Career U Turns

[levcore]

Any good examples of actors/ directors who have had remarkable/ surprising career U turns? Perhaps ones who had faded into obscurity only to miraculously turn it all around suddenly, or ones who starred in a certain type of movie then completely changed their direction in terms of movie choices.

I'll start with of course Mr Liam Neeson. Respected actor for several decades, known chiefly for starring in more prestigious movies and critically praised movies only to do a complete career U turn after starring in Taken, becoming one of the most unlikely action stars arguably in cinema history! Not many of us saw that coming.

Who else?

[aiman04]

Mark Hamill.

[Martoto]

George Lucas

[Movieman73]

For Career U-turns, I'd go with Robert Downey Jr. He was on a very dark path with his drug addiction, but has completely turned his life and career around thanks to being cast in Iron Man.

As for actors breaking their type-cast roles, I'd have to go with Matthew McConaughey. Growing up, I only ever saw him in romantic comedies like The Wedding Planner or Fool's Gold. So to see him go from those types of movies, to something like Mud or Dallas Buyer's Club or even True Detective was a complete U-turn in his career.

[Poya]

Rami Malek went from Disposable Terrorist #609 from 24 to Oscar/Emmy winner.

[AaronJ]

The immediate one that comes to mind is Matthew McConaughey. I mean, the guy started out strong, then was just making really dumb, silly rom-coms mostly. Then ... damn! All of a sudden he's in amazing stuff all over again.

And thank goodness, since he has loads of talent.

[TajSamKojiJesam]

Akio Jissôji went from directing avant-garde Buddhist films to children's fighting robot films to soft bondage pornos.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by TajSamKojiJesam

Akio Jissôji went from directing avant-garde Buddhist films to children's fighting robot films to soft bondage pornos.

So, you're saying it was career uptick after career uptick?

[TajSamKojiJesam]

I should also mention that he was also a director of television dramas and commercials, as well as a writer, a calligraphy artist, theatre, television, and opera stage director, and a professor in the music department at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. Moreover, Jissôji was also known for his bizarre overwhelming infatuation with trains of all kinds and said to have a huge collection of train models. Pretty interesting guy.

[jtu128]

Originally Posted by aiman04

Mark Hamill.

How? Because he come out from under the rock to appear in another Star Wars movie? He’s popped up in a few 3 min cameos elsewhere but I’d hardly call that a turnaround.

[dgoswald]

Any women spring to mind?

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by TajSamKojiJesam

I should also mention that he was also a director of television dramas and commercials, as well as a writer, a calligraphy artist, theatre, television, and opera stage director, and a professor in the music department at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. Moreover, Jissôji was also known for his bizarre overwhelming infatuation with trains of all kinds and said to have a huge collection of train models. Pretty interesting guy.

Sounds like it, for sure! I'm going to try and look into learning some more about him. Thanks.

[s2mikey]

Nic Cage - totally worthless now.

Geena Davis - where she been?

[Atomic Salad]

Originally Posted by dgoswald

Any women spring to mind?

I seem to recall Winona Ryder taking her career in a radically different direction around 2001 or so.

[CelluloidPal]

Originally Posted by dgoswald

Any women spring to mind?

Should it matter?

[CelluloidPal]

Jordan Peele comes to mind. He went from comedy guy to acclaimed horror director overnight.
There's also John Travolta who was huge in the 70s, kinda faded in the 80s and then have it all turn around with Pulp Fiction in the 90s.
Leslie Nielsen started as a dramatic actor then became a comedic actor later in his career.
Jason Bateman was brought back from obscurity thanks to Horrible Bosses.

[doctor_who]

Originally Posted by CelluloidPal

Should it matter?

I think he's just asking dude...what's the problem?

[doctor_who]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

Nic Cage - totally worthless now.

Geena Davis - where she been?

The voice of a character in an Oscar winner - he's back!!!

[CelluloidPal]

Originally Posted by doctor_who

I think he's just asking dude...what's the problem?

Never said there was one just that gender or race shouldn't matter.
I thought the poster trying to make it about that. Stuff like that has derailed many a interesting boards. Apologies to said poster if there's any misinterpretation on my part.

[RedHarvest]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

The immediate one that comes to mind is Matthew McConaughey. I mean, the guy started out strong, then was just making really dumb, silly rom-coms mostly. Then ... damn! All of a sudden he's in amazing stuff all over again.

And thank goodness, since he has loads of talent.

Yep, McConaughey, no doubt. Was a romcom pretty boy, but then I saw him in Killer Joe, and I (and everyone else, apparently) realized he was a serious actor with chops. He has since become top tier.