Nobody said cinema was easy business, but everyone knows manners cost nothing. From being choked unconscious to almost splitting an extra’s skull with a sword, here are some actors who have gained a reputation for being exceptionally difficult to work with.
Tommy Wiseau
The last time we mentioned Tommy Wiseau was when we listed some of the worst movie productions. Wiseau landed himself on that list because of his disruptive nature. And here too.
Tommy Wiseau is a bit of an enigma. There’s a lot of information surrounding him that is either too absurd to be true or contradictory. One thing that is certain was that Wiseau somehow managed to amass enough funds to create his white whale, The Room. The movie was therapy for Wiseau, as it was conceived during a very turbulent period in his life.
His co-star in The Room and closest confidant Greg Sestero detailed his experience with Wiseau in his non-fiction book The Disaster Artist. Everything about the production marked the checkboxes for a vanity project, with Wiseau treating the set like his personal fiefdom. His constant alterations to the script and haphazard swapping of production members meant that any semblance of consistency was gone.
To make things worse, Wiseau would downright bully members that he felt challenged him. Or bully them if he felt like he could get something, like when he instigated an altercation in order to give Sestero the role of Mark. The Room does come from a genuine place. Sadly, Wiseau’s naïve interpretation of the film industry resulted in him burning every bridge he stepped on.
Steven Seagal
There was once a time when Steven Seagal was considered a rising action star. Now he’s remembered solely for his straight to DVD movies and numerous scandals.
Seagal debuted in 1988 with Above The Law, at the ripe young age of 33. By 1996, Seagal had starred in movies that were alright critically but profitable, with Under Siege making $156 million in the box office on a $30 million budget. After 1996 his stardom (and profitability) would take a nosedive, starting with the 1998 movie The Patriot, Seagal’s acting career would consist almost entirely of DVD flicks. Why was he thrown into the straight to DVD pits? Because it’s cheaper, less risky, and the only type of production that’ll tolerate his antics.
Seagal quickly made a name for himself for being incredibly difficult to work with and engaging in less than savory activity; employment discrimination, sexual harassment, and breach of contract. Being allegedly involved with the mafia. Meddling with scripts. Being banned from Saturday Night Live because he did everything possible to make everyone uncomfortable.
A few A-list celebrities have revealed interesting stories regarding him… not interesting in the feel good sense, though. He would even refuse to pull his punches during stunts, which resulted in many stuntmen going home with fresh injuries. It got so bad that during the production of Out for Justice, stunt coordinator Gene LeBell had to intervene. The result was Seagal being choked out and soiling himself in the process.
Case and point, don’t be Steven Seagal.
Charlie Sheen
Behind controversy and personal demons hides one of the most versatile actors in cinema.
Charlie Sheen has made breakthroughs in comedies, action flicks, and dramas, and his movies have been critical and commercial successes. Thanks to Two and a Half Men he became one of the highest-paid television actors.
Charlie Sheen’s history of substance usage, abuse allegations, and beliefs in highly-controversial topics, resulted in studios being incredibly weary of him. His destructive behavior cultivated animosity, resulting in him making offensive comments towards Chuck Lorre, the creator of Two and a Half Men. These comments, coupled with existing tension, resulted in Sheen being dropped from the show. Though Charlie Sheen has seen some activity after this sad and frankly avoidable incident. He’s still clambering, trying to reach those previous heights.
Klaus Kinski
Out of all the people here, Klaus Kinski has the biggest portfolio, a total of 137 credits. He’s best known for his multiple collaborations with director Werner Herzog.
And his explosive temper.
Most people begin by taking lessons, being part in stage productions, acting as extras, or making their bones on the bronze screen. Small but meaningful steps. Klaus Kinski’s first foray into acting began when he was a prisoner of war. Kinski had been conscripted in the Wehrmacht and while the details of his service are muddy, he ultimately ended up captured by British forces and sent to an Essex P.O.W camp. There he took part in several stage plays in order to raise the morale of the prisoners. When Kinski returned to Germany, he decided to take up acting as a career, though the problems that would plague the rest of his life immediately manifested.
Kinski was argumentative with a strong opinion about virtually everything and everybody. His attitude cost him many friends and many business opportunities. He even turned down the leading villain role in Raiders of the Lost Ark, calling the script certain words that we cannot put in here.
Arguably, his most explosive moments happened during his collaborations with Werner Herzog, who had a prior history with the man. To say their work together was “unusual” would be a severe understatement. In Aguirre the Wrath of God, Kinski almost split an extra’s skull with a prop sword, and shot off another extra’s finger with a rifle. In Cobra Verde he openly assaulted Werner Herzog in front of the cast and crew. In Fitzcarraldo, he clashed so much with so many people, one of the natives hired for the production asked Herzog if he was willing to have Kinski assassinated. Herzog declined. Not because he had love for the man. Not because it was amoral. Because he still had a movie to finish.
Chevy Chase
Like most of the names listed here, there was a period when Chevy Chase was the most respected professional in his field… was.
Chevy Chase was the most memorable part of the first season of Saturday Night Live. He quickly earned himself a reputation as a leading man, starring in some of the best comedies of the ’80s and ’90s.
Chevy Chase’s most notorious altercation involved fellow comedian Bill Murray. While on the SNL premises, Murray and Chase had a disagreement that quickly escalated. Both men had animosity for one another, knew the perfect insults, and the fists started flying soon after.
Chase’s combative personality extended into different projects. He was aware of his marketability, he knew studios relied on him, and with that, he thought the rules didn’t apply to him. Chris Columbus was set to direct National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation but was forced to step down due to constant clashes with Chase. John Carpenter called his movie Memoirs of an Invisible Man his least favorite, partly because of Chase’s juvenile conduct. He’d ruin entire shots and hours worth of work by prematurely removing his makeup. Ivan Reitman was supposed to direct the film, but dropped out of production and was replaced by Carpenter, because Reitman couldn’t handle Chase’s combative disposition.
Chase would face the consequences of his actions in the 2002 N.Y. Friars Club roast, where some of the people he’d hurt over the years finally spoke their mind. When the cameras were rolling, Chase handled the roast with grace. However, once he returned to his hotel, the man broke down, having been forced to see just how much damage he’s done over the years.
Lawrence Tierney
Lawrence Tierney was best known for playing gangsters. He is most fondly remembered as the crusty, foul-mouth ganger, Joe Cabot, from Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs. And yes, he was being difficult even during the shooting of Reservoir Dogs.
As a young man Tierney drifted around the United States, going from job to job with no particular goal in mind other than to fill his pockets so he may fill his belly. He joined the Blackfriars theatre group and eventually landed his first role in the 1943 movie Gildersleeve on Broadway. His breakthrough was the 1945 film Dillinger, where he played the titular hard-boiled gangster John Dillinger. Dillinger would lead to Tierney receiving leading man roles, yet this streak of success would not last.
There were two things Tierney loved — good spirits and a good brawl. Often mixing the two together and growing accustomed to sitting in a jail cell. Alcoholism, assault, theft, and vandalism. Googling Lawrence Tierney will show pictures of his glory days as a mob enforcer, as well as him in cuffs. His long criminal record resulted in studios deeming him an unreliable source, with his abusive behavior on-set not helping the situation. During the production of Reservoir Dogs Tierney shot at his nephew and was quickly jailed. He was briefly released to finish his scenes and Tarantino, having grown weary of the constant clashes, vowed to never work with him ever again.
