9 Actors Who Learned The Hard Way That Not All Movie Roles Are Golden Tickets

We all love a good Hollywood comeback story, but sometimes, one bad decision can be more than enough. Even the most talented actors can fall victim to the curse of a bad role. They spend years building their careers, winning the hearts of viewers with their impeccable acting skills, only to have it all come crashing down with just one lousy role.
Whether it was a misguided attempt to break out of typecasting or just a desperate need for a paycheck, these roles left a lasting impact on their careers. Suddenly, good calls for work dry up, and they're left wondering what happened. It's like they accidentally hit the self-destruct button on their career. It just proves that making a name is difficult, but keeping it is even more so. One wrong move is all it takes.
Scroll down to read on because who knows, maybe we'll even learn a thing or two about what NOT to do in Hollywood, the stars who are still stuck and who managed to recover.

#1 Mike Myers: The Love Guru

Source: © Austin Powers / Capella International, © The Love Guru / Paramount Pictures

Mike Myers is widely recognized as a talented comedian. He has ventured into various fields including writing and producing movies. Although being successful in most of his projects, not all of them have been hits.
Mike's rise to fame began when he appeared on Saturday Night Live, which led him to create Wayne's World and its sequel. His trilogy, Austin Powers, a parody of James Bond, was a massive success. However, his 2008 film, The Love Guru, which he wrote and starred in, was a failure. Consequently, Myers took a break from the film industry, only taking on a few small roles such as voicing Donkey in Shrek.

#2 Lindsay Lohan: I Know Who Killed Me

Source: © Mean Girls / Paramount Pictures, © I Know Who Killed Me / 360 Pictures

In the 2000s, Lindsay Lohan was a popular figure in the entertainment industry, featuring in several teen movies. Her acting career began with The Parent Trap, and she later starred in well-known movies like Mean Girls and Freaky Friday.
However, after I Know Who Killed Me, her career took a hit, and she mostly landed minor roles. In 2022, she made a comeback with Falling for Christmas.

#3 Freddie Prinze Jr.: Scooby-Doo 2

Source: © She's All That / Miramax, © Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed / Warner Bros.

Freddie Prinze Jr. was a popular heartthrob in several teen movies, including I Know What You Did Last Summer and She's All That, where he was the quintessential dream boy. However, after his involvement in the Scooby-Doo 2 franchise, he departed from the set. Since then, he has only had supporting roles in a few productions and has also lent his voice to cartoons and video games.

#4 Chris Klein: Rollerball

Source: © American Pie / Universal Pictures, © Rollerball / Atlas Entertainment

Being a rising star in Hollywood, Chris Klein was known for his youth, charm, and infectious smile. He had significant roles in popular movies, but his career took a downward turn after his appearance in Rollerball. The movie was panned by critics and turned out to be a commercial failure, which significantly impacted his career. As a result, he has only appeared in supporting roles, such as the one in Netflix's Sweet Magnolias.

#5 Lori Petty: Tank Girl

Source: © Punto de Quiebre / Largo Entertainment, © Tank Girl / United Artists

Lori Petty had the potential to be the "It girl" of the '90s, with significant roles in high-profile films such as Point Break, Free Willy, and A League of Their Own. However, her appearance in Tank Girl in 1995 completely changed her career, and she struggled to find substantial roles thereafter. She eventually made a comeback with Orange Is the New Black.

#6 Kelly Clarkson: From Justin to Kelly

Source: © American Idol: The Search for a Superstar / FOX Television Network, © From Justin to Kelly / 19 Entertainment

Kelly Clarkson became famous after winning the first season of American Idol, which launched her music career. Due to her popularity, she was given the opportunity to star in a movie called From Justin to Kelly.
Unfortunately, the film was poorly received by critics and the audience, and Clarkson decided to focus on her music career instead. Today, she hosts her own talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show.

#7 Mary-Kate Olsen: Beastly

Source: © It Takes Two / Dualstar Productions , © Beastly / CBS Films

Mary-Kate Olsen gained fame for her role in Full House and for appearing in several movies with her twin sister. She continued to play small roles in a few TV shows. Then in 2011, she played a supporting role in the movie Beastly before deciding to quit acting and focus on her fashion career.

#8 Geena Davis: Cutthroat Island

Source: © A league of Their Own / Columbia Pictures, © Cutthroat Island / Beckner/Gorman Productions

Geena Davis started her career as a model and had many successful roles in movies and TV series, including Tootsie, Beetlejuice, Thelma and Louise, and A League of Their Own, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination. She even won an Oscar for her performance in The Accidental Tourist.
However, her then-husband's film, The Pirate (or Cutthroat Island), received negative reviews and resulted in significant financial losses. Following this, Geena put her career on hold for a while and later returned to acting, but was only able to land minor roles. Things are just no longer the same.

#9 Elizabeth Berkeley: Showgirls

Source: © Saved by the Bell / NBC productions, © Showgirls / Vegas Productions

Ever heard of Elizabeth Berkeley? She is a former actress who rose to fame from the popular television show Saved by the Bell. However, her career took a hit after she starred in the movie Showgirls, which was intended to boost her career. Unfortunately, the movie ended up doing the opposite.
Despite her talent and past success, she struggled to land any roles in Hollywood after the movie's release. Even the director of the movie acknowledged his role in her downfall. However, she was able to make a comeback of sorts with the reboot of Saved by the Bell in 2020.