Did winning an Oscar help or hurt their careers? 

Fascinating stuff as usual. I think Cher focusing on music sort of slowed down her career plus the infomercial fiasco plus she become more a celebrity than an actress and it was harder to accept her in serious roles,loved her in the films she made from 82 - 87. It would be hard to cast Benigni in American films,maybe as a complete turnabout he could have played a villain. I think it's not hard to see why Russell and Ngor didn't get a lot of opportunities. Grace almost came back to films for Marnie in 1964 and The Turning Point in 1977.

The story of Dr. Haing S. Ngor after his Academy Award win is so tragic

I'm sorry, but Cher winning the Oscar over Glenn in FA will go down as one of the greatest travesties in Oscar history. I've said it in other posts and will continue to say it until I can't.

Very interesting. After Harold Russell, I'm sure the Academy decided to give any honorary Oscars separate from the competitive ones (e.g. Angela Bassett)

Loved Umeki on tv in "The Courtship of Eddie's Father" and I am not bemoaning Roberto's shortened filmography at all. Thanks for the Harold Russell clip!

The Harold Russell win was deserved. And him getting 2 was a an amazing story. Thanks for sharing!

I wonder about Adrian Brody. I thought he'd have a big career after winning his Oscar, but he hasn't done much high profile work since.

I still shudder that Benigini won.

Most of the time, an Oscar win greatly helps a winner's future career. These were the most extreme examples where the exact opposite occurred.

Uh...where's Louise Rainier? She won 2 back to back and then left Hollywood. 😮

Great episode and really insightful, I didn't know a lot of these facts I thought Cher had done more films than that post Oscar win. Grace Kelly's would've been the Princess of Hollywood for years had she stayed.

Harold Russell wasn’t an actor so it makes sense. I love his performance. I love that entire film. I am glad at least Haing S .Ngor had some recognition but a lot of tragedy too .

Winning an Oscar has hurt a lot of actors careers because their agents ask for more money once they've won. Like Louise Fletcher who never achieved the same success after her One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest win.

Fascinating stories! Of Cher certainly it can be said she had other things to do with an outrageously successful career in recording and performing in concerts. She is also active in charity and advocating for a progressive politics. No Oscar curse here. Rather, I have other things to do :)))

Good afternoon Oscarman42 at one time there was talk that Cher was going to remake a film that you and I both love, AUNTIE MAME (nonmusical)

Just like film critics everyone has their favorite films actors actresses. I go and form my own opinion

I am fascinated with Renee Zellweger not making 1 film in the 5 years since she won her 2nd Oscar,has she retired.

Mercedes Ruehl?

Roberto begini shouldn't have won that best actor oscar

We never saw much of Mira Sorvino, Kim Basinger and Mo'Nique either after their wins.

Although she never won an Oscar, whatever happened to Melanie Griffith? She was like Julia Roberts before Julia Roberts was a thing.

Not gonna lie I was disappointed by Cher film career after moonstruck she said she didn’t do too much films bc she didn’t know what to do with her acting career after winning the Oscar she was offered movies like Thelma and Louise like damn Cher could’ve had a more legendary acting career no doubt but her self consciousness overlapped it.

Patty Duke and Joel Grey did not make many theatrical films after their wins.

How about these these 3 Oscar winners Patty Duke Tatum O'Neal Anna Paquin though they were young when they won their Oscars Duke and Paquin have had success in television O'neal made 4 or 5 forgettable movies married John McEnroe and really hasn't been heard from since

Come on, Benigni as an italian actor and director never intended to become a hollywood star. Also he stars in Pinocchio from 2019 which is really great and get 2 oscar nominations.

Harold russell was fantastic in the best years of our lives as was his 2 costars. Grace kelly and roberto begnini robbed judy garland and edward norton , actually there were very strong performances in the best actor race that year with ian mckellan, tom hanks and nick nolte, id say begnini was the weakest of the 5.

Cher made a few good movies after Moonstruck like Mermaids and Tea With Mussolini though they were not commercial hits. Now she is just so over the top that she is a distraction in the movies she does. You don't see or hear the characters she is playing, you only see "CHER"! Burlesque and Mamma Mia Were dreadful.

Oh, boy. I'm crossing myself because my assessment will be outwardly contentious to some or many. To begin, why a narcissistic diva like Cher won an Academy Award for Best Actress in Moonstruck (1987) is beyond my reasoning. For an entertainer whose net worth is $360 million, she can't sing a tune, and her so-called acting aptitudes are consistent with that of a lethargic circus clown. Giving her the award that she undeserved was one of the most shameful blunders the Academy resorted to in 1988, where Glenn Close should have been the absolute winner than the cocky Dark Lady. But I can't think of a more dignified and poignant performance by a survivor without any acting experience than Doctor Haing Ngor, who won a commendable Oscar in his debut performance as Dith Pran in The Killing Fields (1984). He had survived three terms in Cambodian prison camps, and his contribution itself was a testament to his harrowing imprisonment under the Communist regime in Khmer Rouge. It's a damning shame a man of his humanitarian attributes was robbed and killed years later by Oriental Street gangs. Between Cher and Ngor, he was far more respected and performable than the subpar "actings" Cher could muster to well afford her legion of plastic surgeries.

can't stand grace kelly