Apart from some small roles here and there, Rumer Willis was mostly known for being the beautiful daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis. Until she stole the show in ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ that is.
During the show’s 20th season, in 2015, Rumer partnered with talented dancer Valentin Chmerkovskiy. Not only did they receive perfect scores for almost all their routines, but they also won first place that season!
Jerry Springer — Season 3
Back in 2006, the late, great Jerry Springer decided to take a small break from his hectic life as TV host of his Show, which, let’s face it, is not exactly relaxing, and decided to join in the third season of 'Dancing With the Stars.'
Alongside professional dance partner Kym Johnson, Jerry won fifth place, which was much more than anyone had expected. Jerry had a very adorable ulterior motive for joining the show, though – he wanted to learn the waltz so he could dance at his daughter’s wedding. Aw, Jer!
Drew Lachey – Seasons 2 & 15
Maybe at first, you won’t recognize the name, but the surname surely rings a bell. Drew Lachey, brother of the famous Nick Lachey, was a singer in the boy band 98 Degrees. He saw some fame in the late 90s with his band, but he really dazzled in his appearance on two seasons of 'Dancing With the Stars.'
In fact, Drew and his dance partner Cheryl Burke won first place in 'Dancing With the Stars’ second season. He may have been a short-lived pop star, but he’s a pro when it comes to Paso Doble and freestyle.
Mario Lopez – Season 3
Since being cast as A.C. Slater in 'Saved by the Bell,' Mario Lopez has had a long run in the world of Hollywood. He’s had his own reality TV show, hosted numerous shows, acted in various sitcoms, and won second place in 'Dancing With the Stars.'
Nowadays, you’d be more likely to see him hosting a show, but back in 2006, Lopez competed alongside professional dancer and then-girlfriend Karina Smirnoff. And second place is nothing to be sad about!
Jennie Garth – Season 5
Jennie Garth took the 90s by storm as the gorgeous blonde in 'Beverly Hills 90210' and then later in the popular American sitcom, 'What I Like About You.' Even years after the original release of 90210, Garth made an appearance in the series reunion of 2019 and saw that crazy fame all over again.
But somewhere between the two, in 2007, Garth made another TV appearance in 'Dancing With the Stars' season 5. She partnered up with professional dancer hunk Derek Hough. The beautiful blonde duo made it to the semi-finals and were very close to winning first place.
Lil Kim – Season 8
Lil Kim made it big and topped the charts in 2001 with her ‘Lady Marmalade’ video, alongside Christina Aguilera, Pink, and Mya, which was used as the soundtrack for the 'Moulin Rouge!' film.
Eight years later, Lil Kim appeared on screens again during her competition in season eight of 'Dancing With the Stars.' She partnered with Derek Hough but, unfortunately, only made it to fifth place. We still love you, Kim!
Steve-O – Season 8
Yup, Steve-O from 'Jackass' was on the eighth season of 'Dancing With the Stars.' Surprisingly, he behaved very well throughout most of the show. Although he did have some bizarre accidents that he claims held him back.
He claimed he was suffering from back spasms and pinched nerves that didn’t allow him to dance properly. Then, he got injured during the second week of the show when he fell over a microphone pack. Crazy to think this guy used to get bruised as part of his livelihood, and now he complains of back spasms. Guess one probably led to the other.
Kelly Osbourne – Season 9
We first met the Prince of Darkness's little girl on the famous MTV reality TV show 'The Osbournes.' Kelly Osbourne was a punky, rebellious teenager back then, and she often got on your nerves with her spoiled attitude.
However, fast forward to 2009, and Kelly gave a gorgeous dancing performance in season nine of 'Dancing With the Stars.' She partnered up with Louis van Amstel and won third place in the ballroom competition. Good for you, Kelly!
Melissa Joan Hart – Season 9
Melissa Joan Hart has been on our TV screens since 1991 when she first appeared as Clarissa in the famous Nickelodeon series 'Clarissa Explains It All.' Then, she got her breakthrough role as Sabrina the teenage witch, which lasted from 1996 to 2003.
But many don’t know that six years after the show ended, the teenage witch competed in 'Dancing With the Stars.' She paired up with Mark Ballas and gave it her all, but sadly placed ninth in the competition. Although no one is likely to forget her sweet performance anytime soon.
Nicole Scherzinger – Season 10
Apart from being a total knockout, Nicole Scherzinger made a name for herself as the lead singer for the extremely popular girl group, Pussycat Dolls. One year after the group decided to take a break from showbiz, Nicole went on 'Dancing With the Stars' and gave an incredible performance.
