Everything good must come to an end, including the looks of our favorite Hollywood stars. The spotlight on these celebrities used to be bright, focused, and powerful. Unfortunately, decades later, the same spotlight reveals how ill-advised these celebrities’ aging is. Don’t get us wrong: we still adore them; it’s just that their decisions to “let go” or change their appearances are nearly unbearable for us. It almost hurts to look at them. Nonetheless, the spotlight on these ailing celebrities is a current reality. Although we all wish we could, they nor we have the ability to turn back time.
These Celebrities Who Are Poorly Aging Don’t Look Like They Used To
Val Kilmer Then
Val Kilmer began his career in the entertainment industry on stage before moving to the big screen in 1983, starring alongside Michelle Pfeiffer in ABC Afterschool Special. Kilmer went on to star opposite Tom Cruise in Top Gun not long after, establishing himself as a hot commodity. However, when he went on to play Jim Morrison of The Doors, his fame only grew. On the other hand, Kilmer would be remembered in Hollywood for his role in Heat, in which he co-starred with legendary actors Al Pacino and Robert De Niro.
Val Kilmer Then
Val Kilmer Now
Val Kilmer should have had better luck in his later years, in our opinion. Kilmer was absent from the screen for a long time, gaining weight and making public appearances while battling throat cancer for two years. In 2015, he had a tracheotomy, which reduced his voice to a quiet rasp and regularly left him short of breath. Regardless, we’re delighted to hear he’ll return for the Top Gun sequel, which is set to release in 2021.
Val Kilmer Now
Sally Struthers Then
All in the Family’s sassy Gloria Stivic was perfectly played by Sally Struthers. She went on to become another of America’s “sweethearts.” Struthers took Candice Azarra, who played Archie, and Edith Bunker’s daughter in the pilot.
Sally Struthers Then
Sally Struthers Now
The girlish appearance of Struthers has not lasted into old age. Despite being an advocate for ChildFund (formerly Christian Children’s Fund), a charity that helps children in third-world countries, she was mocked twice by Comedy Central’s South Park. First, Struthers was depicted as a much larger version of herself who ate all of the food donated to hungry children, clearly mocking her involvement with ChildFund.
Sally Struthers Now
Mickey Rourke Then
Mickey Rourke began his acting career in a diner in 1982. Rourke’s roles in Angel Heart and 9 1/2 Weeks, released five years later, cemented his reputation as a household name. His talent and good looks earned him the title of ’80s heartthrob. However, Rourke left the screen in 1991 to pursue a career as a boxer (a sport he had enjoyed since childhood) – a career that lasted only three years.
Mickey Rourke Then
Mickey Rourke Now
Rourke was left with some facial deformities after retiring from boxing, which was later “fixed” with plastic surgery. Despite this, he returned to the big screen with his new look, playing “tough guys.” Rourke’s role in 2009’s The Wrestler would reintroduce him to the mainstream. He was nominated for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA for his performance.
Mickey Rourke Now
Kathleen Turner Then
Kathleen Turner was an ’80s superwoman thanks to her smooth and sultry voice and her good looks. She also appeared in Body Heat, The War of the Roses, and Peggy Sue Got Married and voicing Jessica Rabbit in the memorable Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Her performances earned her an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress during the decade.
Kathleen Turner Then
Kathleen Turner Now
Turner was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in the 1990s, a disease that left her in excruciating pain. In addition, the medication she was given caused her to gain weight and bloat. On a brighter note, cancer has gone into remission, allowing her to return to work. You may have seen her on shows like Californication, Nip/Tuck, and Friends (from way back).
Kathleen Turner Now
Rupert Everett Then
Rupert Everett would win a BAFTA award for his role as Julian Mitchell in Another Country. He portrayed an openly gay student in 1930s England, despite his look and reputation for playing the traditional “bad boy.” After that, he tried his hand at pop music for a short time before returning to acting. For his performance in 1997’s My Best Friend’s Wedding, he received a second BAFTA award as well as a gleaming Golden Globe.
Rupert Everett Then
Rupert Everett Now
Everett is now an outspoken supporter of several social and political causes, including the legalization of same-sex marriages. He was previously and famously featured in the Chronicles of Narnia and Shrek franchises during the 2000s and 2010s, but he no longer looks like his former boyish self. Instead, Everett spends his time away from the camera writing, primarily personal memoirs and screenplays.
