Hollywood loves a very good comeback story. One second, a star fades into the background, and the subsequent, they’re again within the highlight, stealing the present like they by no means left. Whether or not it’s a career-saving function, a surprising transformation, or a efficiency that leaves everybody speechless, these stars fought their method again to the highest—and so they did it in fashion.
From surprising Oscar winners to actors who went from forgotten to fan favorites, these legendary comebacks are proof that Hollywood is stuffed with surprises.
John Travolta
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John Travolta dominated the ’70s with hits like Grease and Saturday Night time Fever, however by the early 90s, his profession had cooled off, with roles in lighthearted comedies like Look Who’s Speaking. Then got here Pulp Fiction, when Quentin Tarantino took an opportunity on Travolta, casting him as Vincent Vega within the 1994 cult basic, and it modified every part.
His slick, spectacular efficiency as Vincent Vega earned him an Oscar nomination and put him again on Hollywood’s A-list. Talking of the movie throughout its thirtieth anniversary, Travolta even instructed Selection that Pulp Fiction was a “next-level, higher echelon alternative.”
Kiefer Sutherland
After a short hiatus within the late ’90s, throughout which he reportedly pursued his different pursuits like cattle ranching, Kiefer Sutherland made a formidable comeback in 2001 taking up the function of Jack Bauer within the groundbreaking sequence 24. The true-time format of the present and the compelling efficiency of Sutherland helped revive his profession, and Jack Bauer turned one of many iconic characters in tv historical past.
Rob Lowe
Within the late Eighties, Rob Lowe’s profession confronted a significant setback attributable to a scandal involving an alleged s– tape with two ladies, one among whom was 16 years previous. This introduced him underneath extreme public scrutiny and private reflection. Lowe reportedly credit this troublesome interval as a catalyst for his sobriety and private progress. He sought assist, embraced sobriety, and steadily rebuilt his profession coming again with notable roles in tv sequence reminiscent of The West Wing and Parks and Recreation.
Betty White
After her memorable roles in The Mary Tyler Moore Present and The Golden Ladies, Betty White skilled a interval of relative quiet within the late 90s and early 2000s earlier than a exceptional resurgence. In 2009, she delighted followers along with her efficiency in The Proposal, sharing the display with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds.
A yr later, a Tremendous Bowl Snickers business that includes White turned fairly the hit and sparked a Fb marketing campaign, resulting in her internet hosting Saturday Night time Stay in 2010 on the age of 88. This efficiency earned her a Primetime Emmy Award, additionally introducing her to a brand new era of followers. She then starred within the sitcom Scorching in Cleveland, additional cementing her standing as an iconic star of the ages.
Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin Phoenix’s story in Hollywood is a story of transformation. After stepping away from performing within the late 2000s for an experimental undertaking, he made an important comeback with excellent performances in The Grasp and Her. His function because the Joker in 2019 earned him an Academy Award in addition to his place as one of many most interesting professionals within the subject.
Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore’s profession is a narrative of survival and rebirth. She had captured the hearts of the viewers in E.T. the Further-Terrestrial, however private points virtually derailed her profession. The mid-Nineteen Nineties was when she staged an unbelievable comeback. In 1995, she appeared in Boys on the Aspect, taking part in a free-spirited younger lady with Whoopi Goldberg and Mary-Louise Parker.
The next yr, Barrymore took on a pivotal function in Wes Craven’s Scream, delivering a memorable efficiency that set the tone for the movie. Barrymore’s comeback continued with hits like The Marriage ceremony Singer and Charlie’s Angels, solidifying her standing as a beloved actress and producer.
Matthew McConaughey
The early 2010s marked an important shift within the profession of Matthew McConaughey. Having been a family title for romantic comedies within the 2000s, he started to search for extra severe and difficult roles. In 2013, Matthew McConaughey delivered a transformative efficiency as Ron Woodroof, a cowboy recognized with AIDS, in Dallas Consumers Membership. For this function, he even received the Academy Award for Finest Actor. That very same yr, he breathed life into the thriller story of the charming Rust Cohle in HBO’s True Detective.
Jason Bateman
Jason Bateman went from a teen star within the ‘80s, identified for roles in Little Home on the Prairie and The Hogan Household, to just about disappearing within the ‘90s after struggling to transition into grownup roles. His profession took a significant flip in 2003 when he starred as Michael Bluth in Arrested Growth, a task that earned him a Golden Globe and revived his Hollywood standing.
From there, he took off, cementing his place with standout performances in movies like Juno, Up within the Air, and Horrible Bosses, and newer hit performances in Ozark and Carry-On proving his versatility in each comedy and drama.
Neil Patrick Harris
Neil Patrick Harris went from being the beloved baby star of Doogie Howser, M.D. to going through years of profession stagnation. His huge comeback started in 2008 with Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Alongside Weblog, a cult-favorite internet sequence that reignited his reputation. This led him to the extra iconic function in How I Met Your Mom as Barney Stinson which made him a family title and to not neglect received him a number of Emmy nominations.
He didn’t cease there, taking this expertise to the Broadway stage for a Tony Award-winning efficiency of Hedwig in Hedwig and the Indignant Inch.
Robert Downey Jr.
You is perhaps stunned to know that Robert Downey Jr. celebrated as Iron Man now, was affected by private and authorized issues within the early 2000s, and it appeared that his profession had hit all-time low. Nevertheless, with the assistance of associates like Mel Gibson, who reportedly supported him throughout this troublesome interval, and his personal unwavering expertise, Downey started his climb again. Whereas roles like Kiss Kiss Bang Bang showcased his potential, it was his casting as Tony Stark in Iron Man that catapulted him again to superstardom.
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A few of these stars delivered performances that left audiences in awe, proving that expertise by no means actually fades. Others reinvented themselves in surprising methods, taking up roles nobody noticed coming or entering into initiatives that reshaped their careers in a single day. However one factor is definite—Hollywood loves an important redemption arc, and so do followers!
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Which legendary comeback left the largest impression on you? Do you will have a favourite efficiency from any of those stars? Share your ideas within the feedback beneath!
