These actors dropped incredible performances but failed to evolve. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at actors who maintained a busy career, but are mostly known for starring in one successful film or franchise.
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00:00Sean Connery created James Bond. How can I be better than Sean Connery playing James Bond?
00:05Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking at actors who maintained a busy career
00:10but are mostly known for starring in one successful film or franchise.
00:13Ew! Get off of me! Ugh, as if!
00:19Number 15. Jeff Cohen, The Goonies
00:22The L.A.-raised Jeff Cohen was destined to be a power player in movies. He had only been acting
00:27for two years when he broke out in the classic adventure comedy, The Goonies.
00:31See, you guys, you never listened to me! I said that there was gonna be trouble,
00:35but you didn't listen to me! You guys are crazy!
00:38Of all the iconic characters on this suburban treasure hunt,
00:41Chunk stands out as the true underdog. Cohen's hilarious self-deprecating humor
00:45and ultimate heroic turn stole the show, but the child actor found his true passion
00:50observing the business behind the scenes. In show business, the other end of the spectrum,
00:54who has the longest shelf life, is actually an entertainment lawyer, in my opinion.
01:01After a few minor TV performances, he retired to study law. Cohen went on to become a powerhouse
01:06entertainment attorney and dealmaker. He surely could have lined up a lucrative acting career for
01:10himself, but the success of and after The Goonies is a formidable enough legacy.
01:15Come on! Do it!
01:18Number 14, Tyron Turner, Menace to Society. Albert and Alan Hughes debuted with an
01:24uncompromising look at the tension and tragedy of South Central LA. Their lead actor deserves
01:29just as much credit for the weight of Menace to Society.
01:32Oh, so what, you like being in my way?
01:34What do you think? Hey, they call me Kane.
01:38Tyron Turner drew on his own troubled upbringing to portray K.D. Kane Lawson.
01:42With intelligence and a degraded innocence, the film became a staple of the hood drama genre,
01:48scoring Turner an Independent Spirit Award nomination.
01:50I've seen lots of people killed before, but I ain't never done it myself.
01:54I mean, I never had a reason to. But when they killed my cousin, I knew I was gonna kill them.
02:01It also launched the careers of Jada Pinkett and Lorenz Tate. Turner, however,
02:05would never again lead a high-profile picture.
02:07He still enjoys steady work as a character actor, who is diversified in filmmaking and hip-hop.
02:12My receptionist told me there was an intruder in my office.
02:15Oh, no look pass!
02:16Oh, did you see Lance? I just closed a big energy drink deal with him.
02:21What? Did he lebron you?
02:23Besides, Turner left an important mark on society with his unforgettable breakout.
02:27Number 13, Nikki Blonsky, Hairspray. The movie musical Hairspray
02:33First-time actress Nikki Blonsky was particularly a revelation as Tracy Turnblad,
02:37an unpopular but enthusiastic high-schooler fighting for tolerance.
02:41Blonsky's spectacular charm and musical talent won high honors,
02:45including the Critics' Choice Award for Best Actress.
02:47She also won the Academy Award for Best Actress.
02:50Blonsky was also nominated for Best Supporting Actress.
02:53She also won the Academy Award for Best Actress.
02:56Blonsky's spectacular charm and musical talent won high honors,
03:00including the Critics' Choice Award for Best Young Actress.
03:10She was set to be a superstar.
03:12However, after a scandalous encounter with model Bianca Golden in 2008,
03:17Blonsky's 15 minutes were up.
03:18She still enjoys solid work as an actress and public figure.
03:22Incidentally, she's also a licensed cosmetologist.
03:24Hairspray had been good to Blonsky in more ways than one,
03:27but she may never get a more iconic role than the first.
03:37Number 12, Peter Billingsley, A Christmas Story Series
03:51Peter Billingsley wasn't the first actor to play Ralphie Parker in
03:54adaptations of Gene Shepard's stories,
03:56but can you picture anyone else in the role, or Billingsley in another?
04:00A Christmas Story is a hilarious, heartwarming staple of holiday movies.
04:04The 12-year-old lead actor embodied its satire and sweetness,
04:08becoming an icon across four decades of childhood nostalgia.
