IMO, just because a celebrity is nolonger in the public eye doesn't make him/her a 'hasbeen'.


When I think of a 'hasbeen', I think of somebody who has/had hit rock bottom and try to get attention by appearing on dumb shows like "The Surreal Life" or posing for Playboy (though it's debatable...look at the Deborah Gibson thread).



Some examples:

Jody Foster... Former child actress turned Oscar winning actress. I haven't heard of her since "Nell". Would she consider to be a 'hasbeen'?


Vanilla Ice... definately a 'hasbeen' since he's only been appearing on reality shows like "The Surreal Life" & "Celebrity Boxing" and still make music, but trying to cash in with the numetal trend.

Leonardo DiCaprio... Teen idol that I haven't heard of for a while, but recently appeared in "The Avaiter" and is nominated for an Oscar. (Despite the fact I can't stand him) Not a hasbeen.


Pearl Jam... still making music and releasing albums... and not trying to blend with current trends like numetal or pop punk


Paula Abdul... also debatable since she's nolonger  making music and I don't know if she still coreographs... 

Thomas Haden Church... before he starred in Sideways.

Jody Foster... Former child actress turned Oscar winning actress. I haven't heard of her since "Nell". Would she consider to be a 'hasbeen'?


Ms. Foster has only appeared in four films since doing "Nell" in 1994.  Among those have been Contact, Anna and the King and Panic Room (none of which were well received.  She is currently filming Flight Plan with Peter Sarsgaard.

She spends much of her time quietly raising her family.

I wouldn't consider her a "hasbeen" but rather a "fadeout."  She is certainly one of the finest actresses ever.

And I would also mention celebrities that are  more popular outside of the US like Kylie Minogue, though she did 'comeback' into the states in 2002  8)
(Definately not a hasbeen)

Has beens:

Emmanuel Lewis
Gary Coleman
Todd Bridges
Joyce De Witt
Jane Fonda
Bart Conner and Nadia Comaneci
Cathy Lee Crosby
John Davidson
Kevin Costner
David Cassidy
Shaun Cassidy
The list goes on and on.

To me a has-been is someone who had potential, got a shot, then tries and tries but never comes back. There are some that walk away, like Garbo, Orson Welles, Marlon Brando.  They aren't in that realm.  Even some that never realize there potential, but just say f*ck it.  The has-been is the one who thinks more of
themselves than was actually there, and tries to trade in on it but it just doesn't happen.

A has been is probably someone who used to be in the public eye but just wants to stay out of it for reasons to be left alone.


Howard

Has beens:

Emmanuel Lewis
Gary Coleman
Todd Bridges
Joyce De Witt
Jane Fonda
Bart Conner and Nadia Comaneci
Cathy Lee Crosby
John Davidson
Kevin Costner
David Cassidy
Shaun Cassidy
The list goes on and on.


Ill add on.......lets see......my predictions on soon to be has beens within the next few years

-Christina Aguilera
-Ashlee Simpson (wont be long before she hits ROCK bottom)
-Ben Affleck (well on his way down)
-Paris Hilton (even though she is set for life)
-Hillary Duff/Lindsay Lohan (as soon as their tweener fanbase grows up its all but over)
-Anyone who has appeared on American Idol
-Tara Reid
-Jennifer Lopez
-bigmouth political pundits a la Ann Coulter, Michael Savage, Michael Moore
-Ashton Kutcher

I'd rather be a has-been than a never-was.  :-\\

Ill add on.......lets see......my predictions on soon to be has beens within the next few years

-Christina Aguilera
-Ashlee Simpson (wont be long before she hits ROCK bottom)
-Ben Affleck (well on his way down)
-Paris Hilton (even though she is set for life)
-Hillary Duff/Lindsay Lohan (as soon as their tweener fanbase grows up its all but over)
-Anyone who has appeared on American Idol
-Tara Reid
-Jennifer Lopez
-bigmouth political pundits a la Ann Coulter, Michael Savage, Michael Moore
-Ashton Kutcher




While I agree with most on the list, I most disagree with Christina, Michael Moore, Jennifer Lopez, and Fantasia Barrino. They will have a much longer shelf life due to their respective fan base.

