Top 30 Most Difficult Actors To Work With

Top-30-Most-Difficult-Actors-To-Work-With

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at actors that have an infamous reputation for complaining, hostility towards other cast members, or just generally being difficult to work with.

#30: Dustin Hoffman
There’s no denying that Dustin Hoffman has been in some great films and is one of the greatest actors of his generation. And he has a whole bunch of awards and nominations to prove it. However, his dedication to his craft has often come at the expense of a favorable work environment for those on set with him. He’s been known to argue with directors and demand extra takes to get it perfect. Then there’s Meryl Streep. Hoffman starred opposite Streep in “Kramer vs. Kramer” and on one of the first takes he slapped her without warning. Hoffman has since discussed his performance on set as possibly acting out “stuff that I was feeling toward the wife that I was divorcing in real life.”

#29: January Jones
After her turn as Betty Draper on “Mad Men” made her a household name, there was a feeling that January Jones was set up for stardom. And while she has continued to work since then, her star has never reached the previously expected heights. So the question is why? And while there are probably multiple factors, the easy answer many go to is Jones’ reputation for being difficult to work with. That reputation is often linked to a comment from actor Jared Gilmore. Gilmore played Jones’ son on “Mad Men” until 2011, and when he left the show had this to say about his TV mom: “She's not as approachable as the others. She's really serious about what she does. Everyone else is so nice.”

#28: Lindsay Lohan
Everyone’s favorite adorable actress from “Mean Girls” struggled with substance abuse and mental health for some time, but has fortunately turned things around since those days. Back then, her partying and lavish lifestyle apparently often resulted in Lilo being late for work and/or too hung over to concentrate. On top of that, she reportedly racked up a huge hotel bill and made unreasonable demands to directors. “The Canyons” director Paul Schrader for one called her attitude “unspeakable,” and criticized the actress, who was also a producer and part owner on the project, for failing to promote their film when it premiered at the Venice Film Festival. With her life and career seemingly on the upswing, we hope that Lohan has put that behavior behind her.

#27: Russell Crowe
In discussing Russell Crowe’s reputation for being hard to work with, director Curtis Hanson said, “What I speculate is that he’s difficult when he’s not trusting.” Well, if that’s true, then it would appear that Crowe doesn’t trust a whole lotta people. That list would run from the hotel concierge whom he allegedly hit in the face with a thrown telephone to the producer on “Gladiator” whom he threatened to kill with his bare hands. Crowe has provided audiences with hours of enjoyment through his movies, but when it comes to his temper… no, Russell, we are not entertained.

#26: Faye Dunaway
Faye Dunaway is a Hollywood legend. But unfortunately she appears to be just as legendary for her ugly attitude as for her iconic roles. And if the stories are true, no one is safe from Ms. Dunaway’s wrath. For example, there’s the Pottery Barn employee who claims Dunaway called her a “f’n moron” and the Broadway wig designer’s assistant who got her hand slapped when Dunaway didn’t like “how the hairpins were being presented.” Even other actors aren’t safe. According to James Woods, Dunaway once threw something at him because he ad-libbed a line during a take. And while she’s denied it, it’s been alleged that she threw her urine in Roman Polanski’s face after he asked her to wait to take a bathroom break.

#25: Patrick Dempsey
The end of Derek Shepherd’s run on “Grey's Anatomy” was a sad moment for fans. But it would appear that it was much more of a relief for many who had to work with actor Patrick Dempsey on the show - especially near the end of his run. Dempsey had a lot of power by then, and according to one producer, “Some cast members had all sorts of PTSD with him. He had this hold on the set where he knew he could stop production and scare people.” He would complain about working late - when others had been there way longer than him - and the tension between him and Ellen Pompeo was palpable. “McDreamy” had become “McDifficult” which led to him becoming “McDead.”

#24: Julia Roberts
As one of the biggest movie stars of the 90s and 2000s, Julia Roberts was known by fans for her acting ability and her big smile. However, among those who worked in the movie business she was also known for being, shall we say - less than pleasant to work with. The hostile relationship between her and Nick Nolte on the set of “I Love Trouble” has been well documented. But there’ve been reports of Roberts not getting along with many other actors she’s worked with, from Hugh Grant to Meryl Streep. Roberts has conceded that her personality can come across as “really harsh”. Her “harshness” on the set of 1991’s “Hook” even rubbed Steven Spielberg the wrong way and earned her the nickname “Tinkerhell” amongst the crew.

