Whoopi Goldberg
Left: “Theodore Rex”
Reason: Unknown
Est. Salary Loss: None
This is a special case, because while Goldberg had verbally agreed to star in “Theodore Rex,” she hadn’t signed a contract. The makers of the straight-to-video flop threatened to sue Goldberg for breach of contract, and with twenty million as the possible punishment, Goldberg relented.
She earned seven million from the movie, which is known right now as one of the worst movies to ever come out. Goldberg might have made bank, but the movie certainly wasn’t a jewel in her crown. She earned a Worst Actress nomination from the Razzies for her efforts. Thankfully, Demi Moore was there to win.
Jim Parsons
Left: The Big Bang Theory
Reason: Unknown
Est. Salary Loss: Unknown
Jim Parsons decided that after 12 seasons it was time for him to say goodbye to Sheldon Cooper on "The Big Bang Theory." Even an incredible deal that would have reportedly grabbed the actor more than $50 million over two years couldn't persuade the actor to stay.
In a heartfelt and lengthy post on Instagram, Parsons thanked everyone connected with the show, as well as his fans. "I will miss each and every one of you and all of this more than I can say and more than I can begin to know at this time," he wrote. After his departure was published, CBS decided it would end "The Big Bang Theory" after 12 seasons, too.
Kim Basinger
Left: “Boxing Helena”
Reason: Unknown
Est. Salary Loss: Unknown
We say that we don't know why Kim Basinger backed out of appearing as the title character of this hot pile of a movie. But anyone with three brain cells to rub together would see the reason is “the movie looks like the worst project this side of 'Day After Tomorrow.'”
The movie was about a woman who has all her limbs removed and is kept in a box. Originally Madonna was going to star, but she, too, dropped out. Eventually, someone named Sherilyn Fenn appeared in the title role. The movie is really, really, really bad.
Dieter Laser
Left: “The Human Centipede 3”
Reason: Contract Disputes
Est. Salary Loss: None
Dieter Laser played the main villain and twisted freak who came up with the in-universe “human centipede,” which...we're not going to explain. If you don't know what it is, and really want your day ruined, look it up on your own.
Laser and the movie's director Tom Six butted heads, with both parties saying that the other broke the promises they had made. There was a lot of name-calling in both directions. Such low actions for people working on such a high-class movie. Eventually, the legal battle ended, and Laser was back on for the third installment of a movie series you only watch when nothing else could possibly disgust you.
Chad Michael Murray
Left: “One Tree Hill”
Reason: Contract Disputes and to Work on Other Things
Est. Salary Loss: $100,000 per episode
After six seasons of playing pretty-boy Lucas Scott, CMM decided to et off the tree. In preparation for the seventh season, Murray was up for a contract renewal, but it's possible the CW didn't want to pay out too much, seeing as how Sophia Bush was the biggest star of “One Tree Hill” by that point.
After the contract talk stretched on and on, Murray decided it was time to go, and gave the classic excuses that actors use when they don't think they are given enough money: contract disputes.