Tanya

Has beens:

Emmanuel Lewis
Gary Coleman
Todd Bridges
Joyce De Witt
Jane Fonda
Bart Conner and Nadia Comaneci
Cathy Lee Crosby
John Davidson
Kevin Costner
David Cassidy
Shaun Cassidy
The list goes on and on.


Kevin Costner still has a film caree still, his next film The Upside of Anger, is coming out soon next month, and he has two more after that, Rumor Has It and The Tortilla Curtain.

Shaun Cassidy is currently a writter/producer, one of the shows he created was American Gothic.

Maybe, but he hasn't had the critical and box office appeal he had with his 80s and 90s films. Maybe this film will turn him around. ::)

As for Shaun, American Gothic has been off the air since 1999. Shaun Cassidy and Lucas Black have grown hair on their chins.

Kevin Costner still has a film caree still.

Maybe, but he hasn't had the critical and box office appeal he had with his 80s and 90s films. Maybe this film will turn him around. ::)



3000 Miles to Graceland was the last "big" (I use that term loosely) film he was in, I believe.

That one was universally panned by critics, but somehow made a small profit. :-\\
3000 Miles to Graceland was the last "big" (I use that term loosely) film he was in, I believe.

'Has-been' is a term invented by a 'never was' who wished s/he 'had been'.

I'd rather be a has-been than a never-was.  :-\\


Don't worry LB.you're a should-be. ;D


Howard

AFA Jodie Foster, she "left" to raise her children, which I find honorable. She HAS been working "behind the scenes" as a producer and director. I don't see it being an issue if she ever decides to act again.


I didn't know that.  :-[  :)

What films had she directed?

I didn't know that.  :-[  :)

What films had she directed?






Little Man Tate and Home for the Holidays. I like Home for the Holidays. It stars Holly Hunter and Robert Downey, Jr.

Tanya

I think doing an infomercial certifies you as a "hasbeen", especially informercial dealing with weight loss pills.

I think doing an infomercial certifies you as a "hasbeen", especially informercial dealing with weight loss pills.


True


Recently I saw Ringo Starr on one of those classic rock compilation cd infomercials...  :P

Though he's considered a legend by  many people...  (If that was Brian Wilson, I would laugh since I'm not a fan of The Beach Boys  :D  :P )

Patrick Swayze....

...remember him?



Though I did surf the web a little and found out that he did star in a few new movies, but they were probably bit parts.  I wonder if he'll ever make a full comeback...

lol, i couldn't resist

I think that most celebrities who become has-beens are generally those who were marginally talented at best to begin with, and became famous solely because of their looks, because they were part of a trend, or because they had friends in the right places. Child actors seem particularly susceptible to this phenomenon, and very few seem to be able to make the jump from child stardom to being able to continue their careers into adulthood. I think it also has to do with the public's appetite for seeing people in high places fall from grace. Very few celebrities can make comebacks once they're off the "A-list," and when it does happen it's only because they have enough talent to pull it off.

As for "Playboy" has two exceptions.... Honestly, the threads about the upcoming issue inspired me to put up this thread.


1. Drew Barrymore, 1994  ... she's still acting Not a hasbeen


2. Deborah Gibson... She has a successful career in theatre  (Which is actually her passion, not something to grasp for attention) and puts out albums under her own site

More info: http://www.discomuseum.com/DebbieGibson.html

What about Steve Guttenberg? 

What about Steve Guttenberg? 



I guess you could consider him a has-been.


Howard

>BUMP<

Vanilla Ice is way up there....  ;D

Vanilla Ice is way up there....  ;D
Vanilla Ice was on a Reality TV programme here in the UK.

Vanilla Ice was on a Reality TV programme here in the UK.


Figures...  ;D

Vanilla Ice was on a Reality TV programme here in the UK.


He's been on several reality type shows here in North America too:

The Surreal Life
Celebrity Boxing
Hit Me Baby One More Time

As much as I hate to say it.....Kyle Petty as an active NASCAR driver...yes I know he's a PETTY, but him AND (C)Rusty Wallace need to give it up...at least Rusty is bowing out gracefully.

