Facial Scars That Helped These Actors Become Famous

Joaquin Phoenix is widely regarded as one of the greatest living actors. He stands proudly for himself, as well as worthy causes, like animal rights. He's so solid in who he is that, as an actor, he can convey his internal world without saying a single word. Directors have remarked enthusiastically upon this dimensionality, calling it "limitless" and "extremely inventive."

For the title role in Joker, the dedicated actor "leaned in" to his own pre-existing physical features, from his distended shoulder to the scar on his lip. The scar is thought to be a microform cleft, the mildest form of cleft lip, but due to the actor's relative silence on the subject, the most we know for sure is that it, like his distended shoulder, has been with him since birth. It has served Phoenix's career well, fitting perfectly into other roles in which he has played a tough, multidimensional character. Consider his turn in 1999's 8MM, where he investigates the snuff film underworld alongside Nic Cage, or 2012's The Master, where we see him as a volatile World War II veteran struggling to adjust to the peacetime world. It's inspiring to see such primal fortitude radiate from both the personality and physicality of this impressive actor.

Michael K. Williams' 25th birthday present came in disguise. In a fight outside a bar from which Williams and his friends, in his words, barely escaped with their lives, one of the assailants cut the actor across the face with a razor. "Things changed immediately after that," Williams stated: Instead of just dancing in music videos, directors started wanting him to play more "thug roles." Eventually, his new look attracted the attention of others in the entertainment industry.

Though it was a terrible ordeal to go through, getting his scar actually helped Williams launch his successful career as an actor. One of the production offices he had auditioned at had a Polaroid picture of the actor, and none other than Tupac Shakur happened to see it in 1996. He thought that Williams looked like he deserved a part in his then-in-production film, Bullet. Eventually, Williams' career took him all the way to HBO's The Wire in 2002, where he played trench coat-wearing stickup man Omar Little to massive acclaim. An illustrious entertainment career is an incredible thing to come out of a terrifying near-death experience, and we're glad Williams not only escaped with his life, but has since spent it gracing our screens with his acting talent.

Mickey Rourke is a former boxer, and this has played a part not only in his facial composition, but also in what he brings to the table as an entertainer. His commanding presence can't be denied: We can only imagine what a fearsome foe he must have been in the boxing ring. He was no doubt much more formidable than the past-his-prime protagonist Randy "The Ram" Robinson, who he plays in 2008's The Wrestler. This role won the actor a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award for Best Actor, a nomination from the Oscars, and several other independent critical awards.

Rourke has stated that boxing, and a poorly performed plastic surgeon's attempt to remedy his old boxing injuries (which included a smashed cheekbone), were the culprits behind his frequently-changing face. These changes have unfortunately been the subject of tabloid speculation, when his incredible acting should be in focus instead. The actor speaks with grace about his transformations, both personal and physical. He came from a violent background as a kid, and the growth he's sustained as he's explored his talents is reflected in both his athletic and entertainment careers. Said careers are, in turn, reflected in each other.

Harrison Ford is one of the most well-recognized film stars of our time. He is best known for playing Han Solo in Star Wars and the titular hero in the Indiana Jones franchise. For such charismatic, distinguished, and adventurous roles, Ford's chin scar fits perfectly. It has even been worked into the backstories of the characters he plays: In 1989's The Last Crusade, a young Indy defends himself against a lion by picking up a nearby whip and cracking it, slicing himself in the chin in the process.

This scene gives us a window into Indy's improvisational nature, and his ability to take on new challenges. It also pays homage to Ford himself, by using one of his own distinctive physical features to provide a more intimate look at the iconic character. The memorable scar has even been incorporated into roles Ford himself does not play. As one Redditor pointed out, Alden Ehrenreich sports a fake chin scar for his performance as a young Han Solo in Solo.

Luke Perry's first major role as Dylan on Beverly Hills, 90210 saw him portray a bad boy with a good heart. The neat nick above his eyebrow (which he spends a lot of time seductively wiggling) serves Dylan's rebellious aesthetic perfectly. In fact, fans specifically obsess over the scar on social media.

As his career advanced, Perry's audience only grew bigger — both in the real world, and in fictional ones. The actor was featured on a two-episode run on Criminal Minds in 2008, as a cult leader who has spent time in prison. The final role of the actor's career was Fred Andrews on the 2017 TV drama Riverdale, as he tragically passed away on March 4, 2019. Fred is a gruff but wholesome man who owns a construction business and has hopes that his son might stick around and follow in his footsteps. His hands-on lifestyle combined with Perry's scar to give off an air of capability and solidity that serves as a lovely final embodiment of his career.

Some faces are just timeless, and Dermot Mulroney's seems to be one of them. From starring opposite Julia Roberts in the 1997 romantic comedy My Best Friend's Wedding to playing distinguished and gentlemanly roles a decade and a half later (think Russell on New Girl), Mulroney has always been an engaging actor, and his scar has always been part of his iconic good looks. His characters have worn it well, and it always adds to the portrayal, rather than taking anything away.

On Crisis, an NBC action-thriller series that was unfortunately canceled in 2014, Mulroney played an ex-CIA analyst who is betrayed by the government. The stakes are high, the character is grave, and the scar works as perfectly as it always has, accentuating Mulroney's performance. Mulroney has stated that since his scar has been there since he was young, he doesn't think about it often. Today, it is the cherry on top of any of his performances.

Stacy Keach often portrays policemen and detectives on screen. Keach's intimidating presence, coupled with the mustache he has kept for years, has made him a standby for these types of parts. What some people may not know, though, is that Keach wears his mustache to hide his cleft lip and partial cleft palate.

As his career has advanced, however, Keach has started wearing his scars openly. Honesty is an important message that Keach works to embody — not only for his own mental health, but also to proudly represent those born with craniofacial differences. He joined the board of the World Craniofacial Foundation in 2000, the year in which he also accepted a position as a spokesperson for the organization.

While Keach has played many parts in the entertainment industry, from Shakespeare performer to composer, the part of advocate for the cleft community is an incredibly special one. "The message is constant and clear," he detailed in 2016. "Use whatever talent you discover you have to offset any negativity coming your way. Let your 'special circumstances' become a motor to achieve greatness in whatever field you choose to pursue."