Actors and actresses who are gone but should come back

There are some actors you never see anymore. (And in some cases that’s fine. Not having a Mike Myers movie every year has not left a huge void.) But there are those actors that I miss. To my knowledge they’re currently retired, out of work, or are flying under the radar. I apologize if one or two of them is starring in a TV series I just don’t know on a network I’ve never heard of. And this is an incomplete list to be sure. Please feel free to add your own entry. Or tell me where Bridget Fonda gets her car lubed so I can tell her GODFATHER III was not her fault and she should come back.

Anyway, here are some actors that are MIA that I really M.

Bridget Fonda – Loved her in SINGLE WHITE FEMALE. And SINGLES. And especially POINT OF NO RETURN (The US remake of LE FEMME NIKITA.) Married Danny Elfman in 2003 and disappeared.  Why should Aunt Jane get all the gigs? 

Linda Fiorentino – MEN IN BLACK, DOGMA, and she played the most delicious villain ever in THE LAST SEDUCTION. Nothing since 2009. So sexy I’d be satisfied even if she just did voice overs.

Gene Hackman – The best screen actor alive. Equally brilliant in drama and comedy. Sorry his last movie had to be WELCOME TO MOOSEPORT.

Phoebe Cates – No male under 80 doesn’t have that swimming pool scene from FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH burned permanently into their brains. Hasn’t made a movie in twenty years. I saw her in person ten years ago and happy to report she still looked spectacular. Married to Kevin Kline. I wonder if they have a swimming pool?

Sean Connery – Last seen in THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN in 2003. I know he’s getting up there but he could still play James Bond. He just needs a hairpiece and Viagra.

Jennifer Grey – Loved her in DIRTY DANCING. But that was a different era and face. She did win DANCING WITH THE STARS a few years back. All that means is that she can dance. It doesn’t mean she’s still a star.

Tara Reid – Fun in THE BIG LEBOWSKI and CRUEL INTENTIONS. And who can forget AMERICAN PIE? She was also in AMERICAN PIE 2, but everybody can forget that one. Last seen in SHARNADO in 2013. I hope that wasn’t considered her comeback vehicle.

Val Kilmer – One-time Hollywood heartthrob. One of forty current actors to play Batman. Fame didn’t destroy him. Unruly behavior and buffets did.

Jessica Harper – The waif in MY FAVORITE YEAR, a Woody Allen favorite when he was still young enough to hit on her and not repulse audiences, and she was the star of Brian DePalma’s cult classic PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE. Now has a website, book, and videos as the Crabby Cook, but so far no major studio has optioned it.

Rick Moranis – Very funny and a former DJ (so points in my book). Has seemingly retired. He could easily have Kevin James’ career.

Kathleen Beller – A swimming pool scene in THE BETSY to rival Phoebe Cates’. Also very funny in MOVIE MOVIE – the 1978 movie written by Larry Gelbart that is worth seeking out. Her last credit was 1994 and that was playing a voice on a video game.

Meg Ryan – Or whoever that now is that calls herself Meg Ryan. Haven’t seen her in front of the camera but she directed a movie that’s supposed to come out soon. I so wish she and Jennifer Grey had spoken to me first.

Annabella Sciorra – Did Spike Lee movies and had a recurring part on THE SOPRANOS. (Tony was having an affair with her and it ended, as most do, with thugs telling her if she ever said a word they’d kill her.) Maybe she said a word because you don’t see her on TV anymore.

Joe Pesci – Always got killed in Scorsese movies. And discovered Frankie Valli of the Four Seasons. How they did VINYL without him I will never know.

Emilio Estevez – Only slightly less crazy than brother Charlie (although he did marry Paula Abdul). Hasn’t been seen in years.

Wilson – Had such a great debut in CASTAWAY and then nothing.