Actors Who Never Recovered From Their Most Distressing Roles

JoBeth Williams in Poltergeist

Poltergeist was regarded as one of the most haunted movie sets in history—perhaps because it involved literal dead bodies. Steven Spielberg insisted on using real human cadavers as props for the film, and JoBeth Williams was horrified to learn that the remains bobbing beside her in the pool were once very much alive.

Day after day, Williams would come home from shooting each night to find that all of the paintings on her walls were crooked. She convinced herself that it was all in her head, but she was still undeniably freaked out about the bad juju associated with Poltergeist.

Advertisement

Next Page →

The More You Know

  • After a slew of drug related offences, Robert Downey Jr. was a semi-blacklisted celebrity until Kiss Kiss Bang Bang reignited his career.
  • Darth Vader only has 12 minutes of screen time in the original Star Wars.
  • On the set of one of the Pirates of the Carribbean films, Johnny Depp spent £40,000 on 500 coats for the cast and crew.
  • Director Steven Spielberg made his first film for a merit badge
Next Page →