Hollywood’s dazzling facade often hides a fascinating truth: behind every hit movie, some stars just couldn’t stand each other. We’re not talking minor spats; we mean full-blown feuds, icy silences, and flat-out refusals to share the screen. Turns out, even in the dream factory, a bad coworker can make a tough job tougher. And honestly, these stories are pure gold!
Comedian Bill Maher once noted how great things get done in Hollywood despite people “hating each other’s f****** guts.” Sometimes, though, that hatred boils over, forcing producers into elaborate logistical puzzles. From the Golden Age’s biggest personalities to modern-day A-listers, we’re diving into the legendary actors who refused to coexist on set. Get ready to discover how some truly iconic films battled intense personal animosity behind the scenes.
1. **Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando**Imagine directing two titans: Frank Sinatra, old-school show business king, and Marlon Brando, a rebel despising Hollywood commerce. This was Joseph Mankiewicz’s task on 1955’s “Guys and Dolls.” Their animosity was palpable, a clash of two distinct eras, simmering long before filming.
The feud, particularly from Sinatra, predated the shoot. Brando tried working with Sinatra in rehearsals, especially on musical numbers where Sinatra excelled. But Sinatra refused, alienating Brando and dividing the set. Mankiewicz, reportedly siding with Brando, faced challenges: Sinatra refused to perform; Brando resorted to childish pranks.
The situation deteriorated until “the two leads wouldn’t directly interact on the set,” communicating only “by intermediaries.” Despite this tension, “Guys and Dolls” became “a critical and commercial hit.” Yet, “neither Sinatra nor Brando would recall it, or the filming experience, fondly in their later years.” Artistic success doesn’t always translate to on-set harmony.
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2. **Peter Sellers and Orson Welles**”Casino Royale” (1967) was a wild, expensive spoof, gaining a cult following. But for Peter Sellers, a star, the experience was far from enjoyable. Sellers, a comedic genius yet notoriously difficult, brought chaos to an already tumultuous production.
Sellers demanded Orson Welles be cast as Le Chiffre. This sparked fierce rivalry. Sellers grew deeply “paranoid and jealous of Welles,” who was well-liked by the crew and received “fawning attention from visiting dignitaries.” “Sellers and Welles did at least a few shots together.” Yet, Sellers “insisted that the rest of their scene be covered so that neither had to be on set at the same time.”
Sellers’ erratic behavior wasn’t limited to Welles; he “reportedly [struck] a director” before “quitting the picture before all his scenes were shot.” This exit necessitated a “convoluted rewrite involving multiple James Bond stand-ins.” It’s a testament to the crew’s resilience that the film was completed amidst such intense turmoil.
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3. **John Wayne and Clint Eastwood**Two Western legends, John Wayne and Clint Eastwood, never worked together. The Duke, fiercely protective of the traditional Western, “never warmed up to the newcomer.” While he “encouraged Eastwood” early on, their paths soon diverged.
Eastwood’s rise, and his direction of films that “subverted and challenged that traditional image” – with white hats and black hats – deeply displeased Wayne. This ideological clash created a chasm. In the 1970s, Eastwood asked Wayne to join “The Hostiles.” Wayne’s response detailed “his opposition to the image of the American West Eastwood had shown in his directing vehicle ‘High Plains Drifter.'”
Eastwood tried “three times to entice Wayne,” but the Duke remained firm. Eastwood ultimately “chalked up the divide between them to generational and attitudinal differences.” This clash of titans ensured audiences never saw them ride side-by-side, a refusal stemming from fundamental disagreements about the genre they defined.
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4. **John Wayne and Charlton Heston**John Wayne had “burnt bridges.” He refused Clint Eastwood, and Charlton Heston “would not appear in a film with the Western star.” This was Wayne’s “long-cherished passion project”: a major motion picture about the Alamo.
By 1960, Wayne was an icon, Heston a rising star. Wayne, forced to star as Davy Crockett, hoped to cast Heston as Jim Bowie. But a political divide created a barrier. Heston was an “avowed Democrat,” Wayne notoriously “right-wing.”
