Actors Known for Their Explosive Tempers

Some stars keep their cool no matter what, but others are known for public flare ups that made headlines and sometimes reshaped their careers. From on set blowups to tense run ins with paparazzi, these incidents are documented moments that followed them for years. Here are notable cases where tempers boiled over and became part of each actor’s public story. Each entry highlights specific incidents and professional fallout so you can see how these moments played out.

Christian Bale

An audio recording from the set of ‘Terminator Salvation’ captured Bale delivering a heated tirade at a crew member in 2008. The clip spread widely and sparked conversations about on set conduct across the industry. Bale later apologized and described the pressure of an intense shoot. The incident remains one of the most replayed examples of a modern film set outburst.

Russell Crowe

Crowe’s temper became global news in 2005 after he threw a phone at a hotel employee in New York. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and publicly apologized. Earlier and later run ins included confrontations with photographers that reinforced the fiery reputation. Despite the headlines he continued to land major roles and eventually addressed anger management in interviews.

Alec Baldwin

Baldwin has had multiple confrontations with paparazzi outside his home in New York. He has been detained in separate street disputes and faced short term legal consequences. A highly publicized voicemail controversy added to the narrative of volatility. He has acknowledged the strain of constant media attention while continuing extensive work in film and television.

Shia LaBeouf

LaBeouf’s arrests for disorderly conduct and public outbursts put him in the spotlight for erratic behavior. A 2014 incident during a Broadway performance led to charges and court mandated treatment. Later episodes included altercations that resulted in additional legal trouble. He has since spoken about seeking therapy and reassessing his approach to work.

Sean Penn

Penn’s history includes physical altercations with photographers during the late 1980s and 1990s. Several incidents led to criminal charges and fines that kept him in the tabloids. He has also been candid about clashes with the press over privacy concerns. Even as the reputation stuck he earned critical acclaim and major awards for his performances.

Mel Gibson

Gibson’s 2006 arrest for driving under the influence included recorded remarks that drew widespread condemnation. Years later audio recordings of heated phone calls fueled further controversy. The fallout led to professional setbacks and reduced studio support for a time. He eventually returned to directing and acting with projects that marked a gradual comeback.

Charlie Sheen

In 2011 Sheen’s public rants and disputes with the producer of ‘Two and a Half Men’ led to his firing from the show. He embarked on a live tour that capitalized on the media frenzy around his behavior. Earlier legal issues and domestic disputes added to the image of volatility. The saga became a case study in how personal controversies can derail a top rated series.

Ezra Miller

Miller faced multiple arrests in 2022 that included disorderly conduct and assault accusations in Hawaii. Additional legal cases emerged later that intensified scrutiny of their public conduct. Studio plans around major releases were reevaluated as the headlines accumulated. Miller issued statements about mental health and sought treatment while projects continued under close attention.

Michael Richards

Richards experienced a career altering incident in 2006 after a racist rant during a stand up set at the Laugh Factory. The video spread quickly and led to widespread backlash. He apologized publicly and stepped back from performing for a period. The episode remains a prominent example of how a single outburst can redefine a career.

Mickey Rourke

Rourke’s clashes with paparazzi and bar dust ups through the years contributed to a combustible image. Police reports and tabloid photos documented several heated scenes. After a major acting comeback with ‘The Wrestler’ he still made news for confrontational moments outside film sets. He has spoken openly about personal struggles and the pressures of fame.

Klaus Kinski

Kinski was notorious among collaborators for violent rages on European film sets. Documented accounts describe explosive confrontations with crews and directors. The stories were later chronicled in memoirs and documentaries that cemented his reputation. Despite the chaos he delivered intense performances that became cult favorites.

Oliver Reed

Reed’s drinking and brawling were part of his public persona for decades. He was known to engage in bar fights and rowdy television appearances. Productions sometimes adjusted schedules to account for his unpredictable behavior. His final film appearance in ‘Gladiator’ was completed with digital effects after his death during the shoot.

