We might love them on screen, but as it turns out, they are a hot potato behind the scenes, and you'd be surprised to find out how much and why these stars have a hard time finding a new role. So... let's see.
Chris Hemsworth
If it seems as though Chris Hemsworth hasn't been in the spotlight lately, you would be right. Unlike the other actors on this list, however, the reason isn't due to any fault of the actor but due to a contract, he signed to play the superhero Thor in a multi-year contract.
Due to the Marvel cinematic franchise churning out a film or two every year, the actor has been busy portraying the Norse god on-screen since 2011. As such the Australian actor has had little time to branch out. Adding to this is the fact the actor deciding to relocate back to his native land, compounding the difficulty in finding roles with studios located in the United States.
Click next to see the list of actors blacklisted by Hollywood:
Jim Carrey
If you haven't seen Jim Carrey in a while, it's because the actor has more recently been shelved by studios due to his off-set behavior. After starting his career in comedic roles, the actor showcased his versatility in more serious films earning critical acclaim including multiple Golden Globe awards for Best Actor.
However, due to more controversial, if not polarizing stances on vaccinations, gun control, as well as his political position. As such, with his recent films being box-office bombs, studios fear to cast the actor as they fear it will alienate large groups of their audience.
Jessica Alba
Jessica Alba was already starring in a hit television series when she was still a teenager. It all started with Dark Angel and led to roles in several big-budget films such as the Fantastic Four movies, Into the Blue, Sin City and its sequel, as well as The Love Guru. She was a fast-rising star on the verge of being a genuine A-lister.
However, by the end of the decade, her star had already begun waning after a series of box-office bombs and a starring in all too familiar roles. As such, the actress decided to put acting as her fallback career and began focusing on her true passion of starting The Honest Company - a company which emphasizes household products to supply the marketplace for ethical consumerism.
Furthermore, Alba married and started a family, raising three children. This takes a considerable amount of time but still manages to act in not-so-spectacular productions now and then.
Jennifer Lopez
Unless you were born after the new millennium, you'll know long before she was J-Lo, there was Jennifer Lopez the actress. After starring in several action movies, she found her niche in romantic comedies where she starred in a series of box-office hits. As the years rolled on, she focused more heavily in music, with acting roles drying up for the entertainer.
The reason for a lack of acting parts being offered to the actress is due to her list of demands which have to be fulfilled by the time she gets on set, according to her colleagues. On top of this, she has also become increasingly more difficult to work with. Perhaps it's due to her success off the silver screen - as a judge on American Idol, and a Las Vegas residency show.
Although acting roles dried up for the better part of a decade, she recently starred in the crime drama Shades of Blue which lasted three seasons. Time will tell if its a sign of things to come or a mere blip in a fading acting career.
Josh Duhamel
Josh Duhamel has the looks of a Hollywood leading man, and a natural charm so effortless, he could win roles over with just a wink a smile. After starting his career in the soap opera All My Children and later the television show Las Vegas. Duhamel appeared in a string of romantic comedies which were commercially successful. he followed this up by appearing in Transformers.
It seems jealousy and a temperamental attitude get the better of the actor. During his marriage to singer Fergie from 2009 to 2017, the actor was ultra-jealous when it came to his wife, as he controlled her when no one was looking as well as exhibiting aggressive behavior when on set.
Perhaps, now that the divorce is finalized, we can get the old Josh back. He recently starred in the fifth installment of the Transformers franchise reprising his role from the first three films. Things are looking promising once again for this leading man.
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan was a child star whose transition into leading lady appeared to establish the star as a bonafide A-lister. However, she soon gained a reputation for being difficult to work with. This was brought to the fore on the set of the film Georgia Rule opposite Jane Fonda.
During filming in 2006, Lohan was hospitalized, her representative saying "she was overheated and dehydrated". The actress was also going through a breakup with her boyfriend at the time, Hard Rock Cafe heir Harry Morton which exacerbated her problems on set. In a letter that was made public, studio executive James G. Robinson called Lohan "irresponsible and unprofessional."
He mentioned "various late arrivals and absences from the set" and said that "we are well aware that your ongoing all-night heavy partying is the real reason for your so-called 'exhaustion.'" She was also said to have difficulty remembering her lines and keeping it together. James Deen, her co-star on the film Canyons, called the actress a "child star lashing out". Yikes.
Catherine Zeta-Jones
Catherine Zeta-Jones shot to fame as Elena Montero in the Stephen Spielberg produced film The Mask of Zorro opposite Antonio Banderas. She followed this up in the caper film Entrapment alongside Sean Connery. The talented actress proved she could not only act but also sing and dance with her performance in the musical film Chicago, for which she won the Best Actress Oscar.
However, through the years she has struggled with depression and bipolar issues which have been documented by the media. As a result, Hollywood has discretely avoided offering the Welsh actress roles. Zeta-Jones claims, there is a lot of prejudice against mental health in the industry which kept the actress from good roles. She also believes parts for older women are harder to come by.
Cameron Diaz
Cameron Diaz's film career appears to be down to the actress's poor choice of movies. After finding success in romantic and action-comedies in the mid-90s and the 2000s, the actress began to star in a series of poorly received films.
Since her surprise marriage to Benji Madden, the actress has dedicated more of her time to her marriage. After announcing in July 2017 that she was tired of traveling for filming, she later confirmed the following March that she had indeed retired from acting. She has not appeared in any film or television series since 2014. She has since turned to publish health books.
Chevy Chase
It isn't exactly news to say Chevy Chase is one of the most difficult people to work within Hollywood. This may explain why his career has never been as successful as it could have been given his natural onscreen charisma. The actor began his career on Saturday Night Live, where he already started displaying his now-notorious behavior.
His behavior culminated with him slapping Cheri Oteri during rehearsals in the 90s. This angered actor Will Ferrel who went to the executive director and creator of SNL to complain. From that day on, Chase was banned. He did, however, find success on the small screen, appearing as Pierce Hawthorne on Community for six seasons.
Despite appearing in small roles and cameo appearances in lesser-known films, the actor has never reached his promising heights, once dubbed "The funniest man in America".
Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow was once the darling of Tinseltown after her performance in 1998's Shakespeare in Love 1998, for which she won the Academy Award and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. However, despite being a staple on the big screen through the mid-90s and the first half of the 2000s, she quickly found her roles drying up as she wasn't fun to work with.
On the set of Iron Man 2, it was reported that Paltrow was "not friendly to anyone, and tends to make people feel awkward and uncomfortable. She wasn’t outright rude to Scarlett , she just didn’t even speak to her. Gwyneth went out of her way to avoid Scarlett."
Whether or not the animosity was personal wouldn't matter as on set actors are expected to be professional. Perhaps Paltrow was afraid of a younger leading lady stealing her thunder as she fades into irrelevance.
Sharon Stone
Sharon Stone rose to prominence in the late 80s and her height of fame was arguably the early 90s. Leading roles in films such as Total Recall, Basic Instinct, and Casino made her box-office gold. With every studio fighting for her signature on their next projects, the actress somehow mistook their temporary interest and became too selective regarding the roles she took on.
It went so far that Stone became so selective that job offers ceased altogether. At this point, the actress realized she had become too picky and started to broaden her horizons.
January Jones
January Jones is best known for her role as Betty Draper int he hit television series Mad Men. With such a break Jones appeared set for stardom and on the verge of being a leading lady on the big screen, having previously appeared in minor roles in moderately successful films.
Her co-star on Mad Men, then 13-year-old Jared Gilmore who played Bobby Draper, the son of her character, said of Jones, “Be careful around January . She’s not as approachable as the others. She’s really serious about what she does. Everyone else is so nice.”
Mischa Barton
In the early 2000s, Mischa Barton seemed to have it all: despite being a teenager, she was the star of a hit television series, The O.C. This brought the young actress mainstream recognition with her on the verge of breaking out onto the silver screen.
However, it appeared this was too much for the young star to handle as she started behaving like a diva, much like the character she played. Her co-star, Tate Donovan called her "the biggest diva on set". Barton later struggled with drug and substance abuse perhaps due to her difficulty finding work after her character was killed off on the television show.
Alec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin, an actor who has a presence of invincibility about him, yet one who appears to be his own worst enemy. His epic angry voicemail on his daughter's phone has entered notoriety and played over so much that most people can now look past it. However, the actor has also gained a reputation for being difficult to work with.
The actor balanced his work between movies and television roles, most notably appearing as Jack Donaghy on the NBC sitcom 30 Rock, winning two Emmy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and seven Screen Actors Guild Awards for his work on the show.
However, after yelling a homophobic slur at a photographer in 2013, his contract was not renewed and his stint as a late-night talk show host ended as soon as it started. Baldwin later cited this incident as a major turning point in his public life and has since decided he has had enough of it, seldom appearing as the main star.
Christian Bale
Christian Bale, star of the Dark Night trilogy and winner of an Academy Award and Golden Globe award, surprised everyone with his tirade directed at the director of photography for the film, Shane Hurlbut. According to Bale, Hurlbut had for the second time, ruined his concentration by walking onto the set during a scene.
The recording is of Bale directing profanities at Hurlbut, threatening and belittling him, and finally threatening to quit the film if Hurlbut repeated the offense without being fired for it. He yelled, "You are trashing my scene. You do it one more time and I ain’t walking on this set if you’re still hired. You’re a nice guy. But that don’t cut it."
The producer of the film stating it was an isolated incident. To Bale's credit, he made a public apology stating that the outburst was "inexcusable" and was motivated by the intensity of that day's shooting. He also said he and Hurlbut had resolved the incident completely after admitting he "acted like a punk". It appears the incident didn't affect Bale's career as he continued to be cast.
Shannen Doherty
Shannen Doherty's career can be summed up as someone who doesn't know a good thing until it's gone. The actress left the 90s hit teen drama series, Beverly Hills, 90210 four seasons into a ten-season run. Likewise, she did the same thing on the fantasy drama series Charmed, leaving the show after three seasons into an eight-season run.
No doubt in both cases, many cast and crew members were happy to see the back of her due to her behavior on set. She was dubbed a diva on both hit shows, going so far as to clash with the producers on Charmed. Reportedly, the reason for her departure on Charmed was because of on-set and off-set tensions between her and co-star Alyssa Milano.
Beverly Hills, 90210's executive producers both confirmed that Doherty was difficult on-set, commented that "...she had habitual lateness. Her lateness was appalling, and she had a callous attitude and an indifference." Co-star Jennie Garth admitted that the two of them "often wanted to claw each other's eyes out", and at one point it escalated into physical violence.
Cybill Shepherd
Cybill Shepherd appeared off the radar rather mysteriously despite being a star of films in the 70s and 80s. After appearing in a string of television movies in the 90s and early 2000s, she ventured into television most notably on the show Cybill.
It seems the reason Shepherd's career never took off despite her explosive start was due to her difficult behavior, first exhibited on the sitcom Cybill. Her behavior was later the inspiration for a character on an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, with the character being murdered. Now that's got to sting.
Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer arguably experienced the height of his success from the mid-80s to the mid-90s. However, with the new millennium, he virtually faded into anonymity. Kilmer is known for his roles in films such as Top Gun, Willow, Tombstone, The Doors, Heat, Batman Forever, and The Saint.
It seems anger has been the cause of Kilmer's downfall with him having gotten into feuds with some of the actors with whom he has worked, notably The Island of Dr. Moreau co-star Marlon Brando and Red Planet and Heat co-star Tom Sizemore. As a result of this reputation, his roles dried up ever since.
Mel Gibson
Ah, where do we begin with Mel Gibson? A talented actor and a gifted filmmaker, however, all this has been overshadowed by behind-the-scenes behavior, and more notably his anti-Semitic remarks of late.
As an actor, Gibson starred in two major box-office film franchises, that being Mad Max, and Lethal Weapon. As a director, he has perhaps achieved greater success with Braveheart (for which he won the Golden Globe Award and Academy Award for Best Director), The Passion of the Christ, Apocalypto, as well as the critically acclaimed Hacksaw Ridge.
