Actors Known for Being Not-So-Nice Off-Camera
Assessments of who could be labeled “not-so-nice” are subjective and rely on a wide range of perspectives and personal experiences. The information presented here is based on publicly available reports, interviews, and firsthand accounts from colleagues in the film and television industry.
Reputations in Hollywood can be complex. An actor’s behavior might be seen as demanding by a producer but as a commitment to art by a director. Stories from film sets often have multiple sides, and what one person considers difficult, another might see as professional intensity. The following list is a collection of actors who have, over the years, been at the center of public discussions regarding their on-set conduct and off-camera interactions.
Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase was one of the original stars of Saturday Night Live (1975-present), but his time on the show was short. He left after one season, having already developed a reputation for being difficult and competitive with his castmates. This reputation followed him throughout his career. He was known for clashing with directors and co-stars on various film sets during the 1980s.
Years later, he joined the cast of the TV show Community (2009-2015). However, his time on the show was also marked by conflict. Reports from the set described him as unhappy with the work and difficult to be around. He eventually left the show after a dispute with the creator, Dan Harmon. Many of his former Saturday Night Live and Community co-stars have since spoken publicly about their negative experiences working with him.
Katherine Heigl
Katherine Heigl gained fame as an actress on the popular medical drama Grey’s Anatomy (2005-present). However, her relationship with the show soured publicly. In 2008, she withdrew her name from Emmy consideration, stating she had not been given the material to warrant a nomination. This was widely seen as a public criticism of the show’s writers. She later left the series under a cloud of controversy.
Following her departure, she starred in several successful films but also earned a reputation for being demanding. In a 2008 interview, she called the movie Knocked Up (2007), in which she starred, “a little sexist” and criticized her own character. The film’s director and co-star, Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen, later expressed frustration with her comments. These incidents contributed to a narrative that she was ungrateful and difficult to work with, which she has since said had a negative impact on her career.
Steven Seagal
Steven Seagal was a major action star in the late 1980s and 1990s. As his fame grew, so did stories about his on-set behavior. He was often described as being arrogant and difficult with cast and crew members. Actor John Leguizamo, who worked with him on Executive Decision (1996), claimed Seagal physically assaulted him on set for laughing at a comment he made.
His reputation for being unpleasant extended to his interactions with stunt performers. Many stuntmen have recounted stories of Seagal taking an aggressive approach to fight scenes, sometimes injuring them unnecessarily. He was also known for making unrealistic demands and for his often-bizarre claims about his own background and abilities, which many in the industry found difficult to tolerate.
Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts is one of the most successful movie stars in the world. Despite her famous smile and on-screen charm, she has faced rumors of difficult behavior. During the filming of the movie Hook (1991), her conduct was reportedly so challenging that her nickname on set was “Tinkerhell,” a play on her character, Tinkerbell. Reports from the time suggested she was moody and demanding.
Years later, she was reportedly difficult to work with on the set of I Love Trouble (1994). Her co-star, Nick Nolte, and Roberts allegedly did not get along at all. Their feud became so intense that they had to film many of their scenes separately and use stand-ins. Both actors have since publicly acknowledged their animosity during the production.
Dustin Hoffman
Dustin Hoffman is a celebrated actor with two Academy Awards. However, he has also developed a reputation for being a perfectionist to an extreme, often leading to conflict on set. While filming Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), he reportedly used aggressive tactics to get a better performance out of his co-star, Meryl Streep. Streep later confirmed that he was unprofessional and that his behavior crossed a line.
This reputation for difficult behavior followed him for years. On the set of Tootsie (1982), he famously clashed with director Sydney Pollack. Their arguments about the character and the film’s direction became a central part of the production’s story. In recent years, Hoffman has also faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct from women who worked with him throughout his career.
Faye Dunaway
Faye Dunaway is a legendary actress known for her roles in classic films like Bonnie and Clyde (1967) and Chinatown (1974). She is also known for having a very strong-willed and sometimes volatile personality. During the making of Chinatown, she had a famously contentious relationship with director Roman Polanski. Their on-set battles became part of Hollywood lore.
Her reputation for being difficult continued for decades. She was reportedly fired from the stage production of Tea at Five in 2019 for creating a hostile and dangerous environment backstage. The crew claimed she was verbally abusive to them. Earlier in her career, she also clashed with Bette Davis while filming the TV movie The Disappearance of Aimee (1976), with Davis publicly calling her unprofessional.