Val Kilmer

Reports from the sets of ‘The Island of Dr. Moreau’ and other productions described clashes with directors and crew. Co workers cited tense exchanges that slowed filming and raised costs. The reputation for volatility followed him into later projects. He has since discussed health challenges and collaborated on a candid documentary about his life. He died in 2025.

Chevy Chase

Chase had well documented conflicts with ‘Saturday Night Live’ colleagues during returns to the show. Years later tensions on ‘Community’ escalated into public disputes with producers and cast. Reports described heated arguments that affected the working environment. The friction led to his exit before the show’s final seasons.

Bill Murray

Murray’s disagreements on the sets of ‘What About Bob?’ and ‘Groundhog Day’ became industry lore. Colleagues have described arguments and periods of silence that strained productions. More recent allegations of inappropriate behavior put projects on pause as studios investigated. Murray has issued statements addressing the complaints and the need to learn from them.

Marlon Brando

Brando’s clashes with directors and studios dated back to the 1950s and 1960s. He was known for refusing direction and stalling shoots when tempers flared. The behind the scenes turmoil on ‘Apocalypse Now’ became legendary and added to his myth. Even with the turbulence he remained one of cinema’s most influential figures.

Shannen Doherty

Doherty’s departures from ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ and ‘Charmed’ were accompanied by reports of on set conflicts. Producers cited reliability and temperament concerns during contract negotiations. Cast members recalled tense environments that affected ensemble chemistry. She later returned for reunions and acknowledged past frictions while focusing on new work.

Thomas Gibson

Gibson was dismissed from ‘Criminal Minds’ after an altercation in which he kicked a producer. The studio suspended and then terminated him following an internal review. Cast and crew adjustments were made to continue the long running series. Gibson later moved to directing and smaller screen roles.

Isaiah Washington

Washington’s exit from ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ followed an on set altercation and the use of a homophobic slur. The incident led to suspension and then a contract non renewal. Public apologies and media interviews attempted to address the fallout. He later appeared in other television projects but the controversy remained a defining chapter.

Emile Hirsch

Hirsch pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault after a 2015 incident at the Sundance Film Festival. The case resulted in a short jail sentence and community service. Projects in development paused as he addressed the legal consequences. He returned to work later with independent films and television appearances.

Will Smith

In 2022 Smith walked on stage at the Academy Awards and slapped Chris Rock during the live broadcast. He resigned from the Academy days later and the organization issued a 10 year ban on his attendance. The Film Academy publicly condemned the incident and updated event security protocols. Smith apologized and projects adjusted marketing plans while the fallout unfolded.

Kiefer Sutherland

Sutherland was arrested in 2009 after headbutting a fashion executive during a New York event. He previously served jail time related to repeated DUI offenses which intensified scrutiny of his behavior. On the set of ’24’ producers instituted stricter scheduling and security practices to keep shoots on track. He later apologized to those involved and returned to steady television work.

Wesley Snipes

Reports from ‘Blade Trinity’ described clashes with producers and on set friction that complicated the shoot. Crew members recounted communication only through notes as tensions rose. Snipes later pursued legal action over pay and creative control which extended the dispute. The experience became a reference point in discussions about difficult productions.

Jean-Claude Van Damme

Van Damme’s nightlife and substance issues in the 1990s led to public altercations and arrests that made headlines. Productions during that period reported delays linked to his volatility. He discussed those years in later interviews and credited treatment with stabilizing his work. The industry gradually welcomed him back with comeback roles and self aware appearances.

Steven Seagal

Seagal’s reputation for confrontational behavior included disputes with producers and stunt performers on multiple sets. Long running tensions with crew members were reported across several projects. Lawsuits and workplace complaints added to the perception of a volatile environment around his shoots. He continued to make films largely outside the studio system.

Tom Sizemore

Sizemore faced arrests for domestic violence and drug related violations that spilled into his professional life. Several productions paused or recast after on set incidents and probation issues. Court ordered treatment and sobriety programs became part of his public narrative. He worked intermittently when insurance bonds and schedules allowed.

