What the Hell Happened to Geena Davis?

Geena Davis rose to prominence in the 80’s.  She capped off the decade with an Academy Award.  She kicked off the 90’s with a starring role in the pop culture juggernaut, Thelma and Louise.  But by the end of the 90’s, her film career vanished.  What the hell happened?

Davis - archery

It’s easy to look at Geena Davis and assume that she is just another pretty face.  On screen, she frequently appears as a bit of a ditz.  But in reality, there is a lot more to Geena Davis.  For example, Davis is a member of Mensa which requires an IQ in the top 2%  She is fluent in Swedish, trained in several musical instruments and is an Olympic-level archer.

Let’s see Meg Ryan do that!

davis - modeling

Davis got her start as a model.  But she quickly caught the eye of director Sydney Pollack and soon she was working in movies.  Although she has continued to work as a spokesmodel throughout her acting career.

Davis- Tootsie

Davis auditioned for several movies including the role of Sarah Connor in The Terminator before landing her first acting job in one of the biggest comedies of the 80’s, Tootsie.

Tootsie starred Dustin Hoffman as an out-of-work actor who lands a role on a soap opera by cross-dressing.  Davis’ role was small and mostly consisted of parading around in front of Hoffman in her underwear.  The joke came from Hoffman pretending to be “one of the girls” while Davis flounced around in front of him.

Although her role was small, Tootsie was a monster hit in 1982.  The reviews were great, it was nominated for several Oscars and the box office was very strong.  It was a great way to start an acting career.

Davis - Knight Rider

Following Tootsie, Davis spend the next few years paying her dues on TV.  In 1983, she appeared in an episode of Knight Rider where she hassled the Hoff.

davis - buffalo bill

Davis also had a recurring role on the short-lived Dabney Coleman sitcom, Buffalo Bill.

Buffalo Bill ran for two shortened seasons.  Despite critical acclaim and 11 Emmy nominations, Buffalo Bill suffered from low ratings which lead to its cancellation.

davis - Fantasy Island

After Buffalo Bill was cancelled, Davis was back to TV guest spots.  In 1984, she appeared on Fantasy Island (pictured above) and Riptide.

davis family ties

In 1984, Davis appeared on two episodes of the hit sit-com Family Ties.  Davis played the world’s worst house-keeper. She reprised her role again in 1986.

davis - fletch

In 1985, Davis returned to the big screen with small roles in two movies.  The first was Fletch, also known as the last really funny movie Chevy Chase ever made.

Fletch was an action/comedy/mystery based on a series of novels by Gregory McDonald.  Davis played Larry, who was Fletch’s “girl Friday” at the paper he worked for.  It wasn’t a big role, but Fletch was a big hit and got good reviews.

Davis - Transylvania 6-5000

The same can not be said for Davis’ other movie from 1985, Transylvania 6-5000.

Transylvania 6-5000 was a horror spoof starring Jeff Goldblum and Ed Begley, Jr.  The picture above probably tells you everything you need to know about Davis’ role.  She was the sexy lady vampire.

Transylvania 6-5000 got negative reviews and was ignored at the box office.  It is really only significant in that it was Davis’ first film with future husband, Jeff Goldblum.

Davis - Remington Steele

Meanwhile, Davis was still making TV appearances.  Here she is with future James Bond, Pierce Brosnan on the TV show, Remington Steele.  Davis played a tennis pro who hires Brosnan’s detective agency and flirts with the future 007.

Davis - Sara

Davis landed her own sitcom in 1985.  On Sara, Davis played a lawyer fresh out of law school.  Unable to land a job as an attorney, she goes to work at a legal aid clinic where she works with wacky characters played by Bronson Pinchot, Alfre Woodard and Bill Maher.

Although the show was well-reviewed by critics, it got crushed in the ratings by time-slot rival, Dynasty.  NBC cancelled the show after airing 13 episodes.  They reaired the series in 1988 after Davis had become a bigger star.

