Actress Tiffani Thiessen was perhaps never thought of as a major Hollywood star, but there was a time during the 90s that she was one of TV’s hottest actresses. Her time on Saved By the Bell earned her spots on countless magazine covers, making her the teen It girl for some time, not to mention her time on “Beverly Hills, 90210.”
Did you know that the actress was even supposed to play Rachel on Friends? Yep! Thiessen was pretty close to getting it at one point and even read with the whole cast. Of course, that rejection led her to Beverly Hills. Ultimately, the actress didn’t manage to break out of the mold of a mild TV soap star.
Mike Vogel
Before he started performing in Hollywood films, Mike Vogel was a model for Levi’s. Later on, he caught the eye of talent scouts and was cast in the TV series Grounded for Life for recurring roles between 2001 and 2004. He made his film debut in Grind. The American actor and former model landed his next role as Heath in the TV remake of Wuthering Heights, which aired on MTV just a month after Grind's release in September 2003.
Mike Vogel’s biggest hit as an actor was with the remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre in 2003, which garnered high box office ratings. Vogel is certainly an actor on the rise, but will he shine even more or become an unfortunate addition to the long list of Hollywood busts? He currently stars in NBC’s new military drama series, The Brave.
Rick Moranis
The Canadian actor gained recognition in the comedy series Second City Television during the ’80s and, soon after, starred in a number of Hollywood movies, including Strange Brew, Ghostbusters, Little Shop of Horrors, Spaceballs, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and The Flintstones. In 1997, Moranis quit acting to focus on his two kids as a widowed husband and single father. Since his long sabbatical, he has not made a single appearance.
He has done a few voice-overs for select animated films, most famously Disney's Brother Bear, in 2003. He also did some comedy albums and participated in fan events. Numerous fans, viewers, and film personalities around the world continue to knock on the actor’s door, hoping that they can convince him to make a Hollywood comeback so he can continue his legendary legacy, but it seems they haven't had much luck.
Brandon Routh
Brandon Routh was determined to be an actor and eventually secured various roles in numerous TV series, like 'Gilmore Girls, at the start of 2000. The American actor made frequent appearances in the NBC series, 'Chuck', and later played supporting roles in the films Zack and Miri Make a Porno' and 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World'.
In 2006, Brandon Routh was cast as “The Man of Steel” in Bryan Singer’s movie, 'Superman Returns'. There were plenty of lofty expectations for the actor after succeeding in the iconic role of the late Christopher Reeve. In the end, the movie turned out to be a bust, and Brandon Routh has now been demoted to a lesser superhero role in the TV series, 'Legends of Tomorrow.'
Julia Ormond
Julia Ormond made her acting debut on British TV in the 1989 serial movie Traffik, involving the notorious heroin underground business from the Far East to the cities of Europe. The English actress entered celebrity status when she played in a string of notable 90s films like Legends of the Fall and First Knight. She also received an Emmy award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie for her performance in the HBO film Temple Grandin back in 2010.
Following her portrayal of the main character in the film, Sabrina, there were a lot of movie pundits who believed that Julia Ormond was going to take the big screens by storm. As it turned out, though, Ormond took minor roles and was always cast as the “second girl” in every movie after Sabrina.