Hollywood may glitter on the big screen, but behind the camera, not every star shines so brightly. Some actors bring more than talent to the set—they bring tension, demands, or complete chaos. From being a diva to being a creative clash with directors, these personalities have come to be known for their unworkable attitudes. Still, their contributions to films and television keep them shining bright. This list looks at 20 actors who, despite all their challenges on set, leave Hollywood with unforgettable performances and equally unforgettable drama.
1) Steven Seagal
Steven Seagal is a known problematic actor due to accusations of being unprofessional on set. Co-stars and crew often claim won't rehearse, and he clashes with many directors. According to reports, even the claim he made about him being "above the law" applies to how he behaves on set. Many described him as egotistical, as the memories of the Saturday Night Live cast members describe his 1991 hosting gig as the worst in the show's history. His lack of regard for choreography in fight scenes, opting for overpowered moves, has also raised tensions with stunt teams.
2) Charlie Sheen
Charlie Sheen's antics on Two and a Half Men became legendary, ending with his public feud with the show's creator, Chuck Lorre. He was notorious for erratic behavior, off-screen meltdowns, and substance abuse that frequently interrupted filming schedules. Co-stars, including Jon Cryer, admitted to walking on eggshells around him. After his infamous "tiger blood" and "winning" rants, Sheen was finally let go in 2011. Having been making sporadic comebacks since then, it only serves to cement the eccentric reputation of the self-proclaimed "warlock" among producers.
3) Thomas Gibson
Thomas Gibson's firing from Criminal Minds caught fans off guard, but those on set weren't surprised. A known hothead, Gibson once got into a publicized fight with a writer, which landed him in the unemployment line in 2016. Co-stars have also implied that he doesn't always take direction and tends to lash out in creative disputes. Before then, Gibson had reportedly faced producer feuds and demanded artistic input during his stint with the set Dharma & Greg. Thereafter, Criminal Minds brought almost silence to his career.
4) Shia LaBeouf
Shia LaBeouf's artistic intensity has made him a hard presence on set. The extreme method actor, who has clashed with directors such as David Ayer on the set of Fury for taking it too far with himself and others, hasn't done much to help his case off-screen, either—arrests in public and confrontational stunts being the least of it. In 2020, accusations of abuse from former partners emerged, which forced him out of prominent jobs like Olivia Wilde's Don't Worry Darling.
5) Edward Norton
Edward Norton's perfectionism has made him a target of accolades and critique. Famous for having creative control, his reputation for doing script rewrites and making directors do their jobs resulted in on-set tensions. In The Incredible Hulk (2008), his alleged insistence on script changes strained the relationship with Marvel Studios to such a point that he was replaced by Mark Ruffalo in subsequent MCU films. Co-stars describe him as intense and difficult to please, but his perfectionism has driven some of his standout performances in films like Birdman and Fight Club.
6) William Shatner
Co-stars of William Shatner in Star Trek have also long described him as difficult, with a tendency to dominate scenes while ignoring ensemble dynamics. George Takei has also been vocal about the egoistic and non-camaraderie on set shown by Shatner that led to decades-long feuds with allegations of dismissing contributions from the rest of the cast. Despite this, his charisma and iconic role as Captain Kirk keep him beloved by the fans, even as working with him is often viewed as an uphill battle.
7) Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez, with her strong personality and high standards, has often been covered in the press for how difficult she is to work with. Film sets and live performances seem to testify that Lopez's demanding stipulations on wardrobe, makeup, and entourage accommodations, among others, contribute to friction at times. She is said to have confronted co-stars during her early professional life due to creative differences. Celebrity feuds with Mariah Carey only enhanced the image of Lopez as a "diva.".
8) Katherine Heigl
The roots of Katherine Heigl's reputation - hard to work with, go back to Grey's Anatomy. After publicly trashing the show's writing and removing her name from consideration for an Emmy, Heigl was rumored to have fought with producers and other actors on set. Off camera, Sheigl was said to be difficult and to voice objections frequently. Her criticism did not stop there; she labeled a film like Knocked Up sexist, which was at odds with her co-stars and directors.
9) Lea Michele
Lea Michele was engulfed in 2020 by accusations from former Glee co-stars who described her as having made their lives on set "a living hell." She was backed up by other similar statements from fellow co-stars. Her diva-like demands and rude behavior with fellow co-stars were alleged against her. She publicly apologized for the accusations, but it had damaged her reputation. Despite the controversy, she returned to Broadway in Funny Girl, where her performance was soon praised as very good, proving her resilience.
