10 great performances by actors who came out of retirement for another role

For a wide variety of reasons, many beloved actors eventually retire from Hollywood and shift their focus to something else. However, not every actor can stay away forever. Sometimes a role is so compelling that it's enough to bring an actor out of retirement. for one last great performance. These returns to the big screen can be incredibly exciting for audiences, especially fans who have spent years hoping to see their favorite star back in theaters.

It's also important to note that some of these performances didn't end up being the “last hurrahs” they were expected to be.. Sometimes a single role is enough to reignite an actor's passion for their craft, leading them to begin a new era in their career. Others, of course, just wanted to perform one last time before heading back into retirement. Whether they decided to continue their career or step away from acting once again, some great performances marked the triumphant return of acclaimed actors to the big screen after years.

10

Joe Pesci as Russell Bufalino

The Irishman (2019)

In the 80s and 90s, Joe Pesci made frequent appearances on the big screen, in everything from family films like Alone at home for dramatic films like Raging bull and Casino. He even won an Oscar for his role in Martin Scorsese's gangster film, Good companions. In the late 90s, however, Pesci announced that he would retire to focus on music.

From time to time, however, the acclaimed actor continued to make appearances in important films. Easily Pesci's most prominent return came in the 2019 film, The Irish.

The Irish It marked the fourth collaboration between Pesci, Scorsese and Robert De Niro, who also starred in the film. Based on a true story, the film follows a truck driver turned hitman who becomes increasingly involved in the life of a crime family before being introduced to notorious union leader, Jimmy Hoffa. Pesci's performance as Russell Bufalino, the intense leader of the crime family, was highly acclaimed, even earning him another Oscar nomination. His powerful presence helped establish The Irish as one of the best films of the year.

9

Shelley Duvall as Mom

The Forest Hills (2023)

Starting in the early 1970s, Shelley Duvall has had a long career that has involved numerous films in a wide variety of genres. Although she had already received several major awards (including the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival), Duvall's real rise to prominence came in 1980, when she starred in both The Shining and Popeye. In 2002, for personal reasons, she decided to stop acting. Duvall did not appear in a single film for twenty years; that is, until she made her triumphant return as Mom in The forest hills.

The forest hills It marked not only Duvall's return to acting, but also to the genre she was best known for: horror. The disturbing film tells the story of a hiker who begins having disturbing visions after suffering a head injury. Many of these unnerving visions feature his mother, played by Duvall. Although the film itself received mixed reviews, audiences were delighted to witness Duvall's return to acting after so many years away. The forest hills proved to be the acclaimed actress' last feature film, unfortunately passing away at the end of that year.

8

Ke Huy Quan as Waymond Wang

Everything Everywhere at Once (2021)

During the 80s, Ke Huy Quan became a prominent child star, playing major roles in major films such as Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and The Goonies. Unfortunately, his recognition gradually faded, leading Quan to resort exclusively to non-acting jobs for nearly twenty years. Fortunately, Quan never gave up on his dreams and began an inspiring career revival after his appearance in the 2022 film A24, Everything everywhere at the same timein which he played Waymond, the lovable and kind-hearted husband of the film's protagonist.

For his role in Everything everywhere at the same timeQuan had to play a very complex role. Instead of playing one simple character, he had to play several different versions of Waymond from various universes, some of which had drastically different personalities. To make things even more difficult, Quan also had to learn several kung-fu techniques for the film's fight scenes. Quan managed to balance all of these elements impressively, winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and helping propel the film toward a Best Picture win.

7

Brendan Fraser as Charlie

The Whale (2022)

Brendan Fraser may not have officially retired from acting, but his career in the film industry has seen a clear decline from its previous prominence. Fraser rose to stardom in the 1990s with light-hearted comedy/adventure films like Jorge da Selva and The mummy.

His career slowed down in the 2000s, leading him to shift to television roles.. After several years without a major film, Fraser returned to cinema in the 2020s, mainly with the drama A24 The whale.

Although some aspects of the film left audiences divided, the actors' performances received consistent and overwhelming praise. Fraser even won the Oscar for Best Actor, paving the way for a bright future in the world of cinema for the actor. Since the launch of The whaleFraser has already secured roles in several major films, including Scorsese's 2023 feature film, Flower Moon Assassins.

6

Daniel Day-Lewis as Bill the Butcher

Gangs of New York (2002)

Daniel Day-Lewis is undoubtedly one of the most acclaimed actors of all time. However, his acting career was almost cut in half in the late 90s/early 2000s when he retired and became a shoemaker. It wasn't until New York gangs I discovered that he was finally convinced to return to performing. Directed by Martin Scorsese, New York gangs captures the tense rivalry between various groups in 1860s New York, which soon erupted into violence.

