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33 Actors and Writers Who Regret How They Handled Their Time in the Spotlight

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33 Actors and Writers Who Regret How They Handled Their Time in the Spotlight

January 10, 2024

Hey, I get it. Looking back at my early career, there are a few listicles I wish I could take back. But I don’t let it get me down. I keep my head up, eyes on the horizon and focus on making the best possible listicle I can right here and now. Speaking of the devil…

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33

DOCTOR WHO Christopher Eccleston CRACKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE Replaced after The Ninth just one season, Doctor, and the because he first Doctor of couldn't get his the comedy chops long-awaited worked out reboot. quickly enough. — Source

32

M*A*S*H McLean Stevenson CRACKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE Left for big roles in four doomed Lt. Col. Henry sitcoms: I thought Blake, laid-back everybody in commanding America loved McLean Stevenson. officer and fan That was not the favorite. case. Everybody loved Henry Blake. — Source

31

THE SIMPSONS Chris Latta CRAGKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE The voice of Lost the job two major after three characters on episodes the hottest new because he was animation on reportedly hard TV. to work with. — Source

30

FRIENDS Anita Barone CRACKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE Barone gave up Carol Willick, the part to Ross' pregnant ex-wife. A fine focus on larger role that pops in roles that, as of from time to press time, no time. one can name. — Source

29

TAXI Jeff Conaway CRACKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE Bobby Wheeler, actor. Didn't Totally left of his own volition, appear in one of his first episodes because the because character he Conaway played made allegedly got too actors look bad. high to perform. — Source

28

CHEERS Shelley Long CRACKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE Tried to turn her Diane TV success into Chambers, film success, fish-out-of- with mixed water, waitress results. Popped and main love back in for the interest. finale. — Source

27

CHAPPELLE'S SHOW Dave Chappelle Y - THE CRACKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE Host of his own The show was controversial, so stressful to yet critically make that he walked away acclaimed, sketch comedy from a $50 show. million contract. — Source

26

STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION Wil Wheaton CRACKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE Left when he Wesley Crusher, turned 18 to pursue an annoying, a film career. Не precocious kid, regretted it, but but a choice mainly because he missed his role to have. coworkers :'( — Source

25

THE О.С. Mischa Barton GRACKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE Left to pursue a Marissa Cooper, film career, but wealthy most notably Californian, one appeared in of four main mugshots and protagonists. Dancing With The Stars. — Source

24

NYPD BLUE David Caruso CRACKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE Ducked out after 1 successful season to be a movie star! John Kelly, Totally blew it and police detective came crawling back and vunderkind. to procedurals, with a long and successful stint on CSI: Miami. — Source

23

SUITS Meghan Markle CRACKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE Rachel Zane, Nevermind, she paralegal who worked hard to get quit to become out from under the a princess. But shadow of her father. are you sure But she finally that's as cool as passed the LSATS and now she's gonna it sounds? take the world by - — Source

22

'Christmas Vacation' Chevy Chase season is nearly upon us again

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE Chevy Chase TO 1743 1722 m1727 CRACKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE Left after just one season -not for a One of the first film career, but for breakout a girl: I was a superstars of a young fellow who hit new series. was infatuated with the wrong person. — Source

21

GREY'S ANATOMY Katherine Heigl CRACKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE Shortly after Izzie Stevens, turning down an surgical intern Emmy nom, she left to pursue who would work bigger and better her way up to things, like resident. Zyzzyx Road. — Source

20

ER Sherry Stringfield GRACKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE The filming schedule left her so stressed, she got meningitis and Dr. Susan Lewis, pneumonia. Had to eager resident. agree not to work in TV for years just to get out of her contract. — Source

19

BEVERLY HILLS, 90210 Jason Priestley CRACKED.COM FIRST EPISODE LAST EPISODE Left after the Brandon Walsh, penultimate season, which he says was main premature, and left protagonist, some major loose good guy ends for his super-hunk. character and the story. — Source

18

A Wrinkle In Time A WRINKLE IN TIME Madeleine L'Engle CRACKED.COM Author Madeleine L'Engle said she'd glimpsed the 2003 film. When asked if it met her expectations, she said she expected it to be bad, and it is. — Source

17

My Foolish Heart the CATCHER in the RYE CRACKED.COM a novel by J. D. SALINGER J. D. Salinger hated this (critically successful) adaptation so much that he refused to sell the rights to The Catcher In The Rye. — Source