This chasm proved too wide. Heston “therefore passed on the project,” publicly stating “Wayne being the director was a big part of his decision.” The refusal was personal and political. Although both later appeared “in separate scenes” in “The Greatest Story Ever Told,” they never truly collaborated. Years later, Heston became a “right-wing Republican” and expressed “regret at having turned Wayne and ‘The Alamo’ down.”
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5. **Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake**Love scenes are tough for actors, demanding fake romance. Imagine that with a co-star you genuinely can’t stand. Such was the case with Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake in 1941’s “Sullivan’s Travels.” Despite animosity, the film charmed audiences and solidified director Preston Sturges’ reputation.
McCrea was grateful to Sturges for his part. Sturges championed Lake over studio objections. Her “difficult” reputation proved accurate; she was “not knowing her lines” and “hiding her six-month pregnancy,” causing overruns and exasperating both director and McCrea by filming’s end.
McCrea’s alleged declaration, per Vanity Fair, was stark: “life’s too short for two films with Veronica Lake.” He firmly adhered to this. A year later, offered “I Married a Witch,” he “drop[ped] out when he realized he’d have to work with Lake again.” While successful for Lake, its production was also “troubled and delayed,” suggesting McCrea’s assessment was accurate.
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6. **Charles Laughton and Laurence Olivier**Gathering two of the finest English actors, Laurence Olivier and Charles Laughton, for “Spartacus” promised on-screen fireworks. Off-screen, it ignited intense mutual loathing. Fellow actor Peter Ustinov claimed they were reduced to “snarling animals” in their hatred.
Star/producer Kirk Douglas tirelessly pursued them. Laughton’s complaints persisted. Ustinov told The Strand Magazine Laughton “was always hanging around to be offended,” and Douglas recalled Laughton threatening to sue. Olivier simply “didn’t like Laughton,” saying, “The only actor I ever knew who was a genius was Charles Laughton. Maybe that’s why he was so difficult.”
The “snarling and snapping” escalated. Ustinov allegedly became “mediator between the two men, as they wouldn’t directly work together.” Ustinov didn’t deny this, stating “There was really nothing to do [about their hostility],” adding, “I wasn’t foolish enough to suggest that they should think again.” Artistic genius, it seems, doesn’t always guarantee cooperation.
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7. **Bette Davis and Joan Crawford**If any rivalry defines Old Hollywood feuds, it’s Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. Their animosity was so iconic, it became the subject of an entire FX series! These two screen queens harbored ill will since the 1930s. The initial spark? Franchot Tone. Davis was smitten, but Crawford married him soon after.
The rivalry intensified, with Davis famously quipping Crawford “slept with every male star at MGM except Lassie.” This set the stage for their collaboration: “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” This psychological thriller about two aging, antagonistic sisters proved perfect for their real-life hatred, fueling on-screen performances with venom.
The feud peaked during awards season when only Davis was Oscar-nominated. Crawford campaigned against Davis. In revenge, she “stole the limelight … when she accepted the Oscar on behalf of eventual winner Anne Bancroft.” At an after-party, Davis prepared Scotch for Crawford, declaring, “I don’t care what she drinks. This is going into her [expletive] face.” This anecdote captures a truly legendary feud.
Alright, so we’ve already taken a wild ride through some of Old Hollywood’s most explosive on-set feuds, proving that even the biggest stars sometimes can’t stand each other. But guess what? The drama didn’t end with the Golden Age! Hollywood, and even the small screen, continues to be a hotbed for personality clashes that make for truly captivating stories. Let’s dive into more of those infamous co-star beefs that left producers scratching their heads and audiences none the wiser, until now, of course!
Read more about: 12 Major Actors Who Flat-Out Refused to Work Together in Hollywood
8. **Bette Davis and Errol Flynn**It seems Bette Davis had a knack for dramatic relationships, both on-screen and off. While her feud with Joan Crawford is legendary, her disdain for Errol Flynn also made for some seriously tense film sets. They paired up twice under contract at Warner Bros. in the 1930s, for “The Sisters” and “The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Es,” and let’s just say it wasn’t a love fest.
