The curse of Shallow Hal: From a near-fatal eating disorder to a tragic death and forever regretting their roles - how the cast has been blighted by tragedy as controversial film turns 15

Shallow Hal was plagued with controversy from the outset when it appeared on screens in 2001.Starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Jack Black, the comedy has drawn longstanding criticism for treating obesity as the punchline of an ongoing joke.Gwyneth played obese woman Rosemary who is seen as a more slimmer version of herself by Jack's character Hal Larson after he is hypnotised. Shallow Hal was blasted for its fatphobic premise after Gwyneth's body double was left struggling with eating disorders. The actress has admitted that she wasn't a big fan of her own acting in the motion picture, calling the movie a 'disaster and disturbing'. Gwyneth's plus-size body double Ivy Snitzer said she 'hated' her body by the end of filming and was left struggling with eating disorders.From a near-fatal eating disorder to a tragic death and stars forever regretting their roles, the cast has been blighted by tragedy. As the controversial film marks 15 years on screens, where are the stars now?Gwyneth Paltrow (Rosemary) Gwyneth played obese woman Rosemary who is seen as a more slimmer version of herself by his character Hal Larson after he is hypnotised (pictured left in 2026, right in the movie)Paltrow wore a fat suit throughout the film to play Hal's 300-pound love interest, Rosemary Shanahan (left), with Ivy Snitzer (pictured in 2001) as her stand-inGwyneth Paltrow wore a fat suit to portray Rosemary and said that she found it 'disturbing' how terribly she was treated when heavier.She previously told how she was feeling 'humiliated' when she walked through a hotel wearing the outfit and 'no one would make eye contact' with her.The award-winning star said: 'The first day I tried [the fat suit] on, I was in the Tribeca Grand and I walked through the lobby.'It was so sad; it was so disturbing. No one would make eye contact with me because I was obese. I was wearing this black shirt with big snowmen on it.'For some reason, the... clothes they make for women that are overweight are horrible. I felt humiliated because people were really dismissive.'Gwyneth shares daughter Apple, 22, and son Moses, 20, with Coldplay frontman ex-husband Chris Martin.The Goop founder was already an acclaimed Hollywood actress after earning a Best Actress Oscar for her role as Viola de Lesseps in Shakespeare In Love.She was in her mid twenties when she first shot to fame in the 90s, notching up period drama roles and landing the real-life role every woman wanted at the time, as Brad Pitt's girlfriend.Her acting talent, along with her trademark flaxen blonde hair, pale blue eyes and lithe physique, quickly propelled her to A-list status.The Californian star and health guru, now 54, has managed to wrench back the hands of time and look just as good now as she did as a fresh-faced Hollywood starlet. Jack Black (Hal) Jack Black, 57, regretted starring in Shallow Hal as Hal because he felt the movie did not live up to his expectations (pictured left in 2026, right in the movie)Jack Black, 57, regretted starring in Shallow Hal as Hal because he felt the movie did not live up to his expectations.The actor at the time admitted he 'wasn't proud of the movie' and said the project 'didn't turn out how he had hoped'. Following his appearance in Shallow Hal, Jack starred in his iconic movie School Of Rock and co-founded his rock band Tenacious D.Jack is a devoted family man, having married artist Tanya Hayden back in 2006. The couple live in Los Angeles and share two sons, Samuel, 20, and Thomas, 18.Last year, Jack revealed that of all his film and TV credits, he's most proud of their 2006 film, Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny. 'In a weird way, it might be Tenacious D In The Pick Of Destiny because that's the only movie that I wrote,' he told People of his 2006 music comedy film. 'So, that one is actually my real baby. Maybe it's not the best, but it is my proudest.' Jack, who voices Master Ping Xiao Po in the popular film franchise, has also had world-wide success in the Kung Fu Panda franchise. Jason Alexander (Mauricio) Jason Alexander portrayed Hal's best friend Mauricio who shares his obsessive focus on physical appearance (pictured left in 2025, right in the movie)Jason Alexander portrayed Hal's best friend Mauricio who shares his obsessive focus on physical appearance.The actor, now 67, is best known for playing the memorable George Costanza on the iconic 90s sitcom, Seinfeld.Alexander played one of the most lovable misanthropes in television history.In 2024, he revealed that his most memorable Costanza moment came in the season three episode titled the Red Dot, that sees the character engage in a romantic dalliance with his office's cleaning woman.'The one that I remember so clearly, because I thought it was so brilliant, was in an episode where George was working at the publishing company and he was having sexual relationships in his office with the cleaning woman and he got caught,' he said while appearing on the Australian TV show The Project.'If you're writing that scene and you're going: "okay I've got this guy George Costanza, what happens next? Whatever you would imagine it wouldn't be what they came up with.'Alexander is also well-known for his performances in Pretty Woman (1990), Jacob's Ladder (1990) and Coneheads (1993).Joe Viterelli (Steve Shanahan) American actor Joe Viterelli played the protective and skeptical father of Gwyneth's character Rosemary, Steve Shanahan, in the comedy (pictured left in 2002, right in the movie)American actor Joe Viterelli played the protective and skeptical father of Gwyneth's character Rosemary, Steve Shanahan, in the comedy.Joe's film credits include Bullets Over Broadway, Looking For Lola, The Strip, Serving Sara and Analyze That.He was previously married to Catherine Brennan before he passed away in January 2004 aged 66. Bruce McGill (Reverend Larson)Bruce McGill, now 76, played Reverend Larson, the dying father of Hal in the movie (pictured left in 2024, right in the movie)Bruce McGill, now 76, played Reverend Larson, the dying father of Hal in the movie.The actor has had standout performances in many movies, including his famous role as Daniel Simpson "D-Day" Day in National Lampoon's Animal House. His TV credits include Jack Dalton in MacGyver and Detective Vince Korsak in Rizzoli & Isles. Elsewhere, Bruce played conservative Republican congressman in Legally Blonde 2.Rene Kirby (Walt) Rene Kirby tragically died last year aged 70 after being hospitalised for two months with infectionsRene Kirby tragically died last year aged 70 after being hospitalised for two months with infections as well as problems with his oesophagus, kidneys and bladder, his brother Jon Kirby said.He had previously battled throat cancer with his treatment including removal of his larynx meaning he had lost his ability to talk in recent years.Rene had a memorable role in the 2001 movie Shallow Hal, playing Walt, who like Rene had no use of his legs due to spina bifida.His acting career also included a role in the 2003 film Stuck on You as well as one episode of the TV show Carnivàle.Rene was born with more than a foot of his lower spine missing whilst his spine was detached from his pelvis and his legs never developed.He found himself sharing the screen with Black and Paltrow when he bumped into Hollywood director Peter Farrelly in 1999.Farrelly was in Rene's hometown of Burlington, Vermont shooting Me, Myself & Irene starring Jim Carrey.The director bought Rene a beer and after a night of talking, he decided to cast Rene in his next film, recalling in a 2001 interview: 'He's got a zest for life that is contagious and he's extremely funny.'Farrelly wrote a part for Rene in Shallow Hal, which he and his brother, Bobby, co-wrote and co-directed.The film was about looking beyond outward appearances so Farrelly deemed it a perfect fit for the acting newcomer as Rene 'epitomizes inner beauty'.Tony RobbinsSelf-help guru Tony Robbins, now 66, played himself in the movie, making a cameo appearance as a life coach (pictured left in 2026, right in the movie)Tony Robbins, now 66, played himself in the movie, making a cameo appearance as a life coach.While his main career isn't acting, Tony has had more cameos in Reality Bites, The Cable Guy, The Roseanne Show and The Sopranos.He also released his own documentary Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru.Tony was previously married to Rebecca Jenkins before they filed for divorce. He later wed Sage Robbins. The self-help guru faced controversy back in 2018 regarding sexual misconduct allegations and comments about the #MeToo movement.Tony vehemently denied all allegations against him. Earlier this year, Tony made an appearance on Steven Bartlett's podcast The Diary Of A CEO.Susan Ward (Jill) Susan Ward, 50, who played a supporting role in the comedy, had a glittery acting career before she stepped away from the industry entirely in 2012 (pictured in the movie)Susan Ward, 50, who played a supporting role in the comedy, had a glittery acting career before she stepped away from the industry entirely in 2012.She stopped appearing in screen projects entirely to focus on her family life with her producer husband David C Robinson.The couple share a son named Cameron.Before she stepped away from Hollywood, Susan was widely known for her appearance in ABC family drama Make It Or Break It. Her other acting credits include Malibu Shores, Sunset Beach, Going Greek, Cruel World and Jack Hunter And The Lost Treasure. Brooke Burns (Katrina) Brooke Burns, now 48, who played Ugly Katrina in the movie, rose to fame as a model in the 1990s before she turned her attention to acting (pictured left in 2025, right in the movie)Brooke Burns, now 48, who played Ugly Katrina in the movie, rose to fame as a model in the 1990s before she turned her attention to acting.She starred on the series Out Of The Blue before slipping into the iconic red swimsuit for her appearance in Baywatch and then a yellow bathing suit for the spinoff Baywatch: Hawaii.Next came a role opposite David Spade on Just Shoot Me!, and she was also on the Hawaii show North Shore with the late Shannen Doherty.The leggy looker then became a TV host on shows like Tic-Tac-Dough.This beauty also had an interesting romantic life: she was married to Julian McMahon then she was rumoured to be engaged to Bruce Willis for a short period.In 2013, Burns married film director Gavin O'Connor who has made the films Miracle (2004), Warrior (2011), The Accountant (2016) and The Way Back (2020).In 2005, Burns broke her neck in a diving accident and in May 2014 she was involved in a car crash in Los Angeles.Her last acting role was in the 2020 TV movie Roux the Day: A Gourmet Detective Mystery.