Fame is a very fickle thing. When most celebrities hit the big time, they probably think that they’ve made it for good, but as you’ve seen time and time again – that simply isn’t the case. Although there are years of (sometimes months) of hard work that go into making somebody a star, handwork doesn’t always pay off in the long run. Celebrities come and go all the time, and while some people hit several highs and lows over the course of their careers, some people never bounce back from certain career struggles. Although these stars will likely never be forgotten – it looks like their 15 minutes of fame has come and gone. Here are 10 former big time celebrities that will never make it big again.
Lauryn Hill
There’s no denying that Lauryn Hill is one of the best (and realest) to ever do it. As both a member of The Fugees and as a solo artist, Lauryn Hill has won Grammys and earned the respect of millions. But after releasing her first and only studio album, Hill took a brief hiatus from the spotlight, and her sporadic behavior left fans feeling confused. Although fans love and miss her, Hill doesn’t really seem to be all that interested in making a comeback.
(Photo by Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images)
Frankie Muniz
Frankie Muniz found success on both the big and small screens at the height of his career. However, after growing up in the spotlight he decided to take a break from acting and pursue other interests. After joining a band and becoming a race car driver, Muniz seemed to completely disappear from the spotlight. Although he once had a very strong fan base, unlike other faded stars, Muniz isn’t one you hear people talking about too often. Although he’s had a few acting roles in recent years, none of them have been successful and it seems as if it’s going to stay that way.
(Photo by Mike Moore/Getty Images for Celebrity Fight Night)
Lil Kim
During the 90s and early 2000s Lil Kim was arguably the hottest female rapper in the game. However, times have certainly changed for the original Queen Bee from Brooklyn. Around the mid 2000s, Kim’s career began to lose its footing and although she’s tried to come back several times – it just hasn’t seemed to work out. While there’s no denying that Kim is certainly a hip-hop legend, there’s a good chance that she’ll never be on top of the game again.
(Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Clear Channel)
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan was once one of Disney’s most popular stars. Over the course of her career, she appeared in several successful films – including Mean Girls – and brought in millions of dollars. However, Lohan’s run-ins with law enforcement, as well as her substance abuse issues, have really seemed to hurt her career. Although her fans were initially rooting for her to make her way back to the top, it seems like the public has lost their faith in Lohan. At this point, it’s hard to believe that she’ll ever make a comeback.
(Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)
TLC
Grammy Award winning music group, TLC, is one of the most well-known and most-successful groups of all-time. Originally composed of three members, the group reached mainstream fame during the 90s. However, when Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes was killed in 2002 (the same year the group released their most recent album) it was clear that the group would never be the same. TLC attempted to come back by finding another member via a reality competition show, but things never panned out. Although they remain a fan favorite, TLC just doesn’t seem to work as a duo.
(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Macaulay Culkin
Macaulay Culkin was one of the highest paid child stars to ever hit the screen. During the 90s, Culkin starred in several successful films including Home Alone. Unfortunately, disagreements with his parents over finances led to him taking a break from the spotlight, and now it seems that he has absolutely no interest in being famous. However, even if Culkin wanted to come back, it’s been so long that while seeing him again would be nostalgic, it’s hard to believe that he could have a huge career again.
(Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)
Ja Rule
If you were a hip-hop fan during the early 2000s, you’ve definitely heard more than a few Ja Rule songs. In those days, Ja Rule was one of the more popular artists in the game and for a while it really seemed like he just couldn’t miss. However, when 50 Cent gained mainstream success in 2003, he made it a point ruin Ja Rule’s career. After coming under attack by Fif, it quickly became clear that Ja Rule didn’t stand a chance. Although they both had different styles, there didn’t seem to be enough space in the spotlight for both of them and eventually Ja Rule fell off. He’s attempted to release some new tracks over the last few years, but sadly things have never panned out for him, and it’s not looking like they ever will.
(photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Mischa Barton
Although Mischa Barton began her career as a child, she didn’t earn significant mainstream fame until she landed a starring role in Fox’s series, The O.C. When the show debuted in 2003, Barton quickly became a fan favorite and fans loved her character, Marissa Cooper. However, although fans loved Barton, reviewers felt that she was the least talented of all the show’s cast members. Cooper was killed off the show during the third season, and since then, Barton hasn’t had any other major roles. In 2009 Barton briefly made headlines with news that she was spending time in a psychiatric ward. Unfortunately, that’s the most attention she’s gotten in a while.
(Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Epic Pictures)
Josh Hartnett
At his peak, Josh Hartnett was one of the hottest guys in Hollywood. From the late 90s through the mid 2000s Hartnett appeared in several popular films and it seemed like he was going to be around forever. However, according to Hartnett, “I know what it’s like to be in that whole world. I was up there for a couple of years, and it was uncomfortable. I think trying to stay at the top is a shortcut to unhappiness.” Although he’s found success working behind the scenes in the industry, his career as one of Hollywood’s most popular actors seems done for good.
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Dave Chappelle
Dave Chappelle is one of the most successful comedians in recent years. From standup, to movies, to his own sketch comedy show, Chappelle had it all until he decided to walk away from the spotlight. Over the last few years, he’s attempted to make come back into the spotlight, and while fans still love him, things just don’t seen to be the same for Chappelle.
(Photo by Joshua Roberts/Getty Images)
Lead (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
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