15 Actors Who Were Once Famous but Are Now Forgotten by Hollywood

Cuba Gooding Jr.

There was a time when shouting “Show me the money!” instantly brought Cuba Gooding Jr. to mind. He snagged an Oscar for Jerry Maguire and seemed unstoppable, but Hollywood’s love affair with him cooled almost as quickly as it ignited. A mix of underwhelming roles and straight-to-video detours chipped away at his A-list status. He never fully disappeared – TV movies, voice work, and even stage performances kept him active – but the big studios stopped calling. Fans still remember the infectious energy he brought to the screen, even if Hollywood seems to have filed him under “90s nostalgia.” | © TriStar Pictures

Halle Berry

Winning an Academy Award for Monster’s Ball should have cemented Halle Berry as an untouchable Hollywood powerhouse. Instead, a string of box office misfires – from Catwoman to critically panned thrillers – left her career wobbling. She’s still working, of course, popping up in projects like John Wick: Chapter 3 and even trying her hand at directing. But the star wattage that once made her a household name has dimmed in Hollywood’s eyes. For audiences, though, Berry remains unforgettable – equal parts trailblazer, style icon, and a reminder of how cruel the industry can be to some talents. | © Village Roadshow Pictures

Orlando Bloom

For a glorious stretch in the early 2000s, Orlando Bloom was everywhere. Between The Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean, he was fantasy royalty, complete with perfect cheekbones and heroic hair. But after those franchises wrapped, the magic didn’t carry over into new roles. Attempts at romantic comedies and dramas didn’t quite stick, and Hollywood quietly moved on to its next crop of leading men. Bloom never vanished entirely – streaming projects and theater roles have kept him busy – yet he’s no longer the box office draw he once was. Fans of Legolas and Will Turner, however, haven’t forgotten him for a second. | © New Line Cinema

Geena Davis

There aren’t many actors that can boast a résumé as eclectic as Geena Davis – from Thelma & Louise to Beetlejuice to A League of Their Own, she dominated the late ’80s and ’90s. But after a couple of high-profile flops (Cutthroat Island being the most infamous), Hollywood seemed to slam the brakes on her career. Rather than fade quietly, Davis redirected her energy into advocacy, founding the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, which pushes for better representation in film and TV. While Hollywood may have lost interest in casting her, audiences never stopped admiring her work and her impact. She’s the definition of a star who deserved far more. | © The Geffen Film Company

Jessica Alba

She was once Hollywood’s go-to It Girl, starring in Fantastic Four, Sin City, and romantic comedies galore. Then, almost overnight, Jessica Alba swapped the red carpet for boardrooms. Founding The Honest Company, a billion-dollar lifestyle brand, made her one of the rare stars who successfully reinvented themselves outside of Hollywood. The acting world hasn’t really seen much of her since, aside from the occasional TV project or cameo. While critics never fully embraced her performances, fans remember her charm and screen presence with fondness. Hollywood may have forgotten her, but her bank account and brand prove she didn’t need it anyway. | © 20th Century Studios

Hilary Swank

Two Oscars before turning 30 should have meant a career with no limits, but Hilary Swank’s momentum didn’t hold. After Boys Don’t Cry and Million Dollar Baby, the roles that followed didn’t capture the same fire, and slowly her name slipped from big studio conversations. She’s popped up here and there – in dramas, thrillers, and even a short-lived Netflix series – but nothing has matched the intensity of her award-winning streak. Fans still talk about her raw power as an actress, even if Hollywood hasn’t given her the same platform lately. Swank’s story is a sharp reminder that talent doesn’t always guarantee longevity in an unforgiving industry. | © Warner Bros.

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi was once everywhere – Ghost, Sister Act, stand-up, TV, you name it. But as Hollywood shifted, the roles that fit her sharp comedic timing and powerhouse presence started drying up. She never really went away, though; she just reshaped her career around The View, where she remains a daily fixture. While she’s still beloved, the days of her being a box office draw are firmly in the past. Hollywood may have set her aside, but audiences who grew up with her unforgettable film roles still hold her in high regard. It’s less about being forgotten, more about being remembered differently. | © Paramount Pictures

