Gay Actors Who Completely Rebounded From Flops

The entertainment industry is notoriously fickle and even the most talented performers experience career slumps or box office disasters. For openly gay actors, navigating these failures can be particularly challenging due to historical stigmas and casting limitations. However, true talent often prevails and allows artists to reinvent themselves after critical or commercial missteps. The following men faced significant career hurdles or high-profile flops but managed to bounce back with defining roles that solidified their status in Hollywood.

Neil Patrick Harris

After his early success as a child star, this talented performer struggled to transition into adult roles during the late nineties. He appeared in the critical and commercial disappointment ‘The Next Best Thing’ which failed to ignite his film career. His momentum seemed to stall until he landed the role of Barney Stinson in a popular sitcom. ‘How I Met Your Mother’ completely revitalized his image and turned him into a global superstar.

Ian McKellen

Before becoming a pop culture icon, this legendary stage actor appeared in several films that failed to make a mark, including the poorly received adaptation of ‘The Shadow’. He also faced the embarrassment of the 2019 musical adaptation ‘Cats’, which is widely considered one of the worst films ever made. Despite these missteps, he always rebounds with gravitas in projects like ‘The Good Liar’ or his celebrated stage work. His legacy remains untarnished thanks to his ability to move past failures with dignity.

Luke Evans

The attempt to launch a new monster movie universe with ‘Dracula Untold’ proved to be a critical failure for this Welsh actor. The film did not generate the intended franchise, leaving his status as an action lead in question. He successfully pivoted by taking on the role of Gaston in the live-action ‘Beauty and the Beast’. The massive commercial success of the Disney film reestablished his box office appeal.

Rupert Everett

After a string of hits in the nineties, this actor starred alongside Madonna in ‘The Next Best Thing’, which was a critical disaster. The failure of the film cooled his Hollywood heat significantly for several years. He found massive success again by lending his voice to the character of Prince Charming in ‘Shrek 2’. The animated sequel was a global phenomenon that introduced him to a new generation of fans.

Nathan Lane

Despite his immense talent, this stage legend faced a setback with the sitcom ‘Encore! Encore!’ which was cancelled quickly due to low ratings. He did not let television failure stop him and returned to his roots with the musical version of ‘The Producers’. The show became a Broadway sensation and later a film, earning him renewed acclaim. He later found consistent television success with a recurring role on ‘Modern Family’.

Andrew Scott

Before achieving global fame, this Irish actor appeared in the critical flop ‘Victor Frankenstein’ alongside James McAvoy. The film was ignored by audiences and did not serve as a breakout vehicle for him. He rebounded spectacularly by playing the Hot Priest in the second season of ‘Fleabag’. The role became a cultural phenomenon and earned him prestigious awards and high-profile film offers.

Matt Bomer

Early in his career, this actor starred in the prequel ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning’, which received negative reviews. While the film made money, it did not showcase his dramatic range or leading man potential. He completely reinvented his career trajectory by landing the lead role of Neal Caffrey in ‘White Collar’. The show became a hit and established him as a suave and capable dramatic actor.

Jim Parsons

Before finding his signature role, this actor appeared in several failed television pilots that never made it to air. He struggled to find steady work in an industry that often struggled to cast him effectively. His fortunes changed forever when he was cast as Sheldon Cooper in ‘The Big Bang Theory’. The sitcom became one of the most successful shows in television history and earned him four Emmy Awards.

Ben Whishaw

The ambitious adaptation of ‘Cloud Atlas’ was a polarizing release that failed to perform well at the domestic box office. While his performance was praised, the financial failure of the movie could have been a setback. He rebounded by securing the iconic role of Q in the James Bond franchise starting with ‘Skyfall’. He further solidified his career by voicing the beloved bear in the ‘Paddington’ films.

Lee Pace

This actor faced a career lull after the cancellation of his beloved series ‘Pushing Daisies’ and the critical failure of the family comedy ‘Marmaduke’. The talking dog movie was panned by critics and did relatively little for his resume. He bounced back with force by landing major roles in two massive franchises, ‘The Hobbit’ trilogy and ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’. These blockbusters introduced his versatility to a much wider global audience.