Of course, this Hawaiian native was no stranger to dancing — she’d proven her amazing skills in her numerous music videos. So, in 2010, she took the show by storm alongside partner Derek Hough, and they won first place!
Buzz Aldrin – Season 10
Yes, we’re talking about THAT Buzz Aldrin — the second man to ever walk on the moon. Now, this is someone you would never expect to see in a TV dance competition, which makes this all the more entertaining.
After a decorated career in NASA, Aldrin retired and probably thought to himself it was a good time to do all of those things he never had the time for. Like dancing Cha-Cha-Cha. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, Aldrin and his partner Ashly DelGrosso placed 10th in the competition. Yikes!
Jennifer Grey – Season 11
Jennifer Grey skyrocketed to fame after her role as Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman in the 1987 hit film, 'Dirty Dancing.' Her performance alongside Patrick Swayze left moviegoers in awe, and everybody was anxiously waiting for what she would star in (and dance in) next.
It seems everybody had to wait 23 years to see Grey on screen again when she competed in 'Dancing With the Stars' in 2010. Of course, the 'Dirty Dancing' icon won the Mirror Ball alongside partner Derek Hough. Hey, nobody puts a baby in a corner!
Kristin Cavallari – Season 13
Kristin Cavallari made a name for herself in reality TV, first with 'Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County' and then with the spinoff series. She went on to have several supporting roles in B-movies, and she continued to appear on our TV screens.
While being perfect for the reality TV show format, Cavallari was definitely less successful as a dancer. She joined season 13 of 'Dancing With the Stars,' alongside dance partner Mark Ballas, but she was eliminated very soon into the contest. Oh well, at least she seemed to be enjoying herself!
Rob Kardashian – Season 13
The young prince of the Kardashian family seems to be the only one in the family with any real talent. Apart from getting plastic surgery and looking pretty, that is. Little Rob joined 'Dancing With the Stars' season 13 in 2011 and paired up with professional dancer Cheryl Burke.
Not only did Rob prove to be an amazing dancer, but he also won second place! The casting people on the show sure did a good job with this one.
Pamela Anderson – Seasons 10 & 15
Pamela Anderson needs no introduction. During the 90s, every woman wanted to be her, and every guy wanted to be with her. Between being a cover girl for Playboy Magazine and running in that red swimsuit as one of the stars of 'Baywatch,' Anderson was the It Girl for nearly two decades.
Apparently, all that running on the beach was good training for competing in 'Dancing With the Stars' season 10 and then again in season 15. Although she wasn’t very successful in either season, she still deserves recognition for even trying.
Joey Fatone – Season 4
Joey Fatone hit it big in the late 90s when his boy band, NSYNC, became one of the hottest pop bands in the country. After seeing NSYNC’s music videos on repeat on MTV, it wasn’t hard to imagine Joey Fatone joining 'Dancing With the Stars' some years later.
Fatone competed in the reality TV show four times! His first rodeo was in season 4, then in seasons 15, 27, and 28. His near-perfect scores, along with partner Kym Johnson, were during season four. However, this ex-boy band star did pretty well overall in all following seasons. Good on you, Joey!
Andy Dick – Season 16
In what feels like a comedy sketch in and of itself, famous comedian Andy Dick joined the 'Dancing With the Stars' competition back in 2013. Paired up with Sharna Burgess, Dick gave it his best and danced away in Waltz, Foxtrot, Rumba, Salsa, and many more categories.
Unfortunately, as most of us expected, Dick wasn’t a very good dancer, and he got mediocre scores from the judges. But hey, just watching this man do the Cha-Cha-Cha was worth it enough.
Bill Nye – Season 17
Who said scientists didn’t know how to have fun? In 2014, one of America’s most beloved scientists, Bill Nye, went on to compete in season 17 of 'Dancing With the Stars.' Viewers were thrilled since they hadn’t seen Nye on their screens since the 90s, and the fact that he was paired up with the gorgeous Tyne Stecklein didn’t hurt either.
Everything was looking well until Nye suffered an injury early in the show. Sadly, the pair were disqualified in the season’s third week. Gone so soon, Bill!
Nene Leakes – Season 18
The fierce star of 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' is a force of nature, and apparently not just in real life, but on the dance floor too. During season 18 of 'Dancing With the Stars,' Leakes partnered with Tony Dovolani and did a fantastic job up until week 7.