Davis - Secret Weapons

Davis also co-starred opposite Sally Kellerman and Linda Hamilton in the cheesy Cold War themed TV movie, Secret Weapons.

Hamilton and Davis played young, impressionable Russian girls.  They are enlisted into a sex school by Kellerman and her husband.  After being trained as prostitutes, they are sent out to seduce visiting Americans so they can be blackmailed.

Davis - the Fly

In 1986, Davis appeared opposite Goldblum again in David Cronenberg’s remake of The Fly.

The Fly merged Cronenberg’s unique style of body horror with a mainstream horror film.  Unlike the merging of the film’s central character with a common house fly, the movie was surprisingly successful.

The 1986 version of The Fly got positive reviews and performed well at the box office.  Davis’ first starring role was an unqualified hit

davis - beetlejuice

Regular readers of “What the Hell Happened” already know what I am about to say.  1988 was a big year for Geena Davis.  She appeared in three films that year starting with Tim Burton’s ghostly comedy, Beetlejuice.

People remember Michael Keaton’s show-stealing performance as the title character in Beetlejuice.  But the lead characters were actually played by Davis and Alec Baldwin.  They played a young couple who died and were doomed to haunt their home for eternity.  When a new family moves into their home, they enlist Beetlejuice’s help to scare them off.  Eventually, they form a friendship with a goth girl played by Winona Ryder.

Davis and Baldwin ended up playing their roles straight while everyone around them was allowed to be zany.  As a result, they end up being the least memorable characters in the movie despite getting the most screen time.  Even so, starring in Beetlejuice was a boost to both of their careers.

Davis - Earth Girls are Easy

That summer, Davis starred opposite Jeff Goldblum (now her husband) in the quirky comedy, Earth Girls Are Easy.

Earth Girls is a sci-fi musical about three furry aliens who crash-land in a valley girl’s swimming pool.  Believe it or not, it is sillier than it sounds.  But if you turn off your mind and go along for the ride, it’s pretty entertaining in a fizzy, empty way.

Davis played the valley girl whose doctor fiance is cheating on her.  Goldblum played the lead alien who discovers (thanks to Davis) that earth girls are in fact pretty easy.  His alien followers are played by then-unkowns Damon Wayans and Jim Carrey who would go on to stardom on In Living Color.

Reviews for Eath Girls Are Easy were mixed to positive.  But the movie failed at the box office.  It has gathered a cult following on video and is definitely worth checking out.

MSDACTO EC028

Davis capped off the year with an Oscar win for Best Supporting Actress in Lawrence Kasdan’s drama, The Accidental Tourist.

The Accidental Tourist starred William Hurt as a travel writer whose marriage to Kathleen Turner was collapsing after the murder of their 12-year-old son.  When Turner moves out, Hurt returns to his childhood home where he meets an eccentric kennel manager played by Davis.

Davis’ Oscar win for The Accidental Tourist announced her arrival on the A-list despite never having starred in a hit movie.

Davis - Quick Change

In 1990, Davis returned to comedy opposite Bill Murray and Randy Quaid in Quick Change.

Quick Change is a heist movie co-directed by Bill Murray.  The caper that opens the film is inspired.  Murray poses as a lunatic dressed as a sad clown.  His conspirators are already in the bank posing as hostages.  Then, when the police demand that he release the hostages, he slowly releases them and himself to make their get-away.

Unfortunately, once the story leaves the bank Quick Change looses a lot of its momentum and turns into a bunch of stereotypes about New Yorkers.  Murray and Quaid are both funny and Davis makes a great straight lady, but Quick Change never recaptures the energy of the bank heist.

When original director Jonathan Demme became unavailable, writer Howard Franklin and producer Murray couldn’t agree on a replacement, so they decided to do the job themselves.  It was the first time either one of them directed a movie.  For Murray, it would also be the last.

Quick Change got mixed reviews and was ignored at the box office.

davis - thelma and louise 2

In 1991, Davis co-starred with Susan Sarandon in Ridley Scott’s road pic, Thelma and Louise.

