Celebs That Failed to Make A Comeback

There is a long history of stars trying to reclaim the spotlight after a rough patch or a quiet stretch. Some return with a new project, a reunion, or a high profile role that aims to reset the narrative. Not every attempt lands. Release schedules change, audiences move on, or a project underperforms and the momentum fades.

This list looks at well known figures who tried to start again but did not regain their old level of visibility. Each entry focuses on concrete moves they made and what followed. You will see canceled shows, low box office totals, modest chart runs, and limited distribution that show how tough a comeback can be.

Roseanne Barr

ABC brought back her classic sitcom in 2018 with strong initial ratings and a quick renewal. After a tweet that drew widespread backlash, she was removed from the series and the network retooled the show as a spinoff without her. The rebrand kept the time slot while her personal return to weekly network TV ended.

She later tried stand up specials and appearances to re engage viewers. Those projects reached niche platforms and did not restore her to a leading role on a major network schedule.

Ja Rule

After serving time, he released new music and pursued brand partnerships to reintroduce himself. The album activity drew modest sales and little radio presence compared with his early 2000s run.

The Fyre Festival debacle brought legal and reputational fallout that overshadowed any artistic rollout. Subsequent singles and appearances did not move him back into mainstream rotation.

Mike Myers

He returned to a self created starring vehicle with the 2008 film that aimed to restart his run as a headlining comic lead. The movie performed poorly and reviews were weak, which halted immediate offers at that scale.

Years later he built the limited series ‘The Pentaverate’ for streaming and appeared in supporting film roles. The series closed after its initial run and he did not reestablish himself as a consistent theatrical lead.

John Travolta

He took on several passion projects in the late 2010s that received limited theatrical play and heavy video on demand exposure. Titles like the mob biopic about John Gotti and the thriller directed by Fred Durst struggled to attract strong box office.

Despite steady output, these releases did not lead to new tentpole offers or major award season traction. He continued to work regularly but the hoped for return to prestige or blockbuster roles did not materialize.

Arsenio Hall

The 2013 revival of his late night talk show launched with curiosity and a solid guest list. Ratings slipped across the season and the show was canceled after one year.

He maintained a presence through stand up dates and guest hosting slots. The attempt did not reinsert him into the nightly talk landscape that had become more crowded and digital facing.

Paula Deen

Following the loss of major endorsements and a Food Network contract, she created a subscription based digital network to reach fans directly. Initial sign ups brought attention but the platform settled into a small audience compared with her cable era.

She later moved into syndicated programming with ‘Positively Paula’. Distribution was scattered across smaller stations and specialty outlets, which limited visibility and did not return her to top tier food television.

Tara Reid

She booked a steady stream of low budget and made for TV films to stay active. The ‘Sharknado’ series brought yearly attention yet it did not translate into new studio leads or a return to wide release romantic comedies.

Public interest spiked whenever a sequel aired, then cooled between projects. Casting for larger films did not follow, and her career centered on niche genre work and reality appearances.

Mischa Barton

After leaving ‘The O.C.’, she took indie roles and international projects to reset her profile. Many releases had limited distribution which kept box office and press coverage small.

Her 2019 reality return on ‘The Hills New Beginnings’ lasted one season for her and did not expand into new scripted opportunities. She continued acting, but the comeback did not capture a broad network or studio push.

Amanda Bynes

After stepping away from acting, she studied fashion and signaled interest in returning to entertainment. An announced podcast in late 2023 delivered a single episode then paused.

No major film or television roles followed those signals. Her public steps toward a return drew coverage but did not lead to sustained on screen work.

Katherine Heigl

She led the NBC drama ‘State of Affairs’ in 2014. The series was canceled after one season and did not springboard new leading film roles.

Her 2017 legal drama ‘Doubt’ was pulled after two episodes due to low ratings. Later ensemble work kept her in the conversation, but the attempt to reclaim movie headliner status did not take hold.

Kevin Spacey

Following removal from projects and reshoots that replaced his scenes, he attempted a return through independent and international films. These releases secured minimal theatrical footprints and little awards traction.

He also posted in character videos and pursued roles abroad to test audience appetite. Major studio casting and prime streaming leads did not follow, leaving the comeback stalled.

Gina Carano

After her departure from ‘The Mandalorian’, she headlined the western ‘Terror on the Prairie’ with a niche release strategy. The film saw limited box office access and short theatrical windows.

Additional projects were announced with specialty distributors. None matched the reach of a flagship franchise series, and her return to large scale mainstream platforms did not occur.

Vanilla Ice

He tried multiple album releases and tours to reclaim pop chart status. New singles did not enter the upper ranks and catalog streams remained the main driver of attention.

He pivoted to reality renovation shows and live nostalgia events. Those kept him visible but did not rebuild a contemporary recording career at the level of his early peak.

Ashlee Simpson

After early hits, she attempted a music comeback alongside the 2018 reality series ‘Ashlee+Evan’. The companion EP arrived with modest sales and brief chart activity.

Tour dates and televised performances followed, yet no full length album restored her to regular radio or festival lineups. The effort kept a core fan base engaged without expanding to mass pop presence.

Corey Feldman

He mounted a music led comeback with albums and a national tour. A widely discussed morning show performance in 2016 brought viral attention that did not convert into radio spins or major venue bookings.

He continued to self release content and stage shows. The activity sustained a cult following but did not evolve into a broader entertainment resurgence.

Meg Ryan

She returned to the screen by directing and starring in the romantic comedy ‘What Happens Later’ in 2023. The film opened in limited theaters and generated modest grosses.

Publicity highlighted her legacy in the genre, but no wave of new studio rom coms followed. The project served fans without restoring her previous level of ubiquitous marquee presence.

Lindsay Lohan

Her 2013 indie film ‘The Canyons’ and the docuseries ‘Lindsay’ were positioned as a reset. The film had a small theatrical footprint and the series ended after one season.

Brand deals and guest appearances kept her in the news during that period, yet they did not lead to sustained mainstream casting. Later projects found an audience, but this specific comeback window did not stick.

Shannen Doherty

She joined the short lived meta revival ‘BH90210’ in 2019 which ran one season. The event brought a ratings bump that did not extend to additional seasons or new studio features.

Earlier efforts such as the ‘Heathers’ television reboot faced scheduling and content challenges that hurt its rollout. The stops and starts kept her visible but did not reestablish a long running vehicle.

Wesley Snipes

After his release, he appeared in ‘The Expendables 3’ and a handful of genre titles. Those roles provided exposure but did not return him to consistent top billing in wide theatrical releases.

Talk of a ‘Blade’ revival centered on new casting as the years went on. Cameos and supporting parts arrived, yet a full scale star turn comparable to his 90s era did not return.

Chevy Chase

He reentered the conversation with ‘Community’ and gained new fans through streaming. Behind the scenes issues led to an exit, and attempts to leverage that heat into new films did not gain speed.

Subsequent roles were sporadic and often small. The post sitcom period did not deliver a second wave of larger comedies that would have marked a full comeback.

Share the names you think should be added to this list in the comments.