The dancers never reached the finals, and during the Latin Night competition, Nene Leakes was eliminated and finished in 7th place. Not bad, but still not the best.
Leah Remini – Season 17
After nine seasons of playing Kevin James’s wife in the popular sitcom 'The King of Queens,' Leah Remini decided to become a dancing queen. She joined 'Dancing With the Stars' for season 17 alongside dance partner Tony Dovolani.
Surprisingly enough, she made it to the semifinals! Leah won fifth place, and we were all very proud of her. She proved that there was more to her than acting. She had legs that she could move fantastically.
Rumer Willis – Season 20
Apart from some small roles here and there, Rumer Willis was mostly known for being the beautiful daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis. Until she stole the show in 'Dancing With the Stars,' that is.
During the show’s 20th season, in 2015, Rumer partnered with talented dancer Valentin Chmerkovskiy. Not only did they receive perfect scores for almost all their routines, but they also won first place that season!
Nick Carter – Season 21
Nick Carter knew fame from a very young age, being only 12 years old when he joined the world-famous boy band the Backstreet Boys. Being the hot blond lead singer of one of the world’s most beloved bands made sure Nick Carter was dancing on TV screens for decades.
And he proved his skills once again when he joined the 21st season of 'Dancing With the Stars.' Partnered with Sharna Burgess, they made it all the way to second place.
Mischa Barton – Season 22
We couldn’t get enough of teen actress Mischa Barton since her debut in 'The O.C.' in 2003. And after four super successful seasons, Barton when on to star in the reality TV show, 'The Hills.' The girl may have acting skills, but apparently, that wasn’t the case when it came to the dancefloor.
Barton competed in 'Dancing With the Stars' season 22 in 2016, and her dancing days were over almost as soon as they had begun. She came in eleventh place. Ouch!
Vanilla Ice – Season 23
You can’t think of 90s hip-hop without immediately thinking of Vanilla Ice. And you can't think of his name without a certain song worming into your ear. Logically, everyone expected him to be a great dancer when he joined 'Dancing With the Stars' season 23.
But that wasn’t the case. Even his talented partner Witney Carson couldn’t save him from ending up in 10th place. C’mon Ice! We expected more from you!
Amber Rose – Season 23
The famous model and TV actress Amber Rose has mostly been known for her relationship drama. She’s had a series of turbulent partners, including Kanye West, Savage, and Wiz Khalifa. But in 2016, she was finally known for something else: being a contestant on 'Dancing With the Stars.'
During the talent show’s 23rd season, Rose partnered up with Maksim Chmerkovskiy, not only a phenomenal dancer but a stunning man. Even though they ended up in 9th place, it was still incredibly fun to watch!
Frankie Muniz – Season 25
Frankie Muniz, otherwise known as Malcolm, in the hit sitcom 'Malcolm in the Middle,' saw overnight success that lasted for seven seasons of the show. He then went on to act in several B-movies, but his face kept coming on the screen.
And then, in 2017, we saw him compete in season 25 of 'Dancing With the Stars' alongside Witney Carson. The duo won 3rd place. Well done, Malcolm!
Nick Lachey – Season 25
It seems the Lachey family has a passion for dancing since Nick Lachey was the second sibling to compete in 'Dancing With the Stars.' During season 25, in 2017, Nick paired up with Peta Murgatroyd and rehashed his dancing days from his time in 98 Degrees.
We assume the perseverance part came from his time on the reality TV show 'Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica.' It’s not easy being married, but being filmed on top of it is no picnic. Sadly, Nick ended up in 8th place.
Honey Boo Boo – Juniors Season 1
Alana Thompson (aka Honey Boo Boo) first started her career in showbiz on the show 'Toddlers & Tiaras' when she was five years old. She became so popular that she got her own show, 'Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,' which also got very high ratings.
But before she grew up, Honey Boo Boo danced her little heart out in the 'Dancing With the Stars' Juniors season in 2018. She came out in 8th place, but hey, that’s not bad for a 13-year-old kid.
Carole Baskin – Season 29
One of the best things about Netflix is being able to binge-watch 'Tiger King.' But thank God the fun and insanity didn’t end there because the infamous Carole Baskin decided to compete in season 29 of 'Dancing With the Stars.'
Baskin paired up with dancer Pasha Pashkov and performed three tiger-themed routines. What do we mean by tiger-themed? Well, exactly what you would expect–Baskin dressed in tiger costumes and leopard-print leotards and dancing to a Paso Doble version of ‘Eye of the Tiger.’ Not surprisingly, she ended up in 14th place.