Rupert Everett Now
Lara Flynn Boyle Then
Following the mysterious murder of Laura Palmer in the late 1980s and early 1990s, David Lynch’s Twin Peaks captured unordinary small-town life. Lara Flynn Boyle, on the other hand, became the franchise’s face. She portrayed Donna Howard, Laura’s close friend who becomes obsessed with solving the murder.
Lara Flynn Boyle Then
Lara Flynn Boyle Now
Boyle sought plastic surgery to maintain her youthful appearance. Unfortunately, the work made her appear to be more of a piece of “work” than anything else. “Her face looks like it’s melting,” one plastic surgery expert said. It’s now deflated.” Despite this, Boyle turned down the chance to reprise her role in a 2017 revival of the show.
Lara Flynn Boyle Now
Mark Hamill Then
Mark Hamill will be remembered as Luke Skywalker in George Lucas’ Star Wars franchise for the rest of his life. The actor would earn millions due to the role, but he was constantly typecast as “Luke Skywalker.” No other filmmaker wanted to use the Star Wars logo in their film, to put it another way. This wasn’t a major issue because Hamill would go on to become a well-known voice actor.
Mark Hamill Then
Mark Hamill Now
His face was no longer as visible as it had been as his Hollywood career shifted largely to voice acting. Simply put, many people did not forget about the legendary actor; he was just less in demand. Thankfully, Hamill made his way back to the big screen… this time as Luke Skywalker. His scars from a car accident decades ago were visible this time. Despite all of this, we continue to love him.
Mark Hamill Now
Igor and Grichka Bogdanov Then
The identical twins Igor and Grichka Bogdanov are French. They were known as scientific television hosts in the 1970s, but their social lives took precedence. They were also considered attractive by the audience.
Igor and Grichka Bogdanov Then
Igor and Grichka Bogdanov Now
Both brothers had developed an esoteric interest in plastic surgery and began having procedures together to maintain their resemblance by the 90s. However, they did not stop for whatever reason. Both brothers have had several cheeks and chin implants and the usual filler and Botox procedures.
Igor and Grichka Bogdanov Now
Axl Rose Then
Axl Rose, the frontman of Guns N’ Roses, was widely regarded as a loose cannon before the band’s breakup due to creative differences. Rose had a fantastic vocal range, but he was also known for throwing bottles at fans and inciting riots during concerts.
Axl Rose Then
Axl Rose Now
Rose is still touring in his later years, either with AC/DC or with his former band, but he looks different. Rose’s love for Taco Bell has been made abundantly clear through his numerous tweets.
Axl Rose Now
Sean Penn Then
Sean Penn has a well-known acting career. Penn has always demonstrated a wide range of acting abilities, from Fast Times at Ridgemont High in 1982 to his iconic role as Harvey Milk in 2008’s Milk, and has amassed a fortune as a result.
Sean Penn Then
Sean Penn Now
Sean Penn’s hair was the talk of the Golden Globes in 2021, with some photos even going viral. While he was on stage discussing the work being done by CORE (the relief organization founded by Penn) to combat the coronavirus pandemic, fans couldn’t help but comment on his wind-tunnel hairdo on social media.
Sean Penn Now
Jocelyn Wildenstein Then
Jocelyn Wildenstein embodied everything a New York socialite should be. Jocelyn could spend money freely and travel the world at her leisure after meeting her husband, Alec Wildenstein, an extremely wealthy art dealer. She spent $60,000 on personal phone calls in one year and over $500,000 on a year’s supply of high-end wines in another.
Jocelyn Wildenstein Then
Jocelyn Wildenstein Now
Jocelyn’s appearance changed over time. Like many others concerned about social dynamics, she became addicted to plastic surgery to maintain her youthful appearance. Nevertheless, Jocelyn continued to schedule work. Her eyes, in particular, are modeled after Lynx’s eyes, which she believes are the most beautiful. As a result, she is not only known as “Catwoman,” but she also owns one of these ferocious felines.
Jocelyn Wildenstein Now
Catherine Bach Then
Was there ever a more memorable poster child for a series than Catherine Bach’s Daisy Duke from the 1980s’ Dukes of Hazzard? Her denim shorts were a key part of her TV look, but her legs were even more valuable. Her legs were allegedly insured for over a million dollars.
Catherine Bach Then
Catherine Bach Now
Catherine Bach, like Mark Hamill, was typecast after the end of Dukes of Hazzard. As a result, her acting options began to dwindle. This wasn’t a big deal because Bach was fine with the outcome, and it also allowed her to raise her two daughters. In recent decades she’s had minor roles, even launching a jewelry line with the Debenhams group in the United Kingdom.
