Bad luck and poor choices are a big part of Hollywood lore. Careers have been made or broken based on an actor’s inability to look at a part and envision the possibilities, or by scheduling issues that prevented a thespian from taking on a juicy role.

Some films would have been quite different had the original choice not declined, been forced out by a prior commitment, or fallen victim to a director’s change of heart.

Of course, one performer’s misfortune is another’s opportunity. Forbes has put together a list of “10 Career-Changing Roles That Almost Weren’t.” It’s some interesting stuff, to say the least.

Here are some famous films, and the actor or actress who turned down or didn’t get the chance to shine:

1. Titanic: Gwyneth Paltrow

2. Knocked Up: Anne Hathaway

3. The Godfather: Ernest Borgnine

4. Forrest Gump: John Travolta

5. Pretty Woman: Molly Ringwald

6. The Reader: Nicole Kidman

7. The Graduate: Robert Redford

8. Brokeback Mountain: Mark Wahlberg and Joaquin Phoenix

9. Casablanca: George Raft

10. Raiders of the Lost Ark: Tom Selleck

To read more about these matchups that didn’t happen, and to see a slideshow, visit Forbes.

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Joining Myers on the list of dishonorable mentions were Jessica Alba, Verne Troyer and Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley, all of whom were luckless players in Myers’ over-the-top flop.

Here’s a list of some the major “contenders”:

Worst Picture:
The Love Guru
Disaster Movie and Meet the Spartans
The Happening
The Hottie and the Nottie
In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale

Worst Actress:
Annette Bening , Eva Mendes , Debra Messing , Jada Pinkett Smith, Meg Ryan: The Women
Jessica Alba: The Love Guru
Cameron DIaz: What Happen in Vegas
Paris Hilton: The Hottie and the Nottie
Kate Hudson: Fool’s Gold; My Best Friend’s Girl

Worst Actor:
Eddie Murphy: Meet Dave
Al Pacino: 88 Minutes; Righteous Kill
Mike Myers: The Love Guru
Larry the Cable Guy: Witless Protection
Mark Wahlberg: The Happening; Max Payne

Worst supporting actor:
Uwe Boll: Postal
Pierce Brosnan: Mamma Mia!
Ben Kingsley: The Love Guru; War, Inc.; The Wackness
Burt Reynolds: Deal; In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale
Verne Troyer: The Love Guru; Postal

Worst supporting actress:
Carmen Electra: Disaster Movie and Meet the Spartans
Paris Hilton: Repo! The Genetic Opera
Kim Kardashian: Disaster Movie
Jenny McCarthy: Witless Protection
Leelee Sobieski: 88 Minutes; In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale

Worst screen couple:
Uwe Boll and any actor, camera and screenplay
Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher: What Happens in Vegas
Paris Hilton and either Christine Lakin or Jorel David Moore: The Hottie and the Nottie
Larry the Cable Guy and Jenny McCarthy: Witless Protection
Eddie Murphy in Eddie Murphy: Meet Dave

Worst prequel, sequel, remake or rip-off:
The Day the Earth Blowed Up Real Good  (The Day the Earth Stood Still)
Disaster Movie and Meet the Spartans
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Speed Racer
Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Worst director:
Uwe Boll, 1968: Tunnel Rats; In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale; Postal
Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer: Disaster Movie and Meet the Spartans
Tom Putnam, The Hottie and the Nottie
Marco Schnabel, The Love Guru
M. Night Shyamalan, The Happening

Worst screenplay:
Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer: Disaster Movie and Meet the Spartans
M. Night Shyamalan: The Happening
Heidi Ferrer: The Hottie and the Nottie
Doug Taylor: In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale
Mike Myers and Graham Gordy: The Love Guru

Worst career achievement:
Uwe Boll: “Germany’s answer to Ed Wood”

 Source: razzies.com

For the most part, sibling rivalry is about petty (yet somehow enormously important) stuff. When the debate outgrows the household, however, the stakes get higher, the tricks get dirtier, and the ego bruises can hurt a little more.

Blender examined some of the top sibling wars in rock and roll history and came up with a list of 12.

Here goes, in reverse order:

12. Incubus vs. Audiovent

11. Brandy and Ray J

10. Jessica Simpson and Ashlee Simpson-Wentz

9. Benji Madden and Joel Madden

8. Mark Wahlberg and Donnie Wahlberg

7. Chris Robinson and Rich Robinson

6. Britney Spears and Jamie Lynn Spears

5. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimmie Vaughan

4. Carnie Wilson and Wendy Wilson

3. Nick Carter and Aaron Carter

2. Noel Gallagher and Liam Gallagher

1. Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, and the Jacksons

To read about what made these relationships “special,” and to see a slideshow, visit Blender.

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Crossover stars are becoming more common, and many are earning rave reviews for their versatility. (Others at least get points for courage, even if their efforts leave something to be desired on the artistic front.)

Forbes recently cited 10 well-known performers for their successful ventures outside the box.

Here’s the list:

Christina Applegate: TV, Movies, Broadway 

Glenn Close: Movies, Broadway, TV

Billy Crystal: TV, Movies, Broadway

Jamie Foxx: TV, Movies, Music

Jennifer Garner: TV, Movies, Broadway

Holly Hunter: Movies, TV

Jennifer Lopez: TV, Movies, Music, Fashion

Julia Roberts: Movies, Broadway

Mark Wahlberg: Music, Movies, TV

Denzel Washington: TV, Movies, Broadway

To read more about these multi-faceted entertainers, check out the slideshow at Forbes.

 
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