Townsend - The Lords of the Rings

Source: stuarttownsend

Late to the party but Stuart Townsend was the original casting for Aragorn in the LOTR movies, but during preproduction and rehearsals he refused to practice things like swordplay, horse riding, action choreography etc, always responding "You'll get it on the day". Peter Jackson decided he couldn't work with him, Viggo is brought in literally on the first day of shooting and the rest is history. (kodman7)

#2 Tom Hanks - Bosom Buddies

Source: tomhanks

Tom Hanks left 'Bosom Buddies' and was never heard from again. (likeCircle)

#3 Katherine Heigl - Grey's Anatomy

Source: katherineheigl

Katherine Heigl. She “left” Grey’s to become a movie star… look how that turned out. She was also a massive problem on the Grey’s set. (sadgirl192938)

#4 Michael Shanks - Stargate SG-1

Source: Wikimedia Commons

More niche but Michael shanks leaving stargate SG-1 only to come back a season later buff as hell. I think he expected to get more roles but at least they let him come back from the dead. (bitchthatwaspromised)

#5 Topher Grace - Spider-Man 3

Source: tophergrace

He said, basically, that he got so lucky with That 70s Show, and the show made him so much money not just in acting salary but also syndication royalties, that he had the freedom to basically just do what he wanted as far as acting goes. Which seems like an incredibly healthy mindset. Dude is clearly set for life, doesn’t ever need to work again, so he can be picky and choose projects that he likes or feels passionate about, without having to hustle and grind and do projects he hates just for the money. (chainmailbill)

#6 Lacey Chabert - Family Guy

Source: thereallacey

Lacey chabert left family guy and was replaced by Mila Kunis who has made bank between new episodes and syndication. (DeviceAdventurous786)

#7 Brian Dunkleman - American Idol

Source: thebriandunkleman

Brian Dunkelman was co-host of Season 1 of American Idol with Seacrest, and then quit. Over the years it has toggled back and forth between whether or not he would have been fired anyway, but in at least one interview he admitted to quitting and then almost becoming suicidal over it. (mxcumstein)

#8 Katie Holmes – Batman

Source: katieholmes

#9 Crystal Reed - Teen Wolf

Source: Pinterest

Katie Holmes dropping out of Batman to do a bomb called Mad Money. With Nicole Kidman! The ex wives of Tom Cruise.

EDIT: Nicole Kidman was not in Mad Money. My mistake

Katie Holmes turned down a lead in Orange is The New Black.

Katie Holmes turned down the role of Buffy in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series.

(SongRevolutionary992)

#10 Jonathan Taylor Thomas - Home Improvement

Source: Wikimedia Commons

When he returned to the show not only was his movie career dead in the water but the tv show had left his character behind. (imissyahoochatrooms)

#11 Mischa Barton - The OC

Source: mischabarton

She left because she started the show at 16 and the media treated her like shit. If the girl tripped on her shoelaces then there would be a photo with a caption asking if she is partying out of control. If she ate a salad she had and eating disorder. If she ate cake she had an eating disorder. If she was standing around in a circle of guys it was a wild gangbang that was about to happen. As a young girl it was too much for her. Good on her for leaving. (iskin)