04:12Unfortunately, Billingsley failed to land another hit as a child star.
04:15He grew up to be a successful filmmaker,
04:17with the occasional bit part on the screen.
04:19It wasn't until 2022 when he returned to the spotlight,
04:22playing the adult Ralphie in A Christmas Story Christmas.
04:42Billingsley clearly recognizes what his breakout role means for everybody,
04:48though it's not like he had much else going on.
04:50Number 11, Quentin Aron, The Blindside
04:53The true story of football underdog Michael Orr is undeniably cinematic.
04:57Unfortunately, an unsettling amount of The Blindside's initial hype
05:01was over Sandra Bullock's Oscar-winning portrayal of his guardian.
05:04As Orr himself, unknown actor Quentin Aron won the hearts of many
05:08with his natural presence and sensitive emotional depth.
05:11Any fool can have courage, but honor.
05:15That's the real reason you either do something or you don't.
05:18It's who you are and maybe who you want to be.
05:21Under most circumstances, an accoladed lead role in blockbuster Oscar bait
05:25would guarantee a great acting career,
05:27but The Blindside received backlash for its inaccuracies and racial dynamics,
05:31with Orr personally denouncing his stereotypical characterization.
05:35Tell me just one thing I should know about you.
05:39Just, just one.
05:43I don't like to be called Big Mike.
05:44Aron's more well-regarded portrayal was almost irrelevant.
05:48His own underdog story came down to steady work in low-profile movies,
05:51but he gave his all in a polarizing phenomenon.
05:54Michael, honey, I need for you to just listen to me, all right?
05:56Don't you dare lie to me.
06:02I'm not stupid.
06:03Michael!
06:04Number 10.
06:05Peter Ostrom, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
06:08In the pantheon of one-time actors,
06:10Peter Ostrom really did find a golden ticket.
06:13Cause I've got a golden ticket.
06:16I've got a golden ticket.
06:18I've got a golden chance to make my way.
06:22He was performing in a children's theater in Cleveland,
06:24when he was cast as the poor but rich-hearted Charlie Bucket
06:27in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
06:29The whimsical musical rose from a meager box office performance
06:33to become a pop culture classic.
06:42Young Ostrom was a star straight away,
06:44but opted to leave acting on a high note.
06:46He instead followed his true passion as a veterinarian
06:49who specialized in farm animals.
06:50He retired in 2023 as a sort of celebrity in his field.
06:54Am I famous? In my eyes, absolutely not.
06:56And I'm amused that everybody's here to talk to me.
07:00As the star of an everlasting family favorite,
07:03he just needed the one role to be universally beloved.
07:12I love you.
07:14Why? Why do you love me?
07:19Because I came alive when I met you.
07:21Nia Vardalos was struggling as a small-time TV actress
07:24when she took a chance on a career shift.
07:26She drew on her cultural heritage as writer
07:29and star of the one-woman show My Big Fat Greek Wedding,
07:32later expanded into a romantic comedy movie.
07:35The only other people we know are Greeks,
07:37because Greeks marry Greeks, to breed more Greeks,
07:40to be loud-breeding Greek eaters.
07:44Wow.
07:44The humble production was a huge hit with critics and audiences,
07:48earning Vardalos Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for her two roles.
07:52She continued Tula Portakalos' family-sized love story in two sequels
07:56and a short-lived TV show on CBS.
07:58Outside of the franchise, though, Vardalos is stuck to smaller projects.
08:02Hey, My Big Fat Greek Wedding is a big enough sensation
08:05for rom-com fans and the Greek-American community.
08:14How am I supposed to know what's going on?
08:17It's all great to me.
08:21Cameron Crowe's experiences as a teenage rock journalist
08:24inspired his road dramedy masterpiece Almost Famous.
08:28Of all the actors who could have played his surrogate character,
08:30the role of William Miller went to 16-year-old Patrick Fugit.
08:34I can give you 35 bucks.
08:36Give me a thousand words on Black Saturday.
08:38An assignment?
08:40Yeah. Yeah.