Heather Morris – Season 24
You would expect an ex-Glee star to have a huge advantage in a competition like 'Dancing With the Stars.' After all, Heather Morris is an actual choreographer and even performed as part of Beyonce’s music tour. But for some reason, it was the complete opposite.
Initially, most viewers thought they would barely make it through the first show; however, much to viewers' surprise, Morris climbed up to higher scores until her Week 6 elimination.
Kate Flannery – Season 28
The lovable Kate Flannery is best known for being the quirky Meredith for nine seasons of 'The Office.' But despite her being a not-so-elegant character in the popular comedy series, she proved to be very graceful on season 28 of 'Dancing With the Stars.'
Her performance of A Spoonful of Sugar from the classic Mary Poppins will forever be remembered. She partnered up with Pasha Pashkov, and they won 7th place.
Wendy Williams – Season 12
Wendy Williams is one of America’s most beloved talk show hosts (and radio host before that). So, when it was announced that she would be joining season 12 of 'Dancing With the Stars,' everyone was anxious to see how she performed.
Williams teamed up with professional dancer Tony Dovolani and gave it her best shot, but she was still sent home after only two weeks on the show. You’re still our favorite Wendy!
Hannah Brown – Season 28
Hannah Brown is known for starring in season 15 of 'The Bachelorette,' and season 28 of 'Dancing With the Stars.' The ex-Bachelorette was dancing away beautifully until one of the judges really came down on her with the criticism.
Judge Inaba and Brown had a pretty fiery argument during rehearsals, but thankfully, Brown and her partner Alan Bernstein still won first place!
James Van Der Beek – Season 28
The 'Dawson’s Creek' star has been a well-known celebrity since the 90s, and even though all of his roles after the famous American show have been considered small, he’s had constant work. In 2019, 'Dancing With the Stars' was in its 28th season, and James was paired with talented dancer Emma Slater.
They were getting high scores and were one of the people's favorite couples. However, there was a very unfortunate event that caused James to leave in the middle of the show – his wife had a miscarriage. Otherwise, James would’ve probably taken home the prize.
Zendaya – Season 16
Before she became one of the biggest celebrities in Hollywood, starring in brilliant TV series like 'Euphoria' and box-office hits like 'Spider-Man,' 'Dune,' and 'Malcolm & Marie,' Zendaya dazzled the screens in 'Dancing With the Stars.'
At age 16, she became one of the youngest contestants to ever compete on the show. What’s more, Zendaya already had dance experience and was paired with the pro Valentin Chmerkovskiy. They were a force of nature and won second place. Is there anything Zendaya can’t do?
David Hasselhoff – Season 11
Hasselhoff has been working since the early 80s, first with 'Knight Rider' and then with 'Baywatch,' both very popular series. We loved him as Mitch, the sweetest lifeguard ever, but as a dancer, he drowned.
Poor Hasselhoff was the first contestant to be eliminated from season 11 of 'Dancing With the Stars.' But hey, this was back in 2010, maybe he’s picked up some skills since then.
Corbin Bleu – Season 17
Corbin Bleu got his fame from Disney’s 'High School Musical' saga, so it was a pretty well-known fact that the kid could sing and dance (even when his dance partner is a literal basketball).
Bleu decided to take advantage of his skills and joined 'Dancing With the Stars' season 17 in 2013. He paired up with Karina Smirnoff, and the duo won second place!
Kate Gosselin – Season 10
Kate Gosselin became famous in 2007 with the debut of her reality TV show 'Jon & Kate Plus 8.' The ‘plus 8’ refers to her sextuplets and twins. Then it was just 'Kate Plus 8' after her divorce. She later went on to host 'The View' and any other TV show she could. So, why not try dancing?
In 2010, Gosselin joined season 10 of 'Dancing With the Stars,' and despite heavy criticism, she gave it her best along with partner Tony Dovolani. They won 8th place in the competition, but hey, this woman birthed and raised eight children; who care if she can’t waltz?!
Bindi Irwin – Season 21
'Dancing With the Stars' really is one of the most diverse shows when it comes to its contestants. Bindi Irwin, the famous wildlife conservationist, is living proof. Irwin decided to give wild animals a break and put on cute little outfits.
So, instead of dancing with the animals, she decided to go give humans a chance too. She partnered with Derek Hough, and, surprise, surprise, Irwin won first place!
