Josh Hartnett
Josh Hartnett was making his way to the celebrity A-lists in the late 90s after classics like The Faculty, The Virgin Suicides, and Halloween 2. But he really hit it big in the 2000s – playing a lead character in the box-office hit Pearl Harbor alongside Ben Affleck.
Hartnett was offered several big roles in Hollywood, which he literally turned down. Why? The humble boy from Minnesota wasn’t interested in commercial hits anymore but rather leaned toward much smaller, indie movie roles like The Black Dahlia and Wicker Park.
January Jones
January Jones, AKA Betty Draper from "Mad Men" never quite seemed to transcend her iconic TV role from the hit show. While the actress has managed to get parts she hasn't really achieved success in changing her status to a serious Hollywood actress. Even though Hollywood initially wanted her to be.
This is partly due to her supposedly stuck-up attitude, making her unapproachable. That probably explains why she didn't get the role she once really wanted: The role of Violet Sanford in "Coyote Ugly."
Ron Perlman
As a Marvel favorite, "Hellboy," or Ron Perlman, fans couldn't wait for the third installment of the beloved comic adaptation. But then, after a sudden twist of events, it all fell through, and Ron Perlman lost out.
Perhaps we all misread the fan response? Perhaps everyone was, in fact, rooting for someone else. There was some talk of Perlman even landing the role of Cable in Deadpool 2, but again he lost. Are we over Ron Perlman? Seems so.
Freddie Prinze Jr.
Anyone who lived through the 90s will remember when the horror classic I Know What You Did Last Summer hit theaters. One of the things they’ll most remember is its lead hunk, Freddie Prinze Jr. This role catapulted Freddie to stardom, making him a teen icon and securing dozens of film projects.
However, as is common among actors who started with these teen heartthrob roles, Freddie found it hard to move on to more serious dramas. His career hit a wall, and he decided to focus on family life until he starred in another 90s classic, She’s All That. Eventually, he gave up acting altogether.
Ryan Phillipe
Ryan Phillipe was one of the 90s’ favorite teenage hunks, especially after that saucy role in Cruel Intentions. His combination of a pretty baby face and a chiseled body made him an instant star. Everyone had high hopes for Phillipe, but apparently, Hollywood also had trouble seeing more than a cute baby face.
To make matters worse, when his marriage with Reese Witherspoon ended in 2007, his celebrity status took another hit. After that, Phillipe seemed to have left Hollywood altogether and decided to dedicate his time to charity work.