Top 10 Actors Most Difficult to Work With

It's weirdly comforting to know that petty workplace drama goes on in Hollywood just as much as it does everywhere else. Join WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the "Top 10 Most Difficult Actors with Which to Work."

For this list, we’re looking at those actors that have an infamous reputation for being difficult to be around, for any number of reasons. We’ll be discussing their workplace ethic—at least how it’s represented in the media—and how it creates controversy for their fellow workers, no matter how famous they are.

Charlie Sheen’s personal life has been the subject of controversy for many years now and this includes the incident where he accidentally shot his fiancée Kelly Preston, and his infamous drug addiction. Therefore, it is not too much of a stretch to imagine just how difficult it would be to work with him, what with his allegedly constant substance abuse and disparaging comments about Chuck Lorre that ultimately got him fired from his career-rejuvenating role on Two and a Half Men. We can’t blame him entirely though—we guess—since “he’s a freakin’ rock star from Mars,” so you know… different customs and all.

Anyone who wears a paper bag over his or her head to a black tie event is probably not all there, if you know what we mean. Such seems to be the case for Shia LaBeouf, who seems like a nice enough guy, but underneath it all, he also can transform into a giant douche, it seems. Shia is notorious for his temper and belligerent attitude, even leaving the Broadway production of Orphans that he was slated to star in due to constant bickering and fights with his co-stars, especially Alec Baldwin. Some say he was actually fired though.

Edward Norton is one of the finest actors working today, so it comes as no surprise that he takes his craft extremely seriously. We repeat: EXTREMELY seriously. In fact, Norton has a reputation for “shadow directing.” He sat in on the editing for American History X, because he didn’t trust Tony Kaye, and often clashed with the studio during The Incredible Hulk over creative differences. While the people behind the film said the dispute was blown out of proportion in the media and a promo tour was planned for the movie, Norton didn’t do any promotion following its release. So yes, he is that one employee who tells everyone else how to do his or her jobs.

We hesitate to even call J. Lo an actor, as her later movies are... questionable at best. Jennifer Lopez is well known for her diva behavior, and she doesn’t care who knows it. She’s been said to often make ridiculous demands, like five star hotel rooms to stay in and her own private plane so she can travel in true diva style. All on someone else’s dime, of course. And the kicker? She refuses to perform if her demands are not met. Hollywood, take that money and hire a better actress with it.

Katherine Heigl clearly hasn’t heard the expression “don’t bite the hand that feeds you,” as that is exactly what she seems to do on a regular basis. After breaking into the mainstream with Knocked Up, Heigl went on record saying that she thought the movie was “a little sexist” and had a hard time enjoying it. This was of course after she filmed the movie and received her paycheck... She wasn’t a fan of Grey’s Anatomy’s writing either, and she supposedly annoys co-workers on a daily basis due to wardrobe grievances and constant script complaints.

Just take a look at the stoic tough man that is Bruce Willis. Does that seem like a fun guy to be around? According to Kevin Smith, who directed him in Cop Out, he is actually a NIGHTMARE to work with. He called his experience working with Willis “soul crushing,” and many other directors have complained about Willis’ unwarranted and misguided input regarding their directing style. Although, he was working on Cop Out, and that would probably put anyone in a bad mood.

Pick your jaw up off the floor! We weren’t expecting it either, but apparently this funnyman is not nearly as fun as his characters. He’s constantly called “moody and temperamental,” and many complain about the degree of control Mike Myers feels he should be able to exhibit over the cast and crew. Many executives in the industry have simply refused to work with him, and rumor has it that he even had a crewmember fired for looking him in the eyes on a particularly bad day.

Everyone’s favorite adorable actress from Mean Girls and... other movies has had quite the infamous party streak, and it’s interfered with her acting career on countless occasions. Like Charlie Sheen, Lohan doesn’t know how to quit, and her partying and lavish lifestyle have apparently often resulted in Lilo being late for work and/or too hung over to concentrate—if she shows up at all. The Canyons director Paul Schrader has called her attitude “unspeakable,” and quite frankly, it’s not that difficult to see why.

Depending on who you ask, you might hear that this guy is a bit mentally unstable. Many of his ex-girlfriends have spoken of his disgusting and eccentric behavior, and this is further mirrored by Joel Schumacher, who directed Kilmer in Batman Forever, calling his behavior towards a crew member “rude, childish, and inappropriate.” Kilmer supposedly fights with camera operators and the wardrobe department on set, and he even walked off a hamburger commercial when he was 12 years old. You have to really watch for those warning signs.

Before we have a hard time with our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

• January Jones
• Dustin Hoffman
• Teri Hatcher
• Sean Young
• Russell Crowe

You know that one employee who just doesn’t give a crap, always does whatever he wants, and never listens to the boss? In Hollywood, that man was Marlon Brando. Brando was notorious for ignoring direction, and he wouldn’t even memorize his lines, preferring instead to just wing it during filming, write cue cards to leave somewhere off camera or wear an earpiece. He was also deeply methodical about his acting, which greatly alienated many people when the cameras weren’t rolling. It must have worked though, because Brando is known today as one of the greatest actors ever.

Do you agree with our list? What actor do you think has the most notoriously unpleasant streak? For more friendly top tens published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.