15 Celebrity Comebacks That Will Make You Believe in Second Chances
Fame can be fleeting. One wrong move can tear down even the most successful celebrity. Some of those missteps might be impossible to come back from, but several stars — including Lindsay Lohan, whose first movie in 10 years is scheduled to hit Netflix in November — have proven that though they might have dimmed for a moment, they can burn brightly once again.
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Once upon a time, Lindsay Lohan starred in "The Parent Trap," a box-office hit that led to a lucrative acting career in her teenage years, with lead roles in hit movies like "Mean Girls," "Freaky Friday," and "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen." But as Lohan entered adulthood, she overindulged in partying, drugs, and alcohol and spiraled downward. The former star all but lost her fortune and tarnished her fame but resurfaced in 2019 with "Lindsay Lohan's Beach Club," which chronicled the opening of her beach club in Mykonos, Greece. The reality TV show fizzled and wasn't picked up for a second season. But hope for a comeback remains. Netflix just released a preview for "Falling for Christmas," a romantic comedy that's coming to the streaming service Nov. 10, marking Lohan's first movie in 10 years.
Related: Famous Celebrity Meltdowns
Oops, she did it again. Britney Spears had a turbulent downward spiral from 2006 to 2008 throughout her whirlwind custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline, leading to her infamous head-shaving moment that became the buzz cut heard around the world. After reaching rock bottom, Spears climbed back, releasing her sixth chart-topping album, "Circus," which landed her a handful of MTV Video Music Awards. She continued to produce music, broke out of her controversial conservatorship with her father, and remarried. The release of her duet "Hold Me Closer" with Elton John (a remix of his hit "Tiny Dancer"), which marked the pop icon's first single in six years, seems to be another leap toward cementing Spears' comeback, with the song snatching the top spot on music charts worldwide mere hours after its release.
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In the '80s and '90s, Winona Ryder was an “it girl,” starring in hit movies like "Beetlejuice," "Edward Scissorhands," and "Heathers." Her success came to a screeching halt in 2001 when she was arrested for shoplifting and possession of illegal prescription drugs. Ryder took time away from acting and fell to the Hollywood wayside, but she has recently made her resurgence with her role in the hit show “Stranger Things.”
There wasn’t much scandal surrounding the professional golfing realm until Tiger Woods’ serial infidelity got out. Woods’ wife wasn’t the only one who was upset. The golfer faced widespread scrutiny from the public and media, leading him to take a hiatus from the sport in 2008. Ten years later, he returned and won a tournament. The following year, he won the Masters, earning him his fifth green jacket. To solidify his comeback, the athlete was the first member of the World Golf Hall of Fame Class of 2021.
Based on Robert Downey Jr.’s current success, it’s hard to recall his former fall from grace. The actor’s career was gaining traction fast in the late '80s, early '90s. But he had a few run-ins with the law and landed himself in jail for six months. After his release, Downey Jr. was determined to get back on the big screen and he did just that, scoring the starring role in the "Iron Man" movies along with plenty of other notable gigs.
With five Grammy awards under her belt and many hit songs, country superstar Shania Twain retired from music in 2004. Twain suffered from dysphonia, a disorder caused by Lyme disease, which affected her vocal cords. The singer participated in voice therapy and lightly returned to music with a 2012 Las Vegas show and an arena tour in 2015. Her ultimate comeback, though, was in 2017 when she released "Now," her first studio album in 15 years. The album was a huge success, going platinum and securing the No. 1 spot on the Billboard charts.
Neil Patrick Harris got his start as a child in the early '90s, starring in “Doogie Howser, M.D.” Like many other child stars, the actor struggled to maintain a successful career. In 2004, Harris made a cameo appearance in "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle," which served as his surprising reintroduction to Hollywood. He went on to snag the lead role in the hit sitcom “How I Met Your Mother,” earning him four consecutive Emmy nominations and one major comeback.
Pop singer Justin Bieber’s party-boy antics, particularly his DUI, lost him his role model status in 2013. His manager, however, was laser-focused on planning an epic comeback, so his team strategically booked him on the “Comedy Central Roast,” allowing people to take their frustration out on him in a comical way. The roast went off without a hitch and the Beibs released his album "Purpose," preceded by a world tour. The singer now has a suave, bad-boy image and is more beloved than ever.
When Martha Stewart was released from prison after serving five months for several felony charges, including conspiracy and securities fraud, no one could have guessed what her comeback would look like. The cook and lifestyle guru struck up a professional relationship and friendship with rapper Snoop Dogg and the pair have since worked on several wildly successful projects together.
Dubbed the McConaissance, Matthew McConaughey’s comeback was quite transformative. The actor was introduced to the big screen in "Dazed and Confused" and throughout the early 2000s, he was pigeonholed into romantic comedy roles. By 2013, the actor finally took his career to new heights, starring in "The Wolf of Wall Street," earning an Emmy nomination for “True Detective,” and winning an Oscar for "Dallas Buyers Club."
Dave Chapelle’s sketch show on Comedy Central was huge in the '90s, but the comedian walked away from “Chappelle’s Show” in 2005. Though he performed occasional stand-up shows, he remained pretty under-the-radar for about 10 years. After hosting “Saturday Night Live” in 2016, Chappelle released four Netflix specials, two of which earned him a Grammy award in 2018.
Paris Hilton was famous for her party-girl lifestyle and her show “The Simple Life.” Her success came crashing down in 2006 when she was arrested for a DUI and put on probation. A year later, the socialite broke her probation and was sentenced to 45 days in jail, though she was released early for good behavior. But her good behavior wasn’t enough to get her back in the good graces of the media and public. Hilton refocused her career and began touring as a DJ. Fans also found themselves engrossed in the star’s engagement to Carter Reum, so much that her nuptials were chronicled on the 2021 reality show “Paris in Love.”
Once a member of the Brat Pack in the '80s, Rob Lowe came on the scene as a teen actor. The former heartthrob starred in several movies during his original heyday, including "St. Elmo’s Fire" and "The Outsiders." After a video of him having sex with a 16-year-old girl leaked in 1988, followed by a video of him and another man having sex with a model, the actor found himself in hot water and out of work. In 1990, Lowe hosted “Saturday Night Live” and went on to secure several television roles on shows like “Parks and Recreation,” “Brothers and Sisters,” and “The West Wing,” which earned him an Emmy nomination.
Mariah Carey released hit after hit in the '90s, and she even won Billboard’s Artist of the Decade award. By 2001, the songstress had a few stunts that caused her fan base to start seeing her in a different light, including an unannounced appearance on MTV's "Total Request Live," where she pushed an ice cream cart and performed an uncomfortable striptease. Her 2002 album "Charmbracelet" fell flat with fans and is widely considered the worst of her career. Three years later, she released "The Emancipation of Mimi," her comeback album, which helped her reclaim her pop diva throne.
Before she was the voice of reason on “American Idol,” Paula Abdul had a successful career as a singer and choreographer in the '80s and '90s. She had six No. 1 singles and won a Grammy award. But after a plane she was on crash landed, she went through multiple reconstructive spinal cord surgeries and had to step away from the music business. In 2002, Abdul once again became a household name when she became a judge on “American Idol” for eight seasons, followed by a few other reality TV appearances.
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