Oscar: Whatever Happened To...

by Libby Pelham | More from this Blogger

It has to be one of the biggest if not THE biggest night of your life as an actor - the night you win an Academy Award. You are a media darling - at least temporarily. Unfortunately, Hollywood has the memory of a gnat, so fame is often fleeting.

Here are some Oscar winners that you may or may not have heard from lately:

Roberto Benigni

Who can forget Roberto crazily leaping into his seat when he won his Oscar in 1998? But, who remembers what he has done since? His follow up to Life is Beautiful, 2002's Pinocchio, which he wrote, directed, and starred in, earned him the infamous Razzie for Worst Actor.

Mira Sorvino

Mira, daughter of Paul Sorvino, won the Best Supporting Actress award for Mighty Aphrodite in 1995, but we haven't heard much from her since. In 1996, she played Marilyn in the television movie Norma Jean and Marilyn. She played Romy in 1997's Romy and Michele's High School Reunion, but then starred in some easily forgettable movies. Anyone remember Semana Santa? It also starred Kylie Minogue's ex Olivier Martinez, but few remember it.

Joe Pesci

Everyone loves Joe Pesci, but what happened to him? After his famous "but I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown?" line as Tommy in Goodfellas and his subsequent 1991 Best Supporting Actor win, we haven't heard much from him either. He took a long break between 1998's Lethal Weapon 4 and his small appearance in 2006's The Good Shepard.

Timothy Hutton

I remember when Timothy Hutton was the hot new actor in town. I celebrated his Best Supporting Actor win for Ordinary People in 1980. I loved him as the tortured cadet major in 1981's Taps and Christopher Boyce in The Falcon and the Snowman. After that, he wasn't able to find many quality leading man roles. He did star in A&E's "Nero Wolfe" and the critically acclaimed, but quickly cancelled NBC show "Kidnapped."

Marisa Tomei

Marisa Tomei certainly suffered an unfriendly reception to her 1993 Best Supporting Actress win for My Cousin Vinny. Maybe it was because the movie was a comedy, not a drama. I don't know, but there were certainly people that felt she didn't deserve her award. However, in 2002, Marisa was nominated again for her performance in In the Bedroom. Guess that shut up the naysayers. I also loved her in 1996's Unhook the Stars.

More Oscar Related Blogs:

Award Show Secrets

Retro Mondays: Oscar Moments to Remember

Learn more about Libby Pelham

Libby Pelham is a web designer/freelance writer located in Memphis, TN. She has a beautiful little boy, Will, born in July of 2004.

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