Gibson was arrested for driving under the influence in 2006, which led to his divorce from his wife. While being arrested he blurted anti-semitic slurs which resulted in him being blacklisted in Hollywood for almost a decade. Actor Robert Downey Jr. advocated for forgiveness for Gibson in 2014. With his Oscar nomination in 2016, studios were once again willing to work with him.
Vince Vaughn
Vince Vaughn began his career in action and dramatic films before finding his specialty in comedy. These initial roles included Return to Paradise, Domestic Disturbance, Rudy, and The Cell. He then joined Ben Stiller and Will Ferrell's comedy entourage which would virtually guarantee a long career given his towering stature and knack for deadpan comedy.
Some of his successful comedy films are Old School, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Wedding Crashers, The Break-Up, The Dilemma, The Watch, and The Internship. As a result, the actor was labeled as a one-dimensional actor due to each of his characters appearing to be the same. As such casting agents have had trouble finding the actor work.
Vaughn returned to his dramatic roots by playing Frank Semyon in the second season of True Detective in 2015 which reignited interest from studios regarding casting the actor in more serious roles.
Isaiah Washington
Isaiah Washington is best known for his role as Dr. Preston Burke on the medical drama series Grey's Anatomy, before being unceremoniously dumped. The reason he was written off the show? he reportedly insulted co-star T. R. Knight using a homophobic slur. To make matters worse, Knight publicly came out as gay following details of the argument coming out.
Despite Washington apologizing publically, the network decided not to renew Washington's contract and stated he would be dropped from the show. This led to a halt in the actor's career despite him pleading his innocence stating he never used the term directed at Knight, but rather in a different context with Patrick Dempsey whom he felt was belittling him.
Since Grey's Anatomy, Washington has taken on roles sparingly such as playing Thelonious Jaha in the CW show The 100. He did reprise his role on Grey's Anatomy for in a guest appearance in 2014, however. Perhaps Washington's luck is about to change.
Shenae Grimes
Given what happened to Shannon Doherty on the original Beverly Hills, 90210, you would imagine any actress starring in the show's spin-ff 90210 would take heed not to repeat her mistakes. So when actress Shenae Grimes, having appeared in several television shows and movies directed at younger audiences, was cast as Annie Wilson, you would hope she would be a true professional.
However, almost as soon as the show began Grimes announced to everyone on set that she was the star of the show and everyone else was just there to back her up. Whether or not she was being serious, it was a dangerous game of chicken to play. Luckily for her, she remained on the show throughout its run, even if it lasted only half as long as the original series.
She hasn't really lit up the silver screen since the show ended which makes one wonder why it might be.
Madonna
Unlike many others on our list, Madonna's acting career plays a distant second fiddle to her acting career. Perhaps this is the reason why her acting career has never really taken of, despite showing early promise. It seems Madonna is a primadonna on-set, even though her musical success shouldn't automatically make her a movie icon.
The issue studios take to heart is Madonna's inability to listen to the director. Apparently, she refuses to take cues from anyone, even if it was for both her and the film's benefit. This might explain why she hasn't starred in a movie in over a decade.
Russell Crowe
Russell Crowe has a reputation for being a true Hollywood bad boy both on and off-screen. Similar to Alec Baldwin, the New Zealand-born Australian actor is known for his fits of rage, getting himself arrested for throwing a phone at a concierge on one occasion.
Crowe also tends to give off an air of superiority, once stating about the film Gladiator for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor, "It was ****, but I’m the greatest actor in the world and I can make even **** sound good." Over the years his star has begun to wane as he usually plays supporting roles to other stars. In recent years, Crowe's box office standing has steadily declined.
Edward Norton
Despite his precocious talent, three-time Academy Award nominee turned out to become the bane of Hollywood directors. His performances in American History X, Fight Club, and Birdman established him as an actor who has the chops to cut the big time. However, it appears not many people want to work with him.
Norton has refused to promote films he has worked on such as The Italian Job and The Incredible Hulk. Of the latter, the reason was due to his attempt to rewrite the film along lines of his own choosing being unsuccessful. He was consequently replaced in the films by Mark Ruffalo due to disagreements with Marvel on salary, with the character, and a lack of collaboration and teamwork.
He has gained a reputation for being a perfectionist and was granted the final cut of American History X. Norton clashed with director Brett Ratner while shooting Red Dragon as he arrived on set with rewritten script pages, demanding the new scenes filmed, leading to disputes with Ratner and the film's producers. Norton may be best served to focus on acting and leaving the rest to others.
Shia LaBeouf
Shia LaBeouf started out as Disney darling after starring in the series Even Stevens. He then had starring roles in Disturbia and the original Transformers trilogy of films. He also won the role of Indiana Jones' son, Henry "Mutt Williams" Jones III in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
The young actor continued to star in several pictures but steadily gained a reputation as difficult to work with. As a method actor, he becomes the character in order to prepare for the roles he plays. As such sometimes this results in unpleasant behavior. Brad Pitt, has said LaBeouf disappointed him with his behavior while working with him on the film Fury.
The actor was reportedly fired from the production of Lyle Kessler's play Orphans for what would have been his Broadway debut at the time. Hopefully, LaBeouf will come to his senses sooner rather than later. He still has a long road ahead after all.
Lacey Chabert
Lacey Chabert was a 90s small screen icon for her starring role in the television series Party of Five. She later experienced even more success as Gretchen Wieners in Mean Girls. Unfortunately, the success of the latter made it difficult to see the actor in a different light.
Although she acted in several films in between the two roles, she has struggled to find work apart from direct-to-television movies. As such, Hollywood producers no longer see as serious acting material. Her choice of role seems to also have stemmed from her Christian belief which she has spoken publicly about.
The actress though to her credit, seems content saying, "I love working for Hallmark. They've been so good to me. I have friends there now. I'm proud of their movies and the message of their movies."
Robert Pattinson
After his portrayal of Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Robert Pattinson was cast in the leading role of vampire Edward Cullen in the film adaptations of the Twilight novels by Stephenie Meyer, which was made into five films and grossed over $3.3 billion worldwide. This cemented Pattinson as a bankable actor.