Lisa Rinna – Season 2
Before she became one of the 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,' Lisa Rinna was an actress on 'Days of Our Lives' and a dancer on 'Dancing With the Stars.' In the second season of the show, she coupled with Louis Van Amstel, and the duo danced beautifully all the way until round seven.
Apparently, the love of the judges was not enough — while they loved them, the audience didn’t. So, unfortunately, she left the show.
Billy Ray Cyrus – Season 4
In one of 'Dancing With the Stars’ earlier seasons, back in 2007, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus (perhaps more known for being Miley Cyrus’s dad nowadays) was one of the contestants. Even though Cyrus is known for his music, here was given a chance to prove his dancing skills too.
Together with Karina Smirnoff, the duo danced pretty well and were one of the audience’s favorite couples. They made it all the way to the semi-finals, but poor Billy was ultimately voted off the show and ended up in fifth place. Boo-hoo.
Nelly – Season 29
A celebrity that won fans’ hearts while on 'Dancing With the Stars' was the famous hip-hop artist Nelly. Who can forget riding in their car with the windows rolled down, playing ‘Ride Wit Me’ at full volume?
The rapper teamed up with stunning and talented Daniella Karagach and, of course, dazzled everybody with his dance moves. The hot duo won third place, and we’re not at all surprised.
Kim Kardashian – Season 7
Before she starred in 20 seasons of 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians,' had over 300M followers on social media, or basically became a different person after millions of dollars of plastic surgery, Kim Kardashian was hungry for screen exposure. And so, back in 2008, she joined the 7th season of 'Dancing With the Stars.'
Teamed up with Mark Ballas, Kim really proved that, unlike her little brother Rob, she really couldn’t dance. They placed 11th in the competition, and poor Kim went back to, well, being a multimillion-dollar socialite.
Jeff Ross – Season 7
If you know Jeff Ross, you know that reading this feels like a joke. A comedian with Ross’s humor would never be caught dead dancing the cha-cha. Well, you’d be dead wrong! Maybe it was on a dare, or maybe he just felt like dancing, but Ross did join season seven of 'Dancing with the Stars' and paired up with the stunning Edyta Sliwinska.
Everything was going well until Edyta poked Ross’s eye by accident and scratched his cornea. This obviously affected his dancing, and they ended up being the first couple eliminated. Good on him for trying, though!
Lance Bass – Season 7
The 7th season saw another famous boy band member dancing away. This time, it was NSYNC’s Lance Bass. The blond cutie paired up with Lacey Schwimmer and, not to anybody’s big surprise, made it to third place.
After all, he did have years of dancing experience under his belt with NSYNC. And beating Kim Kardashian is something to be proud of.
Sabrina Bryan – Seasons 5 & 15
Sabrina Bryan was first introduced to the TV screen in Disney’s popular series 'The Cheetah Girls.' Years later, she rocked the stage on 'Dancing With the Stars' in two separate seasons.
Pairing up with Mark Ballas for season 5 and then Louis Van Amstel for season 15, the Disney princess got super high scores from the judges, and anyone could tell she left her heart out on the dance floor. Even though she never won first place, she proved her incredible dancing skills.
Mark Cuban – Season 5
Mark Cuban has become a celebrity for no other reason than being very smart when it comes to business. Cuban has amassed a fortune investing in startups, sports teams, film distributors, and more. And kudos to the guy for making such sound decisions. What we didn’t expect was his decision to join season 5 of 'Dancing With the Stars.'
Cuban paired up with Kym Johnson and actually did a decent job. The couple ended up in 8th place, which isn’t bad for an investment guy that has probably never danced the Cha-cha-cha in his life.
Sasha Pieterse – Season 25
This Pretty Little Liar from South Africa might be sweeping the TV screen as Alison DiLaurentis, but being a dancer is definitely not her calling. Pieterse competed in season 25 of 'Dancing With the Stars' alongside Gleb Savchenko, but the couple came out in 10th place.
Still, you’ve got to love a girl for trying. And hey, at least she can say she’s made it as an actress, especially after getting a role in 'Inherent Vice,' the 2014 movie directed by none other than Paul Thomas Anderson.
Macy Gray – Season 9
Macy Gray has one of the most powerful voices ever heard, and her songs are poetry. And this is exactly what Gray should keep doing, filling the world with her beautiful music and spending less time on dancing competitions.
In season 9 of 'Dancing With the Stars,' Macy Gray paired up with Jonathan Roberts, but unfortunately, the couple was disqualified during the first week of the show. We still love you, Macy!
James Maslow – Season 18
No one was surprised when James Maslow, the hunk from the famous pop band Big Time Rush joined season 18 of 'Dancing With the Stars.'
