Top 20 Most Difficult Actors To Work With
## Top 10 Actors Known for Being Difficult to Work With
There's no shortage of workplace drama in Hollywood. For this list, we're looking at actors that have an infamous reputation for complaining, hostility towards other cast members, or just generally being difficult to work with for any number of reasons. Did YOUR favorite actor make the list? Let us know in the comments!
### 10. **Marlon Brando**
Marlon Brando's legendary talent came with a notorious reputation for being difficult on set. His unpredictability, refusal to learn lines, and clashes with directors made him a challenge to work with, despite his undeniable skill.
### 9. **Val Kilmer**
Val Kilmer has been reported to be combative and difficult to direct. His behavior on the sets of "Batman Forever" and "The Island of Dr. Moreau" caused significant tension, earning him a reputation for being problematic.
### 8. **Joan Crawford**
Joan Crawford was known for her diva behavior and clashes with co-stars and directors. Her feud with Bette Davis during the filming of "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" is legendary in Hollywood history.
### 7. **Edward Norton**
Edward Norton is an acclaimed actor but has a reputation for being overly controlling on set. His insistence on rewriting scripts and directing scenes led to tensions with directors and producers, notably on "American History X."
### 6. **Jennifer Lopez**
Jennifer Lopez's demanding behavior and high standards have caused friction on movie sets and in the music industry. Reports of her difficult demeanor have followed her throughout her career.
### 5. **Christian Bale**
Christian Bale's intense dedication to his roles can sometimes spill over into problematic behavior. His infamous on-set rant during the filming of "Terminator Salvation" highlighted his temper and high expectations.
### 4. **Shia LaBeouf**
Shia LaBeouf's erratic behavior and legal troubles have made him a challenging actor to work with. His on-set antics and off-screen controversies have overshadowed his performances at times.
### 3. **Katherine Heigl**
Katherine Heigl has a reputation for being difficult due to her public criticisms of projects she's worked on. Her comments about "Grey's Anatomy" and "Knocked Up" alienated colleagues and impacted her career.
### 2. **Russell Crowe**
Russell Crowe is known for his volatile temper and confrontational behavior. His altercations with colleagues and the media have cemented his status as a challenging personality in Hollywood.
### 1. **Chevy Chase**
Chevy Chase's sarcastic and abrasive nature has led to numerous clashes with co-stars and crew members. His difficult behavior on the set of "Community" and his turbulent career in general make him infamous in Hollywood circles.
These actors, despite their talent and success, have faced significant backlash for their behavior on set. Let us know your thoughts and if your favorite actor made the list in the comments!
There's no shortage of workplace drama in Hollywood. For this list, we're looking at actors that have an infamous reputation for complaining, hostility towards other cast members, or just generally being difficult to work with for any number of reasons. Did YOUR favorite actor make the list? Let us know in the comments!
### 10. **Marlon Brando**
Marlon Brando's legendary talent came with a notorious reputation for being difficult on set. His unpredictability, refusal to learn lines, and clashes with directors made him a challenge to work with, despite his undeniable skill.
### 9. **Val Kilmer**
Val Kilmer has been reported to be combative and difficult to direct. His behavior on the sets of "Batman Forever" and "The Island of Dr. Moreau" caused significant tension, earning him a reputation for being problematic.
### 8. **Joan Crawford**
Joan Crawford was known for her diva behavior and clashes with co-stars and directors. Her feud with Bette Davis during the filming of "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" is legendary in Hollywood history.
### 7. **Edward Norton**
Edward Norton is an acclaimed actor but has a reputation for being overly controlling on set. His insistence on rewriting scripts and directing scenes led to tensions with directors and producers, notably on "American History X."
### 6. **Jennifer Lopez**
Jennifer Lopez's demanding behavior and high standards have caused friction on movie sets and in the music industry. Reports of her difficult demeanor have followed her throughout her career.
### 5. **Christian Bale**
Christian Bale's intense dedication to his roles can sometimes spill over into problematic behavior. His infamous on-set rant during the filming of "Terminator Salvation" highlighted his temper and high expectations.
### 4. **Shia LaBeouf**
Shia LaBeouf's erratic behavior and legal troubles have made him a challenging actor to work with. His on-set antics and off-screen controversies have overshadowed his performances at times.
