Top 10 Celebrities Who Have Improved Over Time

Celebrities who might've been initially sketchy, controversial, or questionable at one point but surprisingly turned things around for themselves.

If I forgot anyone, feel free to add them.

Also, I figured a more positive list, compared to the celebrities who got worse over time list, was kind of a necessity.

The Top Ten

Macaulay Culkin

Macaulay Carson Culkin is an American actor, author, painter, podcaster, musician, and president of Bunny Ears. He became famous as a child actor for his role as Kevin McCallister in the family comedy Home Alone, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor, Motion Picture Musical... read more

I think he's had quite possibly the most impressive redemption arc of a celebrity to date.
After a slew of bad decisions in the early 2000s and early 2010s, he eventually became sober and got around to rectifying the wrong decisions he had made. He's currently married to Brenda Song and seems happy for the first time in ages.
It might help that he's also not around his problematic father anymore.
Charlie Sheen

Carlos Irwin Estévez, known professionally as Charlie Sheen, is an American actor.
Sheen has appeared in films including Platoon, Wall Street, Young Guns, Eight Men Out, Major League, Hot Shots!, and The Three Musketeers.... read more

We all know about his infamous 2011 meltdown, which caused him to get fired from Two and a Half Men.
However, in recent years he's surprisingly been sober and seems a lot healthier than he was a decade ago. I believe a large part of his sobriety was because of his daughter. Still, it's impressive nonetheless.
He's slowly making a well-deserved comeback and getting his life together.
Drake Bell

Jared Drake Bell is an American actor, voice actor, and musician. Born in Newport Beach, California, he began his career as a child actor in the early 1990s at the age of five, with his first televised appearance on Home Improvement.... read more

I want to preface by saying the following: I DO think what he did in regards to messaging a female person was weird. Also, just kinda creepy. But, I digress.
In Quiet on Set, he documented the abuse he received from producer Brian Peck. The abuse was seemingly swept under the rug, and it caused him to act and behave somewhat irrationally. However, he has owned up to his mistakes, has gone to therapy, and seems to be on a path toward improving himself. I Kind of Relate details his lifelong struggles.
Whether or not his claim of the female victim lying about their age is true, I cannot say. But regardless, he is slowly redeeming himself. Whether or not that remains true has yet to be determined.
Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Dee Lohan is an American actress. In addition to acting, she is also a model, singer, songwriter, director, and producer. She has appeared in several notable films, including The Parent Trap, Freaky Friday, and Mean Girls, which established her as a teen icon in the early 2000s.

She had a massive downward spiral, as a lot of child actors tend to have. She was saying and doing things that were, well, questionable and unethical at best.
She seems to be in a better state mentally and a lot more rational than she was in the late 2000s. Slowly but surely, she's becoming a more stable person.
Her father has also been arrested, so that's something.
Eminem

Eminem, born Marshall Bruce Mathers III, is an American rapper, actor, and music producer born on October 17, 1972, in St. Joseph, Missouri. Eminem has sold over 220 million records, making him the best-selling hip-hop artist of all time. In addition to his solo career, he was a member of D12 and (with... read more

For the longest time, he struggled with substance abuse, namely alcohol and drugs, and also seemed to be a very abrasive person for years.
He has been sober for at least a decade, if not longer, due in large part to Elton John convincing him to be so. That's kinda surprising if you think about it.
He's still blunt as he always is, but he's not wacked out of his mind 24/7 anymore.
Britney Spears

Britney Jean Spears (born on December 2, 1981, in McComb, Mississippi) is an American former singer and actress. She was raised in Kentwood, Louisiana. As a child, she performed acting roles in stage productions and television shows, such as The Mickey Mouse Club, before signing with Jive Records in... read more

From the sounds of things, her father and former partner Kevin Federline were extremely abusive and controlling to her.
The fact that she no longer has to deal with them tearing her down has probably helped with her mental well-being. Some of her choices were a bit questionable, but given what she's gone through, I do feel sympathetic for her for sure.
Axl Rose

William Bruce Rose Jr., better known as Axl Rose, is an American singer born on February 6, 1962, in Lafayette, Indiana. He is the founding member and lead vocalist of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, which rose to international fame with their debut album Appetite for Destruction (1987). Known for... read more

While I am NOT the biggest Guns N' Roses fan, I will give him props for owning up to his mistakes and showing signs of growth.
In the '90s he was losing his marbles and was severely unhinged. Nowadays, though, he seems more humble and down to earth as a person.
Even if I don't like his music, he seems like an alright guy.
James Hetfield