The lead singer paired up with the talented Peta Murgatroyd, and it seems that all those years of hard work in a pop band really made a difference. The couple came out in fourth place!
Mel B – Season 5
Yes, girl-pop band members, especially Spice Girls, have a huge advantage over other contestants when it comes to dancing. However, it’s still a stunning performance to watch. It makes the show irresistible to watch. This was the case when Scary Spice, otherwise known as Mel B, joined the fifth season of 'Dancing With the Stars.'
The ex-Spice Girl teamed up with Maksim Chmerkovskiy, and the couple made it to second place. Mel B is also a judge on 'The X Factor,' 'Lip Sync Battle,' and 'America’s Got Talent,' so this girl knows what she’s doing when it comes to a talent show.
Trista Sutter — Season 1
You might remember this Indiana cutie from the first season of 'The Bachelor.' Trista Sutter was the runner-up on the show’s pilot season back in 2002 and then went on to star in the first season of 'The Bachelorette.'
Apart from becoming a famous TV persona, Trista is also a physical therapist and a great dancer, and apparently, she likes being the first in everything. She appeared on season one of 'Dancing With the Stars' with dancing partner Louis van Amstel. Unfortunately, they were the first couple to be voted off the show.
Jerry Rice — Season 2
The legendary football wide receiver Jerry Rice played in the NFL for 20 seasons, mainly playing for the San Francisco 49ers. In his time with the NFL, Rice won three championships and had a very successful run playing for the Seattle Seahawks and the Oakland Raiders later in his career.
Judging by the man’s speed, it’s no surprise he was great on his feet when it came to dancing on 'Dancing With the Stars.' Rice danced with Anna Trebunskaya on DWTS season two and made it to the finals but lost at the last minute.
Laila Ali — Season 4
The fact that this woman can also dance and do the paso doble like a boss is just incredible. Laila Ali, the daughter of famous boxer Muhammad Ali, started boxing at a young age and became one of the world’s greatest female boxers of all time. She retired from her boxing career undefeated.
Laila’s dexterity with her feet earned her and her partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy third place in 'Dancing With the Stars' fourth season.
Floyd Mayweather — Season 5
Everybody knows boxing legend Floyd Mayweather, for his legendary skills inside the ring. The boxing king competed professionally from 1973 to 1990, becoming a boxing trainer to some of the sport’s biggest icons. But it turns out that Mayweather is also a pretty good dancer.
Mayweather competed in season five of 'Dancing With the Stars,' and even though he and his partner Karina finished in 9th place, they had some impressive moves.
Misty May-Treanor — Season 7
Misty May-Treanor grew up playing volleyball on the beaches of Los Angeles, and she turned into one of the best in the world. Misty has three Olympic gold medals under her belt and has won over 112 competitions. And she competed in 'Dancing With the Stars!'
She competed in the show’s seventh season, but unfortunately, she had to go home early after suffering from an injury. We still love you for trying, Misty!
Denise Richards — Season 8
We all remember the stunning Denise Richards from her 1998 film, 'Wild Things.' Most recently, Richards has been one of the stars of the reality TV show, 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,' and honestly, she’s proven to be incredibly entertaining to watch.
Richards also competed in season eight of 'Dancing With the Stars' and paired up with Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Sadly, this Beverly Hills lady didn’t get past the first two rounds of competition.
Niecy Nash — Season 10
The beloved TV queen Niecy Nash has been gracing our screens for decades, mainly through the famous show 'Clean House,' which ran until 2010. There seems to be nothing Nash can’t do — she’s a talented actress, comedian, TV host, and dancer!
Nash danced her heart out in 'Dancing With the Stars' season 10 alongside partner Louis van Amstel, and the couple came in 5th place. She was pretty impressive on the show.
Brandy — Season 11
The gorgeous singer, actress, and model Brandy was also a contestant on 'Dancing With the Stars’ eleventh season. Not surprisingly, she and her partner Maksim made it to the top four, and they were spectacular to see on the dance floor. Hopefully, she’ll join the show for another season in the future.
Most recently, we’ve seen the talented Brandy on the ABC musical 'Queens,' where she plays Naomi. Her vocal talents have clearly just gotten better with time.
Sugar Ray Leonard — Season 12
Considered by many to be one of the greatest boxers of all time, the Ring King, Sugar Ray Leonard is a worldwide legend. Leonard boxed professionally for 20 years, retiring in 1997 to become an actor and motivational speaker. And you can add dancing to that list.
