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Being a celebrity is a lifestyle that requires a person to emerge bigger and better every day, and not everyone can do that. The '90s were the glory days of the pop culture that many will never forget as they set the stage for the multi-billion dollar film and music industries we enjoy today. Many stars from those days, however, couldn't keep up with lifestyle after breaking into fame. Personal choices and life strains can hit hard on a celebrity, and the 90s celebrities are no exception.
Some celebrities have, however, refused to go down without a fight. They have re-emerged into the limelight after some bad days with more power killing it in these new days just as they did in the last century. Here are ten celebrities that made a glorious comeback.
ROBERT DOWNEY JR.
Robert downy made a name for himself in Hollywood in the late 80s and early 90s starring in movies like the biopic Chaplain and the show Ally McBeal with the latter earning him a Golden Globe Award. His drug and alcohol addiction got him arrested several times for possession and fired from Ally McBeal's cast in 2001.
His drug use problem caused Hollywood film producers to dodge him until he got bailed by Mel Gibson, who underwrote his liability insurance. Following minor appearances in films, he got his big break in the 2008 Iron Man movie when he starred as Tony Stark, a character development role that saw him star in its sequels and other MCU movies.
JASON BATEMAN
The kid star was walking in the spotlight during his teen years for his roles on NBC's Silver Spoons and The Hogan in the 80s and early 90s. His fall came when he started struggling with drug and alcohol addiction making him disappear from the screens with only minor roles and appearances.
His comeback in 2013's revival of Arrested Development, which he directed and was awarded a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Nomination for Best Actor in a television series. In 2017, he starred as Marty Byrde, on Netflix drama Ozarks as a financial advisor who launders money for a Mexican drug cartel, a role that has since sealed his come back.
NEIL PATRICK HARRIS
The multitalented actor is also a producer, writer, comedian, and magician, or so he says. His leading role in Doogie Howser, MD, as a teenage physician made him a household name in his childhood up until it was last aired in 1993. He was a bit unlucky with castings until his big break in 2005 when he landed the starring role in the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother earning him four consecutive nominations for the Emmys.
Harris went on to win two Emmy awards later on for his guest performance on Glee in 2010. He continues to take up roles, authoring books and also sharing his charm and charisma on stage and screen as a host.
MAYIM BIALIK
In the early 90s, Mayim Bialik played the title character in the NBC sitcom Blossom before disappearing. She took a break from film to go back to college and graduated in 2007 with a Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCLA.
Unfortunately, she wasn't getting enough cash to pay for her family's medical insurance considering her husband was also pursuing his master's at the time. Her big comeback in 2010 was more of an accident. She wasn't looking for a big breakthrough, but fortunately for her, she was cast on Big Bang Theory, and couldn't turn it down.
KEANU REEVES
Keanu Reeves rose to stardom in the late 90s with his role in the blockbuster film Speed that grossed over $121 million at the box office and remained to be a classic up to date. Though the iconic actor never really left the screens, he went through a low moment after his lead role in A Walk in the Clouds.
He was, in a way, paying the price for refusing to be cast on Speed 2, getting him rejected by Fox Productions for a decade. His comeback and success in The Matrix sequels got him a star on the Hollywood walk of fame.
KATHERINE HEIGL
She made her debut in film in My Father the Hero, in 1992. Later, she starred in Roswell and rose to fame, winning an Emmy award for outstanding supporting actress for her role in Grey's Anatomy. She, however, quit her role on Grey's Anatomy and went on to star in an array of low grossing movies with poor reviews pushing her out of the limelight.
She made many attempts to get back into the spotlight, including her role as Meghan Markle's replacement in the legal drama Suits. Her latest role on the Netflix series Firefly Lane is expected to be her biggest score bringing her back to the top.
WINONA RYDER
Shortly after getting her star on the Hollywood walk of fame, Winona Ryder's career took a drastic hit. Winona got arrested for shoplifting in December 2001, bringing her acting career to a standstill for years after the dramatic publicization of her mishap.
The sought-after lead actress couldn't get a role till 2006 when she starred alongside Keanu Reeves in A Scanner Darkly. She was nominated for the Golden Globe Awards and won the Screen Writes' Guild Award for her role in Stranger Things for the best ensemble in drama.
CHARLIE SHEEN
The former Two and a Half Men star also suffered from the conventional tragedy of many thriving celebrities. Drug addiction got him fired from the role in 2011 bringing his career to a halt. His character on the show was canceled and taken over by Ashton Kutcher until its end in 2015.
He made the mother of all comebacks after his recovery from drug addiction in 2018 on the Academy Award-winning film Platoon. Following his revival, he has no intention of relapsing, stating that he has already hit rock bottom.
DREW BARRYMORE
Barrymore remains the youngest person to have hosted Saturday Night Live at age 7. The child actress made her debut with a supporting role in The Altered States. She had quite a troubled childhood marked with drug and alcohol addiction by the time she was 12.
She was a rebellious teen but her transformation saw her divorce her mother as her manager and start her own production company. The success of The Wedding Singer propelled her into building her currently established empire.
JENNIFER ANISTON
She was ranked among the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood in the early 2000s. She is mostly remembered for her role as Rachel in the sitcom Friends until the show ended in 2004.
The show was a major success, winning her a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. Aniston has made several TV appearances after Friends ended and made a massive comeback. She now stars in The Morning Show on Apple TV+ featuring Reese Witherspoon.