Sean Hayes

After the conclusion of his hit sitcom, this comedic actor attempted to lead his own series titled ‘Sean Saves the World’. The show suffered from poor reviews and was cancelled during its first season. He successfully rebounded by returning for the revival of ‘Will & Grace’, which was met with enthusiasm from fans. He has since found massive success in the podcasting world with ‘SmartLess’.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Before his breakout success, he was a cast member on the sitcom ‘The Class’, which was cancelled after just one season despite decent reviews. The cancellation left him looking for a new vehicle to showcase his comedic timing. He found the perfect rebound with the role of Mitchell Pritchett on ‘Modern Family’. The show ran for eleven seasons and earned him multiple Emmy nominations.

Murray Bartlett

This Australian actor was a lead in the HBO series ‘Looking’, which developed a cult following but was cancelled after two seasons due to low viewership. For several years afterwards, he worked steadily but without a major breakout hit. That changed when he was cast as Armond in the first season of ‘The White Lotus’. His chaotic and hilarious performance earned him an Emmy Award and revitalized his career.

Richard E. Grant

Despite a legendary debut in ‘Withnail and I’, this actor appeared in ‘Hudson Hawk’, which is often cited as one of the biggest flops of the nineties. The film’s failure could have relegated him to obscurity, but he continued to work tirelessly in character roles. He achieved a magnificent late-career resurgence with his Oscar-nominated performance in ‘Can You Ever Forgive Me?’. The role reminded the industry of his immense talent and emotional range.

Alan Cumming

This Scottish actor played the villain in ‘Son of the Mask’, a sequel that was universally reviled by critics and audiences alike. The movie is frequently listed among the worst sequels ever made. He shook off the negative reception by securing the role of Eli Gold in ‘The Good Wife’. His portrayal of the sharp political strategist earned him critical acclaim and multiple award nominations.

Jeremy Irvine

This actor starred in the controversial drama ‘Stonewall’, which was a box office bomb and faced heavy criticism for its historical inaccuracies. The backlash against the film was intense and could have derailed a rising career. He managed to move past the controversy by landing a role in the massive musical hit ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’. The success of the sequel helped put him back on a positive trajectory.

George Takei

After his initial run as Sulu, this actor struggled against typecasting and found himself in a career slump with limited roles. He often found work in lower-budget films that failed to make an impact. He rebounded in the digital age by becoming a social media icon and starring in the musical ‘Allegiance’. His reinvention as an internet personality and activist brought him a new level of fame.

Billy Porter

During the nineties, this performer released music that failed to chart significantly and struggled to find his place in Hollywood. He faced a long period where mainstream success seemed elusive. He rebounded spectacularly by returning to Broadway in ‘Kinky Boots’, winning a Tony Award. He followed this with a history-making, Emmy-winning role in the television series ‘Pose’.

Jonathan Groff

The cancellation of the series ‘Looking’ was a disappointment for this actor who had transitioned from Broadway to screen. The show failed to capture a wide audience despite critical support. He rebounded by returning to the stage as King George III in the phenomenon ‘Hamilton’. He subsequently landed the lead role in the acclaimed Netflix series ‘Mindhunter’.

Russell Tovey

This British actor starred in the American series ‘Quantico’, which saw diminishing returns and was eventually cancelled. He also appeared in the film ‘The Pass’, which was excellent but seen by few people. He rebounded with a powerful role in the dystopian drama ‘Years and Years’. His performance in the series was widely praised and reestablished his dramatic credentials.

Dan Levy

Before his massive success, this creative force worked as an MTV host and appeared in minor roles that did not garner much attention. He spent years trying to get a project off the ground that would define his voice. He created and starred in ‘Schitt’s Creek’, which started slowly but grew into a massive cultural phenomenon. The show swept the Emmy Awards and made him one of the most sought-after creators in Hollywood.

Richard Chamberlain

In the late seventies, this actor starred in the disaster movie ‘The Swarm’, which was a critical and commercial failure. The film is often mocked for its premise and execution. He rebounded by becoming the king of the miniseries with ‘The Thorn Birds’. The television event was a massive ratings smash and secured his status as a leading man.

Cheyenne Jackson

This actor starred in the pilot ‘Mockingbird Lane’, a reboot of ‘The Munsters’ that was not picked up as a series. He also appeared in the cancelled sitcom ‘American Woman’. He found a consistent and successful home in the Ryan Murphy universe, appearing in multiple seasons of ‘American Horror Story’. These roles allowed him to showcase his versatility in horror and drama.

