Fame doesn’t stop a booking desk. These mugshots caught some familiar faces in unfamiliar light and the moments between a bad night and the morning after. The roles were big and the headlines were bigger when the quick click of a camera that no one planned for was fired.
This gallery shows the actors whose names owned the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. Some of these arrests faded into footnotes, but others changed their entire careers. All of them left a frame that still says more than a press release ever could.
1. Sam Shepard
He was arrested in 2009 in Illinois for driving under the influence. In 2015, he was also arrested in New Mexico on similar driving charges. Both cases brought short legal penalties and fines.
2. O.J. Simpson
O.J. was arrested in 1994 in connection with the deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, and he was later acquitted in criminal court. In 2007, he was arrested in Las Vegas for a hotel room confrontation involving sports memorabilia. He was convicted on robbery-related counts and served prison time.
3. Paul Reubens aka Pee-Wee Herman
He was arrested in 1991 in Sarasota, Florida, in an indecency case at an adult theater. In 202, he faced a separate case involving prohibited material. He entered a plea deal to a lesser charge and received probation. Both incidents led to work slowdowns and an image repair.
4. Keanu Reeves
Keanu was arrested in 1993 in Los Angeles for driving under the influence. He cooperated with the officers, and the case moved quickly through the court. The incident had a limited to non-long-term impact on his career.
5. Tim Allen
He was arrested in 1978 on a major controlled-substance case and later cooperated with the authorities. In 1997, he was also arrested in Michigan for driving under the influence. He served time in the first case and received penalties in the second.
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6. Kiefer Sutherland
Kiefer was arrested for driving under the influence in 2004. In 2007, he was arrested again in L.A while on probation. He served some jail time and completed the required programs.
7. Aidan Quinn
He was arrested in 1991 for driving under the influence in Maryland. He received fines and a license suspension. The case stayed mostly local to the court records and news briefs.
8. Christian Slater
In 1994. Christian was arrested in New York after an altercation and a possession-related count. In 1997, he was arrested in Los Angeles for assault and a related possession count while on a flight. He served jail time and completed his treatment and probation.
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9. Edward Furlong
Furlong faced multiple arrests in the 2000s, mostly tied to disturbances and probation violations. Several incidents involve court orders and some brief jail bookings. He cycled through the fines, probations, and mandated programs.
10. Charlie Sheen
He was arrested in 2009 in Aspen after a domestic incident. He later faced separate legal issues tied to restraining orders and probation terms. The cases produced short jail sentences, suspended time, and counseling requirements.
11. Mickey Rourke
In 1994, Mickey was arrested in Miami after a domestic dispute. In 2007, he was arrested again in Miami Beach for driving under the influence. He received fines, probation, and counseling orders.
12. Robert Downey Jr.
Between 1996 and 2001, Robert was arrested several times on substance and probation-related offenses. The cases included possession-related counts, missed tests, and failures to appear. He served jail and rehab before taking a major comeback.
13. Matthew McConaughey
He was arrested in 1999 in Austin after a noise complaint escalated. Charges were adjusted, and the most serious counts were dropped. He paid the fines and moved on with limited impact.
14. Nick Nolte
Nick was arrested in 2002 in Malibu for driving under the influence, leading to the well-known booking photo. He entered a plea deal to a lesser count and received probation and treatment. The case became a tabloid staple.
15. Steve McQueen
He was arrested in 1972 in Anchorage for driving under the influence. He posted bail and later paid a fine. The incident became a minor footnote to his 1970s fame.
16. Josh Brolin
Josh was arrested in 1997 for public intoxication in North Carolina. In 2004, he was also detained after a domestic disturbance call, with charges that were later dropped. He received citations and moved forward with steady work.
17. Vince Vaughn
He was arrested in 2001 after a bar fight in Wilmington, North Carolina. In 2018, he was arrested again in Manhattan Beach for driving under the influence. He received fines, probation, and program requirements.
18. Wesley Snipes
Wesley faced a federal tax case for failing to file returns for several years. He was convicted on misdemeanor counts and served prison time from 2010 to 2013. He later completed his supervision and returned to his acting career.
19. Mel Gibson
He was arrested in 2006 in Malibu for driving under the influence. He entered a plea and received probation and treatment. Some later incidents brought additional scrutiny but limited legal penalties.
20. Nicolas Cage
In 2011, Nicolas was arrested in New Orleans after a late-night disturbance and public intoxication. The charges were dropped later, and the case was brief and largely tabloid-driven.
Explore more celebrities’ content:
If you’re into more time-capsule energy, keep the mood going with these Musicians’ Student ID Photos From Before the Fame, or these 20 Forgotten Teen Idols Who Defined a Generation. You can also check How These 15 Yearbook Faces Turned Ambition Into Wealth.
