Top 10 Oscar Winning Actors Who Fell off the Map

They won the Oscar and then fell off the map. For this list, we’ll be looking at people who had relatively lower visibility in the mainstream after winning the Academy Award for acting. Our countdown includes Mo'Nique, Gene Hackman, Richard Dreyfuss, and more! Which Oscar winner would YOU like to see more of? Let us know in the comments!
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MsMojo is a leading producer of reference online video content of Top 10 Lists, Origins, Biographies, Commentary and more on Pop Culture, Celebrity, Movies, Music, TV, Film, Video Games, Politics, News, Comics, Superheroes. Your trusted authority on ranking Pop Culture.
#OffTheMap #AcademyAwards #Awards #OscarWinner#wherearetheynow

[@MsMojo]

Which Oscar winner would YOU like to see more of? Let us know below, and check out our video of the Top 10 Youngest Oscar Nominees of All Time - kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3rQnJJthLqjaKs

[@justineves3588]

Most of them

[@nikkiajackson1413]

@@justineves3588❤p❤

[@lexjim9949]

Gene Hackman didn't fell of the map...he retired after a long fruitful career, he's entitled to. and after both oscars he did many good movies.

[@siddaye]

@lexjim9949 you mean fall

[@jmcb00]

The term means leaving without notice which he did

[@katherinearmstrong1229]

Gene Hackman had a long and distinguished career. He did not fall off the map.

[@angelaholmes8888]

Yeah exactly he is happily retired

[@Omar-wq9dz]

Speaking of Richard Dreyfuss, I know he’s been in things like American Graffiti, Jaws, Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, Stakeout, What About Bob, and The American President, but an underrated movie he did which everyone should check out is Mr. Holland’s Opus

[@debbabe2254]

Actually, "The Goodbye Girl" was Dreyfus' comeback role

[@lynnenewell2016]

Mr. Holland's Opus was an amazing movie. I'm sad that Richard couldn't get with the rest of the world on diversity, especially because back then diversity was about different nationalities. It showed him to be Racist. There's one amazing role he never gets credit for, Stand by Me. He narrated the entire movie.

[@bbrown333]

It's literally mentioned in the video...

[@davidmontroy3408]

As I was reading your comment, I was hoping you were working your way to Mr Holland's Opus. Absolutely underrated.

[@lynnenewell2016]

What is literally mentioned in the movie?

[@iDontShareMyData]

Gene Hackman "Fell off the MAP?!?!?" He was active in Hollywood, Broadway and television for OVER SIXTY YEARS! He has been in EIGHTY films, eight television shows and nine plays! Hackman has received two Academy Awards (and 3 further nominations), TEN Film critic awards (and FIFTEEN further nominations), two BAFTA Awards (and 3 further nominations), four Golden Globes (and FIVE further nominations), three National Board of Review Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and the Silver Bear. Further to that, as a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps, he received six medals before a motorcycle accident caused him to retire as a disabled veteran. "Fell off the map" my a$$

[@elephantbluepeter]

Kim Basinger should've been on this list.

[@shonda79able]

Yes

[@angelaholmes8888]

Gene hackman is happily retired from acting and seems content with his life

[@oobrocks]

It was unfair to mention Hackman; the man simply retired

[@trinaq]

Timothy Hutton gave a fantastic performance as a grieving teenager. I always wondered why he was nominated for "Best Supporting Actor", when Conrad is undeniably the main protagonist, being just as important as his parents.

[@Terahnee]

Yup. He got done dirty. I'm still pissed the accusation meant his character was written out of Leverage Redemption.

[@annbsirius1703]

Because he was the newcomer vs. Donald Sutherland who had top billing.

[@victorcoutinho156]

They placed him in the supporting category to avoid competing against de Niro in Raging Bull. It worked !!

[@TimeIdle]

I@@Terahnee If he got done clean he wouldn't have won an Oscar.

[@Terahnee]

@@TimeIdle I meant the more recent issue, his character on Leverage being killed off.

[@megalon73]

Mira Sorvino deserves a lot new roles after what that Monster did to her. Is that his gone from Hollywood. She can make a big comeback.

