#14: Larry Paul in Ally McBeal (1997-2002)
Robert Downey Jr.’s appearance on Ally McBeal (1997) was a huge comeback. His performance as Larry Paul won him a Golden Globe and boosted ratings. But just as his character was set to marry Ally, Downey was arrested again for drug possession. The show had to react quickly. Larry’s storyline was abruptly ended with a note explaining he had left Ally to return to his family in Detroit. The on-screen disappointment was quickly overshadowed by the real-world seriousness of the actor’s problems, which he would thankfully overcome in the years to follow.
