{"id":635407,"date":"2026-08-13T17:43:56","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T17:43:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/635407\/"},"modified":"2026-08-13T17:43:56","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T17:43:56","slug":"20-actors-who-should-have-had-much-bigger-careers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/635407\/","title":{"rendered":"20 Actors Who Should Have Had Much Bigger Careers"},"content":{"rendered":"

From breakout stars who seemed destined for Hollywood royalty to scene-stealers who slowly faded far too soon, not every talented actor gets the career their performances deserve. Whether they were overlooked by studios, plagued by bad luck, or simply never found the right projects, their talent has never been in question. Here are 20 actors who should have had much bigger careers, and why audiences still can’t help but wonder what might have been.<\/p>\n

Taylor Kitsch<\/strong>\"<span<\/p>\n

Lisa O’Connor \/ AFF-USA.com \/ MEGA<\/p>\n

Known for his magnetic turn in Friday Night Lights and a spate of bold film choices, Taylor Kitsch<\/strong><\/a> has the brooding intensity and charisma of a leading man. He’s shown his range in Battleship, John Carter, and X-Men Origins: Wolverine, but his major movie roles haven’t landed as expected, keeping him just shy of superstardom.<\/p>\n

Lucas Hedges<\/strong>\"<span<\/p>\n

Steven Bergman \/ AFF-USA.COM \/ MEGA<\/p>\n

An Oscar nominee while still in his teens, Lucas Hedges<\/strong><\/a> demonstrated remarkable talent in films exploring themes of identity and coming-of-age. He landed an Oscar nomination at just 20 years old thanks to his acclaimed performance as Patrick Chandler in Manchester by the Sea. Despite working with top directors and holding his own in acclaimed ensembles, he has remained more of a critics’ favorite than a marquee draw.<\/p>\n

Cary Elwes<\/strong>\"<span<\/p>\n

Xavier Collin \/ Image Press Agency \/ MEGA<\/p>\n

Cary Elwes<\/strong><\/a> became a pop culture icon as the beloved Westley in The Princess Bride and is also known for his performance in Saw and Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Even with an enduring career and loyal fan following, Hollywood never quite anointed him with its brightest spotlight.<\/p>\n

Edward Norton<\/strong>\"<span<\/p>\n

CF \/ IS \/ MPI \/ Capital Pictures \/ MEGA<\/p>\n

Edward Norton<\/strong><\/a> burst onto the scene with his stunning performance in Primal Fear, with the role earning him both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination, a rare honor for an actor’s first major film performance. Since his breakout role, he has appeared in more than 50 film and television projects but never quite recaptured the same level of mainstream success.<\/p>\n

Jon Hamm<\/strong>\"<span<\/p>\n

Xavier Collin \/ Image Press Agency \/ MEGA<\/p>\n

Jon Hamm<\/strong><\/a> became the face of style and masculine complexity through his run as Don Draper on Mad Men. He received seven Emmy nominations before finally taking home his first award for playing the complex character. Post-breakout, he has had less leading man exposure in films, though he has gone on to star in a new series, Your Friends & Neighbors.<\/p>\n

Guy Pearce<\/strong>\"<span<\/p>\n

With memorable turns in L.A. Confidential and Memento, Guy Pearce<\/strong><\/a> wowed audiences and critics in the late ’90s into early 2000s. While he’s earned enormous respect as a character actor throughout his 30-plus-year career, mainstream fame has largely eluded him.<\/p>\n

Jared Harris<\/strong>\"<span<\/p>\n

Lisa OConnor \/ AFF-USA.com \/ MEGA<\/p>\n

Jared Harris<\/strong><\/a> has delivered powerful performances in historical dramas, sci-fi and miniseries, drawing critical acclaim along the way. After earning an Emmy nomination in 2012 for playing Lane Pryce on Mad Men, he returned to the awards race with his acclaimed performance in Chernobyl. Harris is too often cast as the supporting force and is a perfect example of how magnetic talent doesn’t always guarantee leading roles in Hollywood’s biggest projects.<\/p>\n

Michael Rosenbaum<\/strong>\"<span<\/p>\n

Lisa OConnor \/ AFF-USA.com \/ MEGA<\/p>\n

The catchy role of Lex Luthor in Smallville brought Michael Rosenbaum<\/strong><\/a> fan adulation and showcased his range, but he’s only had a handful of opportunities to step fully out as a film leading man.<\/p>\n

Aaron Eckhart<\/strong>\"<span<\/p>\n

Steven Bergman \/ AFF-USA.COM \/ MEGA<\/p>\n

Aaron Eckhart<\/strong><\/a>‘s performances often ground movies with relatable depth, whether as a charming antihero or as tragic figures. Following widespread praise for Thank You for Smoking, he landed the pivotal role of Harvey Dent, who transforms into Two-Face, in The Dark Knight. While Eckhart became recognizable for his talent and charisma, true long-lasting superstardom seemingly never materialized.<\/p>\n

Jeremy Irons<\/strong>\"<span<\/p>\n

Stefano Costantino \/ MEGA<\/p>\n

Jeremy Irons<\/strong><\/a> has delivered performances that range from deliciously villainous to powerfully tender, earning widespread critical acclaim throughout his 50-year career. His most iconic performance came in the 1990 drama Reversal of Fortune, where he portrayed Claus von B\u00fclow, a role that earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor.<\/p>\n

