This list contains information about actors who have done real jail time, loosely ranked by fame and popularity. Several famous actors have spent more than 30 days in prison. Some of these famous people spent time in jail on drug charges while others were convicted of violent offenses. One Oscar-winning actor went to jail after beating up a photographer.
Who is the most famous actor who has done real jail time? Robert Downey, Jr. tops our list. From 1999-2000, Robert Downey, Jr. spent almost a year in a California substance abuse treatment facility and state prison after several parole violations associated with multiple drug charges. In 1987, Academy Award-winner Sean Penn spent 33 days in jail after assaulting an extra on a film set.
When he was 16 years old, Mark Wahlberg assaulted a Vietnamese man with a stick, knocking him unconscious. On the very same day, he also used a meathook to gouge out the eye of another Vietnamese man. He was sentenced to two years in prison for attempted murder and served 45 days of the prison sentence.
Which actor's criminal past surprises you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
23 Actors Who Have Done Real Time in Prison,
Christian Slater
In 1997, Christian Slater was convicted of assaulting his girlfriend and a police officer while intoxicated. After pleading guilty, he spent three months in prison and then three months in rehab.
Slater previously spent ten days in jail for a drunk driving charge in 1989.
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Danny Trejo
In the 1960s, Danny Trejo spent several years in and out of prison for multiple charges, including burglary, assault, and drug possession. He even did a portion of his prison time at the infamous San Quentin State Prison.
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Dustin Diamond
Former Saved by the Bell star Dustin Diamond was sentenced to four months in prison beginning January 2016. It was the result of a conviction for disorderly conduct and carrying a concealed weapon (a knife) after an incident in a Wisconsin bar on Christmas Day 2014. In 2015, he was cleared of felony charges.
Ja Rule
The Cookout actor Ja Rule spent over two years in prison for illegal gun possession.
He began his time in 2011 but had his stay extended by an additional twenty-eight months to run concurrently for felony tax evasion. He was released from state prison and then immediately brought into federal custody after the terms of the original stint were over.
He was released for good later that year.
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Kiefer Sutherland
In 2007, Kiefer Sutherland served 48 days in jail after pleading no contest to DUI charges and for violating the terms of his probation. Following his release, Sutherland had to undergo an 18-month alcohol education program and had to attend weekly therapy sessions.
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Lil' Kim
Juwanna Mann actress Lil' Kim spent about a year in prison after being convicted on conspiracy and perjury. She lied to a grand jury while testifying on behalf of her friend and manager, Damion Butler, over gun charges stemming from a shootout in front of a radio station. Video evidence showed Butler opening the door for Kim, who claimed not to have seen him on the day in question.
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Mark Wahlberg
When he was 16 years old, Mark Wahlberg assaulted a Vietnamese man with a stick, knocking him unconscious. On the very same day, he used a meathook to gouge out the eye of another Vietnamese man. Both crimes were unprovoked.
After pleading guilty to both counts, he was sentenced to two years in prison for attempted murder, but only ended up serving 45 days of that sentence.
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Robert Downey Jr.
From 1999 to 2000, Robert Downey, Jr. spent almost a year in a California substance abuse treatment facility and state prison after several parole violations associated with multiple drug charges.
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Sean Penn
The Oscar winner is no stranger to violent outbursts, many leading to arrests, yet only one incident landed him behind bars.
In 1987, Penn was sentenced to 60 days after punching an extra on the set of his film Colors while on probation from two prior assaults. Lucky for him, he only served a fraction of that time thanks to then-wife Madonna for not pressing charges for a particularly brutal domestic violence encounter.
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Tim Allen
Before the actor/comedian hit it big, he went to the big house for attempting to traffic over 650 grams (1.43 lbs) of cocaine in 1978. He avoided a lifetime in prison by giving information about other dealers for a reduced sentence of three to seven years. Allen ended up serving about two years and four months and was paroled in 1981.
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