[@doloressanchez5256]

She does faith based films now. You can see her in the mega hit Sound of Freedom

[@lordalessan]

I was so appalled and disappointed over what happened to her. I always thought having a famous dad would've saved her but it didn't.

[@megalon73]

@@lordalessan To me, this is gonna sound sad when you read it. But I never knew about her. Now I know why! But I’m thank goodness it all over for her.

[@AngeliqueStP]

@@lordalessan Yeah, ...and to be frank, I would have LOVED to see Paul Sorvino dip back into his Mafia role days and do a little 'method acting' and give ol' Harv 'a right tune-up.' 😉

[@Denis-89]

She is not that great of an actress, sadly. She won the Oscar on a fluke for playing a shallow character with no depth. Kate Winslet should easily have won Oscar that year for a much more complex role. Most of her roles since that have not been demanding either

[@amarionspeights3063]

Monique really played her part for precious

[@HumanTarget211]

I'm surprised Hilary Swank didn't make this list.

[@bloopertanooki415]

Indeed. She was a wonderful actress and a DOUBLE best main role Oscar winner. I heard she steeped down out of a personal choice though.

[@angelaholmes8888]

Mira sorvino is a brilliant actress glad her career is on the come up

[@welcometothemovies9157]

Her career didn't fall off. It got Weinsteined

[@samanthab1923]

Weinstein went after her. Tarrentino dated her. He should have helped

[@welcometothemovies9157]

@samanthab1923 one of things that I don't respect about him was that he didn't see how big of a POS Weinstein was.

[@angelaholmes8888]

@@samanthab1923 wow I didn't know that mira dated him

[@angelaholmes8888]

@@welcometothemovies9157 yes I know that

[@michaelmonthey5974]

You should have mentioned F. Murray Abraham. After winning an Oscar for his performance in Amadeus, Hollywood hasn’t offered him much quality leading roles ever since, limiting his career to supporting roles and theatre work.

[@vhagerty]

His role in Amadeus was absolute beauty. 😊

[@kellie-nd1yp]

And yet it’s one of the best lead actor wins. I think maybe he’s a natural character actor so I don’t know. I think he can fit into a variety of different roles maybe just not as memorable as his Oscar winning role.

[@tommy9758]

So many names: Brenda Fricker, Cuba Gooding Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kim Basinger..

[@kellie-nd1yp]

It's one of the best performences too by Abraham .

[@raymondtitano3819]

I believe he was okay with how things turned out. I seem to recall in an interview, him saying that after the Oscars, he still managed to get lots of work but could still ride the subway without being recognized.

[@blackguyofthesouth2161]

Dianne Wiest won two Oscars by Allen, but she didnt get a mention

[@t221000]

WEird right?

[@singstreetcar5881]

She was in I care alot

[@bbsdollsandtvarchive]

Mo'Nique really deserved more roles.

[@Outlier999]

As what? A dirigible? There were no roles for her. Movies are about attractive people.

[@kershabeaver3312]

​@@Outlier999wow that's a lie blow

[@kershabeaver3312]

@@passing_bye5991 no she didn't

[@AngeliqueStP]

[You're Goddamn Right .gif]

[@AngeliqueStP]

@@Outlier999 Envy is never a good look, darling... Get BETTER, not BITTER.

[@jamesszymanski1814]

Timothy Hutton was wonderful in The Haunting of Hill House. He's been in many projects, it's not like he fell off the map.

[@Outlier999]

His current work is obscure. Leverage was a lousy show. Most syndicated series are.

[@samanthab1923]

I don’t know what happened to his career

[@user-wp9gu5ei7k]

Mira Sorvino deserves better ❤😢

[@sfincher9737]

Overall, good picks but Hackman and Dreyfus? Nah. They didn’t disappear at all.

[@peterfrank3365]

Scorsese, at a point, considered Hackman to be narrator for 'The Wolf of Wall Street'. Also, I don't think he's ever fallen from the map.

[@jrstarflippen]

Mo’Nique has made a comeback

[@makeupyourmind2019]

Benigni is still very much on the map in Italy. He’s been on the map there since way before the rest of the world ever heard his name.