#23: Mandy Patinkin
While many of the actors mentioned probably don’t think they deserve to be here, Mandy Patinkin would most likely be the first to add his own name to our list. Self-awareness is a great quality and Patinkin has it in spades when it comes to his behavior during the early years of his career. In 2013 Patinkin told the New York Times that he feels awful about how “abominably” he acted. “During ‘Chicago Hope,’” he said, “I never let directors talk to me, because I was so spoiled.” We can only hope such a revelation has made Patinkin more pleasant to work with in more recent years.

#22: Jared Leto
You’ve heard the expression “there’s method to his madness?” Well, when it comes to Jared Leto, the madness comes from his method. Leto is a hardcore method actor and as such dives deeper and more fully into roles and characters than many actors would. On set he is only referred to by his character’s name, and Will Smith - who played Leto’s enemy in “Suicide Sqaud” - said the two actors didn’t speak at all “outside of 'Action!' and 'Cut!'” While that could be less than enjoyable, it doesn’t compare to Margot Robbie and Viola Davis’ experience on the film - receiving a gift from Leto of a dead rat and a dead pig respectively.

#21: Bill Murray
Bill Murray has had a long career making great comedies and managed to segue into dramatic roles as well. Unfortunately, over that long career he’s also managed to accumulate a long list of people with unpleasant stories about what it’s like to work with him. Geena Davis has written about Murray forcing a massage device on her and yelling derogatory things at her on set. Richard Dreyfuss said that a drunk Murray threw an ashtray at him while filming “What About Bob?” and a producer on that film has talked about Murray throwing her in the lake following a disagreement. Lucy Liu has also talked publicly about the “inexcusable and unacceptable” language Murray directed at her on the set of “Charlie’s Angels.”

#20: Cybill Shepherd
Those who came of age in the 70s, 80s, or 90s probably have multiple memories of watching Cybill Shepherd on the big or small screen. And speaking of the small screen - most of the ‘Cybill Shepherd is difficult’ stories focus on her television career, her jealousy of her costars and her diva attitude on set. While the 90s sitcom “Cybill” literally had her name on it, she has admitted to being envious of co-star Christine Baranski’s Emmy win. And while her tension with “Moonlighting” co-star Bruce Willis is well known, her unlikability went beyond him. Rumor has it she was so bad on set that some of the writers later wrote a “CSI” episode in which an actress - based on Shepherd - is killed.

#19: Alec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin’s difficulties with his daughter, paparazzi and flight attendants have been well documented and the stuff of many tabloid headlines over the years. But Baldwin’s short temper and less-than-stellar attitude haven’t just been reserved for family and airline employees. The actor has been known to bring said aggressive unpleasantness to work and sic it on those in and around the set as well. Adam Bernstein was a director on “30 Rock” for just 6 episodes. Why only 6? It’s been speculated that he didn’t want to stick around very long after Baldwin threatened violence on him for holding up his thumbs to frame a shot. And another “30 Rock” director, Paul Feig, called Baldin the most difficult member of the cast to work with.

#18: Steven Seagal
Seagal’s appearances on the big screen are becoming increasingly rare these days. Lord knows it’s been a long hard minute since the last time he had a box office hit. That may have something to do with the fact that he’s supposedly a nightmare on set. Not only is Seagal cited as being highly critical of others, but he has also been known to physically intimidate cast members. He purportedly slammed comedian John Leguizamo against a wall simply for laughing at him, because, you know, comedians aren’t allowed to be funny. We’ll put it this way: Henry Rollins has stated he’d rather drink latex paint than work with Seagal.

#17: Charlie Sheen
While not in the spotlight recently, Charlie Sheen’s personal life was the subject of controversy for years, including domestic issues with his then-fiancée Kelly Preston and his infamous drug addiction. Therefore, it’s not too much of a stretch to imagine just how difficult it would be to work with him. His substance abuse and disparaging comments about Chuck Lorre are apparently what got him fired from his career-rejuvenating role on “Two and a Half Men.” We can’t blame him entirely though – if he really is a ‘freakin rock star from Mars,’ they may have different sets of customs over there.

#16: Thomas Gibson
The former “Criminal Minds” actor-director was well known for being a constant source of friction on set. Fellow cast members have claimed Gibson is highly demanding, requiring scheduling to revolve around his agenda. Worse, however, is his temper; Gibson was fired from “Criminal Minds” in August 2016 after the final straw in a string of controversial incidents. In 2010, he reportedly shoved an assistant director during a shoot. In 2013, he picked up a DUI, something producers were NOT pleased about. Then, in 2016, Gibson allegedly kicked writer-producer Virgil Williams. An established pain in the ass, “Criminal Minds” simply decided to let Gibson go.

