Career Killers: 13 Iconic Roles That Doomed Their Actors

Career Killers: 13 Iconic Roles That Doomed Their Actors

Hollywood can be a cruel place. One day you’re on top of the world, landing the role of a lifetime, and the next day that same role has turned into an iron cage that you can’t escape. Audiences may adore a character so much that they refuse to accept the actor as anyone else—or they might despise the performance so strongly that it tarnishes the actor’s name for years.

1. Mark Hamill – Luke Skywalker (Star Wars)

Becoming Luke Skywalker should have been the ultimate dream role, and in many ways it was. Hamill became a household name and played one of the most beloved heroes in cinema history.

The problem? Hollywood never allowed him to be anything but Luke. Every time he tried to branch out into other roles, producers and audiences alike couldn’t shake the Jedi image.

While Hamill eventually found great success as a voice actor—most notably as the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series—his live-action career stalled for decades. Sometimes being the face of an entire generation’s childhood comes at the cost of being taken seriously as anything else.

2. Macaulay Culkin – Kevin McCallister (Home Alone)

Audiences instantly fell in love with Culkin’s mischievous charm in Home Alone. The film turned him into one of the biggest child stars in history almost overnight.

But that level of fame at such a young age proved impossible to escape. Culkin was pigeonholed as the precocious kid from Christmas comedies, and attempts to transition into teen and adult roles fell flat. Behind the scenes, family drama and the pressures of stardom didn’t help.

By the time he tried to reinvent himself, Hollywood had largely moved on. Culkin has since carved out a quirky niche for himself, but he’ll always be Kevin first, everything else second.

3. Carrie-Anne Moss – Trinity (The Matrix)

When The Matrix hit theaters in 1999, Moss instantly became an action icon. Trinity’s black leather suit, martial arts moves, and icy stare are still unforgettable.

Unfortunately, the industry decided that was all she could be. Moss found herself stuck in a cycle of similar sci-fi or action-oriented roles, never quite breaking through into the mainstream again. While she continued to work steadily, she never matched the level of stardom she achieved in The Matrix.

Her situation shows that even a groundbreaking performance can box an actor in so tightly that Hollywood refuses to see their full range.

4. Jim Caviezel – Jesus Christ (The Passion of the Christ)

Portraying Jesus in Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ seemed like a role that would elevate Caviezel to A-list status. The film was a global phenomenon, earning hundreds of millions of dollars and sparking countless conversations.

Instead of launching him into leading-man stardom, the role made him almost untouchable. Hollywood struggled to see Caviezel as anything other than the Son of God, and he found himself frozen out of major projects. Some even claimed the film’s controversy damaged his reputation.

Though he’s continued acting, he never reached the heights many expected. Sometimes playing the most sacred figure in history leaves no room to play anyone else.

5. Linda Blair – Regan (The Exorcist)

Few performances in horror history are as iconic—or as haunting—as Blair’s turn as the possessed Regan in The Exorcist. The role earned her an Oscar nomination at just 14 years old.

But the success became a double-edged sword. Blair was so linked to her shocking role that audiences couldn’t accept her in more “normal” parts. Hollywood continued casting her in horror, typecasting her as the “possessed girl” rather than giving her opportunities to grow.

Though she later embraced her horror legacy, Blair’s mainstream career never flourished. Being too good at your job, especially when it involves pea soup and head-spinning, can backfire spectacularly.

6. Christopher Reeve – Superman

As soon as Reeve put on the cape in 1978’s Superman, he became the definitive version of the character for generations. His performance was so beloved that audiences could barely imagine anyone else playing the role.

Unfortunately, that admiration came at a cost. Reeve struggled to find work outside of Superman, as casting directors couldn’t see past the Man of Steel. Even when he delivered strong performances in other films, the shadow of Superman loomed too large.

His story is bittersweet: he gave the world a perfect Superman, but it kept him from ever being seen as just Christopher Reeve, the actor.