[@waittillfamewtf2385]

Marlee Matlin - "Children of a Lesser God"

[@alexmeyer5260]

She's continually worked since she won her Oscar. She was even in the Best Picture winner CODA.

[@Outlier999]

@@alexmeyer5260She hasn’t done much recently. It’s not that all of these former stars aren’t acting anymore. It’s that many of them have been relegated to minor roles and obscure films.

[@digidv85]

I’m glad you featured Timothy Hutton and Mira Sorvino. Hutton I’ve only seen in obscure movies: The General’s Daughter, City of Industry, Playing God, Secret Window and When a Man Falls in the Forest. Sorvino was the same for me: The Replacement Killers, The Grey Zone, Mimic and Reservation Road. Linda Hunt is another worth mentioning, The Relic is the sole film I ever saw her in.

[@sherriscook3674]

Linda Hunt has been in many great movies…my favorite is “Silverado” with Kevin Klein, Danny Glover, young Kevin Costner and many other great actors…”Kindergarten Cop” another great movie in my opinion…💜💜💜

[@paulojrneto]

I saw Mira in Lulu On The Bridge.

[@digidv85]

@@sherriscook3674 Huh. I saw Kindergarten Cop as a kid decades ago. Only two things I can remember at this moment while thinking back on it. The first is Arnie raging in the classroom while the students are screaming uncontrollably. The second is a woman repeatedly shooting Arnie with a revolver while asking “Where’s my grandson?” as he answers “I don’t know.” Was Hunt the one doing that? Honestly can’t recall.

[@sherriscook3674]

@@digidv85 Linda Hunt was the school principal…u might remember the scene after Arnie decked the little boy’s abusive father and the principal asked Arnie how did it feel?? And then she does a fist pump after Arnie leaves her office? One of my fav scenes…

[@digidv85]

@@sherriscook3674 Hard for me to say. I haven’t seen the movie since. I’ll check it out again for nostalgia whenever possible.

[@tarahoughton1370]

Timothy Hutton was wonderful in The Haunting of Hill House... You forgot to mention.

[@trinaq]

Poor Tatum O'Neal, it just goes to show that being thrust into the spotlight at such a young age can cause a lot of problems further down the line. I hope that she makes a full recovery from her stroke.

[@TRUECRIMESPTV]

No her probably was her father being a POS.

[@angelaholmes8888]

@@TRUECRIMESPTV yep exactly he totally is 💯😡

[@ingvarhallstrom2306]

The moment they watched tv and he realized she was nominated for an Academy Award and he wasn't he punched her in the stomach. That's the kind of person he was.

[@cydkriletich6538]

I don’t know avout specifics for Tatum (one of the cutest names for a girl!), but her father was one f’ed up dude, and her beautiful mother was a raging alcoholic. How was she supposed to be anything better? But…she was. Had her struggles, but she’s still here!

[@cydkriletich6538]

It has long been known that many who have won Oscars have not gone on to great careers on the screen. However, many moved on to what is considered real acting, Broadway.

[@michaelmonthey5974]

God bless Harold Russell.

[@Outlier999]

Gene Hackman is 93 years old as of today. What do you expect? French Connection III?

[@elizemuller5065]

French Connection: The Final Chapter!

[@vhagerty]

French Connection: The early bird special 😊

[@Outlier999]

@@elizemuller5065 Wiseguy.

[@sherrybowen4432]

A stupid choice. He is an acting legend.

[@debbabe2254]

#1 should have been Louise Rainer. Back to back Oscar winner who all but disappeared.

[@RhaegarTargaryen1st]

@@blackguyofthesouth2161 No, she won twice: "The Great Ziegfeld" (1936) and "The Good Earth" (1937).

[@blackguyofthesouth2161]

​@@RhaegarTargaryen1stmy bad, I misread it as "Louise Fletcher" I knew "Luise" Rainer had won twice.

[@diegocool20]

Great video guys! Should make one that mentions also foreign nominees who algo disappeared. Trust me, there are a bunch.