However, this instant fame also brought with it instant problems and it seems the stress of being in the limelight has been overwhelming for the actor. This all came to the fore when his girlfriend and former co-star, Kristen Stewart, was caught cheating when photos of her having an affair with married director Rupert Sanders were posted by the tabloids.
It's only recently that the young actor has appeared to regain control of his personal life by taking plenty of time to mull over his choice of partner and career. Good luck Robbie boy.
Eddie Murphy
In the past decade and a half, Eddie Murphy's star has faded so quickly it appears his once bright star has turned into a supernova as his career fades into oblivion. After starting his career as a standup comedian, the actor quickly gained stardom in several successful films such as the Beverly Hills Cop series, Trading Places and The Nutty Professor.
Although the actor won a Golden Globe award for Best Supporting Actor for his work in 2006's Dreamgirls, it seems his complicated personal life for a while at least got in the way of getting decent roles. This was compounded by his bizarre choice of films in the early 2000s which were widely panned and failed commercially.
Murphy it was revealed fathered four before and after marriage to model Nicole Mitchell, including one with Mel B of the Spice Girls. Since then, Murphy has been dating model Paige Butcher since 2012, and it appears this has added stability to the actor's life as he has been more selective about his roles, choosing quality over quantity.
Jessica Biel
Jessica Biel it seems will forever be overshadowed by her much more successful husband, Justin Timberlake. It seems whatever Biel can do, Timberlake can do better, as the singer arguably has a better portfolio than his wife. Best known for her role as Mary Camden in the family-drama series 7th Heaven, Biel has appeared in several Hollywood blockbusters, albeit in supporting roles.
It seems Biel has never been able to cut it as the lead, and as such she has preferred to focus on her family and preferring smaller roles as opposed to being the star. Recently Biel has moved into producing so that she could develop projects with challenging and interesting roles rather than waiting for them to happen. Only time will tell if her move pays off.
Freddie Prinze Jr.
Freddie Prinze Jr. starred in several memorable films in the late 90s and early 2000s such as I Know What You Did Last Summer, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, She's All That, Summer Catch and the Scooby-Doo films. Prinze also had recurring roles in several television shows such as Friends, Boston Legal, Freddie and 24.
The 90s heartthrob married actress Sarah Michelle Gellar and despite being in demand, the actor chose to step outside the limelight as he wanted to focus on raising his family away from the media. Freddie will always be known as the "good guy" and he seems content with that, turning to voice acting roles.
Macaulay Culkin
At one time considered to be the most successful child actor since Shirley Temple, Macaulay Culkin was a household name before he was even an adult. The child star found the attention all too much at the height of his fame, taking a nine-year break from acting.
Although he did make a return of sort appearing in independent films, the actor turned to music in his 30s, later admitting ending this venture after the band split up. His substance abuse issues, of course, played a part as well. Hollywood is a forgiving place as any, and with the actor's natural talents well recognized, perhaps this star may once again shine.
Hayden Christensen
After gaining international fame for his portrayal of Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, the expectations would have been sky high for any budding actor. Unfortunately, his performance in the films was polarizing with many criticizing his casting, arguably a fault of the script above all else.
Lately, the actor has appeared in a series of B-grade movies as studios, for the most part, have turned away from the actor to more established stars. It seems the actor is too divisive for studios intending on reaching the masses.
Hilary Swank
You would think being a double Academy Winner for Best Actress would mean the offers keep on coming, but this isn't the case for actress Hilary Swank. It would appear to most people as though the actress disappeared off the silver screen overnight.
After starring in several films in the 2000s, it appeared as though the actress was fading into irrelevancy with each passing film being less successful than the former. Interestingly both Swank's roles which led to Oscar wins were heavily masculine roles, one playing a trans man and another playing a female boxer.
It would seem studious found it difficult to view the actress in another light as she has found roles difficult to come by in recent years, perhaps being a victim of her own success and now typecast.
Taylor Lautner
Taylor Lautner rose to prominence for playing Jacob Black in The Twilight Saga film series based on the novels of the same name by Stephenie Meyer. The actor became a teenage heartthrob for his shirtless scenes playing a werewolf in the vampire-human love story. For a time after the actor tried his luck in the action genre, however, it never took off.
In 2010 he was the highest-paid teenage actor in Hollywood, and it would seem this went to the actor's head as he began making outrageous money demands of a $7 million salary which many studios felt the actor wasn't worth. As the offers all but dried up the actor has recently turned to act in the small screen, appearing in television shows Cuckoo and Scream Queens.
Brendan Fraser
Brenden Fraser was everyone's darling after appearing as Rick O'Connell in The Mummy trilogy as well as other in action-comedies such as George of the Jungle, Bedazzled, and Journey to the Center of the Earth.
However, the actor began to lose his gloss after appearing in box-office bomb Furry Vengeance in 2010, Fraser moved from being represented by William Morris Endeavor to the Creative Artists Agency and has since found it difficult to come by. Due to the actor appearing to be a risk in investment these days, Fraser has instead opted to appear in television series instead.
The plot thickens, however, as Fraser alleged that in 2003 that he was sexually assaulted by Philip Berk, the president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The incident and his subsequent divorce launched Fraser into a depression which, combined with his health issues and a backlash within the industry over speaking out against Berk, he believed caused his career to decline.
Lea Michele
Lea Michele became a household name for her playing Rachel Berry on the Fox series Glee for which she received Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. It seems that playing diva onscreen was a reflection of her off-screen persona as she was said to believe she had more power on set and did whatever she wanted.
Other cast members didn't particularly enjoy being around the actress and only accompanied her when acting in scenes with her. There is a rumor that actress Kate Hudson who guest-starred on the show reportedly said of Lea Michele that she was a "nightmare".
Michele herself has said that, that having started her career on Broadway, "I came from a theater world where the word ‘diva’ was awesome." So it isn't all that surprising following the end Glee, the actress has barely featured in any movies or televisions series.
