10 Actors/Directors Who Made Comebacks in 2010

10 Actors and Directors Who Made a Comeback in 2010
As the year comes to a close, we look back at 10 actors and directors who made a comeback in 2010. Being back in the spotlight can do wonders for a career, so let's hope the work begets more work and more recognition.

10 Actors/Directors Who Made Comebacks in 2010

Khalil Kain - 'For Colored Girls'
The last time Khalil Kain had a memorable role was his film debut in 1992's 'Juice,' which was directed by Ernest Dickerson and co-starred Omar Epps and famed rapper Tupac. Although he subsequently had roles in Dickerson's other film, 'Bones,' and 'Renaissance Man' with Danny DeVito -- and appeared in numerous TV shows, including 'Girlfriends' -- the 45-year-old New York native had not been prominent until Tyler Perry cast him opposite Anika Noni Rose in 'For Colored Girls.'

10 Actors/Directors Who Made Comebacks in 2010

Whoopi Goldberg - 'For Colored Girls'
When Tyler Perry cast Whoopi Goldberg in his adaptation of Ntozake Shange's play 'For Colored Girls,' it was her first big role since starring opposite Angela Bassett in 1998's 'How Stella Got Her Groove Back.' Although the New York native, who won a best supporting Oscar in 1990 for her role in 'Ghost,' is seen weekly on TV's 'The View' and has done voiceover work for numerous animated films, her role in 'For Colored Girls' was widely praised among a cast that included Thandie Newton, Janet Jackson, Kimberly Elise and Phylicia Rashad.

10 Actors/Directors Who Made Comebacks in 2010

Bokeem Woodbine - 'Devil'
Back in the early 1990s, Bokeem Woodbine was in just about every black film released. After making his acting debut in HBO's 'Strapped,' which was directed by Forest Whitaker, the New York native appeared in Spike Lee's 'Crooklyn,' 'Jason's Lyric' with Jada Pinkett Smith, 'Panther,' 'Dead Presidents' with Chris Tucker, and 'The Rock' with Nicolas Cage. Although he's done numerous films since, Woodbine hadn't received widespread exposure until he was cast in 'Devil,' a supernatural thriller by M. Night Shyamalan.

10 Actors/Directors Who Made Comebacks in 2010

The Hughes Bros. - 'Book of Eli'
Known professionally as the Hughes brothers, Albert Hughes and Allen Hughes first came to prominence with the urban cult classic 'Menace II Society' in 1993. The Michigan natives then followed it with 1995's 'Dead Presidents' but after directing Johnny Depp in 2001's 'From Hell,' they simply vanished from the scene. It took nearly 10 years before they came back with the blockbuster post-apocalyptic action film 'The Book of Eli,' which starred two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington. New York magazine recently stated that Warner Brothers is in negotiations with the brothers to direct a live-action film based on the 1988 Japanese epic 'Akira.'

10 Actors/Directors Who Made Comebacks in 2010

Wesley Snipes - 'Brooklyn's Finest'
Although he's serving a three-year prison sentence for tax evasion, Wesley Snipes made a career comeback early in 2010 with a supporting role opposite Don Cheadle and Richard Gere in Antoine Fuqua's 'Brooklyn's Finest.' After a strings of films that went straight to DVD, the Florida native, who's known for film such as 'New Jack City,' 'Money Train' and the 'Blade' trilogy, never saw this film as a comeback, stating, "If they want to call it that it's cool with me. I've been steadily working. I've been doing a lot of projects around the world and overseas, expanding that fan base. ... Our next project is a martial arts family comedy titled 'Master Daddy.'"

10 Actors/Directors Who Made Comebacks in 2010

Louis Gossett Jr. - 'Why Did I Get Married Too?'
It's been more than 25 years since he won an Academy Award for 'An Officer and a Gentlemen' in 1982, but Louis Gossett Jr. hasn't given up on acting. Although he's never received the same fanfare as his peers and has been vocal about the lack of roles available to black actors, he's managed to work steadily over the years. "I didn't get the work I thought I was going to get," said the New York native. "It was a bit of a struggle for me. There are still not enough films about our history. We are still playing catch up." Leave it to Tyler Perry to cast him in this year's 'Why Did I Get Married Too?' opposite the legendary Cicely Tyson. In one scene, Gossett Jr. reminded us why he won that Oscar in the first place.

10 Actors/Directors Who Made Comebacks in 2010

Pam Grier - 'Just Wright'
After appearing in Showtime's 'The L Word' for several seasons, Pam Grier landed a gig alongside Queen Latifah in 'Just Wright.' The North Carolina native, who became famous in the early 1970s after starring in a string of blaxploitation films such as 1973's 'Coffy' and 1974's 'Foxy Brown,' made her first comeback in 1997 when Quentin Tarantino cast her in 'Jackie Brown,' which garnered her several accolades. Grier is slated to appear with Taraji Henson, Tom Hanks, and Julia Roberts in 2011's 'Larry Crowne.'

10 Actors/Directors Who Made Comebacks in 2010

Sean Combs - 'Get Him to the Greek'
Although Sean "Diddy" Combs is a jack-of-all-trades, succeeding in the music industry, the film world, fashion and now the liquor business, one wonders where his true passion lies. When he's acting, he demonstrates the will to go beyond the call of duty -- just check out 'Monster's Ball' and 'A Raisin in the Sun.' Combs proved triumphant yet again when he appeared in Joaquin Phoenix's 'I'm Still Here' and as a music exec in 'Get Him to the Greek.'

10 Actors/Directors Who Made Comebacks in 2010

Chris Brown - 'Takers'
If there's anyone who found redemption on the big screen this year, it's R&B singer and actor Chris Brown. Although his film debut in 2007's 'Stomp the Yard' included a small role, the Virginia native more than made up for it with 'This Christmas,' a blockbuster that also included Lauren London, Idris Elba and Regina King. Just when folks thought his music and film career were over, following his 2009 guilty plea to felony assault of ex-girlfriend Rihanna, Brown bounced back with his performance of Michael Jackson's 'Man in the Mirror' at the 2010 'BET Awards.' He followed it with the hit song 'Deuces,' which featured Tyga and Kevin McCall and then appeared in the action heist film 'Takers,' which left moviegoers applauding his deft-defying acrobatic scene.

10 Actors/Directors Who Made Comebacks in 2010