#15: Shia LaBeouf
Though he got his start in Hollywood in kids shows and blockbusters, Shia Labeouf’s growth into an artist and filmmaker surprised many. Over the years, he’s made more than a few controversial remarks, engaged in what some would call ‘publicity stunts’ and, according to some, he can also transform into a bit of a jerk. Shia is notorious for his temper and belligerent attitude, even leaving the Broadway production of “Orphans” that he was slated to star in due to constant bickering and fights with his co-stars, especially Alec Baldwin. According to some however, Labeouf was just straight up fired.

#14: William Shatner
Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock may have overcome their differences and become friends in the world of “Star Trek,” but that wasn’t the case for the real-life relationship between actors William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. Shatner was reportedly the jealous type, upset at the amount of fan mail Nimoy received, and insecure over his importance to the show. Shatner apparently stole dialogue from Nimoy and other actors to elevate his own significance – and yet, Nimoy was Shatner’s best man at his 4th wedding. Shatner also apparently feuded with other actors on the series though, like Nichelle Nichols and George Takei. Evidently obsessed with his own status, Shatner reportedly threw fits to make sure he was the center of attention and in control.

#13: Edward Norton
Edward Norton is one of the finest actors in the industry so it comes as no surprise that he takes his craft extremely seriously. We repeat: EXTREMELY seriously. In fact, Norton has a reputation for “shadow directing.” He sat in on the editing for “American History X” because he didn’t trust Tony Kaye and often clashed with the studio during “The Incredible Hulk” over creative differences. While the people behind the film said the dispute was blown out of proportion in the media and a promo tour was planned for the movie, Norton didn’t do any promotion following its release. So yes, he is that one employee who tells everyone else how to do his or her jobs.

#12: Klaus Kinski
Even the most difficult of actors tend to make a few friends in the industry, and even if they don’t, sometimes you can put up with the worst of the worst if they’re simply that damn talented. And then sometimes you have people like Klaus Kinski, who was reportedly so difficult that nobody gave him a second chance. Though not a household name, the German actor appeared in over 100 films throughout his long career. Despite that extensive list, Kinski only ever worked with one director on multiple occasions. All the others refused to deal with him again. To put it bluntly, Kinski has been described as insane. Prone to frequent blow-ups, there really is no comparison to his madness.

#11: Jennifer Lopez
While 2019’s “Hustlers” was very well received, Lopez’s earlier work didn’t do wonders for her reputation. Although she’s known as a very hard worker, Jenny from the block has been called out in the past for so-called “diva behavior.” She’s been said to often make ridiculous demands, like numerous five star hotel rooms to stay in and her own private plane so she can travel in true diva style - all on someone else’s dime, of course. And the kicker? She refuses to perform if her demands are not met. We guess it’s too bad her demands were met in the case of “Gigli.”

#10: Teri Hatcher
It seems Teri Hatcher's behavior fit right in with Susan Mayer’s. Hatcher, most known for her role as the desperate housewife didn’t have to change much of what’s allegedly her personal character to fit into the drama-filled world. Reports indicate Hatcher was extremely cold to her costars on set, making even the easiest scenes uncomfortable to shoot. As an indicator of how poorly she meshed with her “Housewives” family, Hatcher was left out of an end-of-series gift from the ladies to the crew. The feud between Hatcher and the women was well known to all involved with the show, so her snub came as a surprise to no one.

#9: Katherine Heigl
Katherine Heigl clearly hasn’t heard the expression “don’t bite the hand that feeds you,” as that is exactly what she seems to do on a regular basis. After breaking into the mainstream with “Knocked Up,” Heigl went on record saying that she thought the movie was “a little sexist” and had a hard time enjoying it. The problem with that is this was after she already filmed the movie and received her paycheck... Of course, the real irony here is that her treatment after speaking out may have been the result of sexism, and both Seth Rogen and Judd Apatow later made peace with the star. But then of course, she wasn’t a fan of “Grey’s Anatomy”’s writing either, and she supposedly annoyed coworkers on a daily basis due to wardrobe grievances and constant script complaints.

#8: Lea Michele
Don’t sit there and assume the cast of “Glee” reflected its show’s name when the cameras weren’t rolling. Rather, Lea Michele, who played one of the singing stars, Rachel Berry, apparently took on the cutthroat mentality of a real high school diva when it came to her behavior on set. According to reports, Michele was rude to all involved with production, making the cast and crew stand around and wait extensively until she was ready to begin shooting. Crewmembers also claim Michele refused to speak to junior members of the “Glee” staff. On top of that, in 2020, Glee co-star Samantha Ware said Michele made her first television gig “living hell” and described repeated instances of traumatic microaggressions towards the Black actress.

