From Mickey Rooney to Nicolas Cage: These actors have gone bankrupt

Famous American actor Mickey Rooney, who died in 2014, was famous for his role in iconic films such as Breakfast at Tiffany's, as well as Night at the Museum. 

In 1962, the now deceased actor filed for bankruptcy. He is said to have had only $500 on his bank account at the time and a total debt of around $460,000, which is the equivalent of around $4 million today.

American actress Veronica Lake, who passed away in 1973, was famous for her roles in legendary films such as This Gun for Hire, as well as The Blue Dahlia. 

Veronica Lake filed for bankruptcy in 1951. Together with her husband, André de Toth, she is said to have had debts of around $150,000, which is the equivalent of around $1.8 million today.

Actor and director Burt Reynolds, who died in 2018, was a television icon. He was especially known for his roles in TV series such as Gunsmoke, as well as Dan August.

The Hollywood star died in 2018, leaving behind a fortune of five million dollars. According to several sources, the sum was ‘less than expected’ for someone of his stature, and supposed wealth.

66-year-old actor Lorenzo Lamas is especially famous for his role as Tom Chisum, in iconic musical Grease.

Lorenzo Lamas has filed for bankruptcy twice. The first time was in 2004, before filing again ten years later, in 2014, with debts totalling over $1 million.

Francis Ford Coppola's nephew and famous actor Nicolas Cage is mostly famous for stealing the US Declaration of Independence in the Benjamin Gates franchise, as well as his role in Leaving Las Vegas, for which he won an Oscar. 

Despite his stellar career in Hollywood, rumours circulated in 2009 about a mountain of debt, which lead him to bankruptcy. He opened up about his $6 million debt in 2023, telling 60 Minutes: 

I was over-invested in real estate. The real estate market crashed, and I couldn’t get out in time. I paid them all back, but it was about $6 million. I never filed for bankruptcy.

Iconic actress Pamela Anderson is mostly famous for her role in Baywatch, which remains ingrained in our brains decades later.

Baywatch icon Pamela Anderson got into financial difficulties in 2009. She is said to have accumulated more than $800,000 in debt at the time.

Legendary 80-year-old actor and composer Gary Busey is mostly famous for his roles in action films such as Lethal Weapon, and Point Break in the late 80s and early 90s.

In 2012, the actor was $1 million in the red, and he had to file for bankruptcy.

Actress Lindsey Lohan rose to fame for her famous role in Mean Girls, and of course, for the plotting twins in the Parent Trap. However, she has been through a lot in her personal life.

The actress owed the state around $234,000. At the time, her assets are said to have been reduced from $28 million to $100,000.

American actress Tori Spelling is especially famous for her role in 90s sitcom Beverly Hills 90210. She has also recently joined the cast for Dancing With the Stars in the US.

In 2016, she had an outstanding bill of around $38,000. In 2024, the actress and her husband, Dean McDermott, are said to owe the state $200,000.

51-year-old actress Alyssa Milano rose to fame thanks to her role as Phoebe Halliwell in the series Charmed.

In 2017, Alyssa Milano and her husband sued Milano's former manager for $10 million. They accused him of failing to pay taxes, which allegedly resulted in ‘debts in the millions’.

British actress Beverley Callard is especially famous for her role as barmaid Liz McDonald on soap opera Coronation Street.

Beverley Callard had to file for bankruptcy in 2012, after leaving the show to take care of her mum, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. In 2023, she still has a debt of about £200,000.

MTV star and rapper Richard Blackwood rose to fame in 1990s thanks to his hitsingle Mamma Who Da Man. He also played Vincent Hubbard in EastEnders from 2015 to 2018.

In 2003, Richard Blackwood had to file for bankruptcy, which led him to suffer from severe depression, and even to attempt taking his own life. In 2015, he reflected on the ordeal, saying:

'I don't drink or smoke. I never have. I've never taken a drug in my life. But I was depressed, I was even suicidal. It was very real for me back then. Every time I walked out of the house, I was reminded by people that I had failed.'

British actress Martine McCutcheon rose to fame in the 1990s thanks to her role of Tiffany Mitchell on EastEnders. She later played the Prime Minister's assistant in iconic Christmas rom-com Love Actually.

Martine McCutcheon sadly had to stop her acting career after she was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome and Lyme's disease.  She had to file for bankruptcy in 2013, and her wedding ring was even seized. She explained:

‘I just thought my health, money, career have all been taken from me, and now even my engagement ring - the one thing that represents what is solid in my life - has gone.’

46-year-old TV celebrity Katie Price is mostly famous for her persona of Jordan, whom she used when she started modelling in the late 1990s.

Katie Price was first declared bankrupt in 2019, and then a second time in 2024, with a debt of more than £750,000.

Irish singer Shane Filan rose to fame in the late 1990s thanks to his band, Westlife, which broke up in 2012 before getting back together in 2018.

Shane Filan had to file for bankruptcy alongside his brother Finbarr in 2012, with a debt of over €23 million.