Thelma and Louise told the story of two best friends who take off on a road trip which goes awry when Thelma (Davis) is nearly raped in a bar parking lot.  Louise saves her friend, but loses her temper and kills the would-be rapist.  The two decide to make a run for Mexico.  Despite the dark subject matter, Thelma and Louise mixed drama with action and humor.

Thelma and Louise was a difficult movie to put together.  Writer Callie Khouri started working on the project as early as 1979.  Ridley Scott hired Khouri to write and direct the movie in 1980.  Scott was only supposed to produce the film.  Studios were concerned about the prospects of a road movie with two female leads and a female director.  The project was turned down repeatedly until MGM bought the rights in 1981.  As part of the deal, Scott took over directing duties.

Originally both Scott and Khouri wanted Natalie Wood to star as Thelma and Tuesday Weld to play Louise.  But Wood drowned in 1981 and Weld dropped out of the project.  Scott moved on to other movies and several other directors were considered to take over including Brian de Palma, John Carpenter and Sidney Lumet.  At some point, just about every actress in Hollywood was attached to one of the two title roles.  Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn considered starring but ultimately decided to make Death Becomes Her Instead.  Michelle Pfeiffer and Jodie Foster were cast, but the production took too long and they both dropped out.

davis - thelma and louise

It’s easy to forget what a massive cultural impact Thelma and Louise had.  It was actually a modest hit at the box office.  But everyone was talking about it.  Some saw Thelma and Louise as feminist icons.  Many felt threatened by the image of two women armed with guns.  The movie inspired heated debate.

The reviews were strong and Thelma and Louise received a lot of nominations at the Academy Awards and Golden Globes.  Davis and Sarandon were both nominated for Best Actress, but they both lost to Jodie Foster for Silence of the Lambs.

Davis - a league of their own

In 1992, Davis appeared in two movies.  First, she starred opposite Tom Hanks, Lori Petty and Madonna in  Penny Marshall’s baseball dramady A League of Their Own.

The movie was based on the true story of a league of female baseball players that formed during World War II while the men were off fighting the war.  Davis and Lori Petty played rival sisters.  Davis was the older, more talented sister while Petty was the younger sister constantly in her shadow.  Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell and John Lovitz all had supporting roles.

Originally, Brooke Shields was attached to star in the movie.  But when a writer’s strike delayed production, Shields dropped out.  She was replaced by Debra Winger.  But Winger was unhappy with Madonna’s cameo and left the movie right before filming was supposed to start.  Davis auditioned for the role in Marshall’s back yard and was cast.  The rest of the cast had been in baseball training for months.  Davis caught up with the others after only a few weeks.

davis - league of their own 2

Madonna was miserable making the movie.  The rest of the cast took turns entertaining the unpaid extras, but the Material Girl balked at the idea.  In a handwritten note to a photographer friend, Madonna groused:

 “I cannot suffer any more than I have in the past month, learning how to play baseball with a bunch of girls (yuk) in Chicago (double yuk). I have a tan, I’m dirty all day, and I hardly ever wear make up. Penny Marshall, Lavern (sic), Geena Davis is a Barbie Doll, and when God decided where the beautiful men were going to live in the world, he did not choose Chicago. I have made a few friends but they are athletes, not actresses. They have nothing on the house of extravaganza. I wish I could come to N.Y.”

A League of Their Own is best known for Tom Hanks’ “No crying in baseball” scene.  At the time, Hanks was in something of a career slump.  His supporting turn in A League of Their Own is part of what turned his career around.  But Davis was the star of the film.  And it’s success cemented her role as a viable leading lady.  With League, Davis had finally opened a hit movie on her own.  She was also nominated for another Golden Globe.

davis - hero

Later that year, Davis appeared in Stephen Frears’ media satire, Hero, opposite Andy Garcia and her Tootsie co-star, Dustin Hoffman.

