The 1990s witnessed the rise of many memorable movie stars. Some broke out in the ’80s and established themselves as industry staples, while others arrived on the scene in the ’90s and continued to wow audiences through the 2000s. They captured the imaginations of moviegoers then and many of them are still major actors today. Even if some of their careers have slowed down, they continue to be in the conversation because of their contribution to cinema and their impact on the people who grew up in the 1990s and saw them everywhere.
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From Nicolas Cage’s movies to Val Kilmer’s hits, many of the stars we know and revere today gave us unforgettable gems in this decade. Jackie Chan’s best ’90s action movies, for example, capture the quintessential action era of Hollywood when the star made a name for himself in the American film industry. However, unlike some stars, such as Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts, Natalie Portman, and Jodie Foster, to name a few, many ’90s film stars have disappeared from the spotlight but continue to live in public memory despite rare movie appearances.
You are watching: 10 Massive Stars Of The 1990s Who Seemingly Disappeared From Stardom
10
Edward Furlong
He Was A Great Young John Connor
The Terminator, a 1980s R-rated movie we love to rewatch, captivated audiences and cemented James Cameron’s status as a prominent sci-fi director. However, it wasn’t until the 1990s that the film turned into a major franchise, which continues to excite fans with new entries even today. It follows the Terminators, or Cyberdyne Systems models, in their endeavor to go back in time and prevent the start of resistance that eventually wipes them out. The leader of this rebellion is John Connor, a messianic figure who leads surviving humans against the oppressive regime.
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Despite being the main hero of the franchise, John doesn’t appear until Terminator 2: Judgment Day, released in 1991. In this film, we not only see a grown-up Connor, played by Michael Edwards but also meet him as a kid. Edward Furlong stole the hearts of every Terminator fan with his performance as John, and everyone expected him to become a huge star. Unfortunately, his substance abuse issues prevented him from reprising the role in the third film. Furlong rarely acts anymore.
9
Rachael Leigh Cook
She Was A Heartthrob For Millennials
When Rachael Leigh Cook debuted in The Babysitter’s Club as Mary Anne, she earned a reputation as a promising newcomer to look out for. The 15-year-old wowed audiences with her charming presence as the shy girl next door. So, it’s no surprise that she soon became a regular in teenage comedies, one of the most popular genres in the late ’90s and the early 2000s. Cook’s performance as the protagonist, Laney Boggs, in She’s All That earned her the adoration of millions of fans worldwide.
One of Rachael Leigh Cook’s most noteworthy roles post her exit from mainstream movies was as the voice of the beloved video game character Tifa Lockhart.
Cook was one of the favorite stars of millennials in their teens, who were big fans of the makeover movie genre. Predictably, she was the frontrunner for the casting of the Josie and the Pussycats live-action movie, and her screen presence as the titular Josie continues to captivate audiences today. However, she became typecast in movies and pivoted away from the spotlight to doing TV roles, and has stayed out of the zeitgeist except for when she made a small appearance in the remake of her breakthrough film, He’s All That, starring Addison Rae.
8
Joe Pesci
He Played Many Noteworthy Gangsters
The gangster movie genre wouldn’t be what it is today without the contributions of Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, rightfully considered its stalwarts. Alongside them, another remarkable actor rose to prominence in the same genre after breaking out beside De Niro in his film Raging Bull. Joe Pesci’s portrayal of Joey in that film makes it clear that he had the potential to become a huge star, which he did. Pesci and De Niro have collaborated quite a few times in their careers, most recently in The Irishman.
Pesci was the quintessential gangster, but he became famous for other roles as well, cementing his status as one of the best actors in Hollywood. His portrayal of Harry in Home Alone, one of the best Christmas movies without Santa Claus, remains one of the preeminent villain performances in a comedy movie. His role in My Cousin Vinny is also a testament to the actor’s comedic talents. Yet despite being such a prominent figure in movies throughout the ’80s, ’90s, and early 2000s, Pesci is scarcely seen in films today.
7
Phoebe Cates
She Was Immortalized For Portraying Linda Barrett
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As a model since the age of 10, Phoebe Cates was no stranger to fame when she landed her role in the 1982 film Paradise. The 17-year-old, despite her reservations about some scenes, took the role, and it got her the part of Linda Barrett in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, which she’ll forever be most famous for. Despite delivering a memorable comedic performance, all audiences could talk about was Cates’ entry in her iconic red bikini.
She then retired from acting to focus on raising her children and hasn’t returned since.
Cates went on to earn more admiration for her role in the 1984 Gremlins movie and continued to work throughout the ’80s and ’90s. However, offers started dwindling, and her final starring role was in 1994 as Princess Caraboo. Phoebe Cates has had a versatile career for over two decades and played her final role in the 2001 film The Anniversary Party. She then retired from acting to focus on raising her children and hasn’t returned since.
6
Richard Gere
He Made Waves For His Oscars Speech
It would have been impossible to go through the ’80s without catching a glimpse of Richard Gere in the gossip column of tabloids. He earned that reputation with his starring role in American Gigolo and continued to win fans over throughout the early ’80s. Even though he starred in many prominent films in the decade, some of which were nominated for Academy Awards, he never won an Oscar. His career was again revamped when he starred opposite Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, playing her breakout role she’s most known for.
