Biggest Celebrity Comebacks
![Rob Lowe is getting laughs (and laughing at himself) as a series regular on "Parks and Recreation" and in guest spots on "Californication."](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ea7e183/2147483647/strip/true/crop/300x425+0+0/resize/300x425!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F38%2Fe4%2F2b71e05b393252fb3d27f1ae4c4b%2Fla-163741-ca-0202-rob-lowe-1-als.jpg-20110210)
Rob Lowe is getting laughs (and laughing at himself) as a series regular on “Parks and Recreation” and in guest spots on “Californication.” (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Getty Images
A look at some of the most unbelievable celebrity comebacks of years past and a selection of current celebs who could use a career makeover.
Arriving at the 2011 InStyle and
Eddie Murphy, the voice of Donkey, at the premiere of the final installment in the “Shrek” quartet. (Jason Kempin / Getty Images)
Singer, dancer and former “American Idol” judge, Paula Abdul celebrates her 48th birthday today. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)
Advertisement
What she did: In July 2010, the former child star was sentenced to 90 days at a detention facility in Lynwood, to be followed by 90 days in rehab, for violating her probation related to her 2007 DUI convictions. (Lohan served 13 days in jail and 23 days in rehab.) Out on probation, she failed two mandatory drug tests and was hauled back into court. After fighting to make bail, she voluntarily checked into the Betty Ford Center until her next sentencing date -- at which point, the judge sent her back to Betty Ford until January 2011.
The 2007 probation was part of a plea deal she agreed to after being arrested twice in less than two months. She spent 84 minutes in jail in 2007 after pleading either guilty or no contest on counts of reckless driving and driving under the influence of cocaine and alcohol; her 18-month probation was extended in 2009 after she had problems showing up on time for court.
What happened next: After she was released from the Betty Ford Center (a stay that was not without its own bit of scandal), Lohan found herself with a felony grand theft charge stemming from a necklace allegedly taken from a Venice boutique (it didn’t help that paparazzi photos showed her wearing the missing item). Lohan pleaded “not guilty” to these charges on Feb. 9.
Residual effects: Lohan is currently awaiting another court date and may be facing jail time. Meanwhile, Malin Akerman has replaced the starlet in the Linda Lovelace biopic “Inferno.” (David McNew / Getty Images)