Top 10 Oscar Winning Actors Who Fell off the Map

Top 10 Oscar-Winning Actors Who Fell Off the Map

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Oscar-Winning Actors Who Fell Off the Map.

For this list, we’ll be looking at people who had relatively lower visibility in the mainstream after winning the Academy Award for acting. Some of these performers can still come back in a big way, but a sizable gap will remain in their filmography.

Which Oscar winner would you like to see more of? Let us know in the comments.

#10: Mo’Nique
“Precious” (2009)

This standup was primarily known for her comedy chops before delivering a towering performance as Precious Jones’ cruel mother. Mo’Nique was deemed an early Best Supporting Actress frontrunner, but she was reluctant to do any campaigning for the film. Ironically, Mo’Nique’s decision not to campaign only generated more buzz, helping her to sweep throughout the season. In her Oscar acceptance speech, Mo’Nique thanked the Academy for putting the performance before politics. Politics still played out behind the scenes, though, as Mo’Nique accused Oprah Winfrey, Lee Daniels, and Tyler Perry of subsequently blackballing her. This may explain why Mo’Nique has only appeared in a handful of projects since, although she’s reteaming with Daniels for the horror film “The Deliverance.” Perry also reportedly apologized, but will Oprah?

#9: Josephine Hull
“Harvey” (1950)

When a Broadway show makes the leap to the silver screen, it’s usually given the Hollywood treatment with bankable movie stars. James Stewart actually played the role of Elwood P. Dowd on Broadway before getting to immortalize the performance in the 1950 film adaptation of “Harvey.” Stewart wasn’t the only one who returned. Josephine Hull originated the role of Elwood’s older sister, Veta. Reprising the part in the film, Hull went on to win a Golden Globe and Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Despite raising her profile, Hull would only appear in one more film: 1951’s “The Lady from Texas.” Yet, Hull would remain active on stage, starring in productions of “Whistler’s Grandmother” and “The Solid Gold Cadillac” before passing away in 1957 at 80.

#8: Tatum O’Neal
“Paper Moon” (1973)

At age 16, Patty Duke became the youngest Oscar winner for “The Miracle Worker.” The same year Duke won, Tatum O’Neal was born. Fast-forward ten years, O’Neal broke Duke’s record with her “supporting” performance in “Paper Moon.” We say “supporting” with quotation marks, as many would argue O’Neal was a co-lead. Regardless, O’Neal remains the youngest competitive winner almost 50 years later, although the Oscar has loomed over her career. While O’Neal continued to star in films throughout her youth, her screen presence became more infrequent as she entered adulthood. O’Neal’s life has sadly been riddled with substance use issues and family tragedy. In 2020, she endured a six-week coma and almost fatal stroke due to an overdose. She thankfully survived, but O’Neal was diagnosed with aphasia.

#7: Roberto Benigni
“Life Is Beautiful” (1997)

Many were surprised to see Roberto Benigni win the Best Actor Oscar for this bleak yet hopeful dramedy. They were even more caught off guard when an overjoyed Benigni walked over the seats to the stage. While the Italian comedian had appeared in a few Hollywood productions, this Oscar-winning turn seemed to be his Western breakthrough. However, Benigni wouldn’t direct himself in another lead role until 2002’s “Pinocchio,” which won him multiple Razzies. After that, Benigni popped up on screen every several years, usually starring in indie fare. He essentially played himself in 2003’s “Coffee and Cigarettes” and a clerk turned celebrity in 2012’s “To Rome with Love.” Strangely, his most high-profile role since winning the Oscar was as Geppetto in another version of “Pinocchio.”

#6: Gene Hackman
“The French Connection” (1971) & “Unforgiven” (1992)

Over 20 years after winning Best Actor for his heroic performance as Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle, Gene Hackman picked up the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his villainous turn in “Unforgiven.” Hackman continued to demonstrate his range in “The Birdcage” and “The Royal Tenenbaums.” Outside of a couple of narration gigs, though, he hasn’t acted since 2004’s “Welcome to Mooseport.” Although this marked his acting retirement, Hackman stated in a 2011 interview that he’d be open to accepting a role if they could film at his house with a small crew. Hackman channeled his creative energy into writing books, his last novel being released in 2013. Now 93, Hackman lives peacefully in New Mexico, but we’d love to see him give at least one more performance.