Davis played a reporter who was injured in a plane crash.  She and the rest of the survivors are rescued by a petty criminal played by Hoffman.  But through a series of errors, Davis’ reporter credits Garcia’s war vet with the rescue.  Comedy ensues.

Davis’ Fletch co-star, Chevy Chase, was cast in a supporting role.  But since he was under contract with Warner Brothers, he was not allowed to be credited.

Hero got mixed to positive reviews and made a small profit at the box office.  But given the star power involved, it was largely viewed as a disappointment.

davis - angie

1994 was a rough year for Davis’ career.  She released two films beginning with AngieAngie was a comedy-drama based on the novel Angie, I Says about a pregnant woman who decides to raise her baby on her own.

It bombed at the box office.

keaton - speechless

Later that year, Davis appeared opposite Michael Keaton in the political romantic comedy, Speechless.  Keaton and Davis played rival speech writers working on opposite sides of a campaign.

The film, directed by Ron Underwood, got negative reviews and tanked at the box office giving Davis two bombs in one year.

davis - cutthroat island

In 1995, Davis appeared in Cutthroat Island, one of the most notorious bombs of all times.

Cutthroat Island was a 100-million dollar gamble on the pirate movie genre which prior to Pirates of the Caribbean had a spotty track record.  The film, directed by Davis’ new husband, Renny Harlin, had difficulty attracting a male lead.

Originally, Michael Douglas was set to star in Cutthroat Island.  But he left the picture claiming that Harlin was beefing up Davis’ role at the expense of his.  After Douglas’ departure, the role was offered to just about every actor in Hollywood including Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, Keanu Reeves, Tom Cruise, Daniel Day-Lewis, Jeff Bridges, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Keaton, Charlie Sheen, Liam Neeson, and Tim Robbins.

No one wanted to play second fiddle to Davis in a pirate movie.  No one, that is, save for Matthew Modine.  Matthew Modine was the guy you called when absolutely every other actor in Hollywood said, “no”.  And he was about to star in a big budget pirate movie.

Cutthroat Island got horrible reviews.  It was such an epic disaster that it contributed to Carlco Pictures filing for bankruptcy.  It was a career embarrassment for all involved – even Matthew Modine.

davis - long kiss goodnight

Many claim that Cutthroat Island ruined Davis’ career.  While it certainly damaged Davis’ credibility as a leading lady, it couldn’t have ended it.  Because the very next year, Davis starred in The Long Kiss Goodnight.

Like Cutthroat Island, The Long Kiss Goodnight was also directed by Davis’ husband, Renny Harlin.  Davis played a seemingly normal housewife who was actually an amnesic super spy.  Essentially a female Jason Bourne before that franchise even started.

The film, which co-starred Samuel L. Jackson, got decent reviews and was a modest hit at the box office.  There has even been talk of a sequel.

davis - stuart little

Following The Long Kiss Goodnight, Davis and Harlin divorced.  Her next film wasn’t until Stuart Little three years later.

In Stuart Little, Davis starred opposite a pre-House Hugh Laurie, a post-Jerry Maguire Jonathan Lipnicki and a CGI mouse voiced by Michael J. Fox.

The family film  about a mouse who gets adopted got good reviews and was a surprise hit at the box office.

davis - geena davis show

In 2000, Davis retreated back to television with the ABC sitcom, The Geena Davis Show.

It was not a hit and was cancelled after one season.

davis - stuart little 2

In 2002, Davis returned for Stuart Little 2.  Despite solid reviews, the sequel didn’t do as well as the first film.

Davis would reprise her role again for the animated direct-to-video sequel, Stuart Little 3: Call of the Wild in 2006.

Davis didn’t appear in another movie until 2009’s Accidents Happen.  She returned to TV again in 2005 for Commander in Chief for which she won a Golden Globe.  Despite good reviews and decent ratings, Commander in Chief was cancelled after one season.

In 2012, Davis starred in the TV mini-series, Coma, produced by her Thelma and Louise director, Ridley Scott and his late brother, Tony Scott.  But these days she seems to be focusing her attention on raising her children and pursuing her activist causes.

