what is a blacklisted actor

A blacklisted actor is someone who has been denied employment in the entertainment industry for various reasons. The Hollywood blacklist was an entertainment industry blacklist put in effect in the mid-20th century in the United States during the early years of the Cold War, in Hollywood and elsewhere. Actors, screenwriters, directors, musicians, and other American entertainment professionals were barred from work by the studios. While there is no official Hollywood “blacklist” per se, there are a number of people whose careers seemed to fall off a cliff, and not because of a lack of talent. A public freak-out, being difficult to work with, or being racist and/or homophobic are just some of the many reasons why people can be blacklisted. Nowadays, blacklisting refers to anyone who has been barred from working in Hollywood for an array of factors from prominent drug use to angering the wrong person.