[@Lgevirtz]

Sorry, but you missed on this one. Where are Cuba Gooding Jr. and especially F. Murray Abraham?!? And of couorse the immortal Luise Rainer!

[@samkresil6011]

Brendan Fraser also apparently fell off the map after getting blacklisted before he eventually won an Oscar this year for his comeback performance in The Whale.

[@angelaholmes8888]

I feel bad for monique she didn't deserve to get blackballed

[@elizemuller5065]

Gene Hackman is 93, dude, what are you doing telling us he fell of the map? Most people reach retirement age at 60-65, I would think he qualifies to be called "retired"!

[@allys744]

If I worked in Hollywood, I’d rather have a fruitful career, lots of memorable performances under my belt and yet no Oscar or nominations than a performer with a collection of accolades and yet no fans who care about my work. In the end, it’s the quality that counts. Awards should come as a bonus to success

[@MrGabeanator]

When I saw this video I immediately thought of Mercedes Ruehl

[@navidhudson7065]

Mira Sorvino didn't deserve what happened to her. I'm glad Sound of Freedom put her in the spotlight again, she deserves more roles after this. Romy and Michele is one of the greatest comedies, I also love her in At First Sight. I never got why Benigni was so beloved to the point of him winning best actor over Edward Norton for American History X that year, I'll never get over that. He's an example of a one trick pony. Other examples should be Kim Basinger and Cuba Gooding Jr.

[@TanakaSigauke]

The is a rare thing no one talks about lmao

[@denniswright4893]

IMO, Louis Fletcher (One Flew Over the Kukoo’s Nest) or Adrien Brody (The Pianist) should be on this list instead of Gene Hackman.

[@rachelmckitterick]

I am so glad you added black and white movies to this list. I love them.

[@mixedmedia330]

It's also the 15th anniversary Roy Schneider died.

[@kimberlywiederhold627]

Just for the hell of it let's ruin someone's career. Not only do they not regret it, they're proud of it. As for Mr. Dreyfus' statement about the Oscar's new rules he is 1000% correct.

[@gmt-5est803]

I would enjoy seeing more work from Mira Sorvino. I remember seeing Mighty Aphrodite in the theater a (very) long time ago and also my harmless little crush on her afterwards. I don't recall what she had done immediately following her well-deserved Oscar win. Of course there was Mimic, Romy and Michelle, and The Replacement Killers where she got to kick ass, which was fun. She's such a beautiful lady and has the talent to carry a film. Unfortunately, she's been passed over by the Hollyweird cults; likely because she can and does think for herself and hasn't gotten in the weeds over the very real culture war being waged here in the US and many other western countries. For that, I say good for her. I can't imagine she's struggling financially, being Paul Sorvino's daughter and all.

[@jeannehall6546]

All good, but others worth mentioning are Jean Dujardin, Frances McDormand, Sir Daniel Day-Lewis, Luise Rainer, and Dr. Haing S. Ngor.

[@outinsider]

Daniel Day-Lewis had a renaissance with There Will Be Blood (2007) and Lincoln (2012), but he did retire after his last film. To my knowledge, when he wasn't given award-winning performances, he was cobbling shoes in Ireland. Frances McDormand recently had a revival with Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri (2017) and Nomadland (2020). Dr. Haing S. Ngor, despite being the first, and until recently, only Asian actor to win Best Supporting Actor for The Killing Game (1984), was murdered in 1996. Jean Dujardin still has an active career in French cinema. Luise Rainer lived until 104, passing away in 2014, but only made a couple of movies after leaving MGM in the early 1940s. She said it was the best choice she could make, but then again, she coined the term "Oscar curse."

[@animation1300]

I got a good request. Top 10 Stars who both appeared in Disney and Dreamworks Animation Films

[@TheSilverphoenix88]

Really? They didn’t include Adrien Brody? Really?

[@justineves3588]

Very very great epic list I like it a lot very very great job mis mojo one of my absolute favorite list ever 😊❤

[@Animeguy300]

Top 10 Animated Oscar winners

[@kellie-nd1yp]

Mira is my favorite here in general she is one of my favorite Oscar wins. She’s in a film I don’t find interesting apart from her. It’s an almost impossible part to get just right but she does it. Hopefully she will be in more projects she was one who suffered because of HW. Timothy Hutton has been in films and series but he had an early success it can be hard to top. Harold Russell wasn’t an actor and didn’t plan on it I am guessing but he’s in a real classic . I love that film.