Jude Law
Jude Law was always on the verge of being a true A-lister but never quite making it. His best years were in the late 90s and the 2000s as the actor featured in several high-budget films. Unfortunately for the actor, he appeared in a series of box-office failures, having his name attached to several flops in a short span of time.
Since then the actor has returned to his television and stage acting roots as well as getting involved in politics such as document peace commitments and activities in Afghanistan and being outspoken about Belarus fight for democracy.
It seems the actor has found his feet once again having been cast as the young Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter spin-off film series Fantastic Beasts.
Tobey Maguire
Tobey Maguire, the ever-youthful looking boy next door. Despite his sweet demeanor, it turns out the actor is considered a right pain in the behind during filming. A casting agent once called Maguire, "the worst little monster you've ever met" and added that he rains terror on anyone who looks him directly in the eye behind the scenes of a film.
The actor received bad press when during a game of celebrity poker demanded a woman "bark like a seal" for a $1,000 poker chip. Lately, however, Maguire has evenly divided his time acting and producing with his own company, Material Pictures. After playing Spiderman in the 2000s, the actor hasn't really lit up our screens since.
Marlon Brando
You would think most studios would be able to negotiate an actor's demands and behavior when they are as talented as the great Marlon Brando, however, it seems the actor's inability to get along with his costars became too much for studios to deal with.
Being a method actor, his behavior on set was rather erratic at times, with the actor refusing to take acting cues from film directors and would make odd demands. At other times he would refuse to read the script altogether and by the end of his career, it just seemed like he didn't care anymore.
As the years went on, the actor was mostly content appearing in highly paid cameos as opposed to starring roles, eventually ceasing to appear in films altogether. The actor attracted more attention for his obesity and troubled family squabbles.
James Cameron
James Cameron is responsible for producing the two highest-grossing movies of all time, Avatar and Titanic, respectively. However, he also has a reputation for being too pushy, being a perfectionist, he wants actors to give their best.
Perhaps this is why in recent years the actor has instead preferred to work with CGI. He is currently working on several Avatar sequels. Perhaps in Cameron's case, he has the muscle and means to do as he pleases without relying on other studios to produce his work.
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is better known for her career as one of the highest-selling artists of all time, so not lighting up the silver screen means nothing to her. The fact that she was already an established artist in her 20s means that she was always used to being treated like a diva.
With her recent appearances as a judge on American Idol, even her fellow judge, Nicki Minaj, reportedly claimed that working with the songstress was a nightmare. Perhaps this is why the singer has had little more than cameo appearances in film and television over the years, despite her evident superstar status.
David O. Russell
Renown film director David O. Russell is known for his critically acclaimed movies and intense character-driven plotlines. Unfortunately, in an effort the capture the perfect scene the director sometimes tries to evoke reactions from the actors by pushing the boundaries too far.
During the filming of Three Kings, news spread of Russell and George Clooney nearly having a fistfight on the set. In a 2000 interview, Clooney described the confrontation after tensions on the set had been steadily increasing. According to Clooney, Russell was demeaning the crew verbally and physically. The film was a critical and commercial hit.
Likewise, during the filming of American Hustle, it was revealed that Russell made "Amy Adams' life a living hell" during the production of the film, and Christian Bale intervened. Clearly, the director gets the best out his cast as Adams went onto win the Academy Award for Best Actress. Russel is certainly a polarizing figure in Tinseltown and his reputation seems to be razor-thin.
Jared Leto
Jared Leto is well-known for his method acting which seems to rub off badly on some of his co-stars. The Academy Award winner worked his way up in the 90s with a series of box-office hits. After which time he focused on his musical career before once again returning to acting.
Known for his constant devotion to and research of his roles, Leto often remains completely in character for the duration of the shooting schedules of his films, even to the point of adversely affecting his health. At times this has rubbed the wrong way for his fellow cast members. Due to Letto being selective about his roles, offers are these days coming in rather slow and intermittently.
Joaquin Phoenix
Being raised by hippies, it isn't all that surprising that Joaquin Phoenix has always been rather peculiar, to say the least. Whether it was pretending to embark on a rap career for the better part of a year to acting indifferent to stardom, the brother of the late-River Phoenix is certainly difficult to figure out.
At one point the actor was considered to play the part of the Joker in the film Suicide Squad, as well as Doctor Strange in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, it seems producers grew tired of waiting as the actor's reputation for dragging contract negotiations were secondary to the filming on time.
The actor seems to have turned things around having being cast as the titular character in The Joker recently.
Beyoncé
Beyoncé probably needs a movie career like Bill Gates needs a dollar. So successful is the singer, she is reportedly worth a cool $1 billion with her rapper husband Jay-Z. As a bonafide diva and superstar, you would expect the singer to exhibit certain qualities which come with the territory.
Her reputation as one of the most difficult celebrities to work with came to a head at Superbowl 2013. Beyonce got her reputation as one of the most difficult celebrities after she demanded the most absurd things at the event. Some of her requests included "private bathroom that's cleaned with disinfectant & anti-bacteria products before she arrives."
She also wanted her dressing room to be kept at 78 degrees and requested for chicken legs "HEAVILY SEASONED" with cayenne pepper and rose-scented candles. Perhaps its no wonder then, that despite her ability to act, she hasn't had any movie acting roles in a decade. No actor likes to play second fiddle to a musician.
William Shatner
William Shatner became a cultural icon for playing James T. Kirk, captain of the USS Enterprise in the Star Trek franchise in the 60s. The actor also played veteran police sergeant in T.J. Hooker in the 80s. He also appeared in seasons four and five of the television series 3rd Rock from the Sun as the "Big Giant Head", and Denny Crane in the legal series Boston Legal in the 2000s.
It seems there's a reason the television actor was never able to translate his success to the big screen. With the actor appearing in guest roles in the 70s and reprising his Star Trek role in films it soon became apparent that there was a reason he wasn't cast in more regular roles. This was due to his reputation of being a troublemaker on set, using bad language and being rather sour on set.
