Celebrities come and go, with some leaving a lasting impact on the entertainment industry and others fading into obscurity. It’s always fascinating to take a look at the careers of celebrities from the past and see how they’ve changed over time. From once-beloved stars who have fallen out of the spotlight to those who have managed to reinvent themselves, the “then and now” journey of celebrities can be both captivating and inspiring.
One such celebrity is the actress featured in this video’s thumbnail, Sally Struthers. Once best known for her role as Gloria Stivic in the groundbreaking sitcom “All in the Family,” Struthers has continued to stay relevant in the entertainment industry for over five decades.
In this video, we’ll take a closer look at the careers of celebrities like Struthers, exploring their rise to fame and where they are today.
Amazingly, some of the stars we’re about to discuss have undergone incredible transformations since first arriving on the Hollywood scene. As you’ll soon see, many of them are now completely unrecognizable! Whether you’re a fan of classic Hollywood or simply curious about the ups and downs of celebrity life, this facts-packed video is sure to satisfy.
Facts Verse Presents: Remember Her? Take a Deep Breath Before You See What She Looks Like Now
Nicole Eggert
Eggert rose to fame as a child actress when she was cast in one of the lead roles of the hit 80s situation comedy “Charles in Charge”. She went on to become a major part of the series, lasting five seasons.
Eggert found continued success on TV, including a role as Summer Quinn on the iconic 90s show Baywatch. In that series, she was required to show off her fit body while regularly donning a skimpy swimsuit.
After her popularity faded, however, she ended up gaining quite a bit of weight, and her struggles ended up being documented when she appeared on the reality series “Celebrity Fit Club”. Fans of “Charles in Charge” and “Baywatch” thought she looked unrecognizable, but she still ended up taking the needed steps to improve her well-being and get back into a healthy shape.
Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer is an American actor who has been a prominent figure in the entertainment industry for several decades.
Val Kilmer was born on the 31st of December, 1959, in Los Angeles, California. He was interested in acting from a young age and studied drama at the Juilliard School in New York City. After graduation, he started his acting career in theater and made his screen debut in the 1984 film “Top Secret!”
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Kilmer appeared in a number of popular films, including 1985s “Real Genius”, 1986s “Top Gun”, and 1991s “The Doors”. He was praised for his performances and quickly established himself as one of Hollywood’s leading actors.
One of Kilmer’s most memorable roles was as the iconic superhero Batman in the 1995 film “Batman Forever.” He took over the role from Michael Keaton and received positive reviews for his performance as the caped crusader.
Today, Val Kilmer continues to be active in the entertainment industry. In recent years, he has appeared in a number of film and television projects, 2014s including “Shelter”, 2016s “The Nice Guys”, and 2017s “Cinema Twain”.
Since 2015, Kilmer has been struggling with throat cancer. As part of his treatment for the disease, he had a procedure on his trachea that damaged his vocal cords to the point that he now has extreme difficulty speaking. His battle with cancer was documented in the 2021 documentary film Val. Most recently, he reprised his role as Iceman, sharing the screen once again with Tom Cruise in 2022s Top Gun Maverick.
Val has also been involved in various charitable organizations and has used his platform to raise awareness about various social and political issues.
In addition to his acting career and activism, Kilmer is also a talented writer and artist. He has written several books and painted numerous works of art, which have been displayed in galleries around the world.
Axl Rose
Axl Rose is an American musician best known as the lead singer of the rock band Guns N’ Roses.
Rose was born on February 6, 1962, in Lafayette, Indiana. He formed Guns N’ Roses in 1985, and the band quickly rose to fame with their debut 1987 album, “Appetite for Destruction”. With hits like “Sweet Child o’ Mine” and “Welcome to the Jungle,” Guns N’ Roses became one of the biggest rock bands of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Despite their success, Guns N’ Roses was plagued by internal conflicts and controversy throughout the 1990s. Axl Rose’s erratic behavior and frequent disputes with band members led to the departure of several key members, including guitarist Slash. The band’s reputation was further damaged by Rose’s volatile temper and a series of legal problems.
In recent years, Axl Rose has reformed Guns N’ Roses with a new lineup and continues to tour and record with the band. Despite his tumultuous past, he remains one of the most iconic and influential frontmen in rock music, and his work with Guns N’ Roses continues to be highly regarded by fans and critics alike.
Meg Ryan
Ryan was once considered to be “America’s sweetheart” and was widely celebrated for her roles in beloved rom-coms like “When Harry Met Sally”, “You’ve Got Mail”, and “Sleepless in Seattle”.
While her career started off strong, later on it took a hit after appearing in a series of poorly received movies. She also was surrounded by significant controversies for quite some time.
After taking a break from Hollywood, she underwent several cosmetic surgeries that left her appearance permanently altered. These drastic changes surprised many who remembered Ryan’s youthful glow back in her heydey.
Melissa Gilbert
Gilbert rose to fame, portraying the character Laura Ingalls Wilder on the hit 70s and 80s drama series Little House on the Prairie. Her all-American girl looks made her a favorite among viewers. Additionally, she earned high marks for her riveting portrayal of Helen Keller in the 1979 film The Miracle Worker.
