From Shelley Duvall to Rick Moranis: When great actors go missing

Shelley Duvall

When this revealing interview with Rick Moranis went viral it got me thinking. He is just one of many beloved film actors who haven't exactly retired but just largely stopped working. Now, Moranis made a point to spend more time with his children after his wife died from breast cancer in 1997, an act that is both touching and inspiring.

But now that he appears eager to get back in the game, I hope Hollywood casting agents are listening. This man anchored some of the most beloved comedies of the 1980s, including Spaceballs, Parenthood and of course, the original Ghostbusters and its 1989 sequel.

He was more than just the nebbish nerd he frequently played -- if you don't believe me check out his tour de force one-take performance during the house party scene in Ghostbusters. Moranis delivers a mouthful of dialogue with such ease and nuanced personality -- it's a marvel to behold.

Recently, I've had similar recollections of Shelley Duvall. She was a standout in several of Robert Altman's great early films, including the creepy and fascinating 3 Women. In 1980, she reached the peak of her career, starring in both Altman's Popeye and Stanley Kubrick's classic The Shining.

Tom Berenger

Both films have grown in stature and critical acclaim since their mixed initial reception, but it seems as though the toll both lengthy productions had on Duvall was too much. She made a few small appearances in films after that but has since largely disappeared from the screen. She seems ripe for rediscovery.

Gene Wilder is another performer who just seemed to abruptly stop acting. Sure, I know he did a few episodes of television, but he was one of the great comic actors of the '70s -- does Hollywood have no use for him now?

Quentin Tarantino talked about actors like these when discussing his casting process for Jackie Brown.

He claims that the industry has a "list" of acceptable actors and actresses for any given role, and that it's a predictable and overused group of people. He sought out the likes of Robert Forster and Pam Grier, not only because he could but because he wanted to break the mold.

It's refreshing an exciting to see someone like Tom Berenger in Inception or Martin Short in Inherent Vice because these are talented, interesting people who you just don't get to see all that often anymore. And their presence in prestige pictures is like a nice surprise instead of an obvious cliche.

While some legends like Jack Nicholson, Gene Hackman and Sean Connery really do appear to be done with the business, there are a slew of actors who I wish would win one of those coveted "comeback roles" although none of them really went anywhere.

Imagine if Michael Keaton hadn't been cast in Birdman? He was not bankable anymore by any measure, and yet I can't think of anyone else who could have played that role. Now, Keaton is a household name again and got robbed of an Oscar earlier this year.

Lily Tomlin has already shined in the kind of role that might have normally gone to Meryl Streep in this year's Grandma. I'll be eager to see some more familiar faces this awards season that I haven't seen in a while. Here's hoping!