So what the hell happened? 

Well, despite the Oscar and being in a lot of successful movies, Davis was never really a proven box office draw on her own.  When she finally had to carry a movie completely on her own, it was one of the biggest turkeys in box office history.

Cutthroat Island didn’t sink Davis’ career.  But it certainly hurt.  In the wake of Cutthroat Island, Davis seems to have moved on to other things.  She continues to work when it suits her.

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zachbissett
11 years ago

“Earth Girls Are Easy” is one of the most ridiculous movies maybe I’ve ever seen

zachbissett
11 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

Yes, I’m not a huge fan but it’s definitely got a rhythm, style and even color palette all its own, which is nice.
I watched a lot of Olympic archery this summer and they mentioned her, I’d totally forgotten about that.

seandaniel1966
11 years ago

In 1988, I had a huge crush on both Davis and Ryder after seeing Beetlejuice. I saw Cutthroat Island in the theater, and it really isn’t that bad.

Danielle Charney
Danielle Charney
11 years ago
Reply to  seandaniel1966

I agree- Cutthroat Island wasn’t that bad

Danielle Charney
Danielle Charney
11 years ago

It takes brains to play ditz well- I have always liked her – she got out while the getting was good to do things she cared more about- good for her-

seandaniel1966
11 years ago

I have to agree with Danielle…I had no idea she was a Mensa member like Dolph Lundgren….maybe we should give the girl a pass

Joe K.
Joe K.
11 years ago

Hmmm….I seem to remember another Gina Davis from college. Now, where did I know her from?

Jake
Jake
11 years ago

Geena was at her hottest in “The Fly”-classic movie. I thought “Transylvania 6-5000” was entertaining, even if it did have the racist that is Michael Richards in its cast

seandaniel1966
11 years ago

what did you mean about Sean Young?

seandaniel1966
11 years ago

I looked. What a nutbar. Well, we knew that. Now, more importantly – what did you mean about The Fly?

seandaniel1966
11 years ago

I can’t really recall anything other than that chamber…with Goldblum getting in. Anyhow, good article on Geena. I only write about things I have a certain fondness for, as well. And I certainly liked Geena – and just about everybody else you’ve covered. You know…Jim Carrey’s last 3 films looked very much like straight-to-DVD releases….maybe he’s ready for WTHH.

seandaniel1966
11 years ago

Those are good, anybody from Ghostbusters, really. Even Annie Potts. (I don’t know if she’s an A-lister, but she’s so cute)
Saw Dan Akroyd the other night in 50 First Dates and have been wondering about him and his nutty vision to do GB 3 without Bill Murray. As for Chevy Chase, he’s the epitome of a guy past his sell-by. I never thought he was funny…except for the first Vacation movie.

Rolland
Rolland
11 years ago

Matthew Modine definitely didn’t survive the Cutthroat Island debacle. Oh Well, at least he has the lead in a Kubrick movie under his belt.

seandaniel1966
11 years ago

But why didn’t he have that star power? Vision Quest, Memphis Belle and Full Metal Jacket weren’t enough? Five years after Memphis, he’s the go-to guy when everybody else says no? I don’t get it. He can act, and he’s good looking. WTF?

Terrence Michael Clay
10 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

4 Actors Rescued From Obscurity By Christopher Nolan: http://whatculture.com/film/4-actors-rescued-from-obscurity-by-christopher-nolan.php/5 1. Matthew Modine – The Dark Knight Rises (2012) Christopher Nolan may have a penchant for Vietnam War films, as following Berenger’s casting in Inception, the Dark Knight Rises was bolstered by the addition of Matthew Modine, best known for his role as Pvt. Joker in Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket, a casting decision that inevitably led to a number of ‘Joker in Dark Knight Rises’ headlines across the web and print media. Prior to Full Metal Jacket, Modine’s films included Streamers and Vision Quest, but despite appearing in a string… Read more »

seandaniel1966
11 years ago

LOL..I’ll buy that. But that means Val Kilmer has ‘it’? And Mel Gibson? And Adam Sandler? (or had ‘it’, as the case may be)
As for Cruise, I personally think he’s very lucky to have MI to fall back on. Check out what he got paid for Knight and Day.