Leonard competed in season 12 of 'Dancing With the Stars,' and together with his partner Anna, they made it through three whole rounds. Go, Sugar Ray!
Carson Kressley — Season 13
Since the 2003 debut of the hit TV series 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,' host Carson Kressley has become a huge celebrity. Kressley is a fashion designer, actor, and TV persona with loads of charisma and unparalleled sassiness.
He’s also a fantastic dancer, having shown off his skills in 'Dancing With the Stars’ season 13. Even though Kressley and his partner Anna came in eighth in the competition, their snazzy outfits definitely won first place.
Karamo Brown — Season 28
Karamo Brown rose to fame when he appeared on the 2004 edition of MTV’s 'The Real World: Philadelphia.' He has since become a beloved TV host, actor, author, and activist, and most recently, the culture expert on 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.'
Brown has also been a competitor on 'Dancing With the Stars,' on the show’s 28th season. He partnered with dancer Jenna Johnson, and the couple won 8th place.
Gavin DeGraw — Season 14
American singer and songwriter Gavin DeGraw rose to fame after the debut of his single, 'I Don’t Want to Be.' The song became the theme soundtrack for the hit TV series 'One Tree Hill,' and DeGraw garnered tons of fans and money.
But unfortunately, it seems the singer didn’t have the same luck when he competed in the 14th season of 'Dancing With the Stars.' He and his partner Karina were voted off the show pretty quickly.
Lisa Vanderpump — Season 16
A star from the reality TV show 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' was Lisa Vanderpump. While this English actress has certainly made a mark as a Beverly Hills housewife, she wasn’t so famous on 'Dancing With the Stars.'
She partnered up with dancer Gleb Savchenko, but the couple only lasted three rounds before being eliminated. We’re sure that didn’t sit well with Mrs. Vanderpump’s spicy attitude.
Sean Lowe — Season 16
Known for being one of the only stars of 'The Bachelor' to actually have a good marriage after the show ended, Sean Lowe has become a pretty famous TV persona in the US.
That fame only rose when he competed in the 16th season of 'Dancing With the Stars.' Lowe did quite well in the competition, dancing with Petra Murgatroyd and winning sixth place. For a man that has never danced professionally, sixth place isn’t bad at all!
Drew Carey — Season 18
We all know and love the hilarious host of 'The Price Is Right,' Drew Carey. The comedian rose to fame through his sitcom, 'The Drew Carey Show,' and then hosted the popular show 'Whose Line Is It Anyway?'
Another show where Carey has graced us with his presence was 'Dancing With the Stars’ season 18. He danced with the talented Cheryl, and the couple came in eighth, which isn’t bad considering he’s a comedian, not a dancer. Plus, Carey wore some incredible suits every time!
Chris Soules — Season 20
American heartthrob and farmer Chris Soules became a famous TV personality after starring in season 19 of 'The Bachelor.' Shortly after, Soules competed in 'The Bachelorette,' came in third, and became one of America’s favorite contestants.
Soules also did a stint on 'Dancing With the Stars,' on the show’s 20th season. He danced with Witney Carson, and they won fifth place, which was a very decent way to leave the competition.
Mr. T — Season 24
Mr. T is an American icon, first rising to fame by playing B.A. Baracus in the hit TV series 'The A-Team,' and then by playing Clubber Lang, a boxer in 1982’s 'Rocky III.' The man has style and charisma and a voice that makes him recognizable anywhere in the world. Not to mention he’s also a professional wrestler.
As it turns out, Mr. T also has some dance moves up his sleeve, as he demonstrated in season 24 of 'Dancing With the Stars.' With his partner Kym, he gave it his best. Sadly, he was the third competitor to be voted off the show.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — Season 26
NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has reached many heights in his professional career and probably in his personal life as well.
Back in 2018, this basketball legend competed in the athletes’ edition of the show and partnered with Lindsay Arnold. The height difference alone was entertaining enough to watch, but the couple did give it their all on that dance floor. Even though they were eliminated after just two weeks, it was worth watching.
Tonya Harding — Season 26
Former American figure skater Tonya Harding came into the public eye after many years when her film biopic, 'I, Tonya,' hit theaters. The film, released in 2017, was a critical and commercial hit, even taking home an Academy Award.
Tonya took advantage of her resurgence and went on to compete in the 2018 'Dancing With the Stars’ Athletes Edition. She danced with her partner Sasha and actually came in third place!
