10 Movie Roles That Seriously Screwed Up Actors

Maybe the most famous role to make it to this list—or should that be most infamous? Beloved director Martin Scorsese was at a personal and professional low point when Raging Bull came into his purview, having been embarrassed by the expensive folly of his post-Taxi Driver flop New York, New York.

Struggling with a cocaine problem, the director was initially uninterested in the biopic of prize fighter and anti-hero Jake LaMotta. However, Scorsese soon found himself relating to the pugilistic protagonist despite himself and would go on to say that taking on the project saved his life.

None of which ameliorates any of the struggle he put his star Robert De Niro through, mind you. The actor was required to gain over sixty pounds (that’s four stone) for the role, via an eating tour of Italy upon which the actor embarked. Hang on, a few weeks of enforced pasta and pizza three times a day—Could be worse, right?

You’d think so, but the weight had such an adverse effect on DeNiro’s small frame that production had to be fast-tracked in order to minimize the long-lasting damage being wreaked on his breathing, posture, and even his ability to speak.