tbob1
11 years ago

Two things stand out in this article more than Geena Davis: One. I rather like Matthew Modine and have enjoyed most of the stuff he’s done. Vision Quest is one of my fondest 80’s teen angst flicks. Maybe not as slick as Risky Business but a solid film none the less. His best and meatiest role was probably “And the Band Played On” about the early days of the AIDS crisis. Two. I’m forever being surprised at the films Ridley Scott has been involved in. I had never heard of him until Black Hawk Down. Once I became familiar with… Read more »

tbob1
11 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

Oops…forgot to mention Memphis Belle in the Modine ‘plus’ category. Really liked that movie.

cinemarchaeologist
11 years ago
Reply to  lebeau

Renny Harlin wasn’t a has-been by the time of CUTTHROAT ISLAND, though–he was a never-was. He is a man bereft of talent, and his films had always been awful. Davis didn’t go into direct-to-video-ness with that movie, but she did go into it quality-wise (THE LONG KISS GOOD NIGHT was just as bad).

seandaniel1966
11 years ago

Isn’t it odd that Mel Gibson’s name at the top used to mean big bucks…and now it’s the exact opposite?
I propose that we do a prisoner exchange with Australia. Mel Gibson for Eric Bana. (Bana is a really nice guy – check out Love the Beast)

anonymous
anonymous
11 years ago

geena davis is a talented actress. end of story. if she did a sequel to beetlejuice and long kiss goodnight i would go see it. matthew modine, i used to like him in married to the mob, pacific heights and cutthroat island but he got to be a real idiot thinking he could talk to bin laden and ask why is he angry at us before bin laden got killed. that’s why he hasn’t done a good movie in 20 or 30 years. there are many reasons for why i boycott these hollywood losers like modine, etc. i won’t waste… Read more »

Shemp
10 years ago
Reply to  anonymous

Hey, as much as John Wayne’s “politics” disgusted me, if I was channel-surfing and I caught “The Cowboys” or “True Grit,” I stop what I’m doing and WATCH. And for all Wayne’s patriotic bluster, HE NEVER SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES. Meanwhile, MIKE FARRELL, king of the Liberals, was A MARINE. Bea Arthur? A MARINE. Alan Alda? Was in the Army.
One of Hollywood’s super-Republicans? The “gentleman” known as Bruce Willis, one of the biggest jerks on two feet. (You can have him.)

seandaniel1966
11 years ago

hey le bleau guy…watching Avengers right now. What is it about Scarlet? She’s not actually that hot. Has she got ‘it’?

seandaniel1966
11 years ago

Yeah, the pool is dwindling. I have a theory that comedians make really fine actors. Like Steve Carell. I was reminded of this theory by your Geena post. Not Geena, but what’s her name? The mom in Beetlejuice? She came up in the world with Candy and Moranis, right?

seandaniel1966
11 years ago

She never made A-list? Everybody from Beetlejuice did, yeah? How is your site doing? Don’t bother with advertising…unless you got a gabillzion readers. I made $2.50 last month (wahoo) but my book sales were pushed up…got 43 bucks put into my bank account from Amazon. Probably going to quit Adsense. Thought you should know.

seandaniel1966
11 years ago

Very interesting. Jeff Jones…sigh. The jokes about him and his love for little boys. Just….sigh. What a waste.
Well. jeez, how many hits you got? I only get ’bout 17,000 a month….probably why Volvo ain’t callin’ me back.
Sad to say, I really wanted that. I got a young daughter and have had every Volvo made….love the fact that they made the first ‘real’ seat belt….and I’ve enjoyed writing about them.
Going to bed. Thanks for responding.

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