08:42His bashful charm and emotional maturity carried the coming of age
08:46against the egos of 70s rockers.
08:48Despite commercial disappointment, Almost Famous won a dedicated following.
08:52They sadly did not follow Fugit,
08:54who nonetheless stood out in a variety of projects.
08:57Please be professional.
08:59It's not my fault.
09:01I just want to play music.
09:02He's had supporting roles in Cirque du Freak,
09:05Gone Girl, and First Man,
09:07and helmed Cinemax's acclaimed horror drama Outcast.
09:10Fugit may be famous for rarely getting to be the headliner,
09:13he still has his fans, as well as one wonder of a hit.
09:16Rock and roll?
09:18Rock.
09:19And roll.
09:21It's all...
09:22I know. I know.
09:24It's all happening.
09:25Number 7.
09:26Linda Blair, The Exorcist.
09:28Linda Blair peaked early as a legendary scream queen.
09:31At 14 years old, she played the demonically-possessed Rega McNeil
09:35with a mix of terrified innocence and terrifying evil.
09:43All right, let's see what you've got.
09:45Oh, my God!
09:46Keep away!
09:47The sour is mine!
09:49The Exorcist was a shocking success, which revolutionized horror cinema.
09:52With an Oscar nod and a Golden Globe win,
09:55Blair was expected to be a big name at a young age.
09:57If I ask him to tell me, will you let him answer?
10:02No.
10:04Why not?
10:06I'm afraid.
10:07She did grow into a cult darling with the camp classic Roller Boogie,
10:10but theatrical bombs, TV roles, and focus on animal rights activism
10:14didn't do much for her stardom.
10:16The 1977 scandals of A Drug Charge and Exorcist II, The Heretic,
10:20nearly negated her breakout role.
10:22Thankfully, the original The Exorcist remains hailed as a masterpiece,
10:26thanks in part to the still-prolific Blair.
10:28How long are you planning to stay in Reagan?
10:31Until she rots and lies stinking in the earth.
10:33No. 6.
10:34Alex Winter.
10:35Bill and Ted's excellent adventure is one of the most bodacious buddy comedies in history.
10:40Ready, Ted?
10:41Ready, Bill?
10:43Let's go back into history.
10:46An animated TV show and the sequel, Bogus Journey, are also cult staples.
10:50The time travel fantasies are carried by the chemistry
10:53between breakout actors Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter.
10:56But while Reeves became a huge movie star, Winter thrived offscreen.
11:04He's a versatile director, best known for documentaries like Downloaded and Zappa.
11:09He also continues to work steadily in front of the camera.
11:12Still, Winter didn't draw much of an audience until he and Reeves reunited
11:16for 2020's Bill and Ted Face the Music.
11:20Winter is by no means a one-hit wonder as a filmmaker,
11:33and as an actor, he attained immortality with one sweet series.
11:37No. 5.
11:38Jay Davidson.
11:39The Crying Game.
11:40Of all the complicated themes in the classic IRA drama The Crying Game,
11:44one has drawn particular debate.
11:46Still, no one denies the incredible performance of debutante actor Jay Davidson.
11:58The Dill character was a groundbreaking love interest who represented the strife of trans
12:03women and the nuances of sexuality.
12:05Yet, this moving love story was long the subject of transphobic jokes
12:09and continues to be scrutinized for its representation with a cisgender actor.
12:16Davidson was nonetheless adorned with praise and accolades,
12:20but overwhelmed by the pressures of fame.
12:22He thus retired following a small appearance in 1994's Stargate.
12:26Davidson made a great living as a model and stylist,
12:29and will always be remembered for his powerful, important foray into acting.
12:33No. 4.
12:34Roddy Piper.
12:36They Live.
12:46Rowdy Roddy Piper technically landed many hits on camera.
12:50The pro-wrestling legend dominated the ring,
12:52but only really dominated moviegoers with John Carpenter's They Live.
12:56The genre-bending satire follows a nameless drifter
12:59who discovers that American consumerism is part of an alien invasion.
13:03Piper's stunt casting was natural to Carpenter, who admired the wrestler's natural grit.
13:07I'm trying to save you and your family's life.