Bruce Willis
Bruce Willis became a global superstar with the movie Die Hard (1988). While he is a beloved action hero, he has also been described as being uncooperative on set. Director Kevin Smith, who directed Willis in the film Cop Out (2010), was very public about his negative experience. Smith described working with Willis as “soul-crushing” and claimed the actor refused to follow directions.
Others in the industry have echoed these sentiments. The director of Tears of the Sun (2003), Antoine Fuqua, said he and Willis “didn’t get along.” On the set of The Expendables (2010), Sylvester Stallone publicly called Willis “greedy and lazy” after he reportedly demanded a higher salary for a few days of work on the sequel and was subsequently replaced. In 2022, Willis’s family announced he was retiring from acting due to aphasia, a cognitive disorder, which may have contributed to his on-set difficulties in his later career.
Teri Hatcher
Teri Hatcher was one of the main stars of the hugely popular TV show Desperate Housewives (2004-2012). Despite the show’s success, there were constant rumors of on-set tension, much of it reportedly centered around Hatcher. It was widely reported that she did not get along with the other main actresses on the show and often isolated herself from them.
The show’s creator, Marc Cherry, testified in a lawsuit involving another cast member that Hatcher was the “biggest movie star” with the “biggest salary” and could be “a problem.” When the series ended, the other main actresses reportedly left Hatcher’s name off of the farewell gifts for the crew. These incidents solidified her reputation for being distant and difficult with her colleagues.
Russell Crowe
Russell Crowe is known for his intense acting style, which sometimes spills over into his off-screen life. He has a well-documented history of having a short temper. During the making of Gladiator (2000), he frequently argued with the writers about the script. In one instance, he reportedly threatened to kill a producer with his bare hands during a late-night phone call over a dispute about pay for his assistants.
This behavior was not an isolated incident. Crowe has been involved in several public altercations. In 2005, he was arrested in New York for throwing a telephone at a hotel employee. Years earlier, he was involved in a brawl outside a hotel in Australia. This reputation for volatility has made him a challenging figure in the industry, even though his talent is widely recognized.
Christian Bale
Christian Bale is famous for his dedication to his roles, often changing his body dramatically for a part. However, his intensity can also lead to conflict. In 2008, during the filming of Terminator Salvation (2009), an audio recording was leaked of Bale yelling at the film’s director of photography, Shane Hurlbut. Bale became enraged after Hurlbut accidentally walked into his line of sight during a scene.
The recording, filled with profanity, quickly went viral and became a major news story, defining his public image for a time. Bale later issued a public apology, calling his behavior “inexcusable” and admitting he “acted like a punk.” He and Hurlbut resolved the issue and finished the film, but the incident remains a famous example of an on-set meltdown.
Shannen Doherty
Shannen Doherty’s reputation for being difficult started early in her career. She was famously fired from Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990-2000) after four seasons. Reports from the time described on-set fighting with co-stars and frequent tardiness, which caused frustration among the cast and crew. Her co-star Tori Spelling later admitted to calling her father, producer Aaron Spelling, to have Doherty removed from the show.
A similar pattern emerged on her next hit show, Charmed (1998-2006). After three seasons, Doherty left the series amid rumors of a feud with her co-star Alyssa Milano. In recent years, Doherty has been more open about her past, explaining that she was going through a “horrible marriage” and other personal struggles during her time on 90210, which contributed to her unprofessional behavior.
Wesley Snipes
Wesley Snipes was the star of the successful Blade film trilogy. However, by the third film, Blade: Trinity (2004), his on-set behavior had become a major issue. His co-star, Patton Oswalt, described Snipes as being uncooperative and hostile. He claimed Snipes would often refuse to leave his trailer and would only communicate with the director, David S. Goyer, through a series of Post-it notes.
The situation was so tense that Snipes later sued the film’s studio and director. He claimed that the script and director were forced on him and that his screen time was unfairly reduced in favor of his co-stars, Ryan Reynolds and Jessica Biel. The lawsuit and the many stories from the set cemented his reputation as a difficult actor.