Ben Browder<\/strong>\"<span<\/p>\n

Science fiction fans cherish Ben Browder<\/strong><\/a> for his compelling work as John Crichton on Farscape from 1999 to 2003, then Stargate SG-1 in 2005 to 2007 as Cameron Mitchell. His appeal has been largely restricted to television, and the leap to mainstream film stardom proved difficult.<\/p>\n

Seann William Scott<\/strong>\"<span<\/p>\n

For some, mere mention of classic early 2000s comedies brings Seann William Scott<\/strong><\/a>‘s name to mind. He is best known for his roles in the American Pie films from 1999-2012, as well as Dude, Where’s My Car? and The Dukes of Hazzard. Scott never quite captured the consistent leading man attention seen by some of his peers, though his enduring appeal in cult favorites and voice work keeps his legacy alive among nostalgic audiences.<\/p>\n

Barry Pepper<\/strong>\"<span<\/p>\n

Barry Pepper<\/strong><\/a> was widely viewed as a rising talent throughout the 1990s thanks to acclaimed performances in Saving Private Ryan, Enemy of the State, and The Green Mile. Although he later found success in The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada and True Grit, his career arguably should have reached even greater heights.<\/p>\n

Jonathan Lipnicki<\/strong>\"<span<\/p>\n

Jonathan Lipnicki<\/strong><\/a> became one of Hollywood’s biggest child stars thanks to his unforgettable performance opposite Tom Cruise<\/strong><\/a> in Jerry Maguire, before starring in family favorites like Stuart Little, Stuart Little 2, and Like Mike. Despite his early success and immense popularity, his transition into adult roles never produced the breakout career many expected.<\/p>\n

Viggo Mortensen<\/strong>\"<span<\/p>\n

Viggo Mortensen<\/strong><\/a> became an international star as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, cementing himself as one of fantasy cinema’s greatest heroes. Although he later earned Oscar nominations for Eastern Promises, Captain Fantastic, and Green Book, he is often seen in smaller artistic projects rather than major studio franchises.<\/p>\n

Tim Roth<\/strong>\"<span<\/p>\n

GOL \/ Capital Pictures \/ MEGA<\/p>\n

Tim Roth<\/strong><\/a> established himself as one of Britain’s finest actors through memorable performances in Quentin Tarantino<\/strong><\/a>‘s Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, along with acclaimed films like Rob Roy. He has carved out a successful career filled with standout supporting roles, but never quite became the longstanding household-name leading man his talent seemed to warrant.<\/p>\n

Brad Dourif<\/strong>\"<span<\/p>\n

Brad Dourif<\/strong><\/a> earned an Academy Award nomination for his film debut in the 1976 film One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest before becoming forever associated with the voice of Chucky in the Child’s Play franchise. His unforgettable performances in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and Deadwood further showcased his incredible range as one of Hollywood’s best character actors. Dourif possessed the talent to become a major leading actor, but instead has built a legendary career largely in supporting roles.<\/p>\n

William Fichtner<\/strong>\"<span<\/p>\n

William Fichtner<\/strong><\/a> has quietly become one of Hollywood’s most reliable character actors with standout performances in Heat, Black Hawk Down, Armageddon, Prison Break, and The Dark Knight. His commanding screen presence often leaves audiences remembering him long after the credits roll, even though he has rarely been given leading-man opportunities.<\/p>\n

Matt Dillon<\/strong>\"<span<\/p>\n

Matt Dillon<\/strong><\/a> emerged as one of the defining young actors of the 1980s with his roles in The Outsiders, Rumble Fish, and Drugstore Cowboy before earning an Oscar nomination decades later for Crash. While he has certainly enjoyed a long and successful career, he has always had the charisma and talent to become one of Hollywood’s biggest leading men for decades.<\/p>\n

Aaron Paul<\/strong>\"<span<\/p>\n

Xavier Collin \/ Image Press Agency \/ MEGA<\/p>\n

Aaron Paul<\/strong><\/a> earned a passionate following for his performance as Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad, where he went on to win the Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series after the final season. Although he’s appeared in more than 30 projects since the series concluded, Paul has yet to establish himself as a leading man in Hollywood films.<\/p>\n

This story 20 Actors Who Should Have Had Much Bigger Careers<\/a> first appeared on Closer Weekly<\/a>. Follow Closer Weekly<\/strong><\/a> on <\/a>Yahoo<\/strong><\/a> so you don’t miss what’s coming next.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"From breakout stars who seemed destined for Hollywood royalty to scene-stealers who slowly faded far too soon, not…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":635408,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[268],"tags":[99180,434,18,117,1239,19,17,68428,268538,40630,76132,60555,147681,268539,18494,236952],"class_list":["post-635407","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-celebrities","tag-aaron-eckhart","tag-celebrities","tag-eire","tag-entertainment","tag-hollywood","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-jared-harris","tag-lucas-hedges","tag-mega","tag-oscar","tag-performances","tag-seann-william-scott","tag-steven-bergman","tag-taylor-kitsch","tag-xavier-collin"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ie\/117089448404306202","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/635407","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=635407"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/635407\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/635408"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=635407"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=635407"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=635407"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}