Great celebrity comebacks are rare in a society dominated by short-term fame. It is only sometimes simple for actors and actresses to recover from professional setbacks. Yet, the world of Hollywood actors is filled with failure and overpowering egos, but what about stars who once had it all, fell out of favor, and then rose from the ashes to turn their previous tragedies into renewed successes? The following is a list of all-time top Hollywood actor comebacks. These superstars made huge comebacks even though the world did not believe they could do so. So, Let’s get started!
Greatest Hollywood Comebacks All The Time
Mickey Rourke
During the 1980s, Mickey Rourke was praised for his performances in ‘Barfly’ and ‘Angel Heart,’. He also directed Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Rumble Fish’ and ‘The Pope of Greenwich Village.’However, he then had a series of financial disappointments, and directors found him difficult to deal with, so Rourke stopped acting in the 1990s to pursue professional boxing.
Unfortunately, his experience in the ring resulted in serious facial reconstructive surgery. But he gradually restarted his acting career in the 2000s, playing in films like ‘Sin City’ and ‘Domino.’ In 2008, he made a comeback with Darren Aronofsky’s ‘The Wrestler,’ which won him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and a Golden Globe.
Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen DeGeneres began her career as a stand-up comedian before transitioning to acting. She rose to prominence as a result of her late-1990s comedy ‘Ellen.’ She and her character debuted a few years into the series, but traffic dropped. As a result, her career suffered. She’s comeback a few years later for the comedy ‘The Ellen Show,’ but it was canceled before the season ended.
Then, in 2003, the degree of success rocketed. DeGeneres was cast as Dory in Disney-Pixar’s ‘Finding Nemo’ and later established her talk show. Surprisingly, ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ has won 29 Emmys since it first started. She has become an icon, winning nine Teen Choice Awards and 20 People’s Choice Awards. Ellen DeGeneres has also hosted the Academy Awards, Grammys, and Primetime Emmys.
Natasha Lyonne
Natasha Lyonne appeared in multiple films as an adolescent actor in the 1990s, including ‘But I’m a Cheerleader,’ ‘Slums of Beverly Hills,’ and ‘American Pie,’. And her promising career stalled for several years. While she continued to perform, she was coping with a heroin addiction that had resulted in many life-threatening health complications. Lyonne hasn’t used drugs or alcohol since 2006, but her role in the highly regarded Netflix series “Orange Is the New Black” has rejuvenated her career. Her return led to roles in the critically acclaimed television shows “Russian Doll” and “Poker Face” directed by Rian Johnson.
Lily Gladstone
Lily Gladstone established her acting chops and rose to fame in Kelly Reichardt’s 2016 indie thriller ‘Certain Women,’ co-starring Kristen Stewart, Michelle Williams, and Laura Dern. But there wasn’t enough professional momentum to keep Gladstone from checking her options. And despite having a few cameo appearances in films and on television, the actor was seriously considering coming back to her work as a data analyst.
That was until August 2020, when Martin Scorsese requested a Zoom chat with Gladstone to discuss a starring part in his next film ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’. Naturally, the rest is history—Gladstone made a successful comeback to the industry and was nominated for an Academy Award in 2024 for her role in the critically praised movie.
Final Thoughts
In Hollywood, comebacks are tough to pull off, but these titans show that it is possible to overcome obstacles. Mickey Rourke, Ellen DeGeneres, Natasha Lyonne, and Lily Gladstone demonstrate how dedication, skill, and timing can transform career downturns into success stories. Their personal stories prove that, with passion and a little luck, even the most difficult barriers may lead to an incredible recovery.
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