In the film, Day-Lewis plays William Cutting, better known as Bill the Butcher, leader of a group known as the Native American Confederacy. Day-Lewis received widespread praise for his portrayal of the character, even earning him his third Oscar nomination. After the widespread success of New York GangsDay-Lewis continued his acting career, appearing in several other major films, winning two more Oscars before retiring again.

5

Jane Fonda as Viola Fields

Monster Father-in-Law (2005)

Throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s, Jane Fonda had an illustrious career, appearing in films covering virtually every genre imaginable and receiving several major awards, including two Oscars among seven total nominations. After his work on the 1990 drama Stanley and Irishowever, Fonda announced that she would retire from film acting. She remained true to that decision for fifteen years, until 2005, when she returned to the romantic comedy, Monster-in-law.

In the film, Fonda takes on the role of Viola Fields a woman who begins deliberately trying to sabotage her son's impending wedding by being the worst future mother-in-law imaginable to her son's fiancé. Monster-in-law wasn't very successful as a whole, but that didn't stop Fonda from displaying all of her greatest abilities and still managing to receive consistent praise for her performance. Regardless of the film's lack of success, Fonda decided to continue her return to acting, appearing in numerous films, TV series, and Broadway shows in the years that followed.

4

Emma Watson as Sam Button

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

English actress Emma Watson rocketed to stardom thanks to her portrayal of Hermione Granger in all eight Harry Potter films. Halfway through the franchise, however, Watson revealed that he intended to take a break from acting when the series came to an end. This decision was short-lived, however, as Watson returned to the big screen with a major role in The perks of Being a Wallflower right after the final Harry Potter film was released.

The perks of Being a Wallflower features a touching coming-of-age story that follows a high school student named Charlie who struggles to navigate the intricacies of his new school while dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. Watson appears in the film as Sam, a kind colleague who becomes close to Charlie. Watson received much praise for her performance, especially for being able to believably portray a character with a personality so different from the role she played so many years before.

3

James Cagney as Commissioner Rhinelander Waldo

Ragtime (1981)

When it comes to classic Hollywood, few names are more recognizable than James Cagney. Cagney has had a wide-ranging career dating back to the 1930s, starring in several major films over several decades. Eventually, in 1961, Cagney decided to retire from acting and did not appear on screen for another twenty years. That changed in 1981, when the acclaimed actor returned for one last role. The role was in the 1981 drama film Ragtimea historical film that combines truth and fiction to paint a broad picture of the United States.

Although Ragtime had a huge cast, Cagney received prominence as Police Commissioner Rhinelander Waldo. Even in a film with multiple Oscar-nominated performances, Cagney managed to stand out, continuing to dominate the screen with his imposing presence even after twenty years away. Ragtime It proved to be Cagney's last film performance, with the beloved actor tragically passing away in 1986 after a career that spanned fifty years.

2

Phoebe Cates as Sophia Gold

The Birthday Party (2001)

Phoebe Cates quickly rose to prominence during the 1980s thanks to her performances in comedy films such as Fast times at Ridgemont High and Gremlins. Despite her popularity, Cates decided to leave acting in 1994, after the birth of her second child with her husband, fellow actor Kevin Kline. Possibly, seven years after his previous performance in Princess CarabooCates returned for one last film, appearing alongside her husband in The birthday party.

The birthday party is a 2001 comedy/drama about a very uptight Hollywood couple trying to celebrate their sixth wedding anniversary with friends. Cates and Kline appear as Sophia and Cal Gold, a couple among the guests at the chaotic celebration. Thanks to her natural chemistry with her husband and the rest of her co-stars, Cates was able to deliver an impressive performance, showing no signs of losing his skills even after so many years away. Ultimately, Cates returned to retirement after the release of The birthday party.

1

Clint Eastwood as Gus Lobel

Problems with the Curve (2012)

With a career that began seventy years ago, Clint Eastwood is a true Hollywood icon, both as an actor and as a director. The four-time Oscar winner has directed and/or starred in countless films over the years, including numerous major commercial and critical successes. In the 2000s, it began to seem like the acting part of Eastwood's career was over, as he began to focus his efforts more heavily on directing. That changed in 2012, however, with Eastwood returning in front of the camera for the sports drama, Problems with the curve.

Problems with the curve may have performed underwhelmingly at the box office, but fans were still delighted to witness Eastwood's return to the big screen. The film starred Eastwood as Gus Lobel, an aging baseball scout who is accompanied by his daughter as he travels in search of a new prospect for the Atlanta Braves. Eastwood was praised for his charismatic performance and undeniable chemistry with Amy Adams, who co-starred as his on-screen daughter. Although his focus has remained on directing, Eastwood has appeared in several films since the release of Problems with the curve.