Wesley Snipes

In the ’90s, nobody mixed martial arts and charisma like Wesley Snipes. From Blade to White Men Can’t Jump, he had the range and the swagger to dominate. Then came tax troubles, legal issues, and a series of direct-to-video projects that left his career in limbo. Even after serving time, his comeback never fully landed, though his cameo in Coming 2 America showed he still has that spark. Fans haven’t forgotten the action hero who made vampires cool long before Marvel ruled the box office. Hollywood might have moved on, but Snipes’s legacy as a cult favorite is untouchable. | © New Line Cinema

Taylor Lautner

Being Jacob Black in Twilight launched Taylor Lautner into worldwide teen-heartthrob status. For a few years, it seemed like every magazine cover and late-night show wanted him. But when the vampire craze ended, Hollywood didn’t quite know what to do with him. Action roles and rom-coms fizzled, and soon he disappeared from the spotlight almost entirely. He’s popped back up recently, more relaxed and self-aware, but the A-list career many expected never materialized. For fans, though, Lautner remains forever etched into pop culture history as the werewolf who made “Team Jacob” a thing. | © Summit Entertainment

Taylor Kitsch

After Friday Night Lights, Taylor Kitsch was poised to be the next big leading man. Studios bet big on him with John Carter and Battleship, but both films flopped hard, leaving his star power dented. He kept working, with gritty TV roles and supporting turns in films, but Hollywood stopped treating him like its golden boy. Fans argue he deserved better – his talent was there, the projects just weren’t. Over time, Kitsch carved out a quieter career, leaning on strong performances instead of blockbusters. Even if Hollywood moved on, his cult following has only grown. | © Walt Disney Pictures

Mira Sorvino

Winning an Oscar for Mighty Aphrodite should have been the start of a long Hollywood reign, but Mira Sorvino’s career never hit the heights many expected. Rumors about her being blacklisted after speaking out against Harvey Weinstein later explained much of her sudden disappearance from major roles. While she continued acting in indie films and TV, the spotlight shifted elsewhere. Fans who remember her sharp wit and emotional range still argue she deserved far better opportunities. In recent years, she’s slowly been stepping back into bigger projects, reminding audiences why she was such a breakout star. Hollywood may have turned its back, but viewers never did. | © Miramax

Mo’Nique

Her Oscar-winning performance in Precious was raw, devastating, and unforgettable, setting her up for what looked like a massive Hollywood career. Instead, conflicts with studios and her outspoken criticism of industry politics left her on the outside looking in. Roles dried up, and she became more associated with controversy than casting buzz. Yet fans never forgot the sheer power of her acting, and many still root for her comeback. Recently, she’s been slowly stepping back into the spotlight, proving her talent never faded. Hollywood’s memory may be short, but audiences remember brilliance when they see it. | © Lee Daniels Entertainment

Jean Dujardin

When The Artist swept the Oscars, Jean Dujardin looked like he was about to conquer Hollywood as the next international leading man. The charm was undeniable, but after the awards season glow faded, the offers weren’t as dazzling. Instead of chasing every English-language project, he returned to French cinema, where he continues to thrive. That shift left many American audiences wondering what happened to him. The truth is, he never stopped working – he just stopped chasing Hollywood’s idea of stardom. For fans who only saw him in The Artist, he feels forgotten, but in Europe, he’s still very much a star. | © JD Prod

Roberto Benigni

Life Is Beautiful made Roberto Benigni an international sensation, even earning him an Oscar for his heart-wrenching performance. His joyous energy, famously climbing over seats at the Academy Awards, seemed to promise a Hollywood takeover. But his follow-up projects, like his critically panned take on Pinocchio, derailed that momentum. Hollywood quickly moved on, while he focused more on Italian cinema and stage work. For many outside Europe, it felt like he vanished overnight. Still, that single masterpiece keeps his name alive, a reminder of how fleeting and unpredictable fame can be. | © Miramax

Josh Hartnett

The late ’90s and early 2000s had Josh Hartnett plastered across posters for everything from teen horror to war epics. He was positioned as the next Leonardo DiCaprio, but the fame machine burned him out fast. Rather than chase superstardom, Hartnett pulled back from Hollywood’s demands and chose smaller, quieter projects. That decision made him vanish from mainstream view, though it earned him a kind of cult respect. When he does resurface – like in Penny Dreadful or Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer – fans are reminded just how much screen presence he still has. Forgotten by Hollywood’s hype maybe, but never forgotten by audiences. | © Warner Bros. Picture