Top 10 Actors Who Didn't Know When To Quit

#10: Robert De Niro

He’s one of the most well-regarded actors ever, with films like “Taxi Driver,” and “Raging Bull” setting him apart from the typical performer. Robert De Niro then made some more questionable and mediocre films in the 21st century. He’s done great work in recent collaborations with Martin Scorsese, but other broad and forgettable comedies misused his talents. De Niro might be funny in movies like “Meet the Parents,” but “Dirty Grandpa” should’ve been a major wake-up call. With several misfires, he’s in danger of sending the wrong message to audiences who don’t have the context of his earlier career.

#9: Mickey Rourke

Emerging in the early 1980s, Mickey was a rising star with movies like “Body Heat” and “The Pope of Greenwich Village.” He had a naturalistic quality that wasn’t unlike James Dean or Marlon Brando. After some personal setbacks and a boxer career, the actor seemed out of step for much of the next twenty years. “The Wrestler” gave him another chance to be an A-lister. He earned an Oscar nomination for the role, but Rourke seemingly lost much of that progress after trashier action movies. Along with stories about his financial situation and personal life, the man’s status as an inspirational actor is once again in question. It’s unclear whether he’ll ever have another comeback like he did working with director Darren Aronofsky.

#8: Steven Seagal

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Steven Seagal achieved superstardom for his tough-guy movies. He tried to be macho long after he had the stamina or physique to pull that off. In countless backstage stories, the performer and his ego sounded like they were hard to contain. The more recent fight scenes look like they’re done when he’s half asleep. After his alleged ties to Russia and fading reputation, the performer would have probably been better suited for outright retirement. He seems better suited for a return to his origins as a martial arts instructor.

#7: Burt Reynolds

If you ask men of a certain age about their favorite movie star, some of them might mention Burt Reynolds. Whether or not that’s true, the star certainly commanded the screen during a stellar decade that included “The Longest Yard” and “Deliverance.” His work in the 1980s and beyond was much different. Other than highlights like “Boogie Nights,” the man couldn’t seem to get out of a repetitive sequence of bad movies. Reynolds likely needed a few more young directors or admirers to help rehabilitate his image. He might’ve been better off if he’d taken another path at the end of the 1970s, or stopped altogether after his brief revival in the 1990s.

#6: John Travolta

In the 1970s, John Travolta had some big roles on both TV and film. He also proved himself to be a multi-faceted performer in “Saturday Night Fever” and “Grease.” The 1980s were not as kind to the actor as he took more scattered roles in less iconic movies. The “Look Who’s Talking” series and other works of the time seemed to put him on a lesser path. It wasn’t until the 1990s when Quentin Tarantino helped to give Travolta a career boost. While this could’ve been the start of another great era, it led to schlocky action films and doomed passion projects. Considering his recent interest in directing, he probably could retire from acting and focus on directing instead.

#5: Sean Connery

This screen legend helped to make James Bond an international icon. Outside of 007, he career was a mix of ambitious choices and several misses. With the exception of some underrated dramas or “The Untouchables,” he didn’t succeed nearly as much in the second and third acts of his career. “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” effectively ended his interest in any major roles again. Other than an animated project, the performer largely stepped away from the spotlight after such an expensive catastrophe. It was one in a line of films that felt like a big step back for such a bankable and beloved star. Maybe he would’ve been better off winding down his professional life after the success of movies like “The Rock.”

#4: Charles Bronson

As an unforgettable presence in cinema, Charles Bronson developed a reputation as an anti-hero. His work in the likes of “The Magnificent Seven” and “The Great Escape” helped to make those films classics. The success of revenge movies like “Death Wish” sent him in another direction, with mixed results over the next several years. This series and other like-minded projects powered his career with more two-dimensional material. While he remained prolific, the man seemed stuck in a cycle of over violent and ridiculous plots. By the time “Death Wish V” rolled around, you could barely take him seriously as he played an older guy in a younger game. While he didn’t lose his star quality, he seemed underutilized in so many B-movies.

#3: Chevy Chase

He’s synonymous with the early success of “Saturday Night Live” and other film franchises. Chevy Chase provided funny performances in the “Vacation” series, but he also played with fire more than a handful of times. His reputation in Hollywood and elsewhere did him no favors behind the scenes. By the time he was publicly roasted, he’d become one of the more disliked actors in the industry. He also did a number of inferior sequels and original comedies that fell flat. Chase couldn’t escape the shadow of his earlier years, losing a role in “Community” and gradually burning every professional bridge. If he’d been a little nicer and more open to change, the performer might’ve resuscitated his career altogether.

#2: John Wayne

When you think of somebody like John Wayne, you probably see any number of classic Western roles. One problem with the Duke is that he kept going back to the same well in his later years. “Stagecoach” and “The Searchers” are one thing, but his work in “The Shootist” shows a man that’s become more set in his ways. You can make arguments and exceptions across a storied career, but it’s hard to defend the man’s more one-note performances. He likely should have stopped acting after earning a less-deserving Oscar in 1969. While he’s an idol to many, Wayne likely could’ve walked away long before he did and earned the same praise.

#1: Marlon Brando

At the start of his film career, Marlon Brando was considered among the more groundbreaking actors of his generation. His method acting transitioned well into a lineup of classics such as “A Streetcar Named Desire” and later “The Godfather.” As the decades went on, his career took a considerable downturn. He was mainly taking supporting roles in movies like “Superman” or lesser dramas at a sporadic rate. In the mid to late 1990s, his acting decisions became downright bizarre. “The Island of Dr. Moreau” should have been his last film and his later ventures like a Michael Jackson video seem like curiosity pieces at best. Brando had the ability to be much better, but his reclusive behavior and odd choices baffled many viewers.

Did we forget another performer that’s past their prime? Let us know in the comments below.