[@helengorham9408]

Just because an actor/actress hasn't been in film, doesn't mean they aren't working. Timothy Hutton gave a great performance in Leverage and Kidnapped.

[@NCTStudio]

Gene was the chad of this list. He never fell off and stayed true to his craft until retirement.

[@jd-zr3vk]

Josephine Hull was 70 something whn she won her Oscar and returned to stage plays. That is hardly fading into obscurity.

[@dmr1537]

What about Glenda Jackson? She won 2 Oscars in the 1970s, but nobody seems to remember her. Does it mean that she fell off the map?

[@batgurrl]

Well before ‘me too’ or Harvey Weinstein or Oprah, for decades there was something called The Oscar Curse. Gene Hackman is too elderly to work. A huge exception, thankfully was Anna Paquin, who also won best supporting actress as a pre adolescent. She became a superstar as Sookie Stackhouse as the star of HBO’s True Blood and in the First few X-Men movies as Rogue

[@tomcat630]

Opposite happened to Goldie Hawn, her early Oscar helped her career. "Un-Cursed"

[@c.d.macaulay66]

Mercedes Reuhl is the BOMB as an actress.

[@tinas_hotdog_sophie]

There is supposedly a curse on the Best Supporting Actress Oscar. I saw it with Renée Zellweger. Hight of her career, after the win all the movies flopped or went unnoticed.

[@Pure_B]

Louise Fletcher should be on this list.

[@theorderofthebees7308]

Louis Gosset Jr should be included on this list he got an Oscar for an officer and a gentleman and that was it

[@jonstreng7850]

Thank you for this category. I have often wondered what happened to Mira Sorvino. I didn't see her Oscar winning performance but I loved her in Romy and Michele's High School Reunion. I guess that was the problem. Maybe she should not have done comedy.

[@lovemealways7]

Wow Richard Dreyfuss the last movie I remember seeing him in was the opening scene in piranha

[@JeffreyDeCristofaro]

I wouldn't say they dropped off the map entirely - it's more a case of "going under the radar." Sooner or later, usually after a few misses or a prolonged hiatus, they come floating right back to the surface.

[@therealangelosettler]

If y'all do another one I would include Jean Duiardin winning best actor for the artist

[@OscarMPG1]

#10 Shame on Oprah, Tyler, And Lee for blacklisting her #7 Edward Norton should've won that award #6 Gene Hackman didn't fall off the map. He did good movies afterwards and retired on his own terms #5 Judd Hirsch should've won that award #4 Two words that derailed her. HARVEY WEINSTEIN #2 he didn't fall off the map. And he's RIGHT about the Oscar diversity guidelines

[@chelseacanales8763]

I wouldn’t say that these actors fall off the map from Hollywood, they just wanted to focus on something else besides acting.

[@williamtaylor4165]

Tatum O'Neal didn't retire professionally but she did walk away from acting.

[@t221000]

Your #1 should be Colin Firth. He won best actor in 2011 and how many popular movies has he been in since?

[@marvelfan8996]

I grew up watching life is beautiful. Would love to see him back on the big screen one day

[@rony41165]

How about anna paquin, sandra bullock, forrest witacker,

[@bbrown333]

Um....F. Murray Abraham? Jo Van Fleet?

[@Jewelthecrazyhorse]

Yes!! Jo got her Oscar over Susan Hayward (who should be mentioned here too…) for the SAME MOVIE and then went away 😞 F. Murray Abraham is way underrated too.

[@heymistercarter.]

I'd also suggest Melissa Leo. She won Best Supporting Actress for The Fighter, but hasn't appeared in that many high profile roels since her win. She's probably more known for dropping the F-bomb on the Oscars stage than anything she's done after her win.

[@princejohn6560]

F. Murray Abraham and Adrien Brody should occupy the two top spots in this list. Both won best actor only to fade into obscurity. Abraham was even quoted as saying that he expected his phone to ring off the hook after his win but found only silence.

