Top 10 Modern Actors Who Were Blacklisted
#10: Mira Sorvino
For most working actors in Hollywood, winning an Oscar is a lifelong dream that many aren’t fortunate to ever achieve. Mira Sorvino, however, accomplished that just a decade into her career, with 1995’s “Mighty Aphrodite”. While working on the film, Sorvino crossed paths with disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein who allegedly harassed her. The actress claims that after rejecting the producer’s advances, he launched a smear campaign against her, effectively blacklisting her in Hollywood. These claims were seemingly confirmed in 2017 by “Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson. At the height of the MeToo movement, Jackson revealed that Weinstein’s company had told him not to cast Sorvino and Ashley Judd, who apparently also rebuffed the producer.
#9: Jim Caviezel
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The 2004 biblical epic “The Passion of the Christ” was a huge success at the box office, grossing over $600 million worldwide. Despite this, it seemed to have done more harm than good to the lead actor. Jim Caviezel, who portrayed the titular religious figure, claims that his acting career was nailed to a cross after the movie was released. But apparently, that didn’t come as much of a surprise to him. Caviezel has stated that director Mel Gibson warned him beforehand that the role could potentially ruin his career prospects, but he went along with it anyway. Regardless of whatever repercussions he may have faced, Caviezel still deems the experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
#8: Katherine Heigl
Katherine Heigl gained international recognition in the mid-2000s for her performance as Izzie Stevens on “Grey’s Anatomy”. She also found success on the big screen with rom-com flicks like “Knocked Up”. However, in an infamous 2007 Vanity Fair interview, Heigl decried the portrayal of women in the film, calling it “a little sexist”. The following year, she withdrew her name from Emmy consideration for “Grey’s Anatomy,” which was received negatively by the show’s producers. Heigl’s reputation was damaged by these events and her career took a hit. She’s, however, slowly making her comeback, with major roles in shows like “Suits” and “Firefly Lane”.
#7: Charlie Sheen
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There are very few working performers who can brag about being the highest-paid actor on television. In 2010, Charlie Sheen held that title for his work on the CBS sitcom “Two and a Half Men”. But Sheen’s personal life was plagued by questionable actions that would ultimately lead to his downfall. In 2011, after production on the show was halted to allow the actor undergo rehab, he publicly insulted “Two and a Half Men” creator Chuck Lorre and demanded a 50% salary raise. This led to him being fired from the series and replaced by Ashton Kutcher. Although he has picked up a few roles since, Sheen seems to be persona non grata for many networks and production companies.
#6: Roseanne Barr
For nine years, Roseanne Barr enjoyed great success as the star of her eponymous sitcom on ABC. After two decades off the air, “Roseanne” was renewed for a tenth season that became a ratings hit upon its premiere. The series received an immediate renewal by the network, only to be canceled just two months later. This was due to a controversial tweet made by Barr in which she described an African-American senior adviser in the Obama administration using apparently derogatory terms. Barr was fired by ABC and the show was re-tooled into a spin-off titled “The Conners,” which went on without her. The scandal has barred the actress from getting any substantial work since.
#5: Stacey Dash
In the 1990s, Stacey Dash was on track to becoming a Hollywood teen star. The New York-born actress rose to prominence with her role in the 1995 film “Clueless” as well as its spin-off series. Dash’s acting career has since stalled, however, apparently as a result of her conservative views. The actress drew sharp criticism after voicing her opposition to Black History Month and making remarks that were deemed transphobic. According to Dash, these opinions drew the ire of Hollywood executives who “basically blacklisted” her. In 2021, the actress apologized for her “angry” political tone in the past, but the plea appears to have had a limited effect on her career downturn.
#4: Thora Birch
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You may remember her for her starring roles in the critically acclaimed films “American Beauty” and “Ghost World”. Yes, once upon a time, Thora Birch received overwhelming praise from critics and seemed to have a very promising career ahead of her. But as the years progressed, Birch didn’t seem to be meeting those expectations, and it wasn’t for a lack of trying. In 2010, Birch was cast in an off-Broadway revival of “Dracula,” but was summarily fired during rehearsals. Allegedly, this was because her father, and then-manager, had physically threatened one of the other cast members. The incident left a stain on Birch’s career that she has been unable to shake off since.
#3: Brendan Fraser
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In 2022, Brendan Fraser starred as Charlie in Darren Aronofsky’s psychological drama “The Whale”. He garnered critical acclaim for his performance in the film and ultimately won the Oscar for Best Actor. “The Whale” was hailed as Fraser’s comeback to the big screen after a lengthy career lull. Indeed, back in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, Fraser was one of Hollywood’s leading men, taking on starring roles in films like “George of the Jungle” and “The Mummy” trilogy. However, Fraser came forward with allegations that he had been assaulted by the former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. It is believed that this incident had something to do with the actor getting blacklisted by the industry.
#2: Mel Gibson
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Hollywood actor, director and producer Mel Gibson has had his fair share of controversies over the years. But the one that seemed to cause the largest dent in his career was his infamous 2006 arrest. On July 28th, Gibson was pulled over in Los Angeles for driving under the influence. After being detained, the actor launched into a tirade of antisemitic and misogynistic remarks. The arrest report was later obtained by tabloid site TMZ and leaked to the public. This, combined with his numerous other scandals, led to Gibson essentially being shunned by Hollywood. His status in the industry would remain this way for nearly a decade, until he seemingly made a comeback with his 2016 Oscar-winning film “Hacksaw Ridge”.
#1: Mo’Nique
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Prior to 2009, Mo’Nique was mostly known as a stand-up comedian and comedy actress. But that all changed when she starred in the Lee Daniels’ film “Precious”. Her turn as the profane mother of the titular character earned rave reviews and won her the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Despite the film’s significant success, it appeared to shut the door on any further achievements for her in the industry. According to Mo’Nique, her refusal to do additional promotion for the film caused tension with producers, which led to her being labeled as difficult to work with. Since then, the actress claims that her opportunities in the industry have declined. These claims have, however, been refuted by Daniels, the film’s director.