Davis, ever the perfectionist, reportedly found Flynn to be undisciplined and lacking in acting talent, which clearly didn’t sit well with her. On the flip side, Flynn wasn’t exactly thrilled with Davis’s controlling and bossy demeanor. Their working relationship on “Elizabeth and Es” was particularly fraught, escalating to physical altercations where Davis allegedly smacked Flynn with her ring-laden hand, and Flynn, in turn, hit her on the rear. Talk about taking method acting to a whole new level!
This animosity had lasting effects. When David O. Selznick proposed borrowing both Davis and Flynn for the iconic leads in “Gone with the Wind,” Davis famously turned down the offer. Her reason? Besides not wanting to endure another production with Flynn, she genuinely didn’t believe he had the chops to play Rhett Butler. It’s wild to think what could have been if these two had managed to put their differences aside!
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9. **Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones**Imagine the set of “Batman Forever” in 1995: Jim Carrey, a master of slapstick and comedy, was at the absolute peak of his career as The Riddler. His co-star, the gruff and intense Tommy Lee Jones, playing Two-Face, was decidedly *not* a fan of Carrey’s energetic style. Director Joel Schumacher didn’t mince words, telling Entertainment Weekly that Jones was “threatened by him.”
The tension truly hit a crescendo when Carrey and Jones had an unexpected run-in at a restaurant the night before filming a major scene together. Carrey, being Carrey, went over to say hello, expecting a friendly exchange. What he got instead was unforgettable. Jones reportedly “got up, kind of shaking, and hugged me and said, ‘I hate you. I really don’t like you.'”
Carrey was understandably taken aback, asking what was going on. Jones’s epic response perfectly encapsulated his disdain: “‘I cannot sanction your buffoonery.'” Honestly, that’s a line we’re all stealing for our next awkward social encounter. Their on-screen chemistry might have been villainous, but their off-screen dynamic was pure, unadulterated anti-chemistry!
Read more about: 12 Major Actors Who Flat-Out Refused to Work Together in Hollywood
10. **Julia Roberts and Nick Nolte**Sometimes, even two immensely talented actors can just… not click. That was famously the case with Julia Roberts and Nick Nolte, who starred together in the 1994 romantic comedy “I Love Trouble.” Despite their considerable individual star power, their lack of personal chemistry bled onto the screen, and it was reportedly quite the ordeal behind the scenes.
Their constant squabbling apparently got so out of hand that director Charles Shyer had to resort to some serious logistical wizardry, filming their scenes separately whenever possible. This was a desperate move to minimize their direct interaction, giving you a hint of just how bad things really were. It’s hard to make a rom-com when your leads can barely stand to be in the same room!
Roberts didn’t hold back her feelings, telling the New York Times that Nolte was “completely disgusting,” adding that “he seems go out of his way to repel people.” Nolte, never one to back down, fired right back, stating, “It’s not nice to call someone ‘disgusting.’ But she’s not a nice person. Everyone knows that.” The beef was still simmering years later when Roberts gave a profanity-laden impression of a former co-star – widely believed to be Nolte – on “The Late Show.” Talk about a grudge!
Read more about: 12 Major Actors Who Flat-Out Refused to Work Together in Hollywood
11. **James Franco and Tyrese Gibson**Method acting can be a powerful tool, but sometimes, actors take it a little too far, much to the dismay of their co-stars. That’s exactly what happened on the set of the 2006 military drama “Annapolis.” The film, directed by Justin Lin, heavily featured a boxing tournament, and star James Franco’s commitment to his role reportedly led to some genuine bad blood with Tyrese Gibson.
Gibson recounted that Franco would actually land his punches during their boxing scene rehearsals. “The dude was full-on hitting me,” Gibson told Elle, expressing his frustration: “I was always like, ‘James, lighten up, man. We’re just practicing.’ He never lightened up.” While Franco later admitted to GQ that he was “probably a jerk” at the time, that wasn’t enough to smooth things over.
The damage was done. Gibson made his feelings crystal clear in a 2007 Playboy interview, declaring, “I never want to work with him again, and I’m sure he feels the same way. It felt very personal. It was [messed] up.” It’s a vivid reminder that when you’re throwing real punches, even if it’s for art, it can lead to a knockout blow for future collaborations.