[@barriolimbas]

Helen Hunt

[@laurenpurdy2694]

Hilary Swank? Come on....

[@nohandle1028]

I remember seeing the movie Best Years of Our Lives with my family when I was a kid. My dad told me the story of Harold Russell, having me believe that the movie could have been based on own his experiences! It was an amazing movie, and he well deserved that Oscar!

[@shayd1984triton]

Should've mentioned Tatum O'Neal played Maggie Gavin on rescue me.

[@blackamerican40]

Where's Olympia Dukakis? 😮

[@brianc.1149]

Wasn't Josephine Hull one of the sisters in Arsenic and Old Lace? Was thar film prior to Harvey? I would imagine she is much better known for that role than for Harvey (I understand this is for awards won). Just curious if that is the case.

[@BenSkyLakewood]

Gene Hackman is in his 90s let the man retire and enjoy his version of Lex Luthor etc..

[@JKElemenopi]

This was the first Mojo I didn't fully agree with. You had some solid actors who have had solid careers like Dreyfus and Hackman and others who didn't make the list like George Chakiris. He shoulda been @ least # 2.

[@janiceweaver6945]

Timothy Hutton (The Haunting of Hill House) and Mira Sorvino (American Crime Story) - what are you talking about???? Gene Hackman didn't fall "off the map". What about Justin Henry?

[@billkeil716]

Helen Hunt ?

[@jonathangill6584]

Mira Sorvino on the upswing? I wouldn’t call a 45-sec role in a propaganda film an “upswing” 😂

[@1GGstube]

Wait why did Terry Gilliam write that letter to her? You can't mention that and not give an answer

[@mcberry2521]

Monique was right

[@rony41165]

How about joel grey

[@alessandrodamiani1867]

4:58 actually Roberto Benigni's Pinocchio was nominated for multiple Razzies (6) but won only one for worst actor for him and his English voice Breckin Meyer.

[@zidvicious6047]

Halle Berry?

[@apoorvasolanki8124]

Why meera sarvino her magic is still there with me.

[@nicktaylor2657]

Kinda unfair to include Richard Dreyfuss He had most of his success before Mr Holland Opus

[@jasper5016]

Gene hackman worked in lots of movies after that. I would suggest the name of Kathy Bates.

[@alexmeyer5260]

Kathy Bates is still actively working. She hasn't fallen off the map at all.

[@AngeliqueStP]

@@alexmeyer5260 She was amazing in Titanic and American Horror Story.

[@annbsirius1703]

Technically Gene Hackman fell off the map. After retiring from a long and successful career. I think Kim Basinger would've been a better fit for the spirit of this list.

[@johnnolan5579]

This entire video makes no sense. To 'fall off the map' means to completely disappear. Very few of these performers have not been consistently working in some major projects. Not everything one appears in is going to be a raging success, but many of these projects have been successful.

[@106andie]

Gene Hackman shouldn’t be on this list, he retired after a long career.

[@welcometothemovies9157]

Mira Sorvino career didn't fall off. Weinstein and friends stomped her career

[@SirAsdf]

What the hell are you talking about? Gene Hackman had one of the most successful careers of his time!

[@xxbobsetsfirexx4269]

You know who else has fallen off? Sidney Poitier..Haven't seen him in in anything in forever..what's Jimmy Cagney been up too? Gregory Peck? Humphery Bogart has done NOTHING in decades.. James Dean started off great..what has he done? Wheres Jack Nicholson? Joe Pesci has only had 1 minor role in decades...losers just like Hackman..

[@ashtontk-rw7mo]

I wouldn't say they fell off the map.

[@tucucciolo1]

Gene Hackman? After The French Connection, There was The Poseiden Adventure, Superman. In the 80's there was Hoosiers, Mississippi Burning, No Way Out. The 90's were successful too...he shouldn't be in this list....

[@omarbillano8278]

Didn’t fall off the map.

[@samkresil6011]

Kevin Spacey (The Usual Suspects and American Beauty) and Sean Connery (The Untouchables)