Billy Crudup put the "crud" in his own name when he notoriously ditched his then-seven-months-pregnant girlfriend of eight years, fellow actor Mary-Louise Parker, to have an affair with his "Stage Beauty" co-star, Claire Danes, in 2003. Before the bad publicity, Crudup had earned Hollywood headliner status in films such as "Without Limits," "Almost Famous," and "Big Fish." He was fast establishing himself as a true talent on his way to the top, but the aftermath of his highly publicized betrayal impacted his reputation and star power.
More than a decade later, Danes reflected on the avalanche of bad press that accompanied their romance. "That was really hard," she told Howard Stern (via Us Weekly). "I was just in love with him. And needed to explore that and I was 24. ... I didn't quite know what those consequences would be." Her career rebounded, and today she's well known for the long-running series "Homeland," but Crudup's superstar status fizzled. He still gets plenty of work, but he's often a supporting or ensemble actor rather than a leading man.
On the upside: Crudup reportedly has a great relationship with his son, William Parker, and he thinks his best years in Hollywood are yet to come. "I feel like my fifties are when I'm going to really shine," he told Mr. Porter in 2017.