5 Sci-Fi Stars Who Were Huge in the 1990s (Then Disappeared Without a Trace)

The science fiction genre has proven itself to be one of the most consistently loved in pop culture. The massive scope of its speculative nature often facilitates remarkable creativity, and the best sci-fi TV shows often earn huge and dedicated fan bases. Sci-fi’s continued popularity has seen it evolve considerably over the decades, branching out across various forms of media to reach a truly expansive audience. Sci-fi TV has long been one of the genre’s most influential formats, with the likes of Star Trek and The Twilight Zone proving the mass appeal of science fiction on the small screen. By the time the 1990s rolled around, the genre had begun to find that it could be catered to various niches.

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Many of the sci-fi TV shows of the ’90s aged incredibly well. Although visual effects were not as advanced as they became in the decade that followed, the ’90s boasted some truly great sci-fi shows, populated by equally great actors. The popularity of the genre’s shows meant that some sci-fi stars became especially well-known in the 1990s, owing to their roles on major TV shows. However, not all of these actors remained in the spotlight: some of the 1990s’ biggest sci-fi TV stars all but disappeared after their time in the spotlight.

5) Sabrina Lloyd – Sliders

Sliders is not a show that remains as well-known as it was in the ’90s, but it has earned the status of a cult sci-fi TV show that many remember fondly. Sabrina Lloyd was one of Sliders‘ biggest stars, and she played Wade Welles, the show’s resident computer expert as part of its main cast for the first three seasons, then returning briefly in its fifth and final season. However, after the show ended in 1999, Lloyd all but vanished, only taking a handful of acting jobs, with the most prominent being a main role in the first season on Numb3rs. Since then, Sabrina Lloyd has retired from acting, with her last role being in 2013 comedy The Pretty One.

4) Jane Curtin – 3rd Rock from the Sun

Jane Curtin and John Lithgow in a promotional image for 3rd Rock From the Sun

Jane Curtin was a major star well before the 1990s. Rising to prominence as one of the original 1975 cast members of Saturday Night Live, Curtin featured in several high-profile roles before joining the main cast of 3rd Rock from the Sun as Mary Albright, the love interest of John Lithgow’s Dick Solomon. Playing such a major role in the successful sci-fi comedy was arguably the pinnacle of Curtin’s career, and she effectively became a household name. While 3rd Rock from the Sun has since become known as an underrated sci-tv show, it was Curtin’s most recent major role. She remains an active presence in both film and TV, but relative to the earlier success in her career, she practically disappeared after her time on the sci-fi show.

3) Richard Dean Anderson – Stargate SG-1

Richard Dean Anderson in a promotional image for Stargate SG-1

Stargate SG-1 has earned the status as a classic sci-fi series, building upon the movie Stargate to establish a wider franchise that remains hugely popular today. While many of the show’s stars have found continued success in their acting careers, Stargate SG-1‘s male lead is not as well-known as he perhaps deserves.

Richard Dean Anderson served as a main character for a considerable portion of the show from its beginning, helping to build its success. However, the years that followed have seen Anderson largely remain a part of the Stargate franchise, and his appearance in other projects has been limited. As Stargate has become less prominent in the wider sci-fi genre, this contributes to a perception that one of the biggest sci-fi stars of the ’90s has simply faded from the spotlight.

2) Cleavant Derricks – Sliders

Despite Sliders‘ status as a cult sci-fi show, several of its stars have not remained as present on our screens as one might expect. Cleavant Derricks was one of Sliders‘ main characters, playing Rembrandt Brown in all five seasons of the show. One of the few actors to remain ever-present in Sliders’ cast, Derricks’ face has become all but synonymous with the show for many fans. Despite the show’s considerable following, Cleavant Derricks has not featured in any high-profile roles since Sliders ended, and the sci-fi TV show remains his most prominent role to date.

1) Nicholas Brendon – Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris in Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Buffy the Vampire Slayer was more than just a TV show: it was a veritable phenomenon. It combined elements of horror, fantasy, and sci-fi into an entertaining and imaginative format, and featured a lovable cast of characters that made it both one of the most popular and terrifying sci-fi TV shows of all time. While many of its stars went on to huge career success, one notable exception is Nicholas Brendon, who played Buffy’s friend Xander Harris. Brendon’s time in the spotlight since Buffy the Vampire Slayer ended has been dominated by his personal life rather than his acting career, and he has all but vanished from our screens as a result.