Top 10 Movies That Made Actors Quit
#10: Omar Sharif
“The 13th Warrior” (1999) “The 13th Warrior” was a massive financial bomb and received generally negative reviews, but its worst critic was perhaps its own Omar Sharif. He reflected, quote “Let us stop this nonsense, these meal tickets that we do because it pays well [...] a film so bad that it is not even worth exploring.” Sharif only appears in the first act of the film, so we can’t say he should shoulder much of the blame. Though blame he did shoulder, as he reported that even his own grandchildren made fun of him for it. We guess it doesn’t get any lower than that. This led to Sharif only coming out of retirement for projects he believed in, such as the similarly historical adventure film “Hidalgo.”
#9: Peter Ostrum
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“Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (1971) After portraying Charlie Bucket in this seminal family film, Peter Ostrum had a golden ticket to becoming the next big child star in the form of a three-picture contract. However, he turned it down, making “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” his only film appearance. Though he remained reclusive about it for many years, he eventually opened up by saying the experience simply wasn’t for him. He of course enjoyed certain aspects of it, such as working with the legendary Gene Wilder, but otherwise wasn’t so taken with the craft. Shortly after filming, he became enamored with horses, which led him to a career as a veterinarian which he still enjoys to this day.
#8: Carrie Henn
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“Aliens” (1986) Here’s another child actor that made a big impression with her one and only movie. Carrie Henn was perfect to play the young Newt in “Aliens,” so much so that many fans were peeved to learn that the character died off-screen in “Alien 3.” Though Henn probably would have aged out of the role anyway relative to the plot, there’s another reason her return would have been unlikely anyway. Having been discovered by a casting agent at her school, acting was not something she actively sought, and she was not driven to have a film career. And she didn’t like being apart from her family during filming, even though Newt’s brother was played by her real-life one. A reasonable excuse, as she instead decided to become a schoolteacher.
#7: Daniel Day-Lewis
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“Phantom Thread” (2017) Yeah, we’re hoping this isn’t his last performance, too, but if it is, it’s a pretty good one to go out on. A famously devoted method actor, no one can say Daniel Day-Lewis doesn’t put every part of himself into his roles, as he even learned the art of dressmaking for “Phantom Thread.” However, during filming, a strange sense of sadness hung over the actor to the point that he announced his retirement prior to release. He said, quote “I need to believe in the value of what I'm doing.” Of course, anyone who’s seen the film will note a similar sense of melancholy, but we don’t think we’re alone when we say we hope Day-Lewis can rediscover that passion in whatever he does next.
#6: Jeff Cohen
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“The Goonies” (1985) Another child star that never was, Jeff Cohen is best known for being associated with two words: Truffle Shuffle. Playing the token fat kid was familiar to Cohen from previous parts, but the role of Chunk in “The Goonies” definitely had a greater impact. Looking back, he recalled quote “When people call you Chunk every day of your life from the age of ten, it gives you a complex.” It also didn’t help that Cohen quickly transitioned out of his fat kid physique, keeping him from capitalizing on the part. However, Cohen can still be found in the entertainment industry working as a Hollywood attorney providing legal protection for actors. Also, we think we should drop the C and just call him “Hunk” now.
#5: Heather Donahue
"The Blair Witch Project" (1999) The supernatural horror flick may have renewed interest in the found footage genre and received critical acclaim, but it didn’t necessarily make long-lasting stars of the 3 actors who played its 3 student filmmakers. Case in point: Heather Donahue, who has since claimed that using her real name was detrimental to her acting career. While her performance earned some positive recognition, it also “won” her a “worst actress” Razzie. She also reportedly received threats. Donahue’s subsequent parts were much smaller by comparison, with her most significant in 2002’s “Taken” miniseries, and her last in a 2008 direct-to-dvd film. “The Blair Witch Project” may’ve been one of the most successful indies ever, but considering her unremarkable roles thereafter, there’s little wonder that Donahue ultimately retired and took up writing.
#4: Gene Hackman
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“Welcome to Mooseport” (2004) While it’s true Gene Hackman was much more vocal about his dissatisfaction in filming Wes Anderson’s “The Royal Tenenbaums,” it’s hard for us to believe that 2004’s “Welcome to Mooseport” wasn’t the straw that broke the camel’s back. Or moose’s. Saddled with a flailing screenplay and a Ray Romano that rarely did live-action features at the time, there wasn’t much Hackman could do to elevate the film. Dissatisfied with the finished product, Hackman didn’t even attend the premiere, announcing his retirement by saying, quote “The compromises that you have to make in films are just part of the beast, and it had gotten to a point where I just didn't feel like I wanted to do it anymore.” Well, he’ll always have Mooseport.
#3: Greta Garbo
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“Two-Faced Woman” (1941) Greta Garbo remains one of the most iconic actors of classic Hollywood, and to think her career ended when she was just thirty-six-years-young. Worse yet, it ended upon the release of one lackluster romcom. Granted, “Two-Faced Woman” is fairly flailing as a concept - Garbo playing a woman who doubles as her fictitious twin sister to save her marriage; don’t ask. But clearly she could have overcome one mediocre picture. Though initially planning to return to the screen, Garbo’s plans were halted upon the advent of World War II. Coupled with her general misgivings, she ultimately made “Two-Faced Woman” her final film, which she even called her “grave.” She lived until 1990 without making another film.
#2: Jake Lloyd
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“Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace” (1999) There’s probably no single fanbase more difficult to operate in than that of“Star Wars,” as many actors would learn. But it was perhaps twelve-year-old Jake Lloyd that first learned this the hard way. “The Phantom Menace” was a massive cinematic letdown in many ways, but the bulk of the ire was directed at Lloyd’s portrayal of a young Anakin Skywalker. This led to him being severely bullied at school and a heap of unwanted publicity, prompting Lloyd to soon thereafter swear off acting for good. His troubles wouldn’t end there, however, as Lloyd got in trouble with the law as an adult and was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.
#1: Sean Connery
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“The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” (2003) Before Marvel’s “The Avengers,” there was “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen,” and… well it wasn't good. In fact, the first person to tell you that was lead actor Sean Connery, who became increasingly frustrated with director Stephen Norrington on set. Of course the film bombed, making the Gandalf role he turned down in “Lord of the Rings” look pretty good. Connery would later announce his retirement from the industry, disparaging the quote “idiots now making films in Hollywood.” We certainly missed him prior to his passing in 2020, but he defended his time away by saying, quote “retirement is just too much damned fun.” Well, we can’t fault him there.