Mickey Rourke
Mickey Rourke looked set to take on the mantle of one of Hollywood's leading men in the late 80s. At the height of his fame in 1991, the actor surprisingly announced that he was leaving acting to become a professional boxer. After three years as a professional boxer, Rourke returned to acting and featured in supporting roles. Unfortunately, the actor's famous looks had taken a beating too.
The actor has admitted that he is difficult to work with and although has had parts in several successful films, it has never been the leading man, with the exception of The Wrestler in 2008 for which he was nominated for an Academy Award. The actor seems to understand why the industry has seemingly shut its doors on him as he revealed in his own words.
Regarding his career, he says, "Well, I don’t know, it’s voted for by people from the movie business and in the past, I’ve hacked them all off. I was good at that. It came easily to me. I stupidly said that acting wasn’t a job for a real man. I threatened producers, raged at directors, forgot my agent’s name. I really burned my bridges. And a lot of people have long memories."
Dustin Hoffman
Dustin Hoffman is a renown actor best known for his versatile portrayals of antiheroes and vulnerable characters. However, his real-life self is anything but vulnerable it seems. The two-time Academy Award acting winner has a reputation as a "star who is difficult to work with" and stems from the fact he tends to drive everyone on set crazy.
While filming the movie Tootsie, for example, Hoffman and the film's director clashed over who should have creative control of the film. So much in character, the actor forgets what his job is on set. It seems someone in Hollywood still holds a grudge against Hoffman over something he said during the filming of this movie.
Gary Oldman recalls a phone call he received from Hoffman during the filming of Tootsie, "'Just be careful because I said some stuff years ago. 'I said it to someone who was very powerful who made sure that I didn’t work for a long, long time.' He was being quite cryptic. And then he reminded me that there was a gap – I think it was a gap between Tootsie and the next thing he did."
Naomi Campbell
Supermodel Naomi Campbell is no stranger to the spotlight or the paparazzi for that matter. The model, actress, and singer is one of only six models of her generation to be declared supermodels by the fashion industry. Some of her more color moments include throwing her phone at her own personal assistant as well as doing the same to her housekeeper years later.
As well as her random behavior, Campbell also spent stints in rehabilitation for cocaine addiction. Despite sporadically appearing in film and television, the British model has never taken off despite her classic beauty.
Ashlee Simpson
Ashlee Simpson, sister of Jessica Simpson is no stranger to the spotlight. Having starred in the short-lived Melrose Place reboot, Simpson was already a screen veteran having appeared on the television show 7th Heaven years before. Despite her start as an actress, the younger Simpson sister spent more time appearing in television reality shows.
It seems there was a reason for her choice of roles as her reputation of behaving like a diva on Melrose Place such as turning up late to filming as well as acting better than the rest of the cast and crew ultimately led to the show wrapping up for good one season in. The actress has since focused her career solely on music and in 2016 said “no” to a possible return to acting.
Linda Evangelista
Linda Evangelista is regarded as one of the most accomplished models of all time. She has featured in over 700 magazine covers and is known for coining the phrase, "We don't wake up for less than $10,000 a day."
Unlike many of her contemporaries, Evangelista didn't venture far beyond modeling. Even in her appearances in film and television, she appeared as herself. Whether this was due to her choice to remain true to what was her bread and butter, or perhaps her reputation of being difficult to work with. Either way, don't expect to see her on the silver screen anytime soon.
Wesley Snipes
Wesley Snipes starred in a series of successful action movies in the 90s and 2000s. Being a 5th dan black belt in Shotokan Karate and 2nd dan black belt in Hapkido meant the actor could perform his fight scenes without a stuntman.
On set, however, the actor seems to be less friendly as he would rarely leave his trailer and smoke most of the time. In 2010 the actor was found guilty of failing to file U.S. federal income tax returns and was sentenced to three years in prison from which he was released in 2013. The actor has found work hard to come by since then.
Paz de la Huerta
Paz de la Huerta is best known for her roles in films such as The Cider House Rules, A Walk to Remember, Choke, Enter the Void, and Nurse 3 as well as her role as Lucy Danziger in the television series Boardwalk Empire.
However, it seems the actress love of partying got the better of her to the point that it interfered with her work. The actress revealed in 2017 that disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein violated her on two occasions in 2010. The charges are currently pending. Despite her performances having been praised by critics, the actress has never been more than a B-grade actress.
Julia Roberts
Perhaps one of the most surprising names on this list, America's darling, Academy Award winner Julia Roberts' less than glamorous behavior came to light while filming the movie Hook. The films' director, Steven Spielberg is said to have nicknamed her "Tinkerbell" due to her diva-like attitude on set.
Once the highest-paid actress in Hollywood, Roberts has recently featured very little on the silver screen. Her demeanor has been described to be "sometimes somber, sometimes at the near edge of hysteria."
A lot of people used to put up with Julia Roberts’ antics on films as long as people lined her to see her movies over the years. Once her star began fading we haven't seen her as much anymore. Perhaps this is one reason the actress has rarely featured in movies in recent years.
Hugh Grant
Hugh Grant was a staple in romantic comedies in the 90s and early 2000s. He was also known for his high profile relationship with British actress and model Elizabeth Hurley. In the last decade, he has begun playing against type in more dramatic roles and in period pieces.
He is known in the industry as an anti-star who approaches his roles like a character actor and attempts to make his actions appear spontaneous. Unfortunately, his life off-screen has largely overshadowed his work as an actor. Grant has repeatedly claimed that acting is not his true calling but rather a career that developed by serendipity.
Perhaps this is why the British actor has only sporadically appeared on screen in recent years. The actor has been outspoken about his antipathy towards the profession of acting, his disdain towards the culture of celebrity, and his hostility towards the media. Married for the first time in 2018, the actor appears content resting on his laurels.
Anna Paquin
Anna Paquin was set for a prosperous Hollywood career after being the second-youngest ever winner in Oscar history for the role as Flora McGrath in Jane Campion's romantic drama film The Piano. Paquin later played Rogue in the X-Men series of films. Since then, however, she hasn't appeared in any movies at all.
