Going Out with a Whimper: Actors

Last week, we looked at actresses with woeful final appearances. This week? Actors!

Methodology

1. Googled “greatest actors”
2. Looked up their last feature film or TV movie on IMdB
3. Kept a list of those with IMdB rating less than 5
4. Ranked those here from best to worst

A couple comparisons:

• There are fewer guys
• They tended to die with their boots on (i.e., the same year they made their last film)
• They typically shared the screen with many other folks in large ensemble productions

In other words, and as we all know, it’s a lot tougher for actresses to get roles past their prime than it is actors.
 

6.  Peter Ustinov, Winter Solstice (4.9)

Age:  82

Role:  Hughie McLellan

Synopsis:  Elfrida Phibbs thought she was retiring from her London life to a "geriatric bolthole" in the country. She soon finds herself compassionately tending to her neighbor, Oscar, who has suffered a tragic loss. [Blah, blah, blah … It appears to be some sort of Christmas heart-warmer]

Died:  83

6.  Ronald Colman, The Story of Mankind (4.9)

Age:  66

Role:  The Spirit of Man

Synopsis:  The Devil and the Spirit of Man argue as to whether or not humanity is ultimately good or evil.

Tagline:  No Greater Cast Ever! Rarely So Vast An Undertaking!

Died:  66

5.  Robert Mitchum, James Dean: Race with Destiny (4.7)

Age:  79

Role:  George Stevens, director of Dean’s last film, Giant

Synopsis:  How did a broken heart, reckless behavior and his relationships with Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo and director George Stevens lead to Dean's ultimate race with destiny?

Tagline:  A Star's Fatal Journey To Immortality ...

Died:  79

Mitchum on the left, Stevens on the right

4. Walter Pidgeon, Sextette (3.6)

Age:  80

Role:  The Chairman

Synopsis:  On the day of her wedding to her sixth husband, a glamorous silver screen sex symbol [Mae West, no less] is asked to intervene in a political dispute between nations, which leads to chaos.

Tagline:  The golden age of musical comedy is back... in this all new, all fabulous tribute to Hollywood's greatest era! [huh?]

After:  “Suffering from several strokes” (IMdB)

Died:  87

Note:  It was Mae West's last as well

3. Sean Connery, Sir Billi (3.5)

Age:  82

Role:  Sir Billi

Synopsis:  A retired veterinarian living in a remote Scottish village encounters a goat who thinks he's a dog, an Admiral who's afraid of the water, and a beaver who was raised by rabbits.

Tagline:  Sir Billi, the last remaining Guardian of the Highlands

After:  Dementia

Died:  90

2.  Errol Flynn, Cuban Rebel Girls (3.1)

Age:  50

Role:  American Correspondent

Synopsis:  A war correspondent helps Fidel Castro overthrow Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista.

Tagline:  See BEVERLY AADLAND Errol Flynn's 17 yr. old protege in her first starring role

Died:  50

Beverly was 17 when she made the movie, 15 when she became Flynn’s lover

1.  Peter O’Toole, Diamond Cartel (3.0)

Age:  81

Role:  Tugboat

Synopsis:  Only one lusted glance brings Aliya to the events throwing her into the criminal ocean. But in the wirliging [sic] of passions and turmoil when she finds herself at the verge of fatality it's only her true love that is the only rescue. Now the most important thing for Aliya is to preserve the honor and dignity and the whole world will be at our feet.  [Ivan Wong, IMdB]

Tagline:  Freedom and love have more value than money

Died:  81

Straight outta Kazakhstan

Final note:  Some alcohol seems to have been involved here, I dunna know.