### 3. **Katherine Heigl**
Katherine Heigl has a reputation for being difficult due to her public criticisms of projects she's worked on. Her comments about "Grey's Anatomy" and "Knocked Up" alienated colleagues and impacted her career.
### 2. **Russell Crowe**
Russell Crowe is known for his volatile temper and confrontational behavior. His altercations with colleagues and the media have cemented his status as a challenging personality in Hollywood.
### 1. **Chevy Chase**
Chevy Chase's sarcastic and abrasive nature has led to numerous clashes with co-stars and crew members. His difficult behavior on the set of "Community" and his turbulent career in general make him infamous in Hollywood circles.
These actors, despite their talent and success, have faced significant backlash for their behavior on set. Let us know your thoughts and if your favorite actor made the list in the comments!
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Short filmTranscript
00:00There's no shortage of workplace drama in Hollywood. Welcome to WatchMojo,
00:05and today we're counting down our picks for the top 20 actors who were most difficult to work with.
00:10For this list, we're looking at those actors who, fairly or unfairly, have had a reputation for
00:14complaining, hostility towards other cast members, or just generally being difficult to work with for
00:19any number of reasons. Again, we're not saying all these reputations are justified, but the
00:24Hollywood rumor mill has churned out some doozies about these folks.
00:2820. Steven Seagal
00:30The police are looking for you, but I'm gonna have to kill you first.
00:35Seagal's appearances on the big screen are becoming increasingly rare these days.
00:39Lord knows it's been a long, hard minute since the last time he had a box office hit.
00:43That may have something to do with the fact that he's supposedly a nightmare on set. Not
00:48only is Seagal cited as being highly critical of others, he's also been known to physically
00:52intimidate cast members. He purportedly slammed comedian John Leguizamo against a wall simply for
01:07laughing at him. Because, you know, comedians aren't allowed to be funny. We'll put it this
01:12way. Henry Rollins has stated he'd rather drink latex paint than work with Seagal.
01:2219. Charlie Sheen
01:28I'm bi-winning. I win here and I win there. Now what?
01:32While not in the spotlight recently, Charlie Sheen's personal life has been the subject of
01:36controversy for years, including domestic issues with his then-fiancee Kelly Preston,
01:40When she lifted my pants off the scale, it fell out of the back of Gene's pocket
01:48and hit the floor and shot a bullet right between her legs.
01:51and his infamous drug addiction.
01:53You borrow my brain for five seconds and just be like, dude, can't handle it. Unplug this bastard.
01:58Therefore, it's not too much of a stretch to imagine just how difficult it would be to work
02:02with him. He also tells me Chuck Lorre is a loser and a clown and a whole lot worse than that.
02:07His substance abuse and disparaging comments about Chuck Lorre are apparently what got him
02:11fired from his career-rejuvenating role on Two and a Half Men. We can't blame him entirely, though.
02:21If he really is a freaking rock star from Mars, they may have different sets of customs over
02:25there. 18. Thomas Gibson
02:28All right, everybody write now. What's my worst quality?
02:33The former Criminal Minds actor-director was well known for being a constant source of friction
02:38on set. Fellow cast members have claimed Gibson is highly demanding,
02:43requiring scheduling to revolve around his agenda.
02:54Worse, however, is his temper.
02:56Gibson was fired from Criminal Minds in August 2016 after the final straw in a string of
03:02controversial incidents. In 2010, he reportedly shoved an assistant director during a shoot.
03:08In 2013, he picked up a DUI, something producers were not pleased about. Then, in 2016,
03:15Gibson allegedly kicked writer-producer Virgil Williams.
03:19I wouldn't have kept kicking, but I was afraid you didn't get my plans.
03:22An established pain in the ass, Criminal Minds simply decided to let Gibson go.
03:28It's not a request.
03:2917. Shia LaBeouf
03:32No. No, no, no, no!
03:35Though he got his start in Hollywood in kid shows and blockbusters,
03:38Shia LaBeouf's growth into an artist and filmmaker surprised many.
03:42After actor Shia LaBeouf turned up wearing a paper bag over his head
03:47with the words,
03:48"...I am not famous anymore."
