Sometimes actors and actresses leave iconic roles, either due to disagreements, ambition, or personal reasons, only to see their careers dwindle while those roles become legendary. Here are some notable instances where leaving proved to be a career misstep.
1. Terrence Howard (Iron Man) Terrence Howard played James Rhodes in the first Iron Man movie, but his demands for a higher salary—rumored to exceed what Robert Downey Jr. was making—led to his departure. He was replaced by Don Cheadle, who went on to play War Machine throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Meanwhile, Howard’s career never reached the same heights, despite the actor’s efforts to remain in the public eye with unconventional scientific claims.
2. Sean Connery (The Lord of the Rings) The legendary Sean Connery passed on the role of Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Offered $30 million plus a substantial percentage of the films’ profits, which could have amounted to $450 million, Connery reportedly didn’t understand the script. Ironically, he took a chance on The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, a movie he disliked so much it led to his retirement. Meanwhile, Ian McKellen’s portrayal of Gandalf became iconic.
3. Katie Holmes (Batman Franchise) Katie Holmes played Rachel Dawes in Batman Begins but left before The Dark Knight, opting to star in Mad Money. Her departure was widely seen as a mistake, especially since The Dark Knight became one of the highest-grossing and most critically acclaimed superhero films of all time. Maggie Gyllenhaal replaced her, and Holmes’ career struggled to recover.
4. Stuart Townsend (The Lord of the Rings) Stuart Townsend was originally cast as Aragorn but was replaced just before filming began because he was reportedly difficult to work with, refusing to rehearse fight scenes or horse-riding choreography. Viggo Mortensen stepped into the role and made it unforgettable, while Townsend’s career never quite found the same opportunity again.
5. Brian Dunkleman (American Idol) Brian Dunkleman co-hosted the first season of American Idol alongside Ryan Seacrest. He left, believing that he could find success elsewhere, but American Idol became a cultural phenomenon with Seacrest at the helm. Dunkleman later admitted that his decision led to struggles, even feeling suicidal at one point.
6. Ja Rule (Fast & Furious) Ja Rule had a minor but memorable role in the first Fast & Furious film. He was offered a significant part in the sequel but turned it down, reportedly over money disputes. Ludacris took his place and became a major character in the franchise. Ja Rule never reached the same level of cinematic or musical fame afterward.
7. Crystal Reed (Teen Wolf) Crystal Reed left Teen Wolf to pursue other acting opportunities, feeling that playing a teenager in her late twenties was inappropriate. However, her career failed to take off outside the series, and she eventually returned for the Teen Wolf movie a decade later.
8. Katherine Heigl (Grey’s Anatomy) Katherine Heigl was a household name as Izzie Stevens on Grey’s Anatomy. However, she left under a cloud of controversy, publicly criticizing the show’s writing and withdrawing from Emmy consideration. Her post-Grey’s film career never truly flourished, and she developed a reputation for being difficult to work with, which hurt her prospects.
9. Ed Skrein (Game of Thrones) Ed Skrein initially played Daario Naharis on Game of Thrones but left to star in the Transporter reboot, expecting it to lead to a franchise. It didn’t, and the role of Daario went to Michiel Huisman, who became more well-known as the series continued to rise in popularity.
10. Shelley Long (Cheers) Shelley Long left Cheers at the height of its success to pursue a film career. While she had some moderate successes, she never again reached the level of fame she had on Cheers, while the show itself continued to thrive without her.
Actors and actresses leaving roles is a gamble. Some, like Harrison Ford, have famously disliked certain characters but wisely stayed on for the ride. Others, unfortunately, learned the hard way that some roles are truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.
