10 Iconic Actors Who Damaged Their Legacies With Disappointing Final Films

To achieve true icon status in Hollywood, actors must consistently work to prove their abilities over years and decades, although this can also mean that some legacies end up better than others. While many artists are immediately associated with success and prestige, when looking at the final entries in some stars’ filmographies, certain films tarnish their incredible legacies. This could be due to an actor’s declining popularity in their later years or just strange creative decisions that led to the release of lackluster final films.

Some of the greatest actors of all time had an unhappy ending film that failed to live up to their best work. While many of these final films had their merit, they simply didn’t have the same level of gravitas or impact as the films that made them famous and for which they will primarily be remembered. Although some actors manage to stay on top until the end, most of the time, The last few years of an icon’s career had their fair share of clunkers and disappointing releases.

10

Orson Welles

The Transformers: The Movie (1986)

As director, co-writer and star of Citizen Kanefilm commonly described as the greatest film of all time, Orson Welles’ legacy is virtually unblemished. Welles not only shocked the world after unwittingly convincing people that Earth had been invaded by Martians following his radio production of The War of the Worldsbut even Welles’s perceived failures were praised as unrecognized masterpieces, such as his posthumous film The Other Side of the Windwhich was released 48 years late on Netflix.

However, Welles also had some surprising roles, such as his cameo in The dolls movie or his last film released while he was still alive, The Transformers: The Movie. This animated film received negative reviews upon release, but has since gained a reputation as a cult classic and was a surprisingly dark and emotional take on the lore of Transformers. Welles voiced Unicrona planet-sized villain capable of devouring worlds. About that Transformers the film wasn’t bad by any stretch of the imagination, it was a strange way for an icon of Welles’ stature to end his career.

9

Elizabeth Taylor

The Flintstones (1994)

When it comes to Hollywood icons, few names hold more power or esteem than Elizabeth Taylor. As a true screen legend, Taylor was a two-time Oscar winner whose relationship with her frequent co-star Richard Burton was almost as tantalizing as the films in which she starred. Cleopatra to Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf? Taylor’s eventful personal life and incredible acting talent made her one of the first modern celebrities and a favorite of the paparazzi. However, despite a meteoric rise to stardom, Taylor’s opportunities began to dwindle during the 1960sand in the 2000s, she chose to retire entirely.

Taylor’s last feature film was the family adaptation of the live-action comedy The Flintstonesin which she played Wilma’s mother, Pearl Slaghoople. Although The Flintstones was a hit with viewers and included an impressive cast with John Goodman as Fred Flintstone and Rick Moranis as Barney Rubble. Critics considered the film inferior to the original cartoon. This final failure was a sad footnote at the end of Taylor’s career, and although she appeared in a few more television roles, she was never in another film.

8

Ray Liotta

Cocaine Bear (2023)

Ray Liotta’s legacy will forever be linked to his extraordinary role as Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese’s gangster masterpiece. Good companions. However, Liotta’s career continued to be impressive in the following years, with surprising performances in everything from Hannibal to Marriage storyshowing the ability to excel in action, comedy, drama and everything in between. With an immediate screen presence and unparalleled charisma, Liotta was often the best thing in any film he was in and was never afraid to poke fun at himself, as when he played a fictionalized version of himself in Bee Movie.

Sadly, Liotta passed away in 2022 at the age of 67with several roles released posthumously. This included a leading role in the true crime miniseries Black Birdwhich acted as a steadfast showcase of his undeniable talents until the end. However, Liotta’s posthumous film roles also included the off-putting Charlie Day comedy. Fool’s paradise and Elizabeth Banks’ outrageous horror-comedy Cocaine bear. Although there’s no denying it Cocaine Bear it wasn’t much fun, it didn’t quite live up to the extraordinary legacy Liotta had left Good companions.

7

Joan Crawford

Trog (1970)

Joan Crawford was one of Depression-era Hollywood’s most popular stars who rose to fame with MGM during the 1930s, as her popularity rivaled even that of Greta Garbo. Rivalry was also the right word to describe Crawford, as she was infamously known for her dislike of fellow actress Bette Daviswhose animosity toward each other was powerfully dramatized in Ryan Murphy’s FX series Strife. With many ups and downs in her career, Crawford was the perfect choice to play former Hollywood movie star Blanche Hudson, tortured by her sister, played by Davis in What happened to Baby Jane? In 1962

While it was iconic roles like this that cemented Crawford’s legacy as a major star, even as she entered the latter part of her career, her final role certainly didn’t live up to her reputation as a Hollywood legend. Crawford’s last film was the sci-fi horror Trogwhere she played an anthropologist who discovers an Ice Age caveman called a troglodyte in the 20th century. With exaggerated B-movie energy, Trog became a cult favorite, but remained a disheartening end to Crawford’s career.

6

Gene Hackman

Welcome to Mooseport (2004)

As an actor well into his 90s, Gene Hackman remains one of Hollywood’s greatest living legends, even though he hasn’t been in films since 2004. Hackman began his career in the 1960s with roles in classics such as Bonnie and Clyde before working with film icon Francis Ford Coppola on his underrated mystery classic The conversation in 1974. From his funny version of Lex Luthor in Superman for an Oscar-winning performance in Unforgivable In the 1990s, the extent of modern cinema was told through Hackman’s impressive career.