03:49Over the years, he's made more than a few controversial remarks,
03:52engaged in what some would call publicity stunts,
03:55and according to some, he can also transform into a bit of a jerk.
03:59Okay, here's the dream. You're B-. Dream gone.
04:03Shia is notorious for his temper and belligerent attitude,
04:06even leaving the Broadway production of Orphans he was slated to star in,
04:10due to constant bickering and fights with his co-stars, especially Alec Baldwin.
04:14Now, Baldwin just recently responded via the New York Times,
04:18stating he was very disappointed, and regarding what people feel
04:22about the events that happened, you expect communications to be private,
04:25because everyone wants this process to be as collegial as possible.
04:29According to some, however, LaBeouf was just straight-up fired.
04:33No sacrifice. No victory.
04:3616. William Shatner
04:38All right, you mutinous, disloyal, computerized half-breed,
04:43we'll see about you deserting my ship.
04:45Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock may have overcome their differences
04:48and become friends in the world of Star Trek,
04:50but that wasn't the case for the real-life relationship
04:53between actors William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy.
04:56Shatner was reportedly the jealous type,
04:59upset at the amount of fan mail Nimoy received,
05:02and insecure over his importance to the show.
05:05Shatner apparently stole dialogue from Nimoy and other actors
05:08to elevate his own significance,
05:10and yet Nimoy was Shatner's best man at his fourth wedding.
05:13There is a thing that happens to Vulcans at this time.
05:17Shatner also apparently feuded with other actors on the series, though,
05:20like Nichelle Nichols and George Takei.
05:23Evidently obsessed with his own status,
05:25Shatner reportedly threw fits to make sure
05:28he was the center of attention and in control.
05:31That was a very unusual question. Did you do research on that?
05:35This is one of our viewers, one of your fans. Don't mock us.
05:38You're mocking our viewers.
05:40Number 15. Edward Norton
05:42Edward Norton is one of the finest actors in the industry,
05:45so it comes as no surprise that he takes his craft extremely seriously.
05:49Quit your crying. I can't understand a goddamn word you're saying.
05:52You little sissy, you make me sick.
05:54We repeat, extremely seriously.
05:57In fact, Norton has a reputation for shadow directing.
06:01If you come near Danny again...
06:02He sat in on the editing for American History X
06:05because he didn't trust Tony Kaye
06:06and often clashed with the studio during The Incredible Hulk over creative differences.
06:16While the people behind the film said the dispute was blown out of proportion in the media
06:20and a promo tour was planned for the movie,
06:22Norton didn't do any promotion following its release.
06:25So, yes, by all accounts, he is that one employee
06:28who tells everyone else how to do his or her jobs.
06:30You look at me when I'm talking to you.
06:32Number 14. Klaus Kinski
06:34Listen. The children of the night make their music.
06:40Even the most difficult of actors tends to make a few friends in the industry.
06:43And even if they don't,
06:45sometimes you can put up with the worst of the worst if they're simply that damn talented.
06:50And then sometimes you have people like Klaus Kinski,
06:52who was reportedly so difficult that nobody gave him a second chance.
07:00Though not a household name,
07:02the German actor appeared in over 100 films throughout his long career.
07:06Despite that extensive list,
07:08Kinski only ever worked with one director on multiple occasions.
07:12All the others refused to deal with him again.
07:15To put it bluntly,
07:16Kinski has been described as insane.
07:20Prone to frequent blow-ups,
07:21there really is no comparison to his madness.
07:24Number 13. Jennifer Lopez
07:27My reputation apparently is pretty solid, so...
07:30While 2019's Hustlers was very well-received,
07:33Lopez's earlier work didn't do wonders for her reputation.
07:36It's turkey time.
07:40Huh?
07:41Although she's known as a very hard worker,
07:43Jenny from the block has been called out in the past for so-called diva-bashing.
07:47She's been called out for her role in a TV show,
07:50Jenny from the block has been called out in the past for so-called diva behavior.
08:00She's been said to often make ridiculous demands,
08:02like numerous five-star hotel rooms to stay in
08:05and her own private plane so she can travel in true diva style.
