It’s safe to say that Alec Baldwin was a polarizing figure even before the deadly tragedy that took place on the set of his western, Rust, late last year. At times known to be abrasive, Baldwin also happened to be one of the best actors of his generation, with killer comic chops to boot. In the late eighties/ early nineties, he was considered the next big star, with roles in Beetlejuice, Working Girl and, finally, as Jack Ryan in the Tom Clancy adaptation, The Hunt for Red October. Yet, despite boffo box office and stellar reviews, he would be replaced in the sequels by Harrison Ford, and subsequent attempts to make a blockbuster, such as The Shadow, would fail at the box office. Meanwhile, he would become more known for his off-screen life, such as his marriage and divorce from the iconic Kim Basinger.
Yet, just when his career seemed to be in a downward spiral, he was able to lean on the comic talents he displayed as a guest host on Saturday Night Live for an ongoing role on 30 Rock, which brought him perhaps his greatest fame. In recent years, he’s been able to juggle well-received character parts in movies like The Departed, with his long-running tenure on SNL playing Donald Trump, but alas, things took a turn on October 21st in New Mexico when a deadly accident on the set of Rust took the life of DP Halyna Hutchins. While the case is ongoing, Baldwin’s recently been back in the headlines saying Rust may still be completed, which has rubbed some fans the wrong way. Yet, there’s nothing that Hollywood loves more than a comeback, and in this episode of WTF Happened to this Celebrity, we look at Baldwin’s ups and downs up this point while assuming that, in time, he’ll be back on screens doing what he does best.
This episode of WTF Happened to this Celebrity is written (with Brad Hamerly), narrated, edited and produced by Taylor James Johnson. Watch last week’s episode below and let us know if you think Baldwin will be able to make a comeback.