Read more about: 12 Major Actors Who Flat-Out Refused to Work Together in Hollywood
12. **Will Smith and Janet Hubert**If you’re a true “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” devotee, you’ve probably noticed that Aunt Vivian looked a little different halfway through the series’ run. Janet Hubert, the original Aunt Viv, was famously replaced by Daphne Reid in 1993, and the story behind it is as dramatic as any sitcom plotline. It turns out, there was a major feud brewing on set.
According to Hubert and show insiders, the younger cast members, particularly Will Smith and Alfonso Ribeiro, were “needlessly cruel” to her. Hubert claimed they did “some heinous, horrible things to me — they were like bad kids.” Smith, for his part, countered these allegations in a 1993 interview, suggesting Hubert had a difficult attitude and declaring, “No matter what, to her I’m just the Antichrist.”
The animosity continued to simmer for years, culminating in a fiery statement from Hubert in 2011. She told TMZ that “there will never be a reunion … as I will never do anything with an a*****e like Will Smith,” adding, “He is still an egomaniac and has not grown up.” It’s a stark reminder that even beloved family sitcoms can hide some serious behind-the-scenes drama.
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13. **Shannen Doherty and Everyone**Shannen Doherty, a true icon of ’90s teen dramas, has a history that’s almost as dramatic as her characters’ storylines. Known for her fiery personality, she reportedly nearly came to blows with “Beverly Hills, 90210” co-star Jennie Garth. Fellow castmate Tori Spelling even revealed that she got her father, producer Aaron Spelling, to fire Doherty from the show – yikes!
The drama didn’t stop there. Four years later, Doherty found herself in another major on-set clash with Alyssa Milano during the production of another Aaron Spelling hit, “Charmed.” Milano described the situation as “very much sort of like high school,” acknowledging that there were “definitely some rough days.” An insider even confirmed to TV Guide that it became a situation where “either Doherty or Milano had to go.”
For a while, it seemed like time had healed some wounds when Milano reached out after Doherty’s breast cancer diagnosis in 2016. However, the feud resurfaced in 2023, with Milano and Doherty publicly disagreeing over the circumstances of Doherty’s departure from “Charmed” at Orlando MegaCon. Their co-star Holly Marie Combs even sided with Doherty! After Doherty’s death in July 2024, Milano released a poignant statement acknowledging their “complicated relationship” but deep respect, proving that even the most intense feuds can have a complex legacy.
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14. **Richard Gere and Sylvester Stallone**Believe it or not, a long-standing, somewhat bizarre feud has been simmering between heartthrob Richard Gere and action legend Sylvester Stallone for years. The origin story, finally revealed by Stallone in a 2006 Q&A, dates back to the 1974 coming-of-age drama “The Lords of Flatbush,” where Gere was originally cast as the lead character, Chico.
Unfortunately, the on-set vibe between Gere and Stallone was anything but harmonious; they reportedly clashed immediately. Stallone painted a picture of Gere as a real “jerk,” detailing how he allegedly got too rough during fight rehearsals and even spilled greasy chicken all over Stallone’s pants! The tension reached a point where, according to Stallone, the director had to make a choice: “one of us had to go, one of us had to stay.”
Ultimately, Gere was given “his walking papers” and replaced by Perry King. Stallone claims that to this day, Gere “seriously dislikes me.” He even believes that Gere suspects him of being “the individual responsible for the gerbil rumor.” While Stallone denies that particular rumor, it shows just how deep the animosity ran, preventing these two from ever sharing the screen again.
Read more about: 12 Major Actors Who Flat-Out Refused to Work Together in Hollywood
From the glamorous Old Hollywood sets to the bustling modern-day soundstages, it’s clear that even the most talented actors can find themselves embroiled in a battle of personalities. These stories aren’t just juicy gossip; they’re fascinating glimpses into the complex human dynamics that often play out behind the magic of filmmaking. Whether it’s clashing egos, creative differences, or just a plain old personality conflict, these legendary feuds remind us that even in the dream factory, sometimes, stars just can’t share the same orbit. And honestly, isn’t that just a little bit endlessly entertaining?