However, Hackman’s latest film was a surprise as Welcome to Mooseport with Ray Ramono it seemed like a discouraging thing way to end such an esteemed career. This political satire saw Hackman play a former US president involved in a petty rivalry with a local plumber as they both ran for mayor in Mooseport, Maine. After an overwhelmingly negative response, Hackman never took another film role and instead focused on writing novels. Although Hackman briefly came out of retirement to write two Marine Corps documentaries, it appears that a lackluster comedy will remain his farewell feature film.

5

Pedro Vendedores

The diabolical plot of Dr. Fu Manchu (1980)

British comedy icon Peter Sellers got his start on the legendary radio series The fool’s show and gained worldwide fame as Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther series. His unique talents led him to stand out in Stanley Kubrick’s film lolitaand with multiple roles in the political satire classic Doctor Strange, Sellers really left his mark on cinema as his dark sense of humor and extraordinary range made him stand out as one of the leading comedians of the 20th century.

Although later roles, such as in Hal Ashby Being there, demonstrated that he never lost his unique spark, the final role of Seller’s life was somewhat disappointing. The diabolical plot of Dr. Fu Manchu it was Sellers’ last film and a total critical failure. However, a patched seventh Pink Panther the film was later released using deleted scenes and scenes from older films, which were equally criticized. These final releases failed to live up to Sellers’ status as a truly great comedy, but were merely a mere footnote in an extraordinary filmography.

4

Haroldo Ramis

Year One (2009)

Comedy legend Harold Ramis began in National Lamp productions, which gave way to incredible collaborations with stars like Bill Murray. As a member and co-author of GhostbustersRamis made his name in classic comedies of the 1980s, including Stripes. However, Ramis was equally talented behind the camera directing beloved comedies like Caddieshack, Groundhog Dayand Analyze this. With such an impressive resume, Ramis’ legacy was somewhat tarnished by his final film, Year Onea lackluster parody of Book of Genesis.

Ramis co-wrote, directed and acted in Year Onealthough the disappointing reception of this final film made it best forgotten altogether. With Jack Black and Michael Cera in the lead roles as an assortment of talented comedians playing biblical figures like Abraham, Cain, and Abel, the jokes just didn’t land and the film fell flat. While Ramis performed his last performances as Adam in Year Oneviewers should focus on Ramis’ heyday in the 1980s and 1990s.

3

Bela Lugosi

Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959)

Few names have become more intrinsically linked than Bela Lugosi and Count Dracula, as this horror film legend was first associated with the world’s most infamous vampire during the 1930s. Lugosi’s horror film career was impressive , as he co-starred with legends like Boris Karloff to great acclaim. However, this also meant Lugosi Was Typecast In Villain Roles for the rest of his career. After Lugosi developed a serious lower back injury, his career declined throughout the 1940s, and by the 1950s he was no longer gaining starring roles.

The story of Lugosi’s career emulated many Hollywood stars who were tormented by having a role that defined their entire career. However, Lugosi’s final years included a final act when he began collaborating with infamous director Ed Wood, a much-maligned filmmaker responsible for several films often considered among the worst of all time. This association meant that Lugosi’s film role was in Plan 9 from outer spacea campy, low-budget sci-fi about alien invasion and a true cult classic that perfectly represents the spirit of so-bad-it’s-good cinema.

2

Jack Nicholson

As You Know (2010)

Jack Nicholson has had one of the most impressive Hollywood careers of all time, as his unpredictable nature, undeniable charisma and incredible ability to walk the line between comedy and drama have made him a true cinema icon. From her Oscar-winning performance in One flew over the cuckoo’s nest even triumphs at the end of his career, like that of Martin Scorsese Those who leftNicholson has a filmography that few can match. As the most Oscar-nominated man in Oscar history, Nicholson’s dozens of nominations and three wins stand alone.

With such an esteemed legacy, it’s surprising that Nicholson didn’t opt ​​to go out with a bang, given that his last film was How do you know in 2010. This forgettable romantic comedy ensemble received a lukewarm response from audiences and critics and felt like a disappointing last gasp for Nicholson’s extraordinary film career. Despite numerous offers to return to the big screen, Nicholson has remained unofficially retired since How do you knowand at this stage, it seems unlikely that he will gift the world with one last film.

1

Sean Connery

Lord Billi (2012)

While Scottish icon Sean Connery’s legacy as the first man to play James Bond in a feature film has cemented his place in Hollywood history, there’s much more to his starring career than just that. From Connery’s acclaimed collaboration with director Sidney Lumet, his work with Alfred Hitchcock and Oscar-winning performances in The Untouchables, Connery really left his mark on the film industry. However, his later years were not as acclaimed and his last live-action film roles were in an adaptation of Alan Moore’s graphic novel The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen received overwhelmingly negative reviews.

After the failure of The League of Extraordinary GentlemenConnery announced his retirement from acting in 2006. Still, Connery returned for one last film in 2012, which was so mind-bogglingly terrible that it was hard to understand what he was thinking. Mr Billi was an animated adventure film starring Connery in the title role, as an elderly veterinarian who embarks on a quest to save a beaver. With pitiful animation, terrible CGI, and a dismal 0% score on Rotten Tomatoes, Mr Billi it was an unhappy end to a once incredible career.