10 Actors Whose Careers Never Rebounded

The 1970s were an interesting period in television history - it dwelled as a kind of in-between. If you were, say, Alan Alda or James Garner, then your stardom could balance both TV work and film, never losing a shred of outstanding reputation, swagger or charm.

But when you're Erik Estrada, all you have is CHiPs. After a few minor film roles, the actor landed a gig as series regular Frank "Ponch" Poncharello, a motorcycle cop with a chip on his shoulder [editor's note: the writer really didn't want to say that] playing against his more level-headed partner. The show ran for a successful six seasons, plus a reunion TV movie in 1998 and a Dax Shepard reboot no one saw.

The world was his oyster in the late 70s. Listed as one of the 10 sexiest bachelors in Hollywood by People, he was in demand. So what happened?

Recently, much of the cast of the re-boot of Hawaii Five-O learned their salaries were less than their white counterparts on the show and walked off the set. The same could be said of Estrada, who starred in a series of telenovelas and finally clawing his way above the border again in 2001 for the Soap The Bold and the Beautiful.

Don't feel too bad. Unconfirmed reports and talk show gossip claim that the actor truly does have a bit of a chip on his shoulder and is fairly unpleasant.