The careers of celebrities can be tumultuous.
Some stars leave Hollywood of their own accord, others disappear after worrying public incidents, and some fade after scandals. When that happens, returning to the spotlight isn't always easy. Some never do. But that doesn't mean it's not possible.
Here are 19 celebrities who have had career comebacks.
Editor's Note: A warning that this article contains descriptive language that could be triggering for anyone struggling with or recovering from substance abuse.
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"Stranger Things" marked Winona Ryder's comeback after a hiatus from Hollywood following drug and theft scandals.
Winona Ryder's career was in full swing during the late '80s and '90s. From classics such as "Beetlejuice" and "Heathers" to "Edward Scissorhands" and "The Age of Innocence," Ryder was keeping busy. But in 2001, the actress was arrested on charges of shoplifting and being in possession of illegal prescription drugs and her career stalled.
She spoke with Time about how a brief break from acting following the incident affected her career.
"I took some years off, and I didn't realize that was very dangerous in terms of my career," she said. "I was constantly being told, 'You have to keep working so you stay relevant.' When I was ready to come back, I was like, 'Oh, where did everyone go?' A lot of actors have ups and downs. I think mine were — people might see them as awful — but I learned, and I appreciated the time away."
Now with "Stranger Things," she's a leading lady once more.
Robert Downey Jr. was arrested multiple times in the '90s and did a stint in rehab, but now he's a leading man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Robert Downey Jr.'s career took off in the '80s, and he eventually earned an Oscar nomination for 1992's "Chaplin." But his successful trajectory hit a snag after a string of run-ins with the law and time in rehab.
In 1996, authorities caught him with an unloaded gun, heroine, and cocaine in his car. A few months later, he was cited for trespassing after passing out inside his neighbor's home. He was arrested multiple times, spent time in prison, was in and out of rehab, and was written out of "Ally McBeal." But Downey Jr. has been sober since around 2003, and his career has picked up.
He played Sherlock Holmes in two movies, he earned an Oscar nomination for "Tropic Thunder," he's been dominating the box office as Iron Man since 2008, and he's showing no signs of slowing down.
After a string of worrying public incidents in 2007, Britney Spears rose again and her career is now better than ever.
Britney Spears was a pop icon with five albums under her belt when her life began to spiral. Spears lost custody of her children to ex-husband Kevin Federline and was in the public eye for a string of incidents — including shaving her head in public, driving with her son on her lap, and attacking paparazzi with an umbrella. Spears was admitted to UCLA Medical Center's psychiatric hospital in January 2008.
She was released five days later and then released her sixth album, "Circus," later that year to positive reviews and chart-topping success. Since then, she has held a Las Vegas residency and released three more albums. She was honored with GLAAD's Vanguard Award in 2018 for her support of the LGBTQ+ community.
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