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10 Times Hollywood Stars Made a Legendary Comeback – Watch Their Best Performances

  • February 10, 2025
  • 9 minute read
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Hollywood loves a good comeback story. One moment, a star fades into the background, and the next, they are back in the spotlight, stealing the show like they never left. Whether it is a career-saving role, a shocking transformation, or a performance that leaves everyone speechless, these stars fought their way back to the top—and they did it in style.  

From unexpected Oscar winners to actors who went from forgotten to fan favorites, these legendary comebacks are proof that Hollywood is full of surprises. 

John Travolta

John Travolta ruled the ’70s with hits like Grease

and Saturday Night Fever,

but by the early 90s,  his career had cooled off

, with roles in lighthearted comedies like Look Who’s Talking

. Then came Pulp Fiction,

when Quentin Tarantino took a chance on Travolta, casting him as Vincent Vega in the 1994 cult classic, and it changed everything.

His slick, impressive performance as Vincent Vega earned him an Oscar nomination and put him back on Hollywood’s A-list

. Speaking of the film during its 30th anniversary, Travolta even told Variety that Pulp Fiction was a “next-level, upper echelon opportunity.”

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Kiefer Sutherland

After a brief hiatus in the late ’90s, during which he reportedly pursued his other interests like cattle ranching, Kiefer Sutherland made an impressive comeback in 2001 taking on the role of Jack Bauer in the groundbreaking series 24

. The real-time format of the show and the compelling performance of Sutherland helped revive his career, and Jack Bauer became one of the iconic characters in television history. 

Rob Lowe

In the late 1980s, Rob Lowe’s career faced a major setback due to a scandal involving an alleged s– tape with two women, one of whom was 16 years old. This brought him under severe public scrutiny and personal reflection. Lowe reportedly credits this difficult period as a catalyst for his sobriety and personal growth. He sought help, embraced sobriety, and gradually rebuilt his career coming back with notable roles in television series such as The West Wing

and Parks and Recreation

.

Betty White

After her memorable roles in The Mary Tyler Moore Show

 and The Golden Girls

, Betty White experienced a period of relative quiet in the late 90s and early 2000s

before a remarkable resurgence. In 2009, she delighted fans with her performance in The Proposal

, sharing the screen with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds

. 

A year later, a Super Bowl Snickers commercial featuring White became quite the hit and sparked a Facebook campaign, leading to her hosting Saturday Night Live

in 2010 at the age of 88. This performance earned her a Primetime Emmy Award,

also introducing her to a new generation of fans. She then starred in the sitcom Hot in Cleveland

, further cementing her status as an iconic star of the ages.

Joaquin Phoenix

Joaquin Phoenix’s story in Hollywood is a tale of transformation. After stepping away from acting in the late 2000s for an experimental project, he made a great comeback with outstanding performances in The Master 

and Her

. His role as the Joker in 2019 earned him an Academy Award

as well as his place as one of the finest professionals in the field. 

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore’s career is a story of survival and rebirth. She had captured the hearts of the viewers in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

, but personal issues almost derailed her career

. The mid-1990s was when she staged an incredible comeback. In 1995, she appeared in Boys on the Side

, playing a free-spirited young woman with Whoopi Goldberg and Mary-Louise Parker. 

The following year, Barrymore took on a pivotal role in Wes Craven’s Scream

, delivering a memorable performance that set the tone for the film. Barrymore’s comeback continued with hits like The Wedding Singer

 and Charlie’s Angels

,

solidifying her status as a loved actress and producer. 

Matthew McConaughey

The early 2010s marked a great shift in the career of Matthew McConaughey. Having been a household name for romantic comedies in the 2000s, he began to look for more serious and challenging roles. In

2013, Matthew McConaughey delivered a transformative performance as Ron Woodroof, a cowboy diagnosed with AIDS, in Dallas Buyers Club

.

For this role, he even won the Academy Award for Best Actor. That same year, he breathed life into the mystery tale of the charming Rust Cohle in HBO’s True Detective

. 

Jason Bateman

Jason Bateman went from a teen star in the ‘80s, known for roles in Little House on the Prairie

 and The Hogan Family

, to nearly disappearing in the ‘90s after struggling to transition into adult roles.

His career took a major turn in 2003 when he starred as Michael Bluth in Arrested Development

, a role that earned him a Golden Globe and revived his Hollywood status. 

From there, he took off, cementing his place with standout performances in films like Juno

, Up in the Air

, and Horrible Bosses

, and more recent hit performances in Ozark

and Carry-On

proving his versatility in both comedy and drama. 

Neil Patrick Harris

Neil Patrick Harris went from being the loved child star of Doogie Howser, M.D.

to facing years of career stagnation. His big comeback began in 2008 with Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog

, a cult-favorite web series

that reignited his popularity. This led him to the more iconic role in How I Met Your Mother

 as Barney Stinson which made him a household name and not to forget won him multiple Emmy nominations. 

He did not stop there, taking this talent to the Broadway stage for a Tony Award-winning performance of Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch

. 

Robert Downey Jr.

You might be surprised to know that Robert Downey Jr.

celebrated as Iron Man now, was suffering from personal and legal problems in the early 2000s, and it seemed that his career had hit rock bottom. However, with the help of friends like Mel Gibson, who reportedly supported him during this difficult period

, and his own unwavering talent, Downey began his climb back. While roles like Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

showcased his potential, it was his casting as Tony Stark in Iron Man

 that catapulted him back to superstardom. 

Some of these stars delivered performances that left audiences in awe, proving that talent never truly fades. Others reinvented themselves in unexpected ways, taking on roles no one saw coming or stepping into projects that reshaped their careers overnight. But one thing is certain—Hollywood loves a great redemption arc, and so do fans! 

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Which legendary comeback left the biggest impression on you? Do you have a favorite performance from any of these stars? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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