freshticles

Keith Coogan

PacMan2006

Michael Keaton
Linda Hamilton
Cuba Gooding Jr
To some degree, I'd say Edward Norton
Angela Bassett (though Hollywood doesn't give black actresses roles, really)

zekeburger1979

My two would be Billy Crudup and Clive Owen. I remember thinking after seeing Almost Famous that Billy Crudup would be a star withn a few years. Same thing with Clive Owen after Croupier although that involved him being selected to be James Bond.

Tarantino

I'd say Larenz Tate and Ione Skye.

= J

PopcornTreeCt

After seeing Swingers and Made I would've said Vince Vaughn but he seems to finally be getting his due. Edward Norton should be uber-famous by now if he hadn't taken time off. Jude Law is a great actor that still hasn't risen.

Drexl

I think he may have just been too associated with SW to make it big otherwise. Recently he's been doing a lot of voice work, and that's worked out for him because people don't see his face and go "hey it's Luke Skywalker!"

Tarantino

I'd say Jude Law is a big star. I bet most people could tell you his name if they saw his face.

= J

FinkPish

I'm surprised Bruce Greenwood isn't more famous than he is. He's had plenty of good roles and has been working forever.

Jericho

I don't think its that simple. Lots of "stars" make bad (or low box office movies). Look at DiCaprio, who's first post Titanic success movie a The Beach, a similar failure to Hollyood Homicide. Yet Leo seems fine.

slavetotherave

I'd say Jennifer Connelly. I'm not saying she's not famous - I think everyone in this forum knows exactly who she is. But why is she not MORE famous? I mean, she has the talent, she's got the Oscar, and she's by far my favorite. With those things going for her, how come she doesn't get more leading roles? (More leading roles other than Dark Water, *cough*.)

Also, I really like Sean Bean, and he's been in some high profile stuff. Yet, whenever I mention his name, nobody knows who I'm talking about. Why is that?

Ralek

Probably because she chooses very low key projects(besides Hullk, which was a failure, and A beautiful Mind, which was her big break).

Plus, she became well known after her looks started to decline.

dx23

I completely disagree with clive Owen, as he is alreeady a huge star. He has been in Sin City, Closer, Derailed and most importantly, Inside Man. He is a star.


I think that some people have mistaken this thread as stars that have fallen from grace, like Cuba Gooding, Michale Keaton adn Elizabeth Shue. I believe that the original poster wanted to list actors who never realized their full potential like Billy Crudup.

My list would include Crudup and Wes Bentley, since both of them are good actors that never became household names.

Superman07

I really have to agree with:

Sean Bean
Jennifer Connley

I do like Bruce Greenwood a lot, but I'm not sure he'll ever see stardom. Probably his biggest to roles to date (that were really popular) were Double Jeporady and I-Robot. He was great in Thirteen Days, but I'm not sure if that was big or not (only saw it on dvd).

I really feel like I should throw out:

Leelee Sobieski

I really would have pegged her for the next Helen Hunt type. She was pretty big in "Here On Earth", but then seemed to fall off from there*. I don't think that "Glass House" really helped out much either.

*Note: Also starting Josh Hartnett

james2025a

I cannot believe that no one has mentioned Bruce Campbells' name. The guy is a legend. He deserves more than he has been given.

I agree also with Biehn, to some extent Norton. I think that Steve Coogan should have done better. His UK comedy stuff is amazing...just a shame that his films (24 Hour Prty People being an exception) are all awful. I also think that Jeff Bridges has never been given his dues. Great actor.

fujishig

Although he's had some major roles (including the latest Harry Potter films), I always though Ralph Fiennes would have had a more prolific career after I saw him in Schindler's List and the English Patient.

I also thought Ron Livingston would have had a better career in comedy films after Office Space, but I guess he's content in doing TV roles.

Legolas

Jon Voight looked like he was gonna become this bigtime leading man but it never happened. Same for Gary Busey.

dude_dan

Mario Van Peebles

Dr. Henry Jones, Jr.

Thomas Hayden Church

wergo

Natasha Gregson Wagner.

Really shocked she didn't make it big.

Or Tanya Allen.

Or Maura Tierney (yeah, she's still on 'ER', but I can't believe she didn't get a film career)

Dr. Henry Jones, Jr.

She was in that horrible Jim Carrey movie (yeah, I know that is real descriptive.. sorry). And also "Welcome to Mooseport"...

Robert

Edward Norton is one of those actors who routinely shuns the spotlight. According to an interview I read in GQ, he only does movies in where he has complete faith in the people he is working with. Save for movies like Red Dragon which he did only for the money and The Italian job which he was contractually obligated to do.

Rockmjd23

C. Thomas Howell. Things went downhill after Soul Man, then he made lame films in the 90s and now he makes ripoffs of blockbuster hits like H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds (2005), Poseidon Adventure (2005), and worst of all, The Da Vinci Treasure (2006).

Fincher Fan

How about Judd Nelson?

GoldenJCJ

Michael Rooker - seems to be relegated to supporting roles or bad guys in low budget flicks

I've always thought Dennis Quaid should've been bigger. He did his share of top billing work but I always thought he would've made it to Bruce Willis or Brad Pitt type status.

Gretchen Mol never seemed to go anywhere; I don't think The Notorious Betti Page will be big enough to change her status

and definately agree with Michael Biehn should've been bigger than he was.

gryffinmaster

Guy Pearce. DEFINITELY should be bigger than he is with his incredible performance in Memento and his ability to be a great supporting actor (i.e. L.A. Confidential, Count of Monte Cristo, etc.).