08:08All on someone else's dime, of course.
08:21And the kicker?
08:21She refuses to perform if her demands are not met.
08:25We guess it's too bad her demands were met in the case of Gigli.
08:31Number 12. Terri Hatcher
08:33I think you should spend some time with a decent role model, don't you?
08:36It seems Terri Hatcher's behavior fit right in with Susan Meyer's.
08:40Hatcher, most well-known for her role as the desperate housewife,
08:43didn't have to change much of what's allegedly her personal character
08:46to fit into the drama-filled world.
08:48Oh my God, we are so not having this conversation.
08:52Reports indicate that Hatcher was extremely cold to her co-stars on set,
08:56making even the easiest scenes uncomfortable to shoot.
09:00As an indicator of how poorly she meshed with her housewife's family,
09:03Hatcher was left out of an end-of-series gift from the ladies to the crew.
09:08The feud between Hatcher and the women was well-known to all involved with the show,
09:12so her snub came as a surprise to no one.
09:15You know you've hit middle age when your memories
09:17become more important to you than your dreams.
09:18Number 11. Katherine Heigl
09:20Yeah, you think that's funny?
09:21Yeah, I do.
09:22Katherine Heigl clearly hasn't heard the expression,
09:25don't bite the hand that feeds you,
09:26as that is exactly what she seems to do on a regular basis.
09:30It's just a theory, one of many.
09:32After breaking into the mainstream with Knocked Up,
09:34Heigl went on record saying that she thought the movie was, quote,
09:37a little sexist, and had a hard time enjoying it.
09:40She was complaining about how the movie depicted women in a very negative way,
09:45and that she didn't like it, and she was a little ashamed of even starring in that movie.
09:49The problem with that is that this was after she had already filmed the movie
09:53and received her paycheck.
09:54The real irony here is that her treatment after speaking out may have been the result of sexism,
09:59and both Seth Rogen and Judd Apatow later made peace with the star.
10:02But then, of course, she wasn't a fan of Grey's Anatomy's writing either,
10:06and she supposedly annoyed co-workers on a daily basis
10:09due to wardrobe grievances and constant script complaints.
10:14Number 10.
10:14Lea Michele
10:16Don't sit there and assume the cast of Glee reflected its show's name
10:19when the cameras were not rolling.
10:20Rather, Lea Michele, who played one of the singing stars, Rachel Berry,
10:24apparently took on the cutthroat mentality of a real high school diva
10:27when it came to her behavior on set.
10:28Don't use the fact that Jesse and I once had feelings for each other
10:31as an excuse for my inevitable win.
10:33According to reports, Michele was rude to all involved with production,
10:37making the cast and crew stand around and wait extensively
10:40until she was ready to begin shooting.
10:42Crew members also claim Michele refused to speak to junior members of the Glee staff.
10:46On top of that, in 2020, Glee co-star Samantha Ware said
10:50Michele made her first television gig, quote,
10:53"...living hell," and described repeated instances
10:55of traumatic microaggressions towards the Black actress.
10:59Number 9.
11:00Christian Bale
11:01Who doesn't remember Bale's eye-opening audio recording
11:07that came out publicly in 2009?
11:09The grainy 2008 recording exposed an incident on the set of Terminator Salvation,
11:14where Bale absolutely blew up at the film's director of photography, Shane Hurlbutt,
11:20for walking into his line of vision during a scene.
11:26The recording is incredibly disturbing to hear,
11:28as Bale unleashes a vicious and unwarranted tirade on Hurlbutt.
11:33But it's not just his volatile temper that makes Bale so hard to work with.
11:36He's a method actor,
11:38which means he fully invests himself in his characters.
11:42So when you work with Bale,
11:44you don't just get his craziness,
11:46you get the craziness of his characters, too.
11:50Number 8.
11:50Bruce Willis
11:52Just take a look at the stoic, tough guy that is Bruce Willis.
11:55Do you even listen to yourself sometimes?
11:58Does that seem like a fun guy to be around?
12:00You're not good.
12:01Let's take him for a drive.
12:02According to Kevin Smith, who directed him in Cop Out,
12:05he is actually a nightmare to work with.
12:07I've never seen that movie.
