Don't call it a comeback ... actually I want these actors to 'come back'

The whole idea of Hollywood 'comebacks' is kind of silly. Actors usually don't fully go away unless they are people who prematurely retire like Cameron Diaz and Gene Hackman (two actors I would love to see acting again). It's usually better suited for people who have either not had a strong role in years or who have faded a bit thanks to poor choices or diminished exposure. It's satisfying as movie fans to see someone who was once great be great again -- Eddie Murphy's role in Dolemite Is My Name is a great example. Sometimes it doesn't even need to be in a 'hit' per se. Nicolas Cage was excellent in Mandy and Color Out of Space, few people saw them but he's no longer just a punchline anymore.

To me 'comeback' is as much about a return to greatness than anything else. For instance, Mark Wahlberg has been consistently working for years now, but I haven't enjoyed any of his work since probably The Departed (for which he was Oscar nominated) and he may have peaked in his late 90s role in Boogie Nights and Three Kings.

There have been a lot of remarkable returns -- Stallone in the Creed movies -- hell not just Joe Pesci, but I'd argue both Pacino and De Niro in The Irishman. With a lot of time on my hands and a lot of movies to watch, here are 10 people I wish were lighting up the big screen more:

Kathleen Turner - She was one of the most popular leading ladies of the 1980s -- a sexy, husky-voiced scene stealer in classics like Body Heat, Romancing the Stone and The War of the Roses. The stuff that derailed her career is legendary -- health issues, flops, clashes with co-stars -- but I have no doubt she is a still a terrific actress even if she is many years removed from her old image. She's certainly been active on the stage but I can't remember the last time I saw her in a movie.

Judge Reinhold - One of the most lovable actors of the 80s -- he gave some truly fantastic performances in classics like Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Ruthless People and Beverly Hills Cop. His usual look and delivery (he always sounds like he is on NyQuil) made him a distinct character and I think he'd be great in a comedic role or even in an against type dramatic one. Particularly in Fast Times, he showed an ability to play drama that's gone underutilized.

Val Kilmer - Kilmer's career is a horror show of missed opportunities. He had a brief return in 2005's Kiss Kiss Bang Bang but then he got lost in the direct-to-DVD abyss. In recent years, illness has ravaged his appearance and prevented him from acting at all. It may be impossible for Kilmer to return to his leading man heights of the 1990s, but I can't help but think, if he can get his personal life together, that he still has a great performance or two in him.

Ben Stiller - He's quietly not made a movie in three years. He's clearly aged out of the silly Frat Pack movies that made him a superstar. I've always thought he was an interesting performer and a very strong director (The Cable Guy, Tropic Thunder). He stumbled a bit with his Walter Mitty movie, but he has been curiously quiet. Although his work on the series Escape from Dannemora is stellar and suggests future greatness.

Benicio Del Toro - Speaking of that series, it was a huge reminder of what a special talent Del Toro is. He's kept busy in showy supporting roles over the years, but he hasn't had a great big screen role for him to sink his teeth into for years. I still think of is powerful Oscar winning performance in Traffic as one of the great tour de forces of the early 2000s. Why he hasn't consistently worked at that level (with the possible exception of the Sicario movies) I don't know.

Uma Thurman - It's a shame that aside from a small, but pivotal role in Lars Von Trier's controversial The House That Jack Built, I haven't seen much of Thurman since her Kill Bill heyday. I understand that those incredibly physical roles took their toll on her (she has alleged that director Quentin Tarantino frequently crossed the line with her during the making of those hit movies). I miss seeing her in the movies and think she'd bring a newfound gravitas to any role she gets.

Will Ferrell - This may sound like a weird one, Ferrell still works all the time, and frequently headlines hits, but I can't help but feel like he has been off the rails for a few years now. I used to be psyched to see anything Ferrell made, but I haven't felt that way since probably Anchorman 2. The Daddy's Home franchise doesn't appeal to me for a myriad of reasons. I thought his latest film -- Downfall with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, might have had some potential but the reviews suggest otherwise. Basically he needs his own Uncut Gems.

Kevin Kline - It's weird how Kevin Kline used to be a movie star who had his own vehicles (Dave, In & Out) and now he is a non entity in the movies. He is in his early 70s now, so he has every reason to slow down, but he was such a unique actor -- equally adept at comedy and drama -- it feels like he could and should be giving dynamic character turns in something.

Pierce Brosnan - I don't think I'm the only person who thought Brosnan was the best thing about his James Bond movies. And he has shown great wit and style in outside projects like The Ghost Writer and The Thomas Crown Affair. Now that he is older and grayer, I think he can bring a kind of weathered virility to roles, especially now that he is no longer shackled by 007.

Delroy Lindo - Lindo was a ubiquitous character actor in the 90s -- Crooklyn, Malcolm X, Get Shorty, Ransom, etc. etc. And then suddenly he seemed to disappear. Like all the other folks on this list, he's been actively working but just in a low profile sort of way, that's why I'm excited to hear that he'll be in Spike Lee's upcoming war drama Da 5 Bloods.