The actress played the lead role of Sookie Stackhouse in the HBO vampire drama television series True Blood from 2008 to 2014 but has found work outside television hard to come by. It seems the actress is content sticking to the small screen for the foreseeable future as she settles into married life with her True Blood costar and real-life husband, Stephen Moyer.
Gary Oldman
It's hard to imagine a veteran actor such as Gary Oldman finding it tough to get a part in Hollywood, but the English actor has been more or less blacklisted for what has been labeled his "misogynistic outbursts" against brusque politician Nancy Pelosi, as well as his defense of Mel Gibson's character in light of his drunken anti-Semitic remarks.
Despite the actor labeling himself a libertarian, in contrast to the majority in Hollywood who identify as Democrats, he has still managed to fork out a successful career in Tinseltown. Fortunately, it seems the Brits have more tolerance for being outspoken as Oldman has he recently played Winston Churchill in the film Darkest Hour for which he won the Best Actor Academy Award.
Benedict Cumberbatch
Benedict Cumberbatch is arguably Britain's most well-revered acting export today. Starting out in theatre, the actor was trained in the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, obtaining a Master of Arts in Classical Acting. He rose to fame in the highly rated-series Sherlock, playing Sherlock Holmes alongside fellow Brit, Martin Freeman.
Recently Cumberbatch's film The Current War was pulled from its release due to the fact it was produced by the notorious The Weinstein company. However, the actor has remained working steadily in films with several pictures in the works. The actor has been called "The Thinking Woman's Crumpet" for his intellectual persona.
Lately, the actor has been heavily involved in charitable work and being outspoken on social issues. Due to the polarizing nature of some of these topics, studios have been hesitant to be as open to hiring the actor as they had been previously.
Pierce Brosnan
Pierce Brosnan is best known for playing James Bond across four movies in the 90s and 2000s. He was about to play in a fifth Bond film when he received a call from the producers. They advised him that they were stopping production and dropping him from the titular role in order to reboot the franchise. James Bond would later be played by actor Daniel Craig.
Since playing Bond, Brosnan has featured in a few movies of late. However, it seems studios are becoming less interested in signing the aging actor. The actor's latest films haven't exactly lit up the screen, is a far cry from his heights as an actor in the 90s and 2000s.
Tom Cruise
An actor who needs no introduction, Tom Cruise has been a star of the silver screen since the 80s and still appears to be milking his leading man persona well into his 50s. However, this shouldn't mask the fact studios have in the past decade shied away from casting the actor due to his controversial views as an advocate for Scientology.
The actor's recent role has been a continuation of Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible film series, which remains a money-making machine for studios. As such, many producers see the actor as a one-trick pony who specializes in intense action roles.
His reputation of being overly controlling, as well as his personal life overshadowing his on-screen work seems to have put a dampener on his career and it seems only a matter of time before audiences tire of the aging actor.
Gene Hackman
Academy Award winner Gene Hackman might have retired in 2004, however, it shouldn't distract from the fact the now 88-year-old actor was a known troublemaker on set. Many actors have reported being scared to work with Hackman due to his verbal abuse, perhaps as a result of the actor's time spent in the marines.
During the filming of The Royal Tenenbaums, director Wes Anderson and actress Anjelica Huston had a tense relationship with Hackman, who was not always amiable on set. At one point the actor even cursed the screenwriter and badmouthed the director. Perhaps it's safe to say we shouldn't expect to see the actor in films again.
Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves was one of Hollywood's hottest prospects in the 90s and early 2000s after starring in blockbuster hits such as Point Break, Speed, The Matrix trilogy, and several other critically acclaimed films. However, it seemed the actor rather peculiarly disappeared off the radar int he late 2000s.
Lately, Reeves has been accepting of the fact that he doesn't receive many big-budget studio films following his string of independent films. The actor seems content on being part of lesser-known productions now that his career is into its twilight.
He expressed his disappointment to see his career take a downward turn, saying, "So I haven't been getting many offers from the studios," he said at the time. "It's just the way it is. You can have positive and negative experiences, but what I like about studios are the resources and the worlds that they can create. Obviously, a lot of good filmmakers work on studio movies."
Bruce Willis
Bruce Willis is known for his hard man persona on screen and it appears he is a hard man to work with off-screen too. The actor is so difficult to work with he is said to be unapproachable on set and doesn't like to be talked to as he prefers focusing on his role.
Director Kevin Smith remarked that Willis was "soul-crushing" to film during the production of Cop Out. Sylvester Stallone commented likewise the actor was "greedy and lazy" when commenting on the actor being replaced by Harrison Ford for Expendables 3. he added that it was "a sure formula for career failure".
The actor has increasingly found it difficult to secure parts in recent years, perhaps as a result of his personality and his inability to connect with his costars.
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Anniston entered our screens and our hearts for her portrayal as on the television sitcom Friends, which led to a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for the actress. Following the series, the actress featured n several romantic-comedies which proved successful at the box-office.
However, the girl next door image appears to be a ruse as she is said to isolate herself from the rest of the cast and crew, even eating alone during breaks. She is also reported to demand her private hairdresser travel everywhere she went. It seems the actress is gradually being phased out for younger less demanding actresses.
Compounding this is her recent high-profile divorce from actor Justin Theroux.
Teri Hatcher
Teri Hatcher was a popular television actress during the mid-90s for her role as Lois Lane on the television show Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, as well as a Bond girl in Tomorrow Never Dies.
She gained even greater success as Susan Mayer on the television series Desperate Housewives, for which she won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
Everything wasn't peachy on the set of the latter as cast members didn't like working with Hatcher who is said to have the worst attitude among the "housewives". Many didn't want to be seen anywhere near her on set. With roles being hard to come by since the show wrapped up, Hatcher recently turned to YouTube to resurrect her career.
John Malkovich
John Malkovich is known for his acting as much as he is known for his distinctive voice which has been described as wafting, whispery, and reedy. He has appeared in more than 70 films, and unlike many of his contemporaries, he does not consider himself to be a method actor.
However, the veteran actor does have a reputation of being difficult to work with as he has gotten involved in confrontations on set. He has also been mostly typecast thus making it difficult for studios to offer him many roles.
