Greatest Hollywood Comebacks

Robert Downey Jr. is the son of the bizarre underground filmmaker Robert Downey Sr. RDJ worked with the Brat Pack. He appeared in films for disgruntled youths in the 1980s.Less Than ZeroandWeird Science.

In the '90s, RDJ faced flamboyant drug problems and multiple arrests. These events led to a three-year prison sentence, later cut to one year plus a large fine.

Since 2003, RDJ has stayed sober and gained wider public support. In 2008, he won filmgoers' favor globally by playing Tony Stark in Marvel'sIron Manfilms. In 2024, he received an Oscar nomination for his role inOppenheimer.

He was semi-ironically loved for decades as the child star of the popular sitcomDoogie Howser, M.D., NPH faced years of C-list status. Then, his 2008 appearance with Nathan Fillion in Joss Whedon's web miniseriesDr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blogrejuvenated his geek street credibility. Soon after, Harris starred in the popular seriesHow I Met Your Mother with cult TV stars Alyson Hannigan and Jason Segal.

In 2014, Harris won the Tony Award forBest Actor in a Musicalhis Broadway performance as intersexed rockstar Hedwig Schmidt in the revival of John Cameron Mitchell'sHedwig and the Angry Inch.

Drew Barrymore is one of the youngest in the industry to recover fully after making a mistake. Barrymore has beenstarring in moviessince early childhood and published a drug memoir at age 14. As a child, Barrymore was Hollywood's cute youngsterdu jourappearing inCat's Eye,Firestarter, and Stephen Spielberg'sE.T.Barrymore's career stopped in 1989. She entered rehab twice: once for cocaine addiction, and again for attempting suicide.

Betty White gained iconic status with her twee, two-faced characters starting in the '60s. White became known for her sharp humor on camera. She was the first woman to produce a TV sitcom and the first woman to win an Emmy as a game show host.

During the '70s, White gained more recognition after playing Sue Ann Nivens on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." Her fame grew in the '80s with her famous role on "Golden Girls."

Jason Bateman had a varied career, from Teen Wolf to Bluth Boy. After starting on TV in the early-'80sLittle House on the PrairieBateman made his mark on "Valerie" on the series, becoming the DGA's youngest director for a few episodes, where he also acted.

Then, Bateman faded in the 90s, unable to shift from teen star status, including the box office failure ofTeen Wolf TooJason Bateman returned in the early 2000s with the Bluth era, appearing as the only sane member of the dysfunctional family on the critically-acclaimed series.Arrested DevelopmentThis role launched his career. Bateman later appeared in films likeJuno, Up in the AirandHorrible BossesBateman won a Golden Globe for the role in 2005. He received two Emmy nominations, in 2005 and 2013, after "Arrested Development" revived on Netflix.

Matthew McConaughey had prominent dramatic roles during the '90s, includingA Time To Kill, The Newton BoysandAmistadMcConaughey became a Hollywood heavyweight with these roles. During the 2000s, he moved to B-list status, gaining more fame for light, annoying romantic comedies likeHow To Lose a Guy In 10 Days, andThe Wedding Planner

Joaquin Phoenix is one of few actors who made a comeback in acting. He began as a child actor, but his early career stalled in 1993 after his older brother, River Phoenix, died from a drug overdose. Media frenzy over the death was intense, and Joaquin (credited as "Leaf Phoenix") left the public eye for several years.

At age 15, Joaquin changed his name from "Leaf" back to "Joaquin" and returned to acting. He got small supporting roles and hit the fame jackpot in 2000 as Commodus in Ridley Scott'sGladiator. He took on strange and tough material in the early 2000s, appearing in films likeQuills, Hotel Rwanda, M. Knight Shyamalan'sThe Village, and the Johnny Cash biopicWalk the Line

A member of the Hollywood "brat pack" in the '80s, Lowe appeared inThe Outsiders, Youngblood, andSt. Elmo's Fire,among other notable titles.

Rob Lowe's public life hit a major problem in 1988. He was videotaped the night before the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta, GA having sex with two women in a hotel room (one aged 16—which was Georgia's age of consent for Rob). The scandal worsened when a second tape leaked, showing Lowe and another man having sex with a young model in Paris.