10) Christian Bale
Christian Bale is known to go to extreme lengths on his craft, affecting him on set sometimes. The best-known example is the outburst in the set of Terminator Salvation, where audio captured him yelling at a worker who had disrupted a particular scene. Although Bale apologized for the controversy, his hot temper became part of the talk. Method acting has seen Bale to an extreme degree of focus, making him a handful for employers, although directors find his dedication produces consistently prize-winning performances.
11) Bruce Willis
Bruce Willis is known to be difficult to work with because of his alleged lack of enthusiasm and clashes with directors. Kevin Smith, who directed Willis in Cop Out, said that working with him was "soul-crushing," pointing out that he would not take suggestions or ideas seriously. Other accounts also say that Willis usually requires too much control over a project, which creates tension on the set. Despite his infamous troublemaker reputation, the action star remains a legend, and his recent health challenges—the diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia—shed a compassionate light on his behavior.
12) Sean Penn
His volatile nature and proneness to animosity against Hollywood politics have made Sean Penn a polarizing figure, especially given his intensity, which has led him into quarrels with directors over creative matters, demanding rewrites or reshoots. His confrontational nature has been carried beyond the set, as many public fights and contentious interviews have dotted his not-too-easy way to fame. Nonetheless, his passion for social justice and activism can help overshadow such controversies, making him revered and highly polarized within the industry.
13) Marlon Brando
He was a notorious perfectionist; Marlon Brando always pushed directors and co-stars to their limits. While working on The Godfather, his insistence on several takes and unorthodox ways frustrated the crew. When he entered his later stage of life, his aberrant behavior on Apocalypse Now and The Island of Dr. Moreau became legendary. Some of his co-stars described him as unpredictable and uncooperative, but all these antics have earned the man the legacy of one of the greatest actors cinema has ever known.
14) Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford was considered one of Hollywood's worst stars because of her diva reputation, including picky demands and controversies she had with co-stars. She is said to have brought tension to most sets, like the historical fight with Bette Davis when they were filming What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Her insistence on retaining control over her image frequently led to creative disagreements. On-set problems aside, Joan Crawford's commitment to acting and iconic performances still mold the performances of actresses to this day.
15) Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase has had a long history of a difficult reputation, with peers such as colleagues calling him abrasive and unpredictable. During his tenure at the show Community, his argument with the creator Dan Harmon and cast members, including Donald Glover, was confirmed to the public. Chase's sarcastic style tended to offend co-stars and crew and reportedly created tension in earlier days working at Saturday Night Live due to ego. Despite such controversies, Chase remains a comedy legend, remembered by pieces such as Caddyshack and National Lampoon's Vacation.
16) Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow's reclusive persona and seeming distance from reality made her a lightning-rod figure in Hollywood. On sets of Iron Man, accusations of not reaching out to bond with other actors and actresses, including Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Holland, have been reported with awkward interactions. Her well-being brand, Goop, has also received backlash over the popularization of pseudoscience, which makes her a collaborator-hating figure to some individuals. Despite the backlash, her Oscar-winning performances and entrepreneurial drive keep her in the spotlight.
17) Russell Crowe
The temper of Russell Crowe has made it a problem on many a set. Being the man who can't mess around, Crowe has allegedly argued with some directors over the creative input. A prime example is his feud with Gladiator's producer Branko Lustig over one line in a script. But beyond disputes on sets, publicized skirmishes like that 2005 hotel phone incident have created a difficult persona. Despite all this controversy, his super-strong performances in A Beautiful Mind and Les Misérables have endeared him as a powerhouse on the screen.
18) Teri Hatcher
Teri Hatcher earned the reputation of being a difficult co-star during her time on Desperate Housewives. According to reports from co-stars, she kept herself somewhat at arm's length from the rest of the cast. Even Eva Longoria and Nicollette Sheridan have referred to her as the "loner." According to sources, even the show's creator, Marc Cherry, had difficulty with her, stating she was the most difficult actress he ever worked with. Even group appearances were affected by behind-the-scenes friction, as the cast members allegedly left her name off a farewell gift.
19) Megan Fox
Megan Fox is an outspoken actress who has found herself in hot water more than once. She created a media storm during the Transformers series by labeling director Michael Bay a dictator, which led to her eventual removal from the franchise. She has been accused of being sexist by labeling Hollywood a sexist industry, which is another reason why her professional integrity has been called into question. She, however, has come back as a successful actress and continues to play different roles to redefine her public image.
20) Lindsay Lohan
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The fact about Lindsay Lohan's erratic personal life and unruly filming behavior leads to difficulties that sometimes question her very professionalism. Scandals of regular lateness, absence from duties, and diva requirements while shooting Herbie: Fully Loaded and Georgia Rule became mainstream news items when directors and producers held her accountable by even shutting down filming productions due to her behaviors at times. Her subjection to substance addiction also made it difficult to run smoothly through her professional days.
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