Over years, many famous feuds have developed in Hollywood. Here are 8 instances where star actors from Hollywood lost their cool and started fights on film set.
There are plenty cases of actors indulging in arguments with co-workers during filming. And then there are instances when famous actors lost their cool on film sets and made their name into the Hollywood Book of Actors gone BERZERK!
Recently, the pressure of delivering a blockbuster got better of Tom Cruise. The Top Gun star lost his cool on the set of his next Mission Impossible franchise film during its London schedule. Cruise tore into his co-workers who were spotted breaking social distancing rules on the set of the film. The roughly three-and-half minute audio rant went viral. While it did expose Cruise’s helplessness in creating a semblance in the post pandemic world and trying to be the “savior of cinema”, it wasn’t the first such instance of a famous actor unleashing his wrath on co-workers at a film set. In fact, many of this cases of fury were targeted at co-workers who themselves are famous thespians, even legendary in some cases.
Some deserved it and some didn’t. Actors have exploded in angry outbursts. Rants that have made it into the pop culture. Fists have flown and food has been thrown. Righteous or vindictive, many famous Hollywood stars are known to lose their cool when things don’t go their way on film sets.
Here’s a list of 8 Hollywood Actors who lost their cool and started famous fights on film set.
1/8
Christian Bale vs Shane Hurlbut
- Year: 2009
- Film: Terminator Salvation
Veteran Hollywood actor Christian Bale lost his cool on the set of the film Terminator Salvation. The person at the receiving end was Shane Hurlbut, director of photography of the film. Bale’s rant came to light when an audio tape of his rant leaked in 2009. Shane had to bear the brunt of Bale’s after he had walked out of the film mid-way. Bale’s rant was laden with expletives and showed an entirely different facet of the method actor. Bale later apologized for his unruly behavior and crass comments.
Watch: Bale apologizes for his rant on the set of Terminator Salvation
2/8
George Clooney vs David O Russell
- Year: 1999
- Film: Three Kings
The set of Three Kings witnessed an actual brawl and hand-to-hand combat behind the scene. The dramatis personae involved were director David O Russell and George Clooney. It was also the phase when fresh from the success of ER, Clooney was being discovered by Hollywood. It is believed that Russell was never in favor of Clooney being part of the film. It was only after the role was rejected by Jack Nicholson and Dustin Hoffman that the studio had no option but offer the role to Clooney. When Russell’s frustration got better of him during the outdoor shooting of the film, he would direct his outburst on his fellow co-workers. When Russell’s behavior went too far, Clooney took it upon himself to be the savior of the unit members. This eventually led to a physical fisticuff. Post Three Kings, Russell made some brilliant flicks like The Fighter, Silver Lining Playbook and American Hustle but Clooney featured in none.
Watch: David O Russell opens up about the George Clooney controversy
3/8
Joaquin Phoenix vs A Crew Member
- Year: 2019
- Film: Joker
Joaquin Phoenix lost his cool on the set of the film that fetched him the best actor Academy Award – Joker. It all started after a crew member had called him ‘Cher’. It was a dig at Phoenix for his ‘diva’ like behavior on the sets of the film. The corresponding audio rant somehow got leaked and world heard it for the first time on Jimmy Kimmel’s show. Thankfully the anger was only verbal and it never translated into an actual fight.
Watch: Joaquin Phoenix’s outtake (fast forward to 8:28)
4/8
Lucy Liu vs Bill Murray
- Year: 2000
- Film: Charlie’s Angels
It’s strange that one of the most genial actors of Hollywood Bill Murray has his name in the list but thanks to his accusation on fellow co-actor Lucy Liu, he could make the impossible possible. While shooting for Charlie’s Angels, Bill Murray accused Lucy of being a non-actor. Hearing this Lucy Liu started throwing punches and had a physical altercation with the Lost in Translation star. The entire fracas became so serious that they had to be physically separated from each other.
Watch: No. 5, fast forward to 5:09
5/8
Tom Sizemore vs Val Kilmer
- Year: 2000
- Film: Red Planet
The scuffle between Val Kilmer and Tom Sizemore took place during the filming of Red Planet. The feud which eventually shaped up into a physical fight happened when Tom demanded to the makers that his elliptical machine for the sci-fi film should be shipped to the shooting location in Australia. The Top Gun star protested that how could Sizemore be given a preferential treatment. Things later got aggravated and it all ended up in Sizemore punching Kilmer in the chest.
6/8
Shia LaBeouf vs Tom Hardy
- Year: 2012
- Film: Lawless
The production of Depression-era action film Lawless was marred with troubles from the beginning and this time the two actors involved in the scuffle were Shia LaBeouf and Tom Hardy. This was also the phase when Shia LaBeouf was known for his hotheadedness. A minor difference lead LaBeouf punching the Venom and Mad Max star. Though it is bit hard to imagine a tough built actor like Hardy getting punched from LaBeouf but truth is he actually became unconscious on the set for a while.
Watch: Tom Hardy knocked out by Shia LaBeouf – Here’s the Truth
7/8
Debra Winger vs Shirley MacLaine
- Year: 1983
- Film: Terms of Endearment
This list does not feature only male actors; female actors too have had their share of infamy. Debra Winger and Shirley MacLaine did not see eye to eye in real life and in Terms of Endearment they portrayed mother and daughter. Though there is no record of them getting into a physical fight on the set of the Oscar winning film but those of the set did witness scuffle between the two stars.
Watch: Terms of Endearment Trailer
8/8
Richard Gere vs Sylvester Stallone
- Year: 1974
- Film: Lords of Flatbush
The feud between action star Sylvester Stallone and rom-com thespian Richard Gere dates back to the phase when they were unknown stars. It all happened on the set of Lords of Flatbush when Rocky and Rambo star Stallone requested Gere of Pretty Woman fame to be more cheerful on the set. Gere took it otherwise and in a fit of anger threw his lunch onto Stallone’s pants. What ensued next was a physical fight. Later Gere was fired by the makers of the film for his unruly behavior.