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan was a major child star who struggled publicly as she grew older. Her personal issues began to affect her professional life, earning her a reputation for being unreliable. During the filming of Georgia Rule (2007), her behavior was so problematic that a studio executive wrote her a letter scolding her for being “irresponsible and unprofessional.” Her co-star Jane Fonda even confronted her about her lateness.
This reputation followed her to other projects. She was reportedly late and difficult during a guest appearance on the TV show Glee (2009-2015). For the movie The Canyons (2013), the director confirmed that Lohan often failed to show up on set at all. This pattern of behavior made it difficult for studios to insure her for films, which significantly impacted her career.
Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando is considered one of the greatest actors in history, but he was also famously difficult to work with, especially later in his career. He was known for refusing to memorize his lines, instead relying on cue cards hidden around the set. He believed this made his performances feel more spontaneous, but many directors and co-stars found it lazy and unprofessional.
On the set of The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996), his behavior was particularly erratic. He reportedly refused to leave his air-conditioned trailer for hours and clashed with co-star Val Kilmer. By the time he filmed Apocalypse Now (1979), he showed up to the set overweight and unprepared, forcing director Francis Ford Coppola to change his entire vision for the character.
Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer developed a reputation for being difficult and intense in the 1990s. Director Joel Schumacher, who worked with him on Batman Forever (1995), described him as “childish and impossible.” The most notorious stories come from the set of The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996), where he co-starred with the equally difficult Marlon Brando.
Kilmer reportedly clashed with the film’s original director, Richard Stanley, and then with his replacement, John Frankenheimer. Frankenheimer was so angered by Kilmer’s behavior that he famously stated, “I will never climb Mount Everest, and I will never work with Val Kilmer again.” This and other on-set conflicts hurt Kilmer’s standing in Hollywood for many years.
Tom Hardy
Tom Hardy is known for his intense and immersive acting style, but this has sometimes led to friction with his colleagues. The most well-known example of this was on the set of Mad Max: Fury Road (2015). He and his co-star, Charlize Theron, famously did not get along. Theron described the on-set atmosphere as hostile, stating that she felt threatened by Hardy’s aggressive behavior after he showed up hours late for filming.
The tension was so bad that Theron requested on-set protection. Both actors have since acknowledged the feud, attributing it to the stressful shooting conditions and their different working styles. Hardy admitted he was “in over my head” and that Theron needed a “better, more experienced partner” than he was at the time.
Edward Norton
Edward Norton is a highly respected actor, but he has also earned a reputation for being controlling and wanting to be heavily involved in the writing and editing of his films. This desire for creative control has led to clashes with directors and studios. He famously clashed with Marvel Studios over the final cut of The Incredible Hulk (2008).
The conflict with Marvel was so significant that the studio decided to recast the role of the Hulk for The Avengers (2012), with Mark Ruffalo taking his place. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige released a statement explaining the decision, saying they needed an actor who “embodies the creative and collaborative spirit” of the other cast members. This was widely interpreted as a direct criticism of Norton’s collaborative style.
Mike Myers
Mike Myers is the comedic talent behind massive hits like Austin Powers and Shrek. However, behind the scenes, he has been described as a demanding perfectionist who can be difficult to work with. During the filming of Wayne’s World (1992), he reportedly fought with the director and studio over the creative direction of the film.
His reputation for being controlling grew over the years. Amy Hill, his co-star in The Cat in the Hat (2003), said Myers was a “nightmarish” and “diva-like” presence on set who would keep the entire crew waiting for hours. These stories have painted a picture of an artist who is brilliant but can be extremely challenging for his collaborators.
Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow is an Oscar-winning actress and the founder of the lifestyle brand Goop. Over the years, she has gained a reputation for being out of touch with the general public. Her wellness advice and the expensive products she promotes have often been met with ridicule and criticism for being elitist and based on pseudoscience. This perception has sometimes extended to her professional acting career.
While she is generally considered professional on set, some stories have painted her as being aloof. During the filming of Iron Man 2 (2010), Scarlett Johansson reportedly tried to have friendly conversations with Paltrow, but Paltrow was allegedly dismissive and uninterested. Paltrow herself has admitted that she can see how people might find her difficult, acknowledging that her intense focus on her work could be perceived as coldness.