Andrew Rannells

The sitcom ‘The New Normal’ was cancelled after one season, leaving this Broadway star without a television vehicle. It was a high-profile cancellation for a show that had generated initial buzz. He rebounded by joining the cast of the hit series ‘Girls’. He also returned to Broadway in the acclaimed revival of ‘Falsettos’, earning a Tony nomination.

Ben Platt

The film adaptation of ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ was a critical failure that drew ridicule for casting the older actor as a high school student. The backlash was severe and dominated social media discourse for months. He successfully pivoted back to his roots with the immense success of the Broadway revival of ‘Parade’. He also produced and starred in the well-received indie comedy ‘Theater Camp’.

Leslie Jordan

For many years, this character actor worked in guest roles and faced periods of unemployment common to the industry. He had not had a steady series regular role in years before the pandemic. He rebounded by becoming an unlikely viral sensation on Instagram during the lockdown. This popularity led to a main role on the sitcom ‘Call Me Kat’ and renewed appreciation for his work.

Udo Kier

This German actor has appeared in countless B-movies and exploitation films that were critically panned. For a long time, he was seen primarily as a cult figure rather than a serious dramatic actor. He rebounded late in his career with a widely acclaimed lead performance in ‘Swan Song’. The role won him awards and reminded critics of his deep emotional range.

BD Wong

After early success, this actor starred in Margaret Cho’s sitcom ‘All-American Girl’, which was cancelled after one season due to poor reviews. The failure of the show could have limited his opportunities in television. He rebounded by securing a long-running role on ‘Law & Order: Special Victims Unit’. He later won critical praise for his complex villainous role in ‘Mr. Robot’.

Joel Grey

Following his Oscar win, this actor appeared in several films that failed to match the success of ‘Cabaret’, such as ‘The Seven-Per-Cent Solution’. His film career cooled significantly in the decades that followed. He experienced a massive career resurgence by originating the Wizard in the musical ‘Wicked’. The show became one of the biggest Broadway hits of all time.

Robin Lord Taylor

This actor appeared in several low-budget horror films and had a minor role in the college comedy ‘Accepted’ before hitting a career plateau. He struggled to break out of small guest spots for several years. He rebounded by landing the role of Penguin in the series ‘Gotham’. His interpretation of the villain was the breakout performance of the show.

Wilson Cruz

The medical drama ‘Red Band Society’ was cancelled after one season, leaving this actor looking for his next project. He had also faced lulls in his career after his breakthrough in the nineties. He rebounded by joining the ‘Star Trek’ universe in ‘Discovery’ as Dr. Hugh Culber. The role was groundbreaking and revitalized his presence in science fiction television.

Guillermo Díaz

This actor was a regular on the superhero series ‘No Ordinary Family’, which was cancelled after a single season due to low ratings. The show failed to find an audience despite the superhero trend. He bounced back by playing Huck in the smash hit drama ‘Scandal’. The character became a fan favorite and kept him employed on a top-rated show for seven seasons.

Alec Mapa

Early in his career, he co-starred in the sitcom ‘Some of My Best Friends’, which was based on the film ‘Kiss Me, Guido’ but was cancelled quickly. The show’s failure left him searching for a new outlet for his comedy. He found a perfect rebound with a recurring role on the hit series ‘Ugly Betty’. He became a recognizable face on television and a staple of the stand-up comedy circuit.

Tituss Burgess

Before his breakout, this Broadway actor struggled to find significant roles in television and film. He faced the difficulty of transitioning from stage to screen without a recognizable brand. He rebounded by starring as Titus Andromedon in ‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’. The role earned him multiple Emmy nominations and made him a household name.

Colman Domingo

This actor spent years as a journeyman, appearing in the spin-off ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ which saw mixed critical reception over its run. While steady work, it did not initially propel him to the A-list. He rebounded into the awards conversation with his powerful performance in ‘Rustin’. The role earned him an Academy Award nomination and solidified his status as a leading man.

Stephen Fry

While a British national treasure, he appeared in several film flops in the early 2000s, including the commercially disappointing ‘Thunderpants’. His film career seemed to drift into minor character roles for a period. He rebounded globally with his appearance in ‘Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows’ and ‘The Hobbit’ films. These roles reintroduced him to international audiences as a premier character actor.

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