Young Actors Fired After Getting Arrested

The entertainment industry often operates on a zero-tolerance policy regarding legal infractions, especially when they involve high-profile talent. For young actors, an arrest can lead to immediate termination from lucrative television series and major film franchises. These decisions are frequently made by studios to protect brand reputation and satisfy moral clauses found in standard talent contracts. While some performers manage to rebuild their careers over time, others find that a single legal incident marks the permanent end of their time in the spotlight.

Adam Hicks

Adam Hicks was arrested in January 2018 in connection with a string of armed robberies in Burbank, California. The former Disney actor was charged with several felonies, leading to a long period of legal instability and mental health evaluations. At the time, Hicks had a lead role in the Hulu series ‘Freakish’, but he was not brought back for any subsequent projects following the charges. His career stalled significantly as he dealt with the legal consequences, which eventually resulted in a prison sentence. This incident effectively ended his transition from a child star to an adult leading man.

Columbus Short

Columbus Short faced multiple arrests in 2014, including charges for involvement in a bar fight and allegations of domestic violence. These legal incidents led to his departure from the hit ABC political thriller ‘Scandal’, where he played the character Harrison Wright. Creator Shonda Rhimes confirmed his exit following the conclusion of the third season, and his character was killed off-screen to resolve the storyline. Short later publicly acknowledged that his personal struggles and substance abuse contributed to the loss of his position on the show.

Edward Furlong

Edward Furlong rose to fame as John Connor in ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’, but his career was derailed by several arrests related to drug use and domestic violence. In the early 2000s, his recurring legal issues and substance abuse struggles led to him being fired from ‘Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines’. Producers cited concerns regarding his reliability and the inability to obtain insurance for the production as the primary reasons for his removal. He was ultimately replaced by Nick Stahl, and Furlong has since navigated a career primarily in independent films.

Jamie Waylett

Jamie Waylett, known for playing Vincent Crabbe in the ‘Harry Potter’ film franchise, was arrested in 2009 after police found cannabis in his vehicle and home. He was later sentenced to community service, but the legal trouble caused him to lose his role in the final two films of the series. His character was written out of ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1’ and ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2’. The plot of the final films was adjusted so that another character performed the actions originally designated for Crabbe in the source material.

Jonathan Majors

In March 2023, Jonathan Majors was arrested in New York City on charges of assault, strangulation, and harassment involving a domestic dispute. Following a trial in December 2023, a jury found him guilty of reckless assault in the third degree and harassment. Marvel Studios immediately severed ties with the actor, who had been cast as the central villain, Kang the Conqueror, for the ‘Multiverse Saga’. His future appearances in upcoming projects like ‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty’ were cancelled as a direct result of the legal proceedings and conviction.

Jussie Smollett

Jussie Smollett was arrested in February 2019 after being accused of staging a hate crime against himself in Chicago. The actor faced charges of filing a false police report, which led to significant public and legal scrutiny. Shortly after the arrest, producers of the television series ‘Empire’ announced that his character, Jamal Lyon, would be removed from the final episodes of the fifth season. Smollett was ultimately written out of the show entirely and did not return for the sixth and final season.

Mitchel Musso

Disney Channel star Mitchel Musso was arrested in October 2011 for driving under the influence in Burbank, California. At the time of the incident, Musso was starring in the sitcom ‘Pair of Kings’ and providing the voice for Jeremy Johnson in ‘Phineas and Ferb’. Following the arrest, Disney XD decided to write his character out of ‘Pair of Kings’, replacing him with a new lead character. While he continued some voice work for the network, his prominent live-action presence ended abruptly due to the legal incident.

Robert Downey Jr.

In April 2001, Robert Downey Jr. was arrested in Culver City for suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance. This arrest occurred while he was experiencing a significant career resurgence on the television show ‘Ally McBeal’. Following the incident, executive producer David E. Kelley decided to terminate his contract, and his character was written off the show despite a boost in ratings. The actor eventually sought long-term treatment and made a successful comeback in the film industry several years later.

Ryan Grantham

Ryan Grantham, who appeared in the series ‘Riverdale’ and ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’, was arrested in 2020 for the murder of his mother. Following the arrest, his professional relationship with his talent agency and various productions ceased immediately. He had previously played the character Jeffery Augustine in ‘Riverdale’, but the legal gravity of the situation ensured he would never return to the series. The actor was eventually sentenced to life in prison, marking a permanent end to his professional acting career.

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