16

Watchmen WATCHMEN - CRACKED.COM Comic writer Alan Moore says DC execs exploited a family tragedy to sneak out merchandise he hadn't authorized, among other scummy tactics. Moore came to curse this wretched film and everything connected with it. — Source

15

A Clockwork Orange

A Clockwork Orange A CLOCKWORK ORAnGE ANTHONY BURGESS - grast - - Thes - CRACKED.COM Author Anthony Burgess thinks Stanley Kubrick's fundamental misunderstanding of the story ruined his creative integrity. Не said Kubrick's sexy, violent interpretation will pursue me till I die. — Source

14

Roald Dahl

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory CHARLiE ANOTHE CHOCOLTE FACTORY BY Roald Dahl Element by Joseph Concerning - four - and Che N with M TO and to plate CRACKED COM Roald Dahl wrote the original script, but was so miffed about the rewrites that he wrote in his will that the sequel, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, couldn't be adapted for film. — Source

13

Midnight Express

Midnight Express The story of Bily Hayes unbelevable courage happen TAEE dd ASPORTOR THAM Midnight Express CRACKED.COM Author Billy Hayes says the film completely changed the ending to his real-life story about spending years in a Turkish prison. It probably didn't help that Oliver Stone was reportedly high on coke, weed, and booze while Hayes was recounting his daring escape. — Source

12

Sahara CLIVE CUSSLER SAHARA CRACKED.COM Author Clive Cussler was given near complete creative control. But when he didn't get his way one time, he publicly trashed the movie so badly that the film tanked and the producers sued him. — Source

11

The Cat In The Hat THE CAT IN THE HAT By Dr. Seuss CRACKED.COM Dr. Seuss' widow, Audrey Geisel, was so scandalized that she refused to allow any more live-action adaptations of her husband's work. — Source

10

Charlotte's Web Charlotte's Web by E.B.WHITE Author of STUART LITTLE Pictures by GARTH WILLIAMS CRACKED.COM Author Е. В. White quite simply hates fun: The story is interrupted every few minutes so that somebody can sing a jolly song. I don't care much for jolly songs. — Source

9

I Am Legend This may be the most femilying - and 199 will EYES me 25 H -Williom Campbell Goult Police Vining I I AM LEGEND Richard Mathesan CRACKED.COM Author Richard Matheson hated every adaptation of his book, especially the 2007 film: I don't know why Hollywood is fascinated by my book when they never care to film it as I wrote it. — Source

8

The Neverending Story Michael Ende Deverending Story السعودية to SALTY CRACKED.COM Fantasy author Michael Ende hated the rewrites on his original script so much that he tried to buy back the rights, and eventualy just had his name removed from the credits.

7

Percy Jackson THE JACKSON OLYMPIANS NOW THE LIGHTNING THIEF RICK RIORDAN CRACKED.COM 'A of and Author Rick Riordan was nonplussed with the films based off of his work: to you guys, it's a couple hours entertainment. To me, it's my life's work going through a meat grinder when I pleaded with them not to do it — Source

6

Truman Capote

Breakfast At Tiffany's Breakfast at Tiffany's A short nord and three stories by Truman Capote CRACKED.COM Truman Capote thought that, instead of Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard, the film should have starred Marilyn Monroe and himself. — Source

5

Mary Poppins

Mary Poppins Mary Poppins Mary in the Poppins Park Opens the Door P.L. Travers Mary P.L. TRAVERS P.L. Pappins TRAVERE Travers Mary Poppins Comes Back RETRAL - KITCHCOC - Collint CRACKED.COM Author P.L. Travers so deeply regretted selling the movie rights to Disney that she cried throughout the world premiere. — Source

4

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST A NOVEL BY Ken Kesey CRACKED COM Author Ken Kesey was so mad that they made the movie about Randle McMurphy instead of Chief Bromden that he quit working on the production and would change the channel any time the movie was on TV. — Source

3

The Shining

The Shining The Shiping by Stephen King A new novel by the author of CARRIE and SALEM'SLOT CRACKED.COM Ticked off that Stanley Kubrick gave up the supernatural for the psychological, Stephen King says it's a film by a man who thinks too much and feels too little. — Source

2

American Psycho AMERI- CAN PSYCHO BRET EASTON ELLIS CRACKED.COM Author Bret Easton Ellis thought having a female director doomed the film from the start, because film requires the male gaze. — Source

1

I Know What You Did Last Summer LOIS DUNCAN I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER CRACKED.COM Author Lois Duncan had zero input on the production, and was horrified to see her beloved characters immediately murdered by some insane fisherman she'd never met. — Source

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