#7: Christian Bale
Who doesn’t remember Bale’s eye-opening audio recording that came out publicly in 2009? The grainy 2008 recording exposed an incident on the set of “Terminator Salvation” where Bale absolutely blew up on the film’s Director of Photography, Shane Hurlbut, for walking into his line of vision during a scene. The recording is incredibly disturbing to hear, as Bale unleashes a vicious and unwarranted tirade on Hurlbut. But it’s not just his volatile temper that makes Bale hard to work with. He’s a method actor, which means he fully invests himself in his characters. So when you work with Bale, you don’t just get his craziness, you get the craziness of his characters too.

#6: Sean Penn
When it came out in early 2016 that infamous Mexican Drug Lord El Chapo met and interviewed with actor Sean Penn, the most reasonable question asked by the public was: Why? What qualifications does Penn have? Well if he were to respond to that question, we probably wouldn't be able to publish it due to explicit language and its overall awful message. Though known as a great actor, he is also famous for being incredibly rude and an overall jerk. Although they are indeed serious, we won’t even discuss the allegations of domestic abuse lobbied against him and instead just focus on his very real identity as a nightmare to work with. Allegedly hostile and intimidating, he’s not someone you want to share the screen with.

#5: Mike Myers
Pick your jaw up off the floor! We weren’t expecting it either, but apparently this funnyman is not nearly as fun as his characters. The “Austin Powers” star has been constantly called “moody and temperamental,” and many complain about the degree of control Mike Myers feels he should be able to exhibit over the cast and crew. Many executives in the industry have simply refused to work with him, and rumor has it that he even had a crew member fired for looking him in the eyes on a particularly bad day.

#4: Val Kilmer
When you’ve had a career as long and as all-encompassing as Val Kilmer, there’s a chance you’ve rubbed some people the wrong way. Many of Kilmer’s ex-girlfriends have spoken of his... eccentric behavior. This sentiment was further mirrored by Joel Schumacher, who directed Kilmer in “Batman Forever,” and called Kilmer’s behavior towards a crew member “rude, childish, and inappropriate.” Kilmer supposedly fought with camera operators and the wardrobe department on set. Similar comments were made by Richard Stanley, a director who worked on “The Island of Dr. Moreau” who claimed that “Val would arrive, and an argument would happen." Kilmer addressed his “difficult to work with” reputation in a 2017 Reddit AMA, regretting his actions, saying he “was often unhappy trying to make pictures better.”


#3: Chevy Chase
Who hasn’t Chevy Chase pissed off? Kindly regarded as perhaps the biggest grump in Hollywood, Chase has been described as an indefensible, cruelly vicious put-down artist. As early as his “SNL” days, Chase was burning bridges with the likes of John Belushi, Bill Murray, and the writers. He’s talked serious smack about most big names in the industry; some notables include Will Ferrell, Howard Stern, Kevin Smith, and Bill Maher. More recently, Chase destroyed the one good thing he had going with the cult classic show, “Community.” Chase heavily criticized the series and showrunner while he was still a cast member, and was known to have extremely offensive on-set tirades. Chase is likely a man with few friends left.

#2: Joan Crawford
While some actors are blatantly difficult to work with, there are others who are much more subtle, and perhaps no one played that role better than Joan Crawford. An undeniably beautiful woman, Crawford gained a reputation throughout Hollywood for using her body to control others. A master manipulator, Crawford sparked problems with cast members by reportedly sleeping around with fellow actors and directors. In arguably the most notorious feud in Hollywood history, Crawford developed an intense hatred for Bette Davis, who reciprocated the loathsome sentiment. Keeping to character, the beef developed after Crawford stole Bette’s love, Franchot Tone. It’s an unwritten rule to keep your hands away from what’s not yours, but Crawford never played by the rules.

#1: Marlon Brando
You know that one employee who just doesn’t give a crap, always does whatever he wants, and never listens to the boss? In Hollywood, that man was Marlon Brando. Brando was notorious for ignoring direction, and he wouldn’t even memorize his lines, preferring instead to just wing it during filming, write cue cards to leave somewhere off camera, or wear an earpiece. He was also deeply methodical about his acting, which greatly alienated many people when the cameras weren’t rolling. It must have worked though, because Brando is known today as one of the greatest actors ever.

Were you surprised to find any of these actors on the list? Let us know in the comments.