#5: Timothy Hutton
“Ordinary People” (1980)

For his empathetic performance as emotionally lost teenager Conrad Jarrett, Timothy Hutton became the youngest male actor to win an Oscar at age 20. Although this seemed like only the beginning for a talented up-and-comer, Hutton is still best known for his breakout role. Most of Hutton’s following films fell short critically and financially. Turning down “Risky Business” to do 1983’s “Daniel” didn’t help. By the 21st century, Hutton was more visible on the small screen, starring in “Leverage” for five seasons. He was set to return in the revival, “Leverage: Redemption,” but Hutton got dropped when Sera Johnston accused him of committing assault decades earlier. While the case was closed with no charges filed, Hutton hasn’t appeared in a movie or show since.

#4: Mira Sorvino
“Mighty Aphrodite” (1995)

Diane Keaton, Michael Caine, and Penélope Cruz are just a few performers who won Oscars for their work in Woody Allen films. People often forget to include Mira Sorvino in that lineup. Taking home Best Supporting Actress for her humorous role as sex worker Linda Ash, Sorvino beat out the likes of Kate Winslet and Joan Allen. Outside of her role in the cult comedy “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion,” Sorvino has struggled to find a part as note-worthy as her Oscar-winning turn. This could be attributed to Harvey Weinstein, who Sorvino accused of hurting her career after rejecting unwanted sexual advances. Sorvino’s career may be on the upswing, though, as her latest film, “Sound of Freedom,” performed surprisingly well at the box office.

#3: Mercedes Ruehl
“The Fisher King” (1991)

Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges took center stage, but Mercedes Ruehl earned “The Fisher King” its Oscar-winning status. Receiving Best Supporting Actress for playing outspoken video store owner Anne, Ruehl was on a roll. Only a few months before the Oscars, she won a Tony for her lead performance in Neil Simon’s “Lost in Yonkers.” While she remained prominent on Broadway, Hollywood wasn’t kind to Ruehl going forward. The day after winning her Oscar, Ruehl received a telegram from director Terry Gilliam saying, “You’ll never work again.” She thought he was joking, but Ruehl found it hard to book another film gig with many assuming she’d want more money. Ruehl was also subjected to ageism, primarily limiting her to maternal roles in films like “Hustlers.”

#2: Richard Dreyfuss
“The Goodbye Girl” (1977)

Richard Dreyfuss is best known for his performances in Speilberg pictures like “Jaws” and “Close Encounters,” but “The Goodbye Girl” turned him into the youngest Best Actor winner at the time. Despite being at the pinnacle of success, Dreyfuss took a step back from the spotlight as he struggled with addictions and mental health, receiving a bipolar disorder diagnosis later in life. His Oscar-nominated performance in 1995’s “Mr. Holland’s Opus” marked something of a comeback, but Dreyfuss’ high-profile roles have been few and far between since then. Dreyfuss still occasionally makes headlines, although not for the best reasons. In 2017, he was accused of sexual harassment and in 2023, Dreyfuss stirred controversy upon criticizing the Academy’s new diversity guidelines, saying that they “make [him] vomit.”

#1: Harold Russell
“The Best Years of Our Lives” (1946)

Harold Russell had no acting experience before this post-World War II drama, but it’s hard to imagine anyone else doing justice to the role of Homer Parrish. Like his character, Russell went to war where he lost both of his hands, which were replaced with hooks. After director William Wyler saw Russell in the propaganda short “Diary of a Sergeant,” he cast him as Homer. The Academy decided to give Russell an Honorary Oscar, assuming he wouldn’t win Best Supporting Actor. To the board’s surprise, he did, receiving two Oscars for the same role! Russell left acting behind to focus on supporting veterans through programs like AMVETS. Before passing in 2002, he appeared in just two more films: 1980’s “Inside Moves” and 1997’s “Dogtown.”