Hollywood’s Most Difficult Actors: Behind-the-Scenes Drama

One of the most notorious examples is the late German actor Klaus Kinski. Known for his explosive personality, Kinski was famously difficult while working on films.

During the production of Fitzcarraldo, his temper reportedly became so extreme that even ordinary disagreements could turn into dramatic confrontations. His intense personality may have been challenging for those around him, but it was also closely connected to the powerful performances that made him.

What Happened

Mandy Patinkin provides a very different example. While filming the period movie Impromptu, Patinkin reportedly had an unusual method for getting into character.

• Some actors become legendary because of their performances, while others become equally memorable for what happened when the cameras stopped rolling.

• Ultimately, filmmaking is a collaborative process, and even extraordinary talent can create tension when personalities clash.

• According to her, women often face greater consequences for behaving badly on professional sets, making it harder for them to get away with the same kind of behavior.

Key Details

Hugh Grant recalled that Patinkin would deliver even simple lines with an exaggerated intensity. A request as ordinary as asking someone to pass him a cup of tea could suddenly become a dramatic performance.

• Interestingly, actress Jessica Chastain has suggested that there may be a reason men appear more frequently in such stories.

• These stories are only a small selection of the many tales surrounding difficult personalities in Hollywood.

• He also made it clear that he did not want the conversation to turn toward Lohan's private life.

Why It Matters

It may have seemed strange to his costars, but for Patinkin, it was apparently part of finding the right mindset for the role. Directors do not always speak publicly about difficult experiences with their actors, but Uwe Boll was unusually candid about.

• At a Venice Film Festival press conference, Schrader described himself as finally being free after completing the production and emphasized how difficult the experience had been.

• While working on The Canyons, director Paul Schrader openly discussed the challenges of working with her.

What Reports Say

Coverage of the story so far points to:

• Continued reporting by Yahoo as more details emerge