Some actors and actresses were a big deal in the 90s. They showed a tremendous amount of promise and experienced a great deal of success, only to disappear just as fast. While many of these actors and actresses disappeared forever, others were able to find success later in life. We have a list of 10 actors and actresses from the 90s who have made successful comebacks in the past few years!
10. Christina Applegate
For a long time, Christina Applegate was best known for her role as a ditzy blond in Married With Children. After that show ended, Applegate tried to make it happen on the big screen with movies like The Sweetest Thing and View From the Top, but she wasn’t exactly successful. A few years ago, however, Applegate was able to make a big comeback with roles on hit television shows like Samantha Who? and Up All Night, and of course her part in the hugely successful Anchorman franchise.
9. Anna Paquin
Anna Paquin made it big in the 90s when she won an Academy Award for her role in The Piano. After that, she had roles in a few movies including Fly Away Home, She’s All That, and Almost Famous. But it wasn’t until she landed a lead role in True Blood that she was able to make a real comeback!
8. Michelle Williams
Back in the 90s when she starred in Dawson’s Creek, Michelle Williams was a huge star! After the show ended, however, she seemed to disappear for a while. After landing a lead role in Brokeback Mountain, in 2005 Williams was suddenly back in the spotlight. She has since been nominated for three Academy Awards.
7. Neil Patrick Harris
For many years, Neil Patrick Harris was best known as the star of Doogie Howser, M.D. After the show ended, he faded into oblivion for a while. Then Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle came out with Harris playing a fictionalized, doped up version of himself and suddenly his career was alive again. Then Harris went on to portray Barney Stinson on How I Met Your Mother – a role that has definitely helped him become a household name.
6. Ed O’Neill
For years, Ed O’Neill was best known for his role as Al Bundy in Married…with Children. After the show ran its course, O’Neill’s career was pretty much over. It wasn’t until he landed a role in Modern Family in 2009 that he was able to revive his career as patriarch Jay Pritchett. Since then, he has been nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards and has won three Screen Actors Guild Awards for his role.
5. Mayim Bialik
After Blossom ended, Mayim Bialik’s career in Hollywood was pretty non-existent. Although she guest starred in shows like 7th Heaven and Curb Your Enthusiasm, it wasn’t until she landed a spot in the nerd-filled series The Big Bang Theory that she experienced a real career resurgence. Bialik was nominated for an Emmy Award for her performance on The Big Bang Theory for both 2012 and 2013.
4. Christina Ricci
Christina Ricci was one of the most successful and promising young actresses in the 90s. She proved herself with her role in Mermaids, The Addams Family movies, Casper, The Opposite of Sex, and Sleepy Hollow. After her success in the 90s, however, Ricci didn’t have any big roles until Pan Am came along.
3. Johnny Galecki
Johnny Galecki was quite successful in the 90s because of his roles in Roseanne, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and The Opposite of Sex. However, after all of his successes, he didn’t have much going career-wise. It wasn’t until he landed the role of Leonard Hofstadter on The Big Bang Theory in 2007 that Galecki was officially back in the Hollywood spotlight.
2. Mario Lopez
Back in the 90s, Mario Lopez was best known for his role as A.C. Slater on Saved by the Bell but, after the show ended, he was soon forgotten. Although Lopez had small roles in The Bold and the Beautiful and Nip/Tuck, he couldn’t make a career out of acting. However, he was able to make a comeback as a host — and has remained in the spotlight over the past few years on popular shows like The X Factor and Extra.
1. Joseph Gordon-Levitt
In the 90s, Joseph Gordon-Levitt was a big deal. He had a leading role in 3rd Rock from the Sun and he seemed destined for big things. After 3rd Rock ended, however, Gordon-Levitt disappeared. It wasn’t until he landed big roles in Inception, 500 Days of Summer, and of course The Dark Knight Rises that it was clear that Gordon-Levitt was back in business and here to stay.
