2. Peter Billingsley
A Christmas Story is a superb holiday film, in large part because of Peter Billingsley's riveting performance as protagonist Ralphie Parker, yet the young actor was never really able to find a niche for himself as an adult, and his career dive-bombed soon thereafter. It baffles the mind that a youngster so popular - especially with American audiences - could disappear out of the limelight so fast, starring in a litany of uninspired TV shows and inconsequential productions. Nowadays, he appears to have transitioned into the world of movie producing, acting as executive producer on Zathura, The Break-Up, Iron Man and Four Christmases. Furthermore, he also directed the admittedly rather dreadful romantic "comedy" Couples Retreat...