Who is the biggest actor that failed at their career but is still cool

Cant_Be_Faded · 03-29-2009

Depends on what you consider a failure, which is why I almost didn't mention Val Kilmer.

I decided to go with it, though, because that's one of those cases where he has had a career than many actors would envy, but never quite got to the big time leading man status that he probably could have/should have. He's kind of at the status of an A-list character actor, when there was a few years there he could have been a Brad Pitt.

I agree. I think part of the reason was when he was reaching his "peak" (mid-late nineties, right?) there were just too many other good actors making good movies at the time.

balli · 03-29-2009

I'm down with The Weasel.

Mugshot · 03-30-2009

I'll go ahead and throw Macaulay Culkin's name in there....

He's still cool because he gets to bang Mila Kunis.

Oh, Gee!! · 03-30-2009

alan alda

whottt · 03-30-2009

The number of Val Kilmer enthusiasts in this thread is kind of alarming...surely there can't be that many people that don't realize he can't act?

Sorry but he sucks...and his lackluster career proves it. It's not like he's had a shortage of good roles to make his mark...nor has he gone out of his way to choose offbeat roles like Jim Carrey has. He just doesn't really make much of an impression IMHO.

I'll tell you what it is...it seems he always takes roles playing characters that are supposed to have a certain level of charisma and he just really has none...I think that's what it is.

Like I said...he pretty much hit a grand slam with Tombstone...because that character came off as charismatic on a very high level...but everything else, what was that movie where he played a genius? Real Genius? Geez...what a horrible miscasting that was. Anson Williams would be more believable as a genius....didn't pull off Jim Morrison. I just don't see the appeal. Probably his second best role was Top Gun...and he actually pulled off having even less depth than Tom Cruise well...probably because it's actually the way it is.

whottt · 03-30-2009

Originally Posted by Oh, Gee!!

alan alda

I don't think Alan Alda ever set out to be a bigtime actor really.

Bukefal · 03-30-2009

Originally Posted by Cant_Be_Faded

Squandering your earnings away on coke and s does not qualify you as a failed careerist. Pauly Shore came up and released like 10 movies in 4 years, and had his own MTV show Totally Pauly, which practically showed him ing various penthouse models every other show.

Pauly Shore was never destined to be a Christian Bale, he was like Michael Cera in that he had a limited number of movies he could keep portraying the same character.

I laughed my ass off in every Pauly Shore movie made. He's gold. Success all the way.

He is indeed gold, but dont you think his movies were a bit B movies?

His face expressions are priceless!!!

baseline bum · 03-30-2009

Originally Posted by King

Defined failure?

Yes Man cleared $100 mil (in 3 months), Horton Hears a Who cleared $160 mil, Lemony Snickett had over $120 mil, Fun With and Jane cleared $120 mil and Bruce Almighty and The Grinch both went over a quarter billion.

And heck, one of his best movies (Eternal Sunshine) didn't make that much, but he was nominated for a ton of awards.

I guess we have different definitions of failure - I'd say he's doing quite well - even lately.

Damn, I gotta start paying more attention to movies. I was referring to garbage like Liar Liar, 21, and Bruce Almighty. I'd never judge an actor by the gross revenue anyways though; otherwise I'd have to think Keanu Reeves and Jeff Goldbloom are the .

Bukefal · 03-30-2009

Carrey has success. Either they like him or they dont. there is no way in between with this guy. some find him hilarious, some hate him. personally i cant stand him, and think he is very annoying and absolutely not funny.

But many seem to like him, and he made some pretty big successful movies

CheezWiz · 03-30-2009

jennifer grey

King · 03-30-2009

Originally Posted by baseline bum

Damn, I gotta start paying more attention to movies. I was referring to garbage like Liar Liar, 21, and Bruce Almighty. I'd never judge an actor by the gross revenue anyways though; otherwise I'd have to think Keanu Reeves and Jeff Goldbloom are the .

Don't get me wrong - I can take or leave him. I think some (many) of his movies are crap. But, the guy is box office gold, for whatever reason.

Drachen · 03-30-2009

I agree with Dolph Lundgren, and Bruce Cambell, but I have to throw Christopher Lambert into the mix.

JudynTX · 03-30-2009

Will Ferrell

Heath Ledger · 03-30-2009

Kilmer was awesome in Wonderland
Too bad the dude got so damn fat his career is pretty much finished because of that alone he's got to be pushing 275 PBS

ididnotnothat · 03-30-2009

balli · 03-30-2009

Is Kilmer the best actor ever? No. Is he slightly stiff? Yeah, but not half as bad as Keanu. Is he a horrible actor either? God no.

People have named 5 movies that he was awesome in, Tombstone, Heat, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Willow and the aforementioned Wonderland. Those are 5 legit performances, in 5 legit movies and if you didn't think they were at least halfway decent... well, I'll just put it this way, your standards are way too damn high.