12:08He called his experience working with Willis, quote,
12:11soul-crushing.
12:12And many other directors have complained about Willis' unwarranted
12:16and misguided input regarding their directing style.
12:18I want to see the expression on your face.
12:20You want to see the expression on my face.
12:22The expression you're going to see on my face is-
12:24Although, he was working on Cop Out,
12:26and that would probably put anyone in a bad mood.
12:28You should know better.
12:31Number 7.
12:32Sean Penn
12:33Sean Penn, you rude.
12:35Dumb, rude, and full of farts.
12:37Stanky Sean.
12:39Real-time stanker.
12:40When it came out in early 2016 that infamous Mexican drug lord El Chapo
12:45met and interviewed with actor Sean Penn,
12:47the most reasonable question asked by the public was,
12:50why?
12:51What qualifications does Penn have?
12:53Forget about blame.
12:55We're going to put all our focus, all our energy,
12:58all our billions of dollars on the bad guy.
13:01Well, if he were to respond to that question,
13:03we probably wouldn't be able to publish it due to explicit language
13:06and its overall awful message.
13:08Though known as a great actor,
13:10he is also famous for allegedly being incredibly rude and an overall jerk.
13:15Well, I'm not going to do that.
13:16And although they are indeed serious,
13:18we won't even discuss the allegations of domestic abuse lobbied against him.
13:22And instead, we're just going to focus on his very real identity
13:25as a nightmare to work with.
13:27My own little daughter and I can't even cry for her.
13:29Allegedly hostile and intimidating.
13:32He's not someone you want to share the screen with.
13:35Number six, Mike Myers.
13:37We're not worthy!
13:38We're not worthy!
13:41Pick your jaw up off the floor.
13:43We weren't expecting it either,
13:44but apparently this funny man is not nearly as fun as his characters.
13:49That is one crazy getup you got there, fella.
13:51Yeah, thank you.
13:52The Austin Power star has been constantly called, quote,
13:55moody and temperamental,
13:56and many complain about the degree of control Mike Myers feels
14:00he should be able to exhibit over the cast and crew.
14:02It's a very groovy time.
14:04Many executives in the industry have simply refused to work with him.
14:07And rumor has it he even had a crew member fired
14:10for looking him in the eyes on a particularly bad day.
14:13Well, that's where I see things just a little differently.
14:15Contract or no, I will not bow to any sponsor.
14:20Number five, Val Kilmer.
14:21It's the car, right?
14:22Chicks love the car.
14:23When you've had a career as long and as all-encompassing as Val Kilmer,
14:27there's a chance you've rubbed some people the wrong way.
14:29Chair.
14:33Many of Kilmer's ex-girlfriends have spoken of his eccentric behavior.
14:38This sentiment was further mirrored by Joel Schumacher,
14:41who directed Kilmer in Batman Forever
14:43and called Kilmer's behavior towards a crew member, quote,
14:45rude, childish, and inappropriate.
14:48Are you yesterday's news, Bruce?
14:50Kilmer supposedly fought with camera operators
14:53and the wardrobe department on set.
14:55Similar comments were made by Richard Stanley,
14:57a director who worked on The Island of Dr. Moreau,
14:59who claimed that, quote,
15:00Val would arrive and an argument would happen.
15:03Until one terrible morning, you wake up and realize
15:06that revenge has become your whole life.
15:10And you won't know why.
15:13You can't understand.
15:14Number four, Lindsay Lohan.
15:16You're, like, really pretty.
15:18Thank you.
15:19So you agree?
15:20What?
15:21You think you're really pretty.
15:23Oh, I don't know.
15:24Everyone's favorite adorable actress from Mean Girls
15:27struggled with substance abuse and mental health for some time,
15:30but has fortunately turned things around since those days.
15:33Great, I'm being carjacked by my own car.
15:35Back then, her partying and lavish lifestyle
15:38apparently often resulted in Lilo being late for work
15:41and or too hungover to concentrate.
15:43On top of that, she reportedly racked up a huge hotel bill
15:46and made unreasonable demands to directors.
15:49Do you hear that?
15:51It's nothing.