13:15His quiet expressiveness through the first half of the movie is indeed moving.
13:20Of course, he kills the second half's awesome action and one-liners.
13:23I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass.
13:31And I'm all out of bubblegum.
13:33This helped to make They Live a cult classic.
13:36Piper continued a prolific acting career,
13:38but usually in supporting roles and low-profile genre fare.
13:41Nonetheless, one of wrestling's most beloved heels is equally recognizable
13:45as a hero against alien and corporate overlords.
13:49No. 3.
13:50Alicia Silverstone.
13:51Clueless.
13:52Alicia Silverstone was poised to be a sensation even before her breakout film.
13:56She appeared in three Aerosmith music videos
13:59and won an MTV Movie Award for the moderately successful The Crush.
14:03Then, she became a teen idol as the star of the glamorous rom-com Clueless.
14:08If the government could just get to the kitchen,
14:10rearrange some things, we could certainly party with the Hadeans.
14:14And in conclusion, may I please remind you that it does not say RSVP on the Statue of Liberty.
14:20Silverstone's iconic portrayal of Cher Horowitz
14:23landed her a high-profile deal with Columbia TriStar and her own production company.
14:27Unfortunately, her next big role will be Batgirl in 1997's Batman & Robin.
14:32Using feminine wiles to get what you want? Trading on your looks?
14:36Read a book, sister. That passive-aggressive number went out long ago.
14:40Chicks like you give women a bad name.
14:42The movie was an infamous critical and box office disaster,
14:45earning Silverstone a Golden Raspberry Award.
14:48She would never again star in a blockbuster.
14:50Silverstone is still busy and beloved for Clueless,
14:53but no less famous for representing the risks in overnight stardom.
14:56You're a virgin who can't drive.
15:03Oh, that was way harsh, Ty.
15:05Number 2. Paul Hogan, Crocodile Dundee Trilogy
15:09He wasn't happy with the grip he had on me,
15:10so he let go to get a better one and I talked him out of it.
15:14Tall.
15:17Paul Hogan's comedy career was strong enough in Australia
15:19to spawn a long-running TV variety show.
15:22His subsequent acting and screenwriting breakout made him a national treasure,
15:26whether his countrymen liked it or not.
15:27Though Crocodile Dundee has been criticized for popularizing Australian stereotypes,
15:33and Outback Adventure's exploits in New York were a global pop culture phenomenon.
15:38Well, what do you think?
15:41Oh, it's a bit rough, but I'll manage.
15:42Hogan won a Golden Globe and reprised Crocodile Dundee in two sequels,
15:46with more commercial success than critical.
15:48He didn't even have that with his handful of other projects through the years.
15:51Among them was the 2020 meta-comedy The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee,
15:56which basically admits that Hogan is a one-hit wonder.
15:58And maybe afterwards we can take a selfie and remind the world how much we love you.
16:03Still, how many actors can claim a permanent culture icon?
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16:23Number 1. George Lazenby on Her Majesty's Secret Service
16:29MI6 agent James Bond has propelled the already established careers of many actors.
16:33The second to play him on the big screen wasn't so fortunate.
16:36Australian model George Lazenby had never acted before replacing Sean Connery for the
16:41sixth 007 movie. On Her Majesty's Secret Service was naturally a box office smash,
16:46despite mixed reviews that were particularly split on the lead actor.
16:49Well, Tracy, next time play it safe and stand on five.
16:52People want to stay alive, play it safe.
16:54At least stay alive, at least for tonight.
16:59Lazenby became the only Bond to decline sequels in favor of other opportunities.
17:03He wound up starring in several B-movies before resigning to supporting roles
17:07in minor Hollywood fare. When Lazenby formally retired in 2024, he had not acted in three years,
17:13but he'll forever be synonymous with his would-be big break,
17:16now considered a highlight of the 007 saga.
17:19And after you've done what I teach you, you forget it. Forever. Forever. Forever.
17:29What are your favorite one-hit performances? Do these and other actors have other movies
17:33worth hyping up? Give your take in the comments.
17:35I really didn't know whether I was good or not. I was just doing the best I could.
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