9 Actors Whose Fortune Changed With Only A Single Role

In the beginning, actors are aware that nothing is permanent in the constantly changing industry; both fame and employment opportunities can come and go. A few well-known actors were on the verge of leaving Hollywood due to a lack of roles, but their fortune changed.
For instance, Brendan Fraser, who has spent the last ten years away from the spotlight, has just made a triumphant comeback in the film The Whale, which had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival.
The actors on this list were those who at first had a difficult time finding work before becoming well-known. Some of them simply increased in popularity as a result of a stellar performance, and others were able to break out of a specific typecast by finding success in a different genre.
Whether it was their first big break, a mid-career shift, or a late-career resurgence, each of these actors' fortunes was significantly changed by one iconic role.

#1 Amy Adams – 'Junebug' (2005)

Source: Ntv

Amy Adams made her film debut as a supporting actress in Drop Dead Gorgeous in 1999. She also appeared in the 2002 film Catch Me If You Can, but only in small roles. That is until her breakthrough performance in 2005's Indie darling Junebug persuaded her to stay in Hollywood.
While the film grossed less than $4 million at the box office, Adams was praised for her outstanding performance and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. This landed her a role as Jim's girlfriend in Season 2 of The Office, and the rest is history. Today, Adams is a two-time Golden Globe winner and a six-time Academy Award nominee.

#2 Harrison Ford – 'Star Wars' (1977)

Source: Nau

Harrison Ford was limited to smaller parts during his first ten years in the industry and worked part-time as a carpenter to pay the bills. His fortunes changed when he met George Lucas on the set of American Graffiti (1973), and he was later hired to star in Lucas' next film, Star Wars (1977). Ford's charm and charisma made Han Solo a fan favorite, boosting the film to unprecedented success.
Ford's enormous popularity catapulted him to the A-List, landing him roles in Blade Runner (1982), Witness (1985), Patriot Games (1992), The Fugitive (1993), and Air Force One (1997).

#3 John Travolta – 'Pulp Fiction' (1994)

Source: Wallpaper Cave

John Travolta was Hollywood's biggest star in the late 1970s, with hits like Saturday Night Fever (1977) and Grease (1978). However, Travolta's films from the 1980s mostly flopped with critics and at the box office. In the 1990s, he struggled to shake his image as a teen heartthrob in romance/musicals, presenting a dilemma as he grew older.
His fame had faded until Quentin Tarantino cast him as a mobster in Pulp Fiction in 1994. Travolta's career was resurrected with a superb performance in the classic, catapulting him back to the A-list, and he went on to star in Get Shorty (1995), Face/Off (1997), and Primary Colors (1998).

#4 Kathy Bates – 'Misery' (1990)

Source: The Cult of Ghoul

Kathy Bates made her feature film debut in 1971, playing a minor role in Taking Off. Her next role was in Straight Time, seven years later. Following this, she struggled further, claiming in an interview with the New York Times that she was told by multiple casting agents that she was not attractive enough to be a successful actress.
With a stunning performance in the 1990 horror movie Misery, she proved them wrong. It was a huge success, and her performance was the talk of the town, earning her both the Golden Globe and the Academy Award for Best Actress. This role established her as an A-list actress, and she went on to appear in Fried Green Tomatoes (1991), Dolores Claiborne (1995), and Titanic (1997).

#5 Michael Keaton – 'Birdman' (2014)

Source: Molly Movie Club

Michael Keaton rose to prominence in the 1980s with Mr. Mom (1983) and Beetlejuice (1984), but his stardom peaked when he played Batman in 1989 and 1992. However, due to creative differences with director Joel Schumacher, Keaton decided to hang the cape before a third film, and he appears to have faded from the mainstream.
His career was dropped until a massive comeback in 2014, when he won a Golden Globe for his performance in Alejandro Iárritu's Best Picture winner, Birdman. He hasn't looked back since, starring in the Best Picture winner Spotlight in 2015, The Founder (2016), Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020), and an Emmy-winning performance in Dopesick (2021).

#6 Robert Downey Jr. – 'Iron Man' (2008)

Source: Cinematographe.it

Robert Downey Jr. used to struggle to find roles. In 1999, he was sentenced to three years in prison. Four years later, RDJ fell in love with Susan Levin and stopped using drugs.
However, when he declared that he was ready for work again, producers avoided him. Despite landing some smaller roles and eventually landing Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) and Zodiac (2007), most studios were still afraid of casting him. In fact, director Jon Favreau had to fight for RDJ to be cast in Iron Man because Marvel Studios saw him as a risk. Fortunately, Favreau wore them down and became the franchise's face for a decade.

#7 Robert Pattinson – 'Good Time' (2017)

Source: www.bioguiden.dk

Robert Pattinson rose to fame as Edward in the world-famous Twilight franchise. Critics, however, panned these films. He was passed over by the big studios but got back into their good graces by starring in widely praised independent films. Now, he's fresh off starring in the two biggest blockbusters of the 2020s: Christopher Nolan's Tenet (2020) and Matt Reeves' The Batman (2022).
Good Time (2017) was the film that announced his comeback. The role was significantly different from Pattinson's previous work and proved his amazing talent and range. Pattinson received several acting nominations after this film. This completely changed his career, and he continued with roles in The Lighthouse (2019), The King (2019), High Life (2019), and The Devil All the Time (2020).

#8 Sigourney Weaver – 'Alien' (1979)

Source: The Times

Sigourney Weaver had trouble getting a position in Hollywood after graduating from Yale in 1974. It took three years for her to land her first film role, a non-speaking part in Annie Hall. Everything changed for her when she played Ellen Ripley in Ridley Scott's sci-fi/horror classic Alien. Despite the studio's desire for a star, Scott insisted on casting an unknown actress.
His bet paid off, as Weaver gave a BAFTA-nominated performance and rose to fame quickly. The film spawned several sequels, three of which starred Weaver, earning him an Oscar nomination for Aliens (1986). She also appeared in Ghostbusters (1984), Working Girl (1988), and Gorillas in the Mist (1988), for which she received Oscar nominations.

#9 Sylvester Stallone – 'Rocky' (1976)

Source: tulanefml

Sylvester Stallone was homeless in 1975, with only $106 in his bank account, and had to sell his dog for $40 to make ends meet. He is now considered one of the most successful actors of all time thanks to  Rocky (1976).
Producers were blown away by Stallone's script about a small-time boxer who takes on the world heavyweight champion. They wanted a bigger star in the role, and United Artists offered Stallone $340,000 just to sell the script without having him star in it. But Stallone would not budge, and they eventually gave in. Rocky cost less than a million dollars to produce but grossed $225 million. Stallone was nominated for Best Actor and Best Screenplay for his work in the film, which won Best Picture.