Posted on September 22, 2015 by Natalie Morin
Celebrities are regarded as many people’s role models—people they look up and aspire to. With all that notoriety, they have the power to create change, to speak for those who don’t have the clout and to shed light on issues that really matter.
Some celebrities live up to this standard, but oftentimes many fall victim to the risky temptations that fame often provides. Using data from Ranker, PrettyFamous found the famous people that you may have forgotten have also committed felonies.
#16. Courtney Love
Age: 51
Profession: Singer, Actress
The lead singer of Hole was convicted of drug possession in 2003 and attacked a woman with a flashlight a year later.
#15. Christian Slater
Age: 46
Profession: Actor
Slater spent 10 days in jail after driving drunk, and then was arrested again in 1994 because he tried to board a flight with a concealed weapon in his luggage. In 1997, he assaulted his girlfriend at the time and a police officer on the same night.
#14. Martha Stewart
Age: 74
Profession: Businesswoman, television personality
In 2004, Stewart was found guilty of conspiracy, obstruction of an agency proceeding, making false statements to federal investigators. She spent a year in prison for insider trading.
#13. Mick Jagger
Age: 72
Profession: Singer
The Rolling Stones frontman, along with bandmate Keith Richards, was arrested for drug possession. Both of their three-year prison sentences were later dropped.
#12. Nick Nolte
Age: 74
Profession: Actor, model
Nolte was arrested for selling counterfeit documents in 1965.
#11. James Brown
Age: Died aged 73
Profession: Singer
Brown was convicted of theft at age 16 and served three years in prison. In 1988, he was arrested for drug and illegal weapon possession, and then was later involved in a car chase that resulted in the police finding more of these illicit items. He also assaulted a police officer and was found guilty of domestic violence throughout his life.
#10. Robert Downey, Jr.
Age: 50
Profession: Actor
The Ironman suffered from drug addiction for a significant period of his life, and was arrested several times on felony drug charges. One of these charges was for possession of cocaine, heroin, and an unloaded .357 Magnum. He broke into a neighbor’s house and fell asleep on one of their beds. He went to LA County jail for six months, only to violate parole again later on. He went to rehab and was sentenced to probation for three years.
#9. Rip Torn
Age: 84
Profession: Actor, comedian
Torn was convicted of drunk driving in 2007, and again in 2009. He was later charged with carrying a firearm without a permit, carrying a firearm while intoxicated, first-degree burglary, second-degree criminal trespassing and third-degree criminal mischief, after drunkenly breaking into the Litchfield Bancorp.
#8. Robert Mitchum
Age: Died aged 79
Profession: Actor, singer
Mitchum was arrested for marijuana possession in 1949.
#7. Flavor Flav
Age: 56
Profession: Musician, television personality
William Jonathan Drayton Jr., better known as Flavor Flav, set his own house on fire at age 11. He went to jail a couple times throughout his youth for robbery and burglary. In 1991, he assaulted his then-girlfriend and spent time in jail. He later was charged with the attempted murder of his neighbor, drug possession and domestic violence. Most recently in 2012, Flav was jailed for threatening his ex-fiancée’s teenage son with a knife.
#6. Vanilla Ice
Age: 47
Profession: Rapper, television host
The “Ice Ice Baby” rapper was convicted of firearm charges after threatening a homeless man with a gun. He was later found to have assaulted his wife on two occasions.
#5. Danny Trejo
Age: 71
Profession: Actor
Trejo was first arrested at age 10 for assault and battery. He was in and out of jails and prisons in the 1960s for various drug, weapon and assault charges. He later turned a corner in 1998 and cleaned up his act.
#4. Mark Wahlberg
Age: 44
Profession: Actor, model, former rapper
Wahlberg had a troubled childhood, sparked by a cocaine addiction at 13. He was involved in a civil suit at age 15, regarding hate crimes he committed. He was charged with the attempted murder and assault of two Vietnamese men a year later.
#3. Lil’ Kim
Age: 41
Profession: Rapper
Lil’ Kim was sentenced to a year in prison after being convicted of three counts of perjury and one count of conspiracy. This was because she testified in a shooting case that was the result of a feud between her and another rapper, Foxy Brown.
#2. Tim Allen
Age: 62
Profession: Actor, comedian
Allen was arrested for cocaine possession in 1978.
#1. 50 Cent
Age: 40
Profession: Rapper
In 1994, 50 Cent was charged with drug possession after attempting to sell cocaine to an undercover cop. Authorities later found heroin, crack and illegal weapons in his home. He was most recently charged with assault and battery after fighting a concert-goer who threw a water bottle at him.