Gere’s prominence in the industry meant he was regularly in attendance at the Oscars, and when he finally got a chance to present an award at the 1993 Academy Awards, he made a famously political speech. The speech got him banned from the ceremony for 20 years, but many have applauded his decision to take a stance when given the platform. Gere continued to receive acclaim for memorable performances through the ’90s, and despite what seems to be a complete disappearance, never stopped acting. His recent movies simply haven’t found mainstream audiences.
5
Meg Ryan
She Was The Quintessential Rom-Com Heroine
No decade has produced more great rom-coms than the ’90s. With the rise of postfeminism, the romance genre underwent a reinvention, where the female characters started being written as career women. The conflict between prioritizing romantic life and work life is one of the central themes of these movies and two stars particularly became famous for playing the leading ladies in them. Thus, Julia Roberts and Meg Ryan rose to prominence for their consistent appearances in some of the best rom-coms of all time.
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Ryan broke through as the titular Sally in When Harry Met Sally…, which is still often considered the greatest rom-com ever. She then cemented her status as the quintessential rom-com heroine with two highly successful ones opposite Tom Hanks. Both You’ve Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle are considered iconic 1990s movies that represent the decade perfectly. After a slew of forgettable movies in the 2000s and personal struggles, Ryan lost her prominence in the industry and even her attempt at a comeback as director and star of 2023’s What Happens Later wasn’t successful.
4
Jonathan Taylor Thomas
He Was One Of The Most Promising Child Actors
The Brady Bunch ended in the mid-1970s, but it’s surprisingly relevant at times and continues to be a fan favorite, albeit with only a cult fandom today. Its popularity inspired many movies and shows in the 1980s, which culminated in the 1990 spinoff show The Bradys. It introduced the world to Jonathan Taylor Thomas, who played Kevin Brady. He then became a sensation for portraying Randy in the sitcom Home Improvement, which aired from 1990 to 1991.
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Jonathan Taylor Thomas also has directing credits to his name, for three episodes of the show Last Man Standing, between 2013 and 2016.
Soon after, Thomas made his film debut with a voice-acting role as young Simba in the 1994 animated movie. He went on to win more praise for his faithful portrayal of Tom Sawyer in the Disney movie Tom & Huck. Among Thomas’ other notable ’90s roles is the live-action Pinocchio in The Adventures of Pinocchio in 1996. He left acting in the 2000s to focus on his studies and went to Harvard. He returned to the industry later and has been serving as a national board member of SAG-AFTRA since 2017.
3
Jenna von Oÿ
She Was A Sitcom Star
One of Tom Cruise’s lesser-known roles is as the leading man in the 1989 biopic Born on the Fourth of July as anti-war activist Ron Kovic. Among other actors, it features an appearance by Jenna von Oÿ as the younger version of Ron’s sister Suzanne Kovic. A year later, she was cast in the sitcom Lenny, starring comedian Lenny Clarke as the titular character. Von Oÿ plays one of his daughters and was noticed for her performance.
Soon, she was cast in the sitcom Blossom as Six Lemeure, the titular character’s best friend. Six was loved by fans and critics, and many were predicting that Jvon Oÿ would soon become a teen film star. However, she never broke through in the film industry. She left for school soon after Blossom ended, and even though she returned in 1999 to play the memorable Stevie Van Lowe in The Parkers, her acting career practically ended when the show did.
2
Rick Moranis
He Was The Quintessential Comedy Star
It follows, given the success and popularity of the rom-com genre, that comedies would be popular in the 1990s too. Quirky adventure comedies with eccentric characters were especially popular as a kids’ genre, usually featuring a memorable genius hero. Brendan Fraser, who also appeared in more serious films like The Mummy, and Rick Moranis, both rose to fame in the ’90s as such eccentric comedy actors.
The nerdy archetype he often portrayed quickly earned him the adoration of fans worldwide.
After becoming a television star with Second City Television, Moranis broke through in the film industry with a host of appearances in noteworthy comedy films in the ’80s, including Ghostbusters and Streets of Fire. The nerdy archetype he often portrayed quickly earned him the adoration of fans worldwide. The 1989 comedy Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, which spawned two sequels in 1992 and 1997, that he also starred in, made him a comedy leading man. However, following the untimely death of his wife in 1991, he retired in 1997 to focus on parenting.
1
Bridget Fonda
She Was A Versatile Leading Lady
Bridget Fonda started acting at the age of five with a minor role in the 1969 film Easy Rider. Thus, she was already an experienced actress by the time she landed her breakout role as a journalist in Godfather III, one of director Francis Ford Coppola’s movies that don’t get enough love. Despite the film’s low ratings and negative reviews, critics were quick to note Fonda, who was carrying the weight of being Jane Fonda’s niece and Henry Fonda’s granddaughter.
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However, it is safe to say that she managed to establish herself as a movie star on her own merits. She earned a leading role in Barbet Schroeder’s Single White Female, which continues to enjoy a cult following. Her performance in 1993’s Point of No Return, a remake of La Femme Nikita, also earned her critical acclaim. She was approached to play the titular character in the TV show Ally McBeal, but she chose to focus on her film career instead. Ever since her accident and her later engagement to Danny Elfman, she has stayed out of the limelight.
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Category: Entertainment