Evanna Lynch — Season 27
We all fell in love with the quirky Luna Lovegood character in the Harry Potter films. So, when we saw the Irish actress that played her, Evanna Lynch, on 'Dancing With the Stars,' everyone was very excited.
The actress and activist danced on the show’s 27th season with partner Keo Motsepe, and the couple came in third place. The audience was blown away by this Irish belle’s dancing skills, and third place is no joke!
Audrina Patridge — Season 11
Model and actress Audrina Patridge became a famous American TV persona when she was cast in the hit reality TV series, 'The Hills,' in 2006. The series was very successful and ran for a total of six seasons, making Patridge a known celebrity in the US.
The actress also appeared in the show's 11th season, and even though she and her partner Toni Dovolani gave it their best shot, they came in seventh. But hey, Patridge got to be on television again, so it’s all good.
Nev Schulman — Season 29
The popular reality TV show 'Catfish' aired on MTV in 2012 and had a very successful, multiple-season run. Its host, Nev Schulman, definitely gave the show that extra something to keep viewers hooked. And apparently, Nev had another talent that he had kept hidden.
Schulman stunned viewers when he appeared in season 29 of 'Dancing With the Stars' and turned out to be a phenomenal dancer! He came in second place, which is pretty incredible.
Mel C — Season 30
A fantastic ex-Spice Girl to join the dancing competition was Mel B. Sporty Spice appeared on the 30th season of 'Dancing With the Stars,' partnering up with Gleb Savchenko.
Shockingly, although we all expected her to be a great dancer, Mel C was voted off the show pretty quickly, being the fifth competitor to leave. We did, however, love her costumes.
Apolo Ohno — Season 4
The most decorated American at the Winter Olympics, with eight medals under his belt, Apolo Ohno is a world champion in track speed skating. Ohno had an incredible athletic career, starting to compete when he was 15 years old.
He retired in 2010 and became a part of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 2019. And apart from speed skating, Ohno is also incredibly talented on his feet, as we saw on season four of 'Dancing With the Stars,' which he won!
Priscilla Presley — Season 6
Being married to the King of Rock and Roll had to have its advantages when it came to performing on the dance floor. Priscilla Presley, the famous ex-wife of Elvis Presley, went to show off her skills in the show's sixth season, and she was graceful as can be for her ballroom competition.
The actress and businesswoman paired up with Louis van Amstel, and the couple came in eighth place, which is very respectable.
Cody Simpson — Season 18
The Australian swimmer and singer-writer Cody Simpson got his claim to fame after releasing four studio albums that did pretty well on the music charts. Simpson is also known for having starred as Dimitri in the Broadway musical 'Anastasia' in 2018.
The singer-swimmer also competed in season 18 of 'Dancing With the Stars' with talented partner Witney Carson. Sadly, the couple was the third to be voted off the show.
Jodie Sweetin — Season 22
We haven’t seen much of Jodie Sweetin since she played the sweet Stephanie Tanner in 'Full House.' That is until she appeared on 'Dancing With the Stars' in 2016 for the show’s 22nd season.
Sweetin danced with Keo Motsepe, and the couple really gave it their best shot, not to mention her outfits were fantastic. They came in sixth place, and while she was surely disappointed, they could’ve done much worse.
Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi — Season 17
The Chilean-born Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi got her 15 minutes of fame when she starred in the American reality TV show 'Jersey Shore,' on MTV. Then she went on to star in 'Jersey Shore: Family Vacation' and 'Snooki & Jwoww.'
Snooki competed in season 17 of the show alongside partner Sasha Farber. Unfortunately for the reality TV queen, she didn’t make it past eighth place. But hey, at least she got to be back on the screen.
Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino — Season 11
Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino from 'Jersey Shore' danced his heart out on 'Dancing With the Stars.' On the show’s 11th season, Sorrentino paired with Karina Smirnoff and showcased his moves. But surprisingly, since the man spent a lot of his time dancing in clubs, he came in 9th place in the competition.
Don’t feel bad for him, though. Sorrentino is living his best life with his gorgeous wife in a huge New Jersey mansion.
Simone Biles — Season 24
The seven-time Olympic medalist Simone Biles is a force of nature, considered by many to be one of the world’s best gymnasts. This athletic prodigy also knows how to have fun, as we all saw in 'Dancing With the Stars’ season 24.
Biles partnered up with Sasha Farber, and her moves and outfits were amazing. Seeing her dance the Cha-Cha-Cha was worth sitting through the whole season. The couple did very well and finished in fourth place.