Actors Accused of Domestic Violence

Public allegations of domestic violence involving actors range from arrests that led to convictions or guilty pleas to accusations that were later dropped or denied. Below is a fact-focused roundup that notes when and where incidents occurred, the legal status or outcome, and any official statements or court-ordered penalties. This list is limited to male actors and highlights verifiable, widely reported cases.

Mel Gibson

In March 2011, Mel Gibson pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor battery charge involving his former partner Oksana Grigorieva, avoiding jail time in a deal that included three years of probation, counseling, community service, and fines. The plea resolved a domestic violence case stemming from incidents in 2010. Coverage at the time noted the court accepted the no-contest plea in lieu of a trial. He completed the terms set by the court.

Charlie Sheen

In August 2010, Charlie Sheen pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault in a domestic abuse case involving then-wife Brooke Mueller, with the court imposing rehab, probation, and anger-management requirements under a plea agreement. The plea followed Sheen’s arrest earlier that year in Colorado. Additional charges were withdrawn as part of the deal. Sentencing terms were set and reported by major outlets.

Josh Brolin

Josh Brolin was arrested in December 2004 at the Los Angeles home he shared with Diane Lane after she called police; he was booked on a spousal battery charge and released on bail. Lane did not press charges and the case was dropped. Both parties’ representatives later characterized the incident as a misunderstanding. Brolin has publicly reflected on the arrest in interviews years later.

Jonathan Majors

A Manhattan jury in December 2023 found Jonathan Majors guilty of one misdemeanor assault count and one harassment violation related to a March 2023 incident; he was acquitted on two other counts. On April 8, 2024, the judge ordered a 52-week in-person domestic-violence intervention program and continued counseling, imposing no jail time for the first-time offender. The conviction and sentence were widely reported, and Majors has maintained his innocence while pursuing appeals and related civil matters continued separately.

Nicolas Cage

Nicolas Cage was arrested in New Orleans on April 16, 2011 on a domestic abuse allegation during a late-night dispute; he was also booked for disturbing the peace. On May 6, 2011, the Orleans Parish district attorney declined to pursue charges, and the case was closed without prosecution. Contemporary reports detail the arrest circumstances and the DA’s decision.

Zachery Ty Bryan

Former ‘Home Improvement’ actor Zachery Ty Bryan pleaded guilty in Oregon on October 25–26, 2023 to felony fourth-degree assault constituting domestic violence in connection with a July 2023 incident; he received a sentence that included jail time credited, three years’ probation, and treatment conditions. Reporting also notes a separate 2020 Oregon case in which he previously entered guilty pleas to misdemeanor menacing and fourth-degree assault related to an altercation with his then-girlfriend. Subsequent arrests in 2024–2025 were covered separately from the 2023 plea.

Devin Ratray

In February 2024, Devin Ratray pleaded guilty in Oklahoma County to domestic assault and battery by strangulation (a felony) and a misdemeanor domestic assault count tied to a December 2021 incident involving his then-girlfriend. Under the agreement, he received a suspended sentence with requirements including behavior-intervention courses and substance-use assessments, and no contact with the victim. The plea followed earlier reports describing the hotel-room altercation and subsequent charges.

Michael Madsen

On August 20, 2024, Michael Madsen was arrested in Malibu, California on a misdemeanor domestic battery charge following a reported dispute with his wife. He was taken into custody and later released on bond, and representatives characterized the matter as a disagreement. Coverage identified the arrest, booking, and bond details while noting his film credits.

Tom Sizemore

Tom Sizemore pleaded no contest in February 2017 to two misdemeanor counts of injuring an intimate partner related to a July 2016 incident, avoiding a potential jail term under a plea agreement that included probation, a yearlong domestic-violence program, and other conditions. He had previously been convicted in 2003 in a separate domestic-violence case involving Heidi Fleiss. Major outlets documented the plea and his history of related convictions.

Terrence Howard

Terrence Howard has faced multiple domestic-violence allegations over the years; in interviews he has acknowledged striking his first wife during a 2001 incident while disputing other accusations. Media coverage has summarized police reports and civil filings from different relationships, alongside Howard’s comments about past arrests and efforts to move forward. No recent criminal conviction has been reported from those later allegations.

Share any other high-profile cases you think should be included in the comments, and we’ll add verified entries with sourcing.