10 Actors Who Destroyed Their Own Hollywood Careers – From Red Carpets to Cancel Culture

Hollywood can build you up, but it can tear you down even faster—especially if you're the one holding the match. While some stars fade with age or shift into other careers, others practically set fire to their own legacy. Whether it was arrogance, addiction, bad behavior, or full-on scandal, these actors had the world at their feet… and then they blew it. Here's a deep dive into 10 actors who wrecked their own careers, complete with the controversial, headline-making details.

1. Lindsay Lohan – The Party Girl Who Burned Out

Once dubbed the next Julia Roberts, Lindsay Lohan had everything: charisma, talent, and box office pull (Mean Girls, Freaky Friday). But a cocktail of DUIs, drug charges, courtroom drama, and endless paparazzi fodder derailed her career by her mid-20s.

She became infamous for showing up late—or not at all—on set, most notably during her Georgia Rule days, prompting public criticism from the studio. Directors stopped calling, and she disappeared into the reality-TV shadows. A Netflix comeback (Falling for Christmas) tried to revive her, but the magic never fully returned.

2. Armie Hammer – From Hollywood Heartthrob to Cannibal Scandal

At one point, Armie Hammer was poised to be the next A-lister. With standout performances in The Social Network and Call Me by Your Name, he was that guy. Then came the cannibalism kink texts, a flood of disturbing DMs, and allegations of emotional abuse, manipulation, and assault.

After the allegations broke, he was dropped from every major project, including Shotgun Wedding (recast with Josh Duhamel), and went from movie premieres to selling timeshares in the Cayman Islands. Literal. Career. Collapse.

3. Shia LaBeouf – From Transformers to Courtrooms

Shia LaBeouf had an electric energy on screen. From Disney Channel to Transformers, he was untouchable—until he wasn’t.

Over the years, he racked up multiple arrests, bizarre public behavior (remember the “I Am Not Famous Anymore”bag?), and ultimately, a damning lawsuit from FKA Twigs, accusing him of sexual battery and abuse. Directors like Olivia Wilde reportedly cut ties after the lawsuit surfaced, even though he originally landed the lead in Don’t Worry Darling.

While some fans still root for his redemption arc, the industry isn't forgetting anytime soon.

4. Charlie Sheen – Winning... Until He Lost Everything

Charlie Sheen was once the highest-paid actor on television thanks to Two and a Half Men. Then came the drugs, goddesses, tiger blood, and public meltdowns.

His erratic interviews in 2011 became meme-worthy—but behind the viral moments was a serious crash-and-burn. He was fired from CBS, sued the show's creator, and later revealed his HIV diagnosis, which he allegedly kept secret from sexual partners.

He tried a comeback with Anger Management, but the magic—and trust—was gone.

5. Katherine Heigl – Hollywood's Ice Queen?

Katherine Heigl didn’t have a scandal, but her downfall was death by reputation. After winning an Emmy for Grey’s Anatomy, she withdrew her name the following year, claiming the writing wasn’t good enough. Then she called Knocked Up “a little sexist,” angering Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen.

Whispers of being "difficult to work with" spread like wildfire. Offers dried up, and she went from blockbuster rom-coms to TV redemption attempts like Firefly Lane.

Hollywood doesn't forget shade—especially when you aim it at your own team.

6. Ezra Miller – The Flash That Imploded

Ezra Miller had it all: a franchise (The Flash), fashion credibility, and indie chops. But 2022–2023 was a chaotic PR nightmare.

From choking a fan in Iceland, to breaking into a house, to multiple arrests in Hawaii, to disturbing reports of cult-like behavior and grooming allegations—Miller became persona non grata in Hollywood.

Warner Bros. reluctantly released The Flash after massive delays and backlash, but Miller’s career is effectively on ice, pending legal resolution and public trust (which is close to zero).

7. Mel Gibson – From Oscar Winner to Outcast

The fall of Mel Gibson is one of Hollywood’s most infamous. After directing the Oscar-winning Braveheart, he became a legend. But a string of racist, anti-Semitic, sexist, and homophobic tirades—many caught on tape—destroyed his credibility.

His 2006 DUI arrest led to the infamous "Jews are responsible for all the wars" remark, followed by violent voicemails to his ex, complete with threats and slurs.

Gibson spent years blacklisted. Even after Hacksaw Ridge, Hollywood's embrace has been cautious at best.

8. Amanda Bynes – America's Sweetheart Gone Silent

Amanda Bynes was the queen of early 2000s teen comedy. Her comedic timing in She’s the Man and What a Girl Wantsmade her a rising star. But after announcing she was quitting acting in 2010, things spiraled.

She faced multiple DUI charges, bizarre social media rants, a stint in a psychiatric hold, and eventually, a conservatorship. Bynes has since opened up about mental health struggles, but her return to Hollywood remains uncertain.

Fans still hope for her healing, but her career may never return to where it was.

9. Brendan Fraser – Blackballed Before the Comeback

While Brendan Fraser has made a triumphant return (The Whale won him an Oscar), his years in exile were quietly brutal. In 2018, he revealed that he was sexually assaulted by a former Hollywood Foreign Press president—and after speaking out, he was allegedly blacklisted.

Fraser also suffered serious physical injuries from years of stunt work, and a messy divorce added to his disappearance from the spotlight.

He's the rare name on this list with a real redemption arc—but for a while, Hollywood did him dirty after he dared to speak the truth.

10. Kevin Spacey – The Career That Vanished Overnight

At one time, Kevin Spacey was untouchable. Two Oscars. House of Cards. But everything collapsed in 2017 when Anthony Rapp accused him of sexual misconduct—and more than 30 others followed suit.

Spacey bizarrely came out as gay in the same statement as his apology, angering the LGBTQ+ community. He was cut from projects, fired from House of Cards, and literally edited out of Ridley Scott’s All the Money in the World—with Christopher Plummer replacing him in post-production.

He’s tried releasing creepy YouTube monologues as Frank Underwood, but Hollywood isn't buying it.

Final Thoughts: Fame Is Fragile

This list is a brutal reminder that no matter how big you get, you're never immune from consequences—especially in the age of social media and receipts. Some of these actors might claw their way back. Others are done for good. But they all share one thing: they had the spotlight, and they shattered it themselves.

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