15:53The Canyon's director, Paul Schrader, for one,
15:55called her attitude, quote,
15:56unspeakable and criticized the actress,
15:58who was also a producer and part owner on the project,
16:01for failing to promote their film
16:03when it premiered at the Venice Film Festival.
16:05I don't- what happened?
16:07I don't get- I don't understand.
16:08What do you mean something happened?
16:10Number three, Chevy Chase.
16:12And I want to look him straight in the eye
16:14and I don't want to tell him what a cheap, lying,
16:16no good, rotten-
16:17Who hasn't Chevy Chase pissed off?
16:20Kindly regarded as perhaps the biggest grump in Hollywood,
16:23Chase has been described as an indefensible,
16:26cruelly vicious put-down artist.
16:28Put yourself down, Al.
16:30As early as his SNL days,
16:32Chase was burning bridges with the likes of John Belushi,
16:35Bill Murray and the writers.
16:37He's talked serious smack about most big names in the industry.
16:40Some notables include Will Ferrell,
16:42Howard Stern, Kevin Smith and Bill Maher.
16:45Most recently, Chase destroyed the one good thing he had going
16:49with the instant cult classic show Community.
16:52Chevy, how you feeling about the Dan Harmon stuff?
16:54The what?
16:55Dan Harmon.
16:56Who's that?
16:57He heavily criticized the series and Showrunner
17:00while he was still a cast member
17:02and was known to have extremely offensive on-set tirades.
17:06We can't imagine Chase has many friends left.
17:08Every man should be punched in the face.
17:10It's a rite of passage.
17:11Number two, Joan Crawford.
17:14You look down on me because I work for a living, don't you?
17:16While some actors are blatantly difficult to work with,
17:19there are others who are much more subtle
17:22and perhaps no one played that role better than Joan Crawford.
17:25An undeniably beautiful woman,
17:27Crawford gained a reputation throughout Hollywood
17:30for using her body to control others.
17:32A master manipulator,
17:34Crawford sparked problems with cast members
17:36by reportedly sleeping around with fellow actors and directors.
17:40In arguably the most notorious feud in Hollywood history,
17:44Crawford developed an intense hatred for Bette Davis
17:47who reciprocated the loathsome sentiment.
17:49You don't know what you're saying.
17:53Blanche, you aren't ever gonna sell this house.
17:58Keeping a character,
17:59the beef developed after Crawford stole Bette's love, Franchot Tone.
18:03It's an unwritten rule to keep your hands away from what's not yours,
18:07but Crawford never played by the rules.
18:10Before we unveil our number one pick,
18:12here are some dishonorable mentions.
18:15January Jones
18:17You can stop trying to read my mind, sugar.
18:21Dustin Hoffman
18:22I mean, no one makes them up.
18:23They seem to make themselves up.
18:27Russell Crowe
18:28My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius,
18:31commander of the armies of the North,
18:33general of the Felix legions,
18:36loyal servant to the true emperor.
18:38Faye Dunaway
18:39I don't like the way this script of ours is turning out.
18:43It's turning into a seedy little drama.
18:46Jared Leto
18:48There is something you could do for me, doctor.
18:51Anything, I mean, yeah.
18:53I need a machine gun.
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19:10Number 1
19:11Marlon Brando
19:19Now, that's how I'm going to clear the table.
19:22You know that one employee who just doesn't give a crap,
19:25always does whatever he wants and never listens to the boss?
19:28In Hollywood, that man was Marlon Brando.
19:31Those kind of words have been on your tongue
19:33and your sister's tongue is too much around here.
19:37Who do you think you are, a pair of queens?
19:39Brando was notorious for ignoring direction,
19:42and he wouldn't even memorize his lines,
19:44preferring instead to just wing it during filming,
19:46write cue cards to leave somewhere off-camera,
19:49or wear an earpiece.
19:50This is the most outrageous spectacle I have ever witnessed.
19:56He was also deeply methodical about his acting,
19:59which greatly alienated many people when the cameras were not rolling.
20:02Horror and moral terror are your friends.
20:08If they are not, then they are enemies to be feared.
20:13It must have worked, though,
20:14because Brando is known today as one of the greatest actors ever.
20:18I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse.
20:20Do you agree with our picks?
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