24 Actors Who Have Done Real Time in Prison

Jay Johnston, an actor known for his roles in shows such as Bob’s Burgers, Mr. Show, and Arrested Development, has been sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison. His sentencing comes as a result of his involvement in the January 6 Capitol attack. Johnston was charged with a felony offense of obstructing officers during a civil disorder after being identified at the scene of the insurrection. He reportedly used a stolen U.S. Capitol Police riot shield to form a barrier against the police and participated in an assault that resulted in a police officer being pinned and injured. Despite claims from his lawyer that his role has been overstated due to his Hollywood status, Johnston's actions, especially spreading misinformation and showing a lack of remorse, contributed to his sentencing.

Felicity Huffman reported to the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, CA - about 40 miles east of San Francisco - on October 15, 2019, to serve her 14-day sentence for her role in the college admissions scandal. 

She will also have to pay a fine of $30,000 and perform 250 hours of community service. The Oscar nominee was found guilty of paying someone to proctor and correct her daughter's college board testing, which resulted in an increase of 400 points over what she had earned on the PSATs. She will have to serve the full 14-day sentence, imposed by Judge Indira Talwani, because according to federal law there is no time off for good behavior for sentences less than one year.

On October 5, 2018, Mike Sorrentino, best known as the Situation from MTV's Jersey Shore, was sentenced to eight months in prison for not paying his taxes. Both Sorrentino and his lawyer tried to push for probation with no luck. 

The judge also sentenced Sorrentino to two years of supervised release, 500 hours of community service upon release, and a $10,000 fine. 

From 1999 to 2000, Robert Downey, Jr. spent almost a year in a California treatment facility and state prison after several parole violations associated with charges related to drugs. 

When he was 16 years old, Mark Wahlberg harmed a Vietnamese man with a stick, knocking him unconscious. On the very same day, he harmed a second Vietnamese man who had already lost an eye in the Vietnam conflict. Both offenses were found to be unprovoked. 

After pleading guilty to both counts, he was sentenced to two years in prison but only ended up serving 45 days of that sentence.

The Oscar winner is no stranger to volatile outbursts, many leading to apprehensions, yet only one incident landed him behind bars. In 1987, Sean 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 encounter.