Gary Busey

Busey’s outbursts on reality television and at fan events kept his temper in the public eye. Police calls and disorderly conduct citations appeared in tabloid coverage over the years. Managers and publicists often stepped in to de escalate tense encounters with press and crowds. He continued to appear at conventions and in independent productions.

Andy Dick

Dick’s string of arrests for battery and public disturbances created a long record of volatile episodes. Comedy venues and film sets sometimes banned him after confrontations with staff and audiences. Probation terms and mandated treatment were part of multiple court outcomes. He returned to work sporadically when venues agreed to strict behavior conditions.

Josh Brolin

Brolin was detained after a bar fight in 2013 and had a separate public intoxication arrest the same year. Earlier he was among several people booked during a 2008 incident in Louisiana linked to a crew gathering. He later acknowledged those episodes and described efforts to stop drinking. Since then productions have proceeded without similar disruptions.

Sean Bean

Bean was treated for a minor stab wound after a late night altercation outside a London bar in 2011. Witnesses said he refused hospital transport and returned to his drink once bandaged. Earlier bar dust ups had already built a hard living image in the UK press. He continued to book major roles as the incidents faded from the news cycle.

Mark Wahlberg

Wahlberg’s teenage years included violent assaults that resulted in criminal convictions and time in custody. He has petitioned for pardons and discussed the incidents as part of his past. The early record followed him into the start of his acting career and drew renewed coverage with each petition. He later focused on production work and philanthropy alongside acting.

Nicolas Cage

Cage was arrested in New Orleans in 2011 after a drunken dispute that led to disorderly conduct charges. The charges were later dropped but the episode triggered a flood of media coverage. Other public outbursts during the same period reinforced a narrative of volatility. He continued working steadily in independent features that earned strong festival attention.

Cuba Gooding Jr.

Gooding Jr. was arrested in 2012 after an incident in a New Orleans bar where a staff member reported being shoved. Later years brought multiple misdemeanor groping charges in New York that kept him in court. Appearances and press events were curtailed while cases moved forward. He returned to stage and screen work after resolving several matters.

Jared Padalecki

Padalecki was arrested in 2019 in Austin following a reported altercation at a nightclub he co owned. Video from the scene circulated online and showed a physical struggle near the entrance. He later addressed the incident with fans and resumed filming commitments. Local authorities released him after processing and the case drew short lived headlines.

Shah Rukh Khan

Khan was involved in a confrontation with security staff at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium in 2012. The city’s cricket authorities issued a temporary stadium ban following the incident. He disputed the account while accepting the ban as part of the resolution. The episode remains one of the most cited flashpoints in his otherwise controlled public image.

Terrence Howard

Howard has been sued multiple times over alleged violent altercations and has acknowledged past domestic disputes in interviews. Studio negotiations were complicated by recurring headlines that raised insurance concerns. He later emphasized personal growth and faith while continuing television work. The public record of confrontations remains a prominent part of his history.

T.J. Miller

Miller faced accusations of on set outbursts and was arrested in 2018 after a false report of a bomb threat on a train. The federal case led to probation and a fine. Projects adjusted casting and promotion while legal proceedings played out. He shifted focus to stand up dates and voice work after the court outcome.

Tom Hardy

Reports from ‘Lawless’ described a physical confrontation with Shia LaBeouf that both actors later addressed publicly. Journalists also noted tense exchanges at press events when questions turned adversarial. Directors who worked with him acknowledged the intensity he brings to set and the need for clear boundaries. Despite flare ups he remained in demand for major productions.

Eric Roberts

Roberts was arrested in the early 1990s after domestic disputes and drug related incidents that drew heavy coverage. The arrests coincided with a slide from leading roles to supporting parts. He completed treatment programs and later spoke about long term recovery. A surge of independent film work followed as he rebuilt his career.

Rhys Ifans

Ifans was arrested in 2011 after a backstage confrontation at Comic Con events tied to promotional duties. He received a citation and was released with a warning. Earlier rowdy behavior in public settings had already earned him a bad boy label in the British press. He continued to land character roles in major films and television.

Share your thoughts below on which stories surprised you most and which moments you remember best.