John Travolta was a big-haired, disco-powered heartthrob in the '70s and '80s. He starred in the popular high school TV series "Welcome Back Kotter," as well asSaturday Night Fever, Stayin' Alive, Brian De Palma'sCarrie, and of course,The Boy In the Plastic Bubble. He also became a major pop star, singing seductive smooth songs into living rooms globally.

The son of renowned Canadian actor Donald Sutherland, Keifer premiered in Rob Reiner's classic coming-of-age filmStand By Mein 1986 and became one of Hollywood's most visible young performers. He appeared inDark City, Young Guns, the not-terrible American remake ofThe Vanishing, andTwin Peaks: Fire Walk With MeKiefer Sutherland's greatest role was as the evil head vampire with the sexy earring in "Lost Boys".Lost Boys.

Alec Baldwin is the oldest and arguably least doofy of the four Baldwin brothers.the four Baldwin brothersAlec Baldwin became famous in the '80s and early '90s as a suave leading man. His memorable acting includes starring roles in "The Hunt For Red October".The Hunt For Red October, The Shadow, and Glegarry Glen Ross.

After a bitter divorce from Kim Basinger in 2002 and a long custody fight, Alec Baldwin's career moved to supporting roles in the late '90s and early 00's.

Around the turn of the millennium, Natasha Lyonne, a pre-Deschanel quirky girl, appeared in many late-'90s teen films. These included the lesbian romance "But I'm a Cheerleader" and the hugely successful "American Pie" franchise, plus indie cult films like "Slums of Beverly Hills".But I'm a Cheerleaderto the outrageously successfulAmerican Piefranchise to indie cult classics likeSlums of Beverly Hills.

Mickey Rourke cultivated a tough but lovable loser image in the '80s with films likeRumblefishand BarflyRourke quickly earned a reputation for being difficult, erratic, and temperamental. In the early '90s, Rourke stopped acting, spent years boxing, and advocated for chihuahua rights.

Demi Moore was one of the most famous actresses of the 1980s and ’90s. She got her start in Brat Pack and Brat Pack-adjacent movies likeSt. Elmo's Fireand One Crazy Summer, she moved to bigger, more serious movies like "Ghost".Ghost, A Few Good Men, and Indecent Proposal.

She worked through the early '90s. In 1996, the box office failure of the widely disliked "Striptease" seemed to end her career. Demi Moore gave everything to "G.I. Jane".StripteaseStriptease seemed to spell the end for Moore. She gave everything toG.I. Janethe next year, but after that, she mostly got supporting roles and small parts in weak movies.

Then, in 2024, she regained fame with the Oscar-nominated horror film "The Substance".The Substance, for which Moore won a Golden Globe for best actress in a comedy and received an Academy Award nomination for bestactress.In her Golden Globe acceptance speech, Moore said she thought her career was over before "The Substance".The Substance.

Thirty years ago, a producer told her she was a popcorn actress. That time, she thought doing successful, money-making movies meant she couldn't be recognized. She bought in and believed that.

That eroded her over time, making her think a few years ago this was it. Maybe she was done; maybe she had done what she should have.

At a low point, she got a wild, bold, courageous script called "The Substance".The Substance, and the universe told her, 'You’re not done.'

Martin Lawrence first became popular as an improv and stand-up performer in the late '80s. He also had a solid film career, including an appearance in Spike Lee'sDo the Right Thingand theHouse Partyseries. He hosted "Def Comedy Jam" on HBO. Martin also had his own hit series, "Martin," during the second half of the '90s.

Lawrence struggled with violent and delusional issues. He faced arrests and hospital stays between 1995 and 1997. He also faced accusations of sexually harassing and assaulting his "Martin" co-star, Tisha Campbell-Martin, during the final season filming; no formal charges ever materialized.

Martin stopped airing for a few years. Then, he returned with many big hits, includingBig Momma's Houseand its sequels. Martin recently teamed up with Will Smith for sequels to their blockbusterBad Boysfranchise,Bad Boys for LifeandBad Boys: Ride or Die.

Chevy Chase was a well-known member of the old school "Saturday Night Live" cast. In the '80s and early '90s, he gained fame playing the self-absorbed and clueless Clark Griswold in theNational Lampoon's Vacationseries.

Chase acted self-aggrandizing and annoyed people. After the series faded, his options shrank. His career in the late '90s and early 2000s featured mostly minor roles in films like Nickelodeon'sSnow Dayand the Norm McDonald vehicleDirty Work.