Catherine Bach Now
Tara Reid Then
Tara Donna Reid rose to prominence due to her roles in the American Pie and Sharknado franchises and The Big Lebowski. In addition, she rose to prominence as a young child star, appearing in more than 100 corporate commercials for brands such as Jell-O and McDonald’s.
Tara Reid Then
Tara Reid Now
Reid had a liposculpting procedure in 2006 that, to put it bluntly, “went wrong,” leaving her with a deformity. This was fixed in the end. Aside from acting, Reid has owned restaurant shares, co-founded the Mantra clothing line with Christian Audigier, an Ed Hardy designer, and appeared on Thrillz, a platform that allows fans to purchase personalized videos.
Tara Reid Now
Boy George Then
Boy George, real name George Alan O’Dowd, became a pop sensation in the 1980s. George was discovered by Malcolm McLaren, the manager of the Sex Pistols at the time, because of his unrivaled style. George cemented his status as an ’80s icon with an ever-evolving style and hit like “Karma Chameleon” and “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me.”
Boy George Then
Boy George Now
Several factors caused boy George’s demise. First, when his band Culture Club disbanded, he and his former bandmates experienced a slew of personal problems. On the other hand, George is currently occupied with writing memoirs, designing designer clothing, and practicing photography.
Boy George Now
Cybill Shepherd Then
Cybill Shepherd rose to prominence after starring alongside Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver. Still, she was best known for her role as Maddie Hayes in the 1980s TV show Moonlighting, in which she shared unmistakable chemistry with Bruce Willis. Their chemistry was so strong that they thought about having an affair. They, on the other hand, were adamantly opposed to the concept. “I said, ‘We shouldn’t,’ and then he said, ‘We shouldn’t,’ and so we didn’t… We worked so long together, it was probably better not to.”
Cybill Shepherd Then
Cybill Shepherd Now
Shepherd retains a certain appearance, but her lustful days are long gone. She’s currently seen in shows like The Client List, Criminal Minds, Psych, The L Word, and Do You Believe Me? from 2015. Her daughter, Clementine Ford, is one of her L-Word co-stars.
Cybill Shepherd Now
Macaulay Culkin Then
Macaulay Culkin is best known for his role as Kevin McCallister in Home Alone, a beloved Christmas film. He began acting at the age of four in the 1980s and performed on television and in films throughout the decade.
Macaulay Culkin Then
Macaulay Culkin Now
Mr. Culkin, while he doesn’t appear to be in his 40s, has had a difficult time with time. He took a break from acting in the mid-to-late 1990s but returned later and has since played several films. He was also the lead singer for the New York-based pizza-themed band The Pizza Underground. (That Home Alone remake, Macaulay, is still in the works.)
Macaulay Culkin Now
Lil’ Kim Then
In the 1990s, Lil’ Kim was known as the Queen Bee of the rap game. Her debut album, Hard Core, was certified double platinum in 1996, making her one of only three female rappers with three or more platinum-certified studio albums (the others being Missy Elliot and Nicki Minaj).
Lil’ Kim Then
Lil’ Kim Now
Isn’t it hard to believe these are the same person? Lil’ Kim has reportedly undergone a number of cosmetic procedures, but at the end of the day, she is still Lil’ Kim. Her fifth studio album, 9, was released in 2019. But, unfortunately, she’s been involved in a few controversies.
Lil’ Kim Now
Steven Tyler Then
Let’s be honest… Steven Tyler, the frontman for Aerosmith, had an odd appearance, to begin with. When he was younger, he was compared to Mick Jagger because he had a similar largemouth. It obviously worked out for him!
Steven Tyler Then
Steven Tyler Now
We think Steven Tyler’s odd appearance suits him. Even though he and his Aerosmith bandmates have had their share of interpersonal strife over the years, he is still rocking as hard as ever. Tyler released his own solo album, We’re All Somebody From Somewhere, in 2016, and the band still performs together.
Steven Tyler Now
Brigitte Bardot Then
Brigitte Bardot’s work as an actress and singer in the 1950s and 1960s made her a universal symbol of good looks. She was known for portraying hedonistic characters and is still regarded as a cultural icon.
Brigitte Bardot Then
Brigitte Bardot Now
Ms. Bardot doesn’t appear to be the same woman she was in the 1960s, but she left the entertainment industry in 1973 and has since shifted her focus from acting and singing to animal rights. She became a vegetarian in 1986 and founded the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for Animal Welfare and Protection. She auctioned off her personal jewelry and belongings to raise three million francs for the foundation.
Brigitte Bardot Now