Hollywood is a land of glitz, glamour, and second chances—but for some stars, one misstep was all it took to lose everything.
From controversial opinions to shocking behavior, these 15 celebrities were once household names, but now find themselves shut out of the industry they once dominated.
Let’s take a closer look at who they are—and what really led to their downfall.
1. Mel Gibson
Once one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars, Mel Gibson’s fall from grace was swift and shocking.
After directing and starring in hits like Braveheart and The Passion of the Christ, Gibson became embroiled in a series of scandals.
In 2006, he was arrested for DUI and went on a now-infamous anti-Semitic rant.
Later, tapes leaked in which he was heard making racist and abusive comments. Studios distanced themselves from him, and he was blacklisted for nearly a decade.
Though he’s made a slow comeback with Hacksaw Ridge, the damage to his reputation lingers.
2. Roseanne Barr
Roseanne Barr’s career was flying high after the reboot of her iconic sitcom Roseanne became a surprise hit in 2018.
But that all changed overnight when she tweeted a racist comment about former Obama aide Valerie Jarrett.
ABC swiftly canceled the show despite its strong ratings, and she was fired.
While she apologized and claimed the comment was a misunderstanding, the backlash was immediate and severe. Hollywood, already cautious amid a sensitive political climate, showed no mercy.
3. Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey’s career collapsed in 2017 when multiple men came forward accusing him of sexual misconduct.
The first public accusation came from actor Anthony Rapp, who claimed Spacey made an unwanted advance when Rapp was just 14.
More accusations followed, and the damage was swift.
Netflix cut ties with him, removing him from House of Cards, and his completed scenes in the movie All the Money in the World were re-shot with Christopher Plummer.
Once considered one of the greatest actors of his generation, Spacey became a Hollywood pariah almost overnight.
4. Katherine Heigl
Known for her breakout role as Izzie Stevens on Grey’s Anatomy and her star turns in rom-coms like Knocked Up, Katherine Heigl was poised to be the next big thing.
But then she publicly criticized both the Grey’s Anatomy writing team and her own movie Knocked Up, calling it sexist. Industry insiders began labeling her as “difficult to work with.”
Despite her undeniable talent, her reputation cost her major roles, and her career never fully recovered.
5. Brendan Fraser
Brendan Fraser was once the charming, relatable face of family action films like The Mummy series. Then, he disappeared.
Years later, Fraser revealed he was blacklisted after alleging that he was sexually assaulted by Philip Berk, a former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
Following his accusation, Fraser noticed his career opportunities shrinking.
He also suffered from health issues and personal problems. Only recently has he begun to see a comeback, with his acclaimed role in The Whale.
6. Amanda Bynes
Amanda Bynes was one of the brightest young stars of the early 2000s, rising to fame on Nickelodeon before breaking into films like She’s the Man and What a Girl Wants.
But a very public mental health crisis, coupled with erratic behavior and multiple run-ins with the law, led to her being deemed “uninsurable” by studios.
While she’s sought treatment and expressed a desire to return to acting, Hollywood has kept her at arm’s length.
7. Charlie Sheen
Charlie Sheen was once the highest-paid actor on television thanks to his role in Two and a Half Men.
However, a combination of erratic behavior, substance abuse, and public feuds—especially with showrunner Chuck Lorre—led to his termination from the show.
His infamous “winning” catchphrase and wild interviews only added to the chaos.
When he later revealed he was HIV positive, some speculated it had been known in Hollywood circles, but contributed to his career’s decline.
8. Monique
Mo’Nique won an Academy Award for her powerful performance in Precious, but instead of catapulting her career, it stalled.
Why? According to Mo’Nique, it was because she refused to “play the game”—meaning, she didn’t attend award shows or promote the film internationally without additional pay.
She also publicly accused director Lee Daniels, Oprah Winfrey, and Tyler Perry of blackballing her.
Hollywood, known for its tight-knit networks, effectively shut her out. Though she has remained vocal and continues to tour as a comedian, her acting roles have dwindled.
9. Isaiah Washington
Isaiah Washington was fired from Grey’s Anatomy in 2007 after reportedly using a homophobic slur toward co-star T.R. Knight during an on-set dispute.
Though he later apologized and denied some of the details, the controversy was too much for ABC, and they let him go.
Washington found it difficult to secure major roles afterward and spoke openly about feeling ostracized by the industry.
10. Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan was once America’s sweetheart. From The Parent Trap to Mean Girls, she was a box office favorite.
But behind the scenes, substance abuse, legal troubles, and frequent absences from film sets took a toll.
She became known more for her tabloid headlines than her talent. Despite several comeback attempts, most studios still see her as a risky investment.
Her recent Netflix project, Falling for Christmas, received moderate attention, but Hollywood hasn’t fully welcomed her back.