Adam Sandler
Adam Sandler's recent ventures have been nothing short of spectacular fails. Despite starring in films amassing over $2 billion at the box office, the actor just can't seem to catch a break these days. As such the actor has more recently opted to star in his own projects as roles have been hard to come by.
Due to the actor's mood swings and his abstract vision being misunderstood, Sandler's reputation has rapidly shrunk in recent years. After forming his own film production company, Happy Madison Pictures, many of his films have been produced by the company, most of them receiving negative reviews, with three considered to be among the worst films ever made.
Charlie Sheen
Charlie Sheen has sprouted controversy since the mid-90s. Some of his more colorful controversies include: accidentally shooting his one-time fiancée, Kelly Preston, in the arm, dating a number of adult film actresses, named as a client in an escort agency, publically dating two women at the same time, trashing hotel rooms, and various drug and alcohol-related incidents.
In 2015 Sheen publicly revealed he was HIV positive and was diagnosed four years prior. The actor's blacklist arguably came when he went on a public tantrum as he made derogatory comments about the Two and a Half Men's creator, Chuck Lorre, and Warner Bros. banned Sheen from entering its production lot. Sheen was the highest-paid actor on television at the time.
The actor was shortly thereafter fired from the show and replaced by Ashton Kutcher. Sheen had a highly publicized meltdown following his dismissal. He suggested he was a "warlock" with "tiger blood" and had "Adonis DNA" all while he was apparently "winning". The star acted in the show Anger management, as well as several films, but was reported to be "a menace to work with".
Rob Schneider
If Adam Sandler is Batman, then Rob Schneider is certainly his Robin. Both actors have made a habit of appearing in each other's movies, whether as co-stars or in cameos. The actor has virtually acted his whole career in comedy roles. Despite being the star of some box-office hits he never quite reached the status of being a "star" but rather a supporting cast member at best.
In recent year the comedian has been publicly critical of vaccines and has himself been criticized for stereotyping ethnicities in films. More recently the actor has taken his talents to voice children's movies. The actor has also starred in his own Netflix comedy series Real Rob along with his real-life wife and daughter. The show was recently renewed for a third season.
Kiefer Sutherland
Kiefer Sutherland was the star of the award-winning television series 24 which earned him an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two Satellite Awards. Being the son of renown actor Donald Sutherland, he arguably had an easier path than most.
It seems the actor wasn't exactly easy to work with on set. Reflecting on his experience working with the actor, Freddie Prinze Jr., said that Sutherland would often come to set drunk and at times proceed to go to his trailer to sleep it off, thereby halting the entire production until he was sober enough to work.
Lately, the actor hasn't featured in many productions and it makes one wonder if his reputation has anything to do with it.
Mike Myers
Who would have imagined Mike Myers would be a control freak behind the scenes. His on-set behavior makes filming difficult to shoot due to the actor's perfectionist nature. He doesn't like anything to go by without his seal of approval.
Many cast members have found this difficult to handle and it explains why despite his success in the 90s, the actor has found work difficult to come by. This might explain why the actor has in recent years focused his energy on voice roles.
Elisha Cuthbert
Elisha Cuthbert looked set to light up our screens for several years after starring in the teen comedy The Girl Next Door and the college comedy Old School. She later became known for playing Kim Bauer in the series 24 opposite Keifer Sutherland.
However, it looked like the actress disappeared as soon as she broke out and it was later revealed the reason was that her films simply bombed around which time she began associating with high-flying party celeb such as Paris Hilton which didn't help her reputation. Recently the actress has turned to act in the web series The Ranch, a far cry from her promising earlier years.
Katherine Heigl
Katherine Heigl's reputation as being one of Hollywood's most difficult actresses to work with fast derailed an otherwise promising career. During her time as Izzie Stevens on the ABC television medical drama Grey's Anatomy, the actress also featured in several memorable films such as Knocked Up, 27 Dresses, The Ugly Truth, Killers, and Life As We Know It.
The actress however quickly gained a reputation as being notorious to work with as she was said to be cold to cast and crew, be extremely demanding on set and even snobbish with fans. The actress also has had the tendency to bad-mouth former films and shows she's worked on. Even her exit from Grey's Anatomy came from her failure to turn up for work on set.
After a number of box-office bombs, the actress recently returned to television and has been cast in the legal drama Suits. It remains to be seen if this is will result in a career resurrection.
Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck is one person who would be less affected than the other actors on this list due to his talents an Academy Award-winning writer and producer. The actor has featured in several notable films such as Good Will Hunting, Armageddon, Pearl Harbor, Argo, Gone Girl, as well as playing Batman in the DC Extended Universe.
Recently the actor has been plagued by personal issues such as his divorce from wife of thirteen years, actress Jennifer Garner, as well as checking himself into rehab for alcohol addiction. As such the actor seems to be taking time off from acting and instead focusing on his personal life.
Steven Seagal
Steven Seagal made his acting debut in the late 1980s and by 1991 he had starred in four successful films. As the years rolled on his career shifted to direct-to-video productions and recently he has appeared in reality shows. The actor had initially begun his adult life as a martial arts instructor and became the first foreigner to operate an aikido dojo in Japan.
Most of Seagal's films typecast the actor as someone with a past affiliation with either the CIA, Navy Seals, Special Forces or Black Ops and portray the actor as virtually invincible, easily overpowering his opponents and never tasting even temporary defeat.
From 19996 to 2010 multiple women accused Seagal of sexual harassment or assault which would explain why the actor's promising career deteriorated rather quickly, with few, if any willing to work with the actor.
John Travolta
John Travolta has been part of some of the most iconic films such as Grease, Saturday Night Fever, Pulp Fiction, as well as a series of action films in the 90s and 2000s. The actor was even nominated for Best Actor for his performances on two occasions.
In recent years, however, after his films performed poorly at the box-office, the actor has turned to produce, winning a Primetime Emmy Award for the first season of the anthology series American Crime Story, subtitled The People v. O. J. Simpson.
It seems the actor has more or less given up on his film career as he can no longer secure roles in anything except in lesser-known films.
Sean Young