Gilbert has remained active in Hollywood as an actor, director, and producer – especially in TV films. Despite struggling with alcoholism and addiction for many years, she has been able to overcome her vices and wrote very openly about them in her 2009 memoir.
Sean Connery
Widely known for his iconic role as James Bond, Sean Connery was at one time one of the biggest movie stars on the planet. He managed to bring the “Bond” role to life in a way that few others have since come close to, and his portrayal will forever be treasured by 007 fans as one of the best.
Throughout his prolific acting career, Connery starred in many films, but despite his popularity, he faced significant controversy due to some shocking statements that he made in interviews – including ones in which he seemed to condone domestic violence. He eventually retired from acting after having an especially negative experience during the film of the critically panned film “The League of Extraordinary Gentleman”.
After quitting acting, Connery aged significantly. By the end of his life, he was virtually unrecognizable. He additionally struggled with the agonizing effects of severe cognitive decline. Connery passed away peacefully in his sleep on October 31, 2020, at the age of 90.
Renee Zellweger
Renée Zellweger is an American actress best known for her work in both film and television.
Zellweger was born on the 25th of April, 1969, in Katy, Texas. She began her acting career in the early 1990s with a series of small film and television roles. However, it wasn’t until she starred in the 1996 film “Jerry Maguire” that she rose to international fame.
Zellweger is best known for her roles in a number of critically acclaimed films, including 2001s “Bridget Jones’s Diary”, 2002s “Chicago”, and 2003s “Cold Mountain”. Her performances in these films earned her several awards and nominations, including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Cold Mountain.”
In recent years, Renée Zellweger has continued to work in both film and television. After taking a break from the spotlight in 2010, she returned in 2016 with a couple of brand-new projects. However, during her time away from the public eye, she underwent a very noticeable transformation that caught the attention of her fans when she showed back up on the red carpet. She went on to star in the critically acclaimed 2019 film “Judy”, in which she portrayed legendary singer and actress Judy Garland, and received widespread recognition for her performance, including an Academy Award for Best Actress.
Claudia Wells
Fans of the Back to the Future trilogy will immediately recognize wells, aka the actress who first portrayed Michael J. Fox’s primary love interest, Jennifer Parker.
Family issues led to her leaving the film series, and Elizabeth Shue ended up taking over the role.
At 56, Wells looks little like she did back in the 80s, but we’ve got to hand to her – she still looks great!
Recently, she’s appeared in the TV shows The Mentalist and The Comeback Kids. In 2019, she showed up on the big screen in the role of Margaret Parks in the indie film Vitals.
Courteney Cox
Cox is an actress, producer, and director best known for her role as Monica Geller on the hit television show “Friends.” Cox played Monica for ten seasons from 1994 and 2004. On the big screen, Cox has appeared in several successful films, including 1994s Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, 1996s Scream, and 2005s The Longest Yard. Behind the camera, Cox has also made a name for herself as a talented director. She directed several episodes of Friends and other television shows, as well as a number of music videos.
In a 2016 episode of Running Wild With Bear Grylls, Cox candidly opened up about the many plastic surgeries she’s undergone in an effort to hold on to her youthful appearance. She went on to admit that she had taken things too far and now regrets having had so many cosmetic procedures. Grylls then advised her that she should avoid having any more procedures as her natural look is beautiful.
Sally Struthers
Sally Struthers is an American actress, best known for her unforgettable role as Gloria Stivic on the 1970s television show “All in the Family.”
Struthers was born on the 28th of July, 1947, in Portland, Oregon. She began her acting career in the 1960s with a series of minor film and television roles. However, it was her role as Gloria Stivic in the television show “All in the Family” that made her a household name. She played the character for nine seasons from 1971 to 1979 and was widely praised for her comedic performance.
In the years following “All in the Family,” Struthers appeared in a number of other television shows and films, including “Gilmore Girls”, and “Still Standing”. Most recently, she appeared in two episodes of the sitcom Maron in the role of Shireley. She has also been active in theater, performing in several stage productions over the years.
Struthers, now age 75, continues to be active in the entertainment industry and is currently appearing in a number of stage productions and voiceover work. She is also involved in many charitable causes, including her work as a spokesperson for the charity organization ChildFund.
Well, there you have it. Those ten stars we just discussed all went through striking transformations throughout their lives. They all experienced a great deal of fame, particularly in their youth, before branching out into a wide array of other projects throughout their respective careers.
A few honorable mentions we’d like to give a quick shout-out to before wrapping this video up include Cheryl Tiegs, Toni Tennile, Nikki Cox, Melanie Griffith, and Lara Flynn Boyle. Just take a look at these “then and now” side-by-sides to see just how much they’ve changed over the years.
Anyway, now it’s your turn to let your voice be heard. Which Hollywood star do you think has gone through the most startling “then and now” transformation over the years, and do you think that Hollywood places too much emphasis on youth? Let us know in the comments, and as always, thanks for watching!
