Most times, highly talented actors successfully manage to make a name for themselves in the industry and carve a memorable path for themselves in Hollywood, partaking in exciting projects that give them even more visibility. On the other hand, some others are not given the chance to flourish and grow to their full potential despite their undeniable gifts.
FromJustified’sTimothy OlyphanttoCobra Kai’sWilliam Zabka,Reddit users debate which lesser-known actors were the most promising and should’ve gotten the chance to get even bigger careers in the film industry.
10Timothy Olyphant
Having made his stage debut in 1995 as Tim Hapgood in the Off-Broadway play “The Monogamist” — which earned him the Theater World Award for his performance — the American actor also partook in HBO’s dramaDeadwood, slasher filmScream 2and 2007 action filmHitman.
When cinephiles were asked which actors should have been movie stars, ausermentioned that the actor alongsideWalton Goggins, saying that the two “had such charismatic turns on Justified that I can foresee them carrying films all on their own.” While Olyphant is fairly well-known as an actor, according to Redditors, he had the potential to ultimately be much bigger in the industry. “Absolutely magnetic” are wordsZenithRepairmanused to describe him.
9Elias Koteas
Some of the 62-year-old Canadian actorElias Koteas' most popular roles are the lead inThe Prophecyand Casey Jones in 1993’sTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles(anew film is coming out this year). He’s also starred inFallenandpopular action crimeChicago P.D.After leaving the show, the gifted actor has been busy with TV and film roles, including Charles Billingham in the 2021 seriesGuilty Party.
Reddit userfoozaliciousalways thought the actor “should have gotten bigger,” and many seem to agree. They also commented that they have “loved him in literally every role.” While Koteas has been cast in a few popular projects, Redditors feel that the actor wasn’t given the chance to reach his full career potential. " I’ve watched his career since the early days and kept waiting for him to take off,“ignoresubswrote.
8Billy Zane
As forBilly Zane, viewers may recognize him for his roles inBack to the FutureandPhillip Noyce’s movieDead Calm, as well asTwin Peaksand massiveJames CameronhitTitanic, which was based on real-life events. While the actor isn’t cast in big projects as much anymore, users on the platform believe he has the talents to become a “proper” Hollywood star.
On the platform,bfloblizzardcouldn’t help noting that they “read a good article a while back (can’t find it now) about how Billy Zane had all the makings of a huge star but never quite reached that top level.” They also added that the actor seems “at peace” with it, highlighting that Zane “seems like a good guy.”
7Josh Holloway
Best recognized for his part in the groundbreaking science fiction ABC seriesLost, American actor and producerJosh Hollowayhas also been in 2011’sMission Impossibleinstallment and appeared in Western dramaYellowstone, available for streaming on Peacock Premium.
Holloway also seems to be a popular answer to the question: “Who is a lesser-known actor that should’ve gotten a better career?“AloeMyChildrenwrote on the platform: “Josh Holloway aka Sawyer from Lost. Everybody loved that guy.” In a reply,BroomHill1882admits that they feel sorry that “nothing much has materialized.”
6Guy Pearce
Having found fame on the Australian soap operaNeighbours,GuyPearce,who was a 30-year-long career, has landed a few recognizable roles in movies likeL.A. ConfidentialandChristopher Nolan’s well-regardedMemento.While the actor has been around for a while, Redditors believe his career could’ve been more fruitful.
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According tosharrper, who expected Pearce to be “a household name and it just never quite happened,” the actor has had a “decent career,” even if not as big as the user would have thought. However,Super901argues that he is actually a superstar in Australia, withcatylanagreeing that the talented actor is “a household name” in their country.
5Bruce Campbell
Moviegoers may be familiar with actor, producer, writer and directorBruce Campbellfor his work in the popularSam Raimihorror franchiseEvil Dead, in which he payed Ash Williams. Campbell’s debut was in the short filmWithin the Woods, released in 1978.
Assd_gloktaputs it, “Bruce Campbell should have been an A-list action-comedy star, but it never came together.” While some users are saddened by the fact that the actor didn’t have a huge breakthrough, others actually let out a sigh of relief at the thought that it didn’t happen. “As a huge B-movie fan I’m almost glad Bruce didn’t quite break through. I think he would have been good in like a John Carpenter movie in the 80’s but I am grateful that we got movies like Maniac Cop instead,“mikeyfreshhcommented.
4Robert Forster
Although he was Oscar-nominated for his work inJackie Brown, the lateRobert Forster, who tragically passed away in 2019, isa highly mentioned actor on the platform. He also partook in theBreaking Baduniverse as the character Ed the “Disappearer.”
“An absolute all-timer. He was always so reliable,“BrendanCLittlewrote. In a reply,ilsdarrhad nothing but nice things to say about the actor, given that they had the “honor of working with him for about a year.” In their words, “he was an absolute gentleman. He was a gem of a human being.”
3Billy Crudup
Almost Famous' memorable Russell Hammond, who was inspired byEagles’Glenn Frey, is brought to life byBilly Crudup, who has alsopartaken in other exciting projectslikeWatchmenandToo Big to Fail. The actor’s new futuristic TV show,Hello Tomorrow!, is currently streaming on Apple TV+.
While Crudup has been around for a while now, users on the website surely believe he deserves even more recognition and praise for his work, as well as more exciting opportunities. “He’s absolutely magnetic in Almost Famous and great in everything else he’s been in,“TheBoyWonder13wrote.
2Logan Lerman
WithBullet Trainamong his most recent projects, the 31-year-old actor who has starred in the famousPercy Jacksonlive-action adaptation ofRick Riordan’s books of the same name, as well as the book-to-screen adaptation ofStephen Chbosky’sThe Perks of Being a Wallflower.
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Logan Lermanis hardly an unfamiliar face on the small and big screens. However, Redditors believe that the actor had the potential to be even more popular in the industry than he is now. “I honestly thought Logan Lerman would have been bigger than he got,“Thatoneasian9600admitted. “Sure, Percy Jackson happened, but I didn’t think he was terrible in the role. But I thought he was great in Stuck in Love, Fury, and especially The Perks of Being a Wallflower.”
1William Zabka
Best known for his role as Johnny Lawrence inThe Karate Kidand thespin-offCobra Kaiseries, American actorWilliam Zabkais also one of the many actors Reddit believes could’ve had reached a higher level career-wise.
On the platform,Jack-Cremationrevealed that what saddens them most is how typecast Zabka was after his role in the popular franchise. “I think Zabka unfortunately got type casted as the mean, blonde bully kid,” they explained. “He played kinda the same role as Johnny Lawrence in Back to School and then he broke Audrey’s heart in European Vacation.” In a reply,JLDcorbyadded that “seeing him in cobra Kai has solidified my thoughts that’s he’s always been very talented.”
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