7. Hayden Christensen – Anakin Skywalker (Star Wars Prequels)

The role of Anakin Skywalker should have made Christensen an international superstar. Instead, it nearly destroyed his career.

Fans and critics harshly attacked his performances in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. Whether it was the dialogue, direction, or his acting, he became a lightning rod for criticism. For years, he struggled to land meaningful roles as the backlash lingered.

Only recently, with Obi-Wan Kenobi and a reevaluation of the prequels, has Christensen begun to repair his career. Time can be kind, but back in the early 2000s, this role looked like a career-ending curse.

8. Anthony Perkins – Norman Bates (Psycho)

Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho changed horror forever, and Perkins’ chilling performance as Norman Bates became legendary. Unfortunately, it also trapped him.

Perkins was so convincing as the disturbed motel owner that Hollywood stopped offering him varied roles. For decades, he was cast in similar creepy, disturbed characters. His versatility was ignored, and he became forever associated with Norman.

Though Perkins delivered one of the greatest performances in horror, it boxed him in so severely that he spent the rest of his career unable to escape its shadow. A masterpiece for audiences, but a life sentence for the actor.

9. Alicia Silverstone – Batgirl (Batman & Robin)

In the mid-1990s, Silverstone was Hollywood’s “it girl” thanks to her breakout role in Clueless. But everything changed when she donned the cape as Batgirl in the disastrous Batman & Robin.

The film was mocked relentlessly, and Silverstone bore the brunt of the criticism. She was body-shamed by the press, blamed for the film’s failure, and her promising career suddenly cooled off. Hollywood quickly moved on to the next starlet, leaving her sidelined.

Although she’s made a comeback in recent years, the Batgirl role remains a turning point—a reminder of how one blockbuster flop can derail even the brightest careers.

10. George Reeves – Superman (Adventures of Superman TV Show)

Long before Christopher Reeve, there was George Reeves. His portrayal of Superman in the 1950s TV series made him a household name.

But that fame came at a steep price. Audiences couldn’t separate him from the role, and producers wouldn’t cast him in anything else. Despite his talent, Reeves found himself typecast as the Man of Steel. His frustration over being boxed in reportedly contributed to his struggles off-screen.

Reeves’ story is a tragic reminder that being beloved as one character doesn’t always translate to a lasting career. Sometimes the cape weighs heavier than the actor wearing it.

11. Halle Berry – Catwoman

Winning an Oscar for Monster’s Ball should have set Berry up for a golden career. Instead, Catwoman nearly destroyed it.

The 2004 film was a critical and commercial disaster, and Berry’s performance became a pop-culture punchline. She even accepted her Razzie Award in person, poking fun at herself, but the damage was done. Hollywood stopped giving her the kind of prestigious opportunities she once had.

Although she remains a beloved figure and has had successes since, Catwoman cast a long shadow over her career. Sometimes one bad role can outweigh even the greatest achievements.

12. Sean Connery – Allan Quatermain (The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen)

Connery was already a legend thanks to James Bond, but his final role turned out to be a disaster. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen was panned by critics and left audiences confused.

The experience was so miserable that Connery walked away from acting entirely. What should have been a late-career adventure instead became the film that ended it all. Connery later admitted he didn’t enjoy the process and didn’t want to return to Hollywood again.

It’s a sad ending for one of cinema’s most iconic actors, all thanks to one poorly executed movie.

13. Brandon Routh – Superman (Superman Returns)

Like Christopher Reeve before him, Routh became typecast almost instantly after playing Superman. Superman Returns wasn’t the box-office hit Warner Bros. hoped for, and Routh’s career stalled.

Instead of opening doors, the role closed them. Routh was overshadowed by comparisons to Reeve, and Hollywood quickly moved on to the next reboot. For years, he struggled to find consistent work.

Eventually, he found redemption on TV, even reprising Superman in the Arrowverse. Still, the big-screen Superman gig that was supposed to launch him into superstardom instead nearly ended his career before it started.