But anyone calling Dale Jarrett or Sterling Marlin a "has-been" would really get my goat...especially since Marlin was a MAJOR Winston Cup contender in 2002..until injuries forced him out for the rest of the season. And Jarrett STILL can race with the best of 'em!

El Rushbo..better known as Rush Limbaugh!

El Rushbo..better known as Rush Limbaugh!

He should be a has-been, but no one ever lost by underestimating the taste or intelligence of the American people!

IndyGent mentioned Jane Fonda as a has-been.  I disagree.  Somebody that famous falls into the category of "retired star."  Though Fonda made a comeback in (whatever that flick was), she voluntarily stopped accepting roles in the early '80s.  IMO, "has-been" is not a voluntary designation.  A "has-been" is a former celebrity, or semi-celebrity, who would have kept in the limelight if he could.
Gary Coleman is the quintessential "has-been," Anna-Nicole Smith is another.
David Hasselhoff would be a "has-been," but he parlayed "has-been" into "legend."
One of my favorite early '80s pop bands provides us with a great example of a has-been: A Flock of Seagulls. 
Mike Score convinced himself he could rise to the top of the charts again, even though none of the original AFOS members were in the band but him, and without big-budget producers such as Mike Howlett and Conny Plank, he sucked!  But he sure kept trying!
Not all child stars are "has-beens," only the ones who didn't know to pack it in when their fifteen minutes were up.  Melissa Gilbert from "Little House" is a has-been.  She thought she could just get a boob job and keep plowing along.  Guess again!
Danny Lloyd, who everybody still knows as Danny Torrence from "The Shining" is not a has been.  Lloyd wasn't interested in an acting career.  He's now a school teacher somewhere in Illinois.  Some would classify that as "has-been," but I don't.  Same thing with Ilan Mitchell-Smith, best known as "Wyatt" in "Weird Science."  He had no acting aspiratins as an adult, and is now a successful history professor.
Then there are character actors who got caught up in a run-away hit.  Perfect example, Alan Ruck.  He was "Cameron" in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."  Ruck wasn't billed as a big star in the first place, he was just a side kick.  After FBDO, he went back to being a character actor and had a successful career at it.  To me, that's not "has-been" material.
Then there are sad-case has-beens.  We can all think of the usual "Diff'rent Strokes," "Partridge Family," "Eight is Enough," and "Facts of Life" examples, but the two I'd like to point out are:
Bridgette Anderson, the adorable star of the 1982 hit film "Savannah Smiles," age 21 0.D., R.I.P.
:\'(
Scott Schwartz, best known as the rich brat in the Richard Prior movie "The Toy," child star has-been cum porn star has-been!
:P

Hillary Duff & Lindsay Lohan in the next 15 minutes  :D

Seems like Bratney Spears & Christina Uglilera's 15 minutes of fame are up

He should be a has-been, but no one ever lost by underestimating the taste or intelligence of the American people!

IndyGent mentioned Jane Fonda as a has-been. I disagree. Somebody that famous falls into the category of "retired star." Though Fonda made a comeback in (whatever that flick was), she voluntarily stopped accepting roles in the early '80s. IMO, "has-been" is not a voluntary designation. A "has-been" is a former celebrity, or semi-celebrity, who would have kept in the limelight if he could.
Gary Coleman is the quintessential "has-been," Anna-Nicole Smith is another.
David Hasselhoff would be a "has-been," but he parlayed "has-been" into "legend."
One of my favorite early '80s pop bands provides us with a great example of a has-been: A Flock of Seagulls.
Mike Score convinced himself he could rise to the top of the charts again, even though none of the original AFOS members were in the band but him, and without big-budget producers such as Mike Howlett and Conny Plank, he sucked! But he sure kept trying!
Not all child stars are "has-beens," only the ones who didn't know to pack it in when their fifteen minutes were up. Melissa Gilbert from "Little House" is a has-been. She thought she could just get a boob job and keep plowing along. Guess again!
Danny Lloyd, who everybody still knows as Danny Torrence from "The Shining" is not a has been. Lloyd wasn't interested in an acting career. He's now a school teacher somewhere in Illinois. Some would classify that as "has-been," but I don't. Same thing with Ilan Mitchell-Smith, best known as "Wyatt" in "Weird Science." He had no acting aspiratins as an adult, and is now a successful history professor.
Then there are character actors who got caught up in a run-away hit. Perfect example, Alan Ruck. He was "Cameron" in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." Ruck wasn't billed as a big star in the first place, he was just a side kick. After FBDO, he went back to being a character actor and had a successful career at it. To me, that's not "has-been" material.
Then there are sad-case has-beens. We can all think of the usual "Diff'rent Strokes," "Partridge Family," "Eight is Enough," and "Facts of Life" examples, but the two I'd like to point out are:
Bridgette Anderson, the adorable star of the 1982 hit film "Savannah Smiles," age 21 0.D., R.I.P.
:\'(
Scott Schwartz, best known as the rich brat in the Richard Prior movie "The Toy," child star has-been cum porn star has-been!
:P
I think Jane Fonda's posing with North Vietnamese troops while our soldiers were over there was double ugly...but that's just my opinion(that is shared with many Vietnam veterans!)

