10 of Hollywood's Most Unpredictable Career Arcs

NPH also has very serious chops as a musical theatre performer.

 

Steve Martin is also a more-than-decent singer, and a pretty good author, as well.

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger went from a roided up muscle head to the biggest action star in the world to marrying a Kennedy to being governor of California.

 

Ronald Reagan: over-rated actor to over-rated President

 

And he turned his career around by playing a version of himself.

 

He won -- and deserved -- an Oscar for his first screenplay.

 

Yeah, but that was viewed as an anomaly. People either gave Damon most of the credit, or bought into conspiracy theories that someone else entirely (Kevin Smith or William Goldman) wrote it.

 

I'd throw in Will Smith.

Also submitted: Michael J. Fox. Started in TV, went to film and then successfully transitioned back to TV. Guess that's more of a circle than an arc.

 

Marisa Tomei - from sidekick on a sitcom (A Different World) to Oscar winner (My Cousin Vinny) to respected dramatic actress.

Robin Williams - standup/sitcom/oscar winner

Does Bruce Jenner count?

 

Some of you are easily surprised. Actors have to start some place. Most start in small roles and/or on TV shows.

 

One person on the original list that kind of puzzles me -- Cary Elwes. One big early role that he'll always be known for followed by pretty steady work over the years, and, yes, one pretty bad movie decision, but one he'll probably recover from. That's not too unusual.

My contribution - one on a smaller scale - is Drew Carey. When he was starting out in standup, and even when his sitcom debuted, I never could have imagined he'd be the guy to replace Bob Barker on The Price is Right.

 

I am surprised everytime I see Shia LaBeouf get another acting credit, especially in action movies.