January Jones
January Jones is best known for her role as Betty Draper in the acclaimed television series Mad Men (2007-2015). While her performance was widely praised, her off-screen personality was often described as being as icy as her character’s. Multiple people who have worked with her or interviewed her have described her as being distant and unapproachable.
A child actor who worked with her on Mad Men said in an interview that Jones was not approachable, in contrast to his on-screen father, Jon Hamm. Comedian Zach Galifianakis also recounted a story where he approached her at a party to compliment her work on the show, and she was allegedly rude and dismissive. These stories contributed to a public image of her being cold and unfriendly.
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez has built a massive career as a singer, actress, and producer. With that success has come persistent rumors of diva-like behavior. For years, stories have circulated about her demanding all-white dressing rooms, complete with white flowers, white furniture, and white candles. While she has denied these specific rumors, her reputation for having high standards and making big demands has stuck.
This reputation has followed her onto film sets. One of the most famous stories involves her work on the film Maid in Manhattan (2002). According to some reports, she refused to speak directly to service workers. It was alleged that she once got a hotel maid fired for asking for her autograph, a story her representatives have denied. Whether true or not, these tales have shaped the public’s perception of her as a demanding celebrity.
William Shatner
William Shatner became a cultural icon playing Captain Kirk in the original Star Trek series (1966-1969). However, many of his co-stars from the show have spoken out about his difficult behavior on set. The most vocal critic has been George Takei, who played Hikaru Sulu. Takei has described Shatner as being an arrogant and self-centered person who would try to steal scenes and dominate the set.
The feud between Shatner and Takei has lasted for decades, with the two trading public insults. Other Star Trek co-stars, including the late James Doohan (Scotty) and Nichelle Nichols (Uhura), also confirmed that Shatner could be egotistical and difficult to work with. Shatner, for his part, has largely dismissed these claims, often suggesting his castmates were jealous of his starring role.
Alec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin has had a long and successful career, but it has been marked by numerous public displays of anger. He has been involved in multiple confrontations with paparazzi, sometimes resulting in physical altercations. In 2007, an angry voicemail he left for his then-11-year-old daughter was leaked to the public, in which he called her a “rude, thoughtless little pig.” The incident caused a major public backlash.
His temper has also reportedly flared on set. In 2013, he was fired from a job as a host on the news channel MSNBC after he was recorded using a homophobic slur during a confrontation with a photographer. He also has a reputation for being opinionated and argumentative during film and television productions, which has led to clashes with directors and producers.
Sharon Stone
Sharon Stone became a global superstar after her role in Basic Instinct (1992). Following her rise to fame, she earned a reputation for being a diva. She was known for being demanding on set and having strong opinions about her characters and scripts. This sometimes led to conflict with her collaborators.
Her Basic Instinct co-star, Michael Douglas, has hinted that working with her could be challenging. On the set of the film Sliver (1993), she reportedly had a very poor relationship with her co-star, William Baldwin. Their dislike for each other was so intense that at one point during a kissing scene, she allegedly bit his tongue so hard he couldn’t speak properly for days.
Lea Michele
Lea Michele rose to fame as the star of the musical TV show Glee (2009-2015). For years, there were rumors of on-set drama and difficult behavior. However, in 2020, those rumors came to a head when several of her former Glee co-stars publicly accused her of bullying and unprofessional conduct.
The accusations started when actress Samantha Ware, who is Black, said Michele made her life a “living hell” on set and made comments that she perceived as racist. Following Ware’s statement, other actors from the show, including Heather Morris and Alex Newell, came forward with their own stories of Michele’s bad behavior. They described her as being unpleasant and treating others as if they were beneath her. Michele later issued an apology, but the accusations significantly damaged her public image.
James Franco
James Franco has a reputation for being an eccentric artist who fully immerses himself in his work. However, his methods have often been described as strange and have made his co-workers uncomfortable. On the set of the play Of Mice and Men, his co-star Chris O’Dowd said Franco’s method acting was “a bit of a pain” because he would remain in character and refuse to talk to him outside of their scenes.
His reputation took a more serious hit when multiple women, many of whom were his former acting students, accused him of sexually inappropriate behavior. They alleged that he pressured them into performing in exploitative scenes and engaged in unprofessional conduct. Franco settled a lawsuit with two of the students and later admitted that he had slept with students, acknowledging it was wrong.