He's been on several reality type shows here in North America too:

The Surreal Life
Celebrity Boxing
Hit Me Baby One More Time
Vanilla Ice seems to be desperate for a return in his career?

Vanilla Ice seems to be desperate for a return in his career?


Probally!  ;D

Vanilla Ice seems to be desperate for a return in his career?


LOL, I'm sure he is, but the only way I can see that happening is possibly, with things like movie roles or a TV show of his own (and let's be honest - even that is stretching it!).

The possibility of a music comeback is about the same as, well I can't think of a good comparison joke right now (;D ) but let's just say, it's pretty slim!

However, for better or worse, he probably did kind of pave the way for the Eminem's and other white rappers.

I think Jane Fonda's posing with North Vietnamese troops while our soldiers were over there was double ugly...but that's just my opinion(that is shared with many Vietnam veterans!)

But that has nothing to do with the reason I mentioned her.

He should be a has-been, but no one ever lost by underestimating the taste or intelligence of the American people!

IndyGent mentioned Jane Fonda as a has-been. I disagree. Somebody that famous falls into the category of "retired star." Though Fonda made a comeback in (whatever that flick was), she voluntarily stopped accepting roles in the early '80s. IMO, "has-been" is not a voluntary designation. A "has-been" is a former celebrity, or semi-celebrity, who would have kept in the limelight if he could.
Gary Coleman is the quintessential "has-been," Anna-Nicole Smith is another.
David Hasselhoff would be a "has-been," but he parlayed "has-been" into "legend."
One of my favorite early '80s pop bands provides us with a great example of a has-been: A Flock of Seagulls.
Mike Score convinced himself he could rise to the top of the charts again, even though none of the original AFOS members were in the band but him, and without big-budget producers such as Mike Howlett and Conny Plank, he sucked! But he sure kept trying!
Not all child stars are "has-beens," only the ones who didn't know to pack it in when their fifteen minutes were up. Melissa Gilbert from "Little House" is a has-been. She thought she could just get a boob job and keep plowing along. Guess again!
Danny Lloyd, who everybody still knows as Danny Torrence from "The Shining" is not a has been. Lloyd wasn't interested in an acting career. He's now a school teacher somewhere in Illinois. Some would classify that as "has-been," but I don't. Same thing with Ilan Mitchell-Smith, best known as "Wyatt" in "Weird Science." He had no acting aspiratins as an adult, and is now a successful history professor.
Then there are character actors who got caught up in a run-away hit. Perfect example, Alan Ruck. He was "Cameron" in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." Ruck wasn't billed as a big star in the first place, he was just a side kick. After FBDO, he went back to being a character actor and had a successful career at it. To me, that's not "has-been" material.
Then there are sad-case has-beens. We can all think of the usual "Diff'rent Strokes," "Partridge Family," "Eight is Enough," and "Facts of Life" examples, but the two I'd like to point out are:
Bridgette Anderson, the adorable star of the 1982 hit film "Savannah Smiles," age 21 0.D., R.I.P.
:\'(
Scott Schwartz, best known as the rich brat in the Richard Prior movie "The Toy," child star has-been cum porn star has-been!
:P
I'd love to see Sean Hannity as well as the whole darned Fox News crew become has-beens!!