James Alan Hetfield was born on August 3, 1963. He is an American musician, singer, and songwriter known for being the co-founder, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and main songwriter for the American thrash metal band Metallica. He helped form the iconic thrash metal group in 1981 after answering... read more

He was a bit of a douchebag in the '90s, especially given some of his comments toward Layne Staley and Kurt Cobain in particular.
As he's gotten older, he seems to have matured and grown to be a more reasonable person. I think that's kinda commendable, honestly.
He's not completely without his faults. But then again, no one is.
Adam Gontier

Adam Wade Gontier is a Canadian musician and songwriter. He is the lead singer, rhythm guitarist, and main songwriter for Saint Asonia, and a co-lead vocalist for Three Days Grace. Gontier initially left Three Days Grace in January 2013 but rejoined the band in October 2024 to share vocal duties with... read more

He struggled with OxyContin for a couple of years, and this trip to rehab would inspire the entirety of the One-X album.
However, during 2013 he seemed to be very aggressive toward his former bandmates. It wasn't until a few years ago that he seemed to have mellowed out and warmed up to the idea of a reunion with his Three Days Grace bandmates.
Felt like including him regardless, but I figured he wasn't number-one material by any means.
K.S. Chithra

Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra, often credited as K. S. Chithra or simply Chithra, is an Indian playback singer from Kerala. She also sings Indian classical, devotional, and popular music. Chithra has recorded over 25,000 songs in various languages and is a recipient of six National Film Awards.

The Newcomers

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Miley Cyrus

Miley Ray Cyrus (born Destiny Hope Cyrus), known professionally as Miley Cyrus, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She was born on November 23, 1992, in Franklin, Tennessee, to Tish Cyrus and Billy Ray Cyrus. Her voice type is popularly described as a lyric mezzo soprano, with a vocal range... read more
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Kesha

Kesha Rose Sebert (formerly Ke$ha), born March 1, 1987, in Los Angeles, California, is an American singer and songwriter. She became famous for her energetic pop hits like Tik Tok, Die Young, and her collaboration with Pitbull on Timber.... read more

The Contenders

Justin Bieber

Justin Drew Bieber (born March 1, 1994) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and record producer. He currently resides in Ontario, Canada, and is Christian. He is the son of Pattie Mallette, an author.
Justin Bieber is best known for his songs "Baby" and "What Do You Mean?" As of mid 2025, 11 of... read more
Frankie Muniz

Francisco "Frankie" Muniz IV (born December 5, 1985) is an American actor, musician, writer, producer, race car driver, and band manager. He rose to prominence in the early 2000s as the star of the Fox television sitcom Malcolm in the Middle, for which he received an Emmy Award nomination and two Golden... read more
Corey Feldman

Corey Scott Feldman is an American actor and singer. He rose to prominence during the 1980s with roles in films such as The Fox and the Hound, Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, The Goonies, Stand by Me, The Lost Boys, Gremlins, and The 'Burbs. Feldman was a prominent figure among the young actors of... read more
Robert Downey Jr.

Robert John Downey Jr. (born April 4, 1965) is an American actor and producer. His early career included both critical acclaim and commercial success.
He battled substance abuse and legal troubles in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He experienced a major career resurgence with his role as Tony... read more

This guy did a lot of drugs but turned his life around.
Liam Gallagher

William John Paul "Liam" Gallagher is an English musician, singer, and songwriter. He rose to fame as the lead singer of the rock band Oasis, and later as the singer of Beady Eye.
He launched a solo career in 2017. In 2024, it was officially announced that he and his brother Noel had resolved... read more
Noel Gallagher

Noel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is best known as the lead guitarist, co-lead vocalist, and principal songwriter of the rock band Oasis. After leaving Oasis in 2009, he formed Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, with whom he has released four studio... read more
Corey Haim

Corey Haim was born on December 23, 1971, in Toronto, Ontario. He grew up in the Toronto suburbs of Thornhill and Willowdale and attended several schools including Pineway Public School, Baythorn Public School, Royal Orchard Public School, German Mills Public School, and Zion Heights Junior High School.... read more
Dan Povenmire

Daniel Kingsley "Dan" Povenmire is an American television director, writer, producer, storyboard artist, and voice actor. He is best known as the co-creator of the Disney animated series Phineas and Ferb.
In addition to developing the show, Povenmire voices the villain Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz... read more