**14 Actors Who Were Allegedly Blacklisted From Hollywood (And Why)**
*Susan Sarandon said, “I was dropped by my agency; my projects were pulled. I’ve been used as an example of what not to do if you want to continue to work.”*
**Warning:** This post contains mentions of sexual assault, rape, anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, and mental health issues.
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When an actor is “blacklisted,” it means other people in the industry refuse to work with them for specific reasons. The most famous example is the Hollywood blacklist of the 1940s and 1950s, when Congress created the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) to investigate alleged communist ties among Hollywood professionals. Those subpoenaed could either cooperate and point fingers at peers or refuse and face jail time and a blacklist.
While the original Hollywood blacklist ended in the 1960s, some actors still face alleged blacklisting today for their personal beliefs or for speaking out about negative experiences in the industry.
Here are 14 actors who were allegedly blacklisted by Hollywood:
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### 1. Laura Dern
Laura Dern didn’t get any work for a year after playing Ellen DeGeneres’s love interest on the groundbreaking coming-out episode of her sitcom *Ellen*. In 2019, Dern told *Vulture* that despite the honor of being part of the episode, she faced warnings and backlash in Hollywood.
She recalled bomb threats on set and a full security detail, and confirmed a significant “dry spell” in her career after the episode aired—even though she was at the height of her career with hits like *Jurassic Park*. Dern reflected that the experience shaped her advocacy and activism in profound ways.
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### 2. Anne Heche (late)
Anne Heche said she was blacklisted following her relationship with Ellen DeGeneres from 1997 to 2000. In 2021, Heche told *Page Six* she felt like “patient zero in cancel culture.”
After bringing Ellen as her date to the *Volcano* premiere, Heche claimed she was fired from a $10 million studio picture deal and didn’t work on studio films for a decade. However, she found support from Harrison Ford, her co-star in *Six Days, Seven Nights*, who stood by her despite the backlash.
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### 3. Susan Sarandon
Susan Sarandon reportedly felt blacklisted after speaking at a pro-Palestine rally in 2023. At the New York rally, she highlighted fears of being Jewish and compared it to the experience of Muslims facing violence in the U.S.
Following this, Sarandon was dropped by United Talent Agency. She later apologized on Instagram for her wording, acknowledging it was a mistake to imply Jewish Americans had not faced persecution. In 2024, Sarandon told *The Times* she lost her agency and projects and has been used as an example of what not to do if you want to keep working.
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### 4. Melissa Barrera
In 2023, Melissa Barrera was fired from *Scream VII* after speaking out on social media about the genocide in Gaza. Following her firing, she reportedly struggled to find work for almost a year.
Barrera condemned all forms of hate and urged peaceful coexistence in her Instagram statements. A year later, she told *The Independent* it was the darkest year of her life but shared that offers began to return after about 10 months.
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### 5. Mo’Nique
Mo’Nique alleged she was blackballed after winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2010. In 2015, she said she was treated as if she had done something wrong and was blackballed because she “didn’t play the game.”
She explained accusations against her being difficult to work with, which she disputed, and emphasized standing up for herself despite the consequences. She and her husband turned to independent filmmaking as a result.
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### 6. JoJo Siwa
JoJo Siwa said she was “basically blackballed” from Nickelodeon after coming out at 17. In the 2024 documentary *Child Star*, she alleged that the network president expressed concern about her coming out and pressured her to reassure retailers that she wasn’t “going crazy.”
Siwa refused, stating she was happy, and described the experience as hurtful but stood firm in her truth.
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### 7. Richard Gere
Richard Gere has reportedly been blocked from certain movies for speaking out against the Chinese occupation of Tibet. At the 1993 Academy Awards, instead of reading a joke as planned, he condemned human rights abuses in China and Tibet live onstage.
This led to alleged bans and blacklisting from the Chinese market—a huge box office territory—and impacted his career opportunities as studios sought Chinese financing. Gere continues his activism with organizations supporting Tibetan independence.
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### 8. Rose McGowan
Rose McGowan alleged she was blacklisted after being raped by Harvey Weinstein. In 2017, *The New York Times* reported a $100,000 settlement Harvey Weinstein reached with McGowan in 1997 to avoid litigation after an incident during a film festival.
McGowan stated she reported the assault to a studio head and was ignored, and later her projects were canceled internally. She said she was blacklisted “because I got raped, because I said something,” though it was only internal.
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### 9. Mira Sorvino
Mira Sorvino said Harvey Weinstein stifled her career after she rejected his advances. At 90s Con in 2024, Sorvino recounted uncomfortable encounters with Weinstein and reported the behavior to a Miramax employee.
Though she continued doing indie films and television, she felt excluded from major studio movies after rejecting Weinstein’s advances. She believes rejecting him had a significant impact on her career trajectory.
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### 10. Ashley Judd
Ashley Judd was reportedly blacklisted after allegations of assault by Harvey Weinstein. Director Peter Jackson recalled Miramax labeling Judd and Sorvino as “nightmares” to work with, which led to their removal from casting lists.
Judd previously told *The New York Times* about Weinstein’s coercive sexual behavior and how she repeatedly refused his advances, feeling panicked and trapped.
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### 11. Julia Ormond
Julia Ormond filed a lawsuit in 2023 accusing Harvey Weinstein, Miramax, Disney, and the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) of career damage after she reported Weinstein’s assault in 1995.
Ormond alleged that CAA lost interest in representing her after she reported the assault and warned her she might not be believed and that her career could suffer. She described the aftermath as catastrophic personally and professionally.
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### 12. Brendan Fraser
Brendan Fraser believes he may have been blacklisted by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) after accusing former HFPA president Philip Berk of sexually assaulting him at an HFPA luncheon in 2003.
Fraser spoke publicly about the assault in 2018, describing emotional turmoil and fear. He suspects his silence and fear may have contributed to a career lull, and has since found solidarity with others who have shared similar experiences.
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### 13. Neal McDonough
Neal McDonough was fired from the TV show *Scoundrels* in 2010 for refusing to shoot love scenes, reportedly because of personal or religious reasons. He claimed to have been blackballed for two years afterward.
During that difficult period, he struggled with loss of identity and alcoholism but found strength in his Catholic faith. He returned to onscreen romance during 2025’s *The Last Rodeo* with his wife playing his love interest.
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### 14. Katherine Heigl
Katherine Heigl’s career suffered after she was branded “difficult to work with” for openly criticizing some of her projects.
In 2008, she called the movie *Knocked Up* “a little sexist” and later withdrew her Emmy nomination citing lack of strong material, which reportedly upset writers and producers.
Heigl has spoken candidly about the anxiety and mental health struggles she experienced due to public and industry backlash. She credits therapy and medication for helping her cope and believes her reputation cost her opportunities.
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### Resources for Support
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you can call the **National Sexual Assault Hotline** at **1-800-656-HOPE (4673)**, which connects callers to their nearest sexual assault service provider. You can also search for your local center [here](https://www.rainn.org/about-national-sexual-assault-telephone-hotline).
If you or someone you know has experienced anti-LGBTQ violence or harassment, contact the **National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP Hotline)** at **1-212-714-1141**.
The **National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)** helpline at **1-800-950-6264** provides information and referral services for mental health.
GoodTherapy.org is an association of mental health professionals from over 25 countries supporting efforts to reduce harm in therapy.
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*This article highlights the challenges some actors have faced when speaking out or living openly in Hollywood, illustrating the complex intersection of power, identity, and industry pressures.*
https://www.buzzfeed.com/kristenharris1/actors-blacklisted-from-hollywood
