Actors/actresses who made career-defining mistakes

[Unocal 76]

Sometimes, an actor/actress makes a career decision that they don't live down.

What are some you can recall?

To me, one name I think of is Lori Rom, the original choice for Phoebe Halliwell in 'Charmed' who actually shot the original pilot but left the series before the pilot first aired on TV and thus leading to Alyssa Milano getting the role.

I will alwas remember her as someone who passed up the opportunity of a lifetime when she decided not to do "Charmed."

Given what that did for Alyssa Milano's career, I think Lori's decision may have been one of the biggest blunders anyone could ever commit.

To me, she'll be a girl who threw away a chance at stardom.

[Cela]

Not that it mattered, but Sean Connery turning down the role of Gandalf because he didn't understand it. Would have been an excellent endgame legacy.

[ICBM]

Dana Dalany turned down the role of Carrie Bradshaw in Sex in the city. I wonder if she regrets that?

[The Sam]

Will Smith turned down the role of Neo in "The Matrix" to instead play Capt. James West in "Wild, Wild West".

[Cela]

Oct 8, 2011 4:44:32 GMT -5 The Sam said:

Will Smith turned down the role of Neo in "The Matrix" to instead play Capt. James West in "Wild, Wild West".

Truth be told, on paper that looks like a good decision.

[El Hijo del Havoc]

Molly Ringwald turned down the lead roles in Ghost and Pretty Woman

[celticjobber]

Oct 8, 2011 4:12:05 GMT -5 Unocal 76 said:

I will alwas remember her as someone who passed up the opportunity of a lifetime when she decided not to do "Charmed."

Given what that did for Alyssa Milano's career, I think Lori's decision may have been one of the biggest blunders anyone could ever commit.

To me, she'll be a girl who threw away a chance at stardom.

Not trying to be a dick, but what has Alyssa starred in since Charmed?

She was already pretty famous from her days as a child star on Who's The Boss, so I don't see where Charmed made her that much of a bigger star.

[worldsstrongestman]

Not really an actor but, Brian Dunkleman quitting American Idol after the first season. That was a pretty bad decision.

[The Ichi]

I heard once that Christopher Lee was the original pick to play Dr. Loomis in the Halloween movies. Not really a career-defining mistake since he was already a legend, but he did himself say he really regrets turning it down now.

[lovingway]

Oct 8, 2011 5:16:10 GMT -5 worldsstrongestman said:

Not really an actor but, Brian Dunkleman quitting American Idol after the first season. That was a pretty bad decision.

I thought he was fired cuz they felt they didn't need two announcers

[Deleted]

Oct 8, 2011 9:43:24 GMT -5 lovingway said:

Oct 8, 2011 5:16:10 GMT -5 worldsstrongestman said:

Not really an actor but, Brian Dunkleman quitting American Idol after the first season. That was a pretty bad decision.

I thought he was fired cuz they felt they didn't need two announcers

He quit on his own but there was speculation he would've been fired regardless.

[jrcz]

Oct 8, 2011 4:44:32 GMT -5 The Sam said:

Will Smith turned down the role of Neo in "The Matrix" to instead play Capt. James West in "Wild, Wild West".

Huh? Wild Wild West is better than Matrix

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Will Smith turning down the role of Neo in the Matrix has to be a big one.

[Zombie Mod]

i'd go with the most recent, megan fox insulting mr "big boom" bay costing herself her role in transformers 3 and pretty much blacklisting herself in holywood in public.

[The Ichi]

Oct 8, 2011 10:00:53 GMT -5 KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!! said:

Will Smith turning down the role of Neo in the Matrix has to be a big one.

Considering both the sequels and Smith's success afterwards, not really.

[Fiddleford H. McGucket]

Elizabeth Berkley- Tried to go from "Jessie Spano" to "Serious Actress" with Showgirls. She's basically been treading water in TV movies since then, No major films.

[agent817]

Oct 8, 2011 10:12:59 GMT -5 Fiddleford H. McGucket said:

Elizabeth Berkley- Tried to go from "Jessie Spano" to "Serious Actress" with Showgirls. She's basically been treading water in TV movies since then, No major films.

Well, she did play a small role in Any Given Sunday, though that was over 10 years ago.

[Confused Mark Wahlberg]

Begins and ends with Shelly Long.

Left Cheers to go live in a van down by the river.

[Krimzon]

Cuba Gooding Jr elected to star in Boat Trip. Safe to say that his career imploded after that. Seriously, looking at his Wikipedia page is staggering. Since Boat Trip, he's been nominated for a Razzie 3 times and has starred in ELEVEN Direct-to-DVD movies.

- Nick Nolte passing on Indiana Jones.
- Kate Winslet passed on the role of Eowyn in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Winslet also passed on Gwyneth Paltrow's Oscar-winning role in Shakespeare in Love.
- Richard Gere really regrets passing on "Wall Street." He also passed on "Die Hard." C'mon, Rich...

[agent817]

Oct 8, 2011 10:50:33 GMT -5 Krimzon said:

Cuba Gooding Jr elected to star in Boat Trip. Safe to say that his career imploded after that. Seriously, looking at his Wikipedia page is staggering. Since Boat Trip, he's been nominated for a Razzie 3 times and has starred in ELEVEN Direct-to-DVD movies.

- Nick Nolte passing on Indiana Jones.
- Kate Winslet passed on the role of Eowyn in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Winslet also passed on Gwyneth Paltrow's Oscar-winning role in Shakespeare in Love.
- Richard Gere really regrets passing on "Wall Street." He also passed on "Die Hard." C'mon, Rich...

Regarding Nick Nolte, was he supposed to be Indy? I can't imagine anybody else other than Harrison Ford playing that role.

Also, was Richard Gere supposed to play John McClane? I can't imagine anybody apart from Bruce Willis in that role.

As for Cuba Gooding Jr, how the mighty have fallen. He was Boyz N The Hood, Jerry Maguire, and then after doing Boat Trip, he totally fell from grace.