The main star of the comedy Home Alone, Macaulay Culkin, became famous all over the world when he was only 10 years old, but Hollywood is full of opposite examples when actors gained popularity at a respectable age.
Today we will tell you about ten such cases and consider the roles that brought fame to the actors.
10. Tommy Lee Jones
The 72-year-old actor is now a recognized Hollywood star, but this, of course, was not always the case. He began to act actively in films in the 70s, but the roles he got were extremely unsuccessful, so he was better known for his work in the theater.
He received his portion of kinoslavs only in 1993, playing in the thriller The Fugitive directed by Andrew Davis. After the release of the film, he immediately became one of the highest paid stars, as the role of US Marshal brought him an Oscar. At that time, Tommy Lee Jones was already 47 years old.
9. Ian McKellen
Another actor with an extremely difficult fate in a big movie, who went to recognition even longer than Tommy Lee Jones. Like him, McKellen devoted most of his time to the theater, the roles in which brought him a knighthood and the rank of commander of the British Empire, but not popularity with moviegoers.
Everything changed in 1997 after filming with Brian Singer in the thriller “Capable Apprentice,” which critics praised for all voices. Ian was then 58 years old and this was only the first step, followed by the images of Gandalf and Magneto, who forever brought his name into the hearts of the audience.
8. Alan Rickman
Again, the British and again the star of the theater, which in show business for many years has been catastrophically unlucky. The iconic role for him was the image of Hans Gruber - the main antagonist of the first "Die Hard" with Bruce Willis.
At that time, Rickman had already exchanged the 5th dozen, but an even more iconic hero was waiting for him in front - Professor Severus Snape, whom he brilliantly performed in 6 parts of the Potteriana, simultaneously having time to light up in the paintings “Perfumer. The Story of a Murderer ”,“ Dogma ”,“ Sweeney Todd, a Demon Hairdresser from Fleet Street ”and others.
7. Samuel L. Jackson
The textured and charismatic actor, who seemed to be doomed to popularity, fought for her for many years. For many years, he took on everything, playing secondary characters in second-rate films, until he was noticed by Quentin Tarantino, who made him a star in one fell swoop.
If it seems to you that the role of Jules in Pulp Fiction seems to have been created for L. Jackson, then you are not far from the truth: the image of the hero was specially written for him.
It was then, at the age of 45, that the actor truly began his career, acting in one cult film after another.
6. Gene Hackman
One of the most famous actors of the second half of the 20th century, Hackman started from the bottom, playing minor roles in low-budget projects. For a long time he was not able to properly declare himself until the director Arthur Penn appeared on the horizon, taking him on the role in his film “Bonnie and Clyde,” when he was 37 years old.
This role, although it was not the main one, nevertheless earned him an Oscar nomination and, more importantly, a host of other job offers.
After 4 years, he starred in the thriller The French Connected, for which he received the coveted statuette, and in 1993 he won the prize for the best supporting actor for the film Unforgiven.
5. Billy Bob Thornton
In his youth, the future actor was more inclined to music, playing drums in the band Stone Cold Fever, and after that he became the vocalist of Tres Hombres. When interest in the stage faded, he seriously took up acting, accepting a variety of proposals in the hope of proving himself.
When it did not bear fruit, at the age of 41, he decided to make a knight's move and wrote the script for the film “Honed Blade”, which he himself directed and played a major role in it.
The work of the man orchestra was not in vain: critics praised the film, and for the script he even received an Oscar, which so far is the only one in his long career.
4. Steve Carell
Steve from childhood showed himself well in school theater productions, showing obvious talent, but in order to somehow make ends meet, he had to work in areas far from the cinema.
When he was fired from his postal courier, he freaked out and decided to fulfill his childhood dream, which over time he completely succeeded.
His first noticeable appearance on the screens was “The Dana Carvey Show”, and real success came in 2004 with the release of the comedy “40-year-old Virgin”, when Steve was 42. Subsequent roles in “The TV Host” and “Office” only cemented his success.
3. Danny Trejo
Trejo is a walking legend whose history serves as a clear proof that there is always a chance for a new, better life. Even if you are a former drug addict and criminal, just released after 12 years in prison.
Once on the set of the movie "Runaway Train", quite by accident, he got a small role in it, after which he continued to go to auditions and act in extras.
This is not to say that he became a superstar with multimillion-dollar fees, but he is definitely recognizable, and given his past, this is definitely success.
2. Morgan Freeman
Freeman gained some fame back in the early 70s thanks to the TV project Electric Company, but his path to the cinema did not even begin at that time. On the big screens, he appeared for the first time only a year later in the film “Who said I can’t take a walk on the rainbow?”, And then he wasn’t called anywhere for 9 years until he received an offer to star in Brubaker.
The first rays of glory dawned on him only in 1987 with the release of the drama “Street guy”, for which he received the first Oscar nomination, but then it started: “Chauffeur Miss Daisy”, “Unforgiven”, “Escape from the Shawshank” and more dozens of significant roles.
1. Brian Cranston
The latest example, because we all recently watched the gaining popularity of this actor in the series Breaking Bad. Before that, Cranston starred in the project “Malcolm in the Spotlight” for several years and even received 3 nominations for an Emmy, but it was the role of the cook chemist, Walter White, that brought him worldwide fame and the love of the audience.
There were showers of filming in a movie, where he also proved to be "excellent": "Operation Argo", "Drive", etc.