Celebrities Who Have Retired From The Public Eye To Live Ordinary Lives
We all want to be “discovered” and make it big as Hollywood stars or musicians, but some people have already done so and have decided to downsize their roles in order to live more simple, “normal” lives. From Greta Garbo to MC Hammer, some celebrities have decided that their time in the spotlight is over and that they’d rather focus on other things. What are their names and where have they gone? Continue reading to find out.
Alicia Silverstone – Environmentalist
Alicia Silverstone was a rising star in the 1990s, thanks in large part to her iconic Clueless performance. She appeared in almost every film and was nominated for numerous awards. Finally, they decided to step away from the public eye in order to focus on smaller projects, such as a rescued pets sanctuary in Los Angeles. as well as extensive vegan activism
Angus T. Jones – Event Producer
Angus T. Jones began to play the funny kid on Two and a Half Men from the time he was a child until he was in his teen years. Wow!
Angus T. Jones – Event Producer
Despite this, after the show ended, Angus decided to focus on the business side of things and decided to join the management team of “Tonite,” a company that produces events.
Amanda Bynes – Fashion Designer
Amanda Bynes was a huge commercial success as a teen, with her own Nickelodeon show and roles in films such as What a Girl Wants, Hairspray, and She’s the Man.
Amanda Bynes – Fashion Designer
But she decided to leave it all behind and study fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in California. She received her Associate of Art degree in Merchandise Product Development in 2018 and announced her plans to begin a bachelor’s degree program the following year. Bynes graduated from FIDM in 2019.
Mara Wilson – Writer
Mara Wilson is best known for her roles in Mrs. Doubtfire and Matilda, but she hasn’t acted in a long time. Instead, she devotes her time to her work as a writer, having written a number of journalistic articles as well as a play.
Mara Wilson – Writer
Following her last film, she took a 12-year hiatus to focus on writing. Where Am I Now? is her first book. On September 13, 2016, the book True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame was released.
Dylan Sprouse – Brewmaster
After starring in a string of hits like Big Daddy, Friends, and their own Disney Channel show, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Dylan Sprouse and his twin, Cole, rose to fame.
Dylan Sprouse – Brewmaster
Since then, the two siblings have grown up, and Dylan now works as a brewer at a meadery and bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Sprouse has been dating model Barbara Palvin since 2018. They lived in Brooklyn for over two years before relocating to Los Angeles in 2021.
Barret Oliver – Photography and Print Artist
Barret Oliver is best known for playing Bastian in Michael Ende’s The NeverEnding Story, which he starred in in 1984. He had a brief career as a child actor, appearing in 13 films between 1982 and 1989, but he eventually decided to pursue his talent elsewhere.
Barret Oliver – Photography And Print Artist
Oliver now focuses on 19th-century photography and printmaking techniques. His work has been featured in museums, gallery exhibitions, and films, and he even wrote A History of the Woodburytype, a book about ancient photography techniques.
Sarah Michelle Gellar – Entrepreneur
Sarah Michelle Gellar played the titular role in Joss Wheadon’s groundbreaking, genre-bending television series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and changed television forever after a few memorable appearances in several slasher films.
Sarah Michelle Gellar – Entrepreneur
Following her success as an actress, Gellar decided to pursue a career in business. Gellar founded Foodstirs, an e-commerce startup selling baking kits, with Galit Laibow and Greg Fleishman in 2015, and her own cookbook, Stirring Up Fun with Food, was released in 2017.
Erik Per Sullivan – Student
Erik Per Sullivan is best known for his role in Malcolm in the Middle as Dewy, Malcolm’s younger brother. Sullivan’s most recent known acting role was in the 2010 film Twelve.
Erik Per Sullivan – Student
Since then, he’s kept a low profile, missing several Malcolm in the Middle cast reunions. Following the conclusion of the show, Sullivan took a break from acting and enrolled at the University of Southern California to pursue his studies.
Erin Moran – Retirement
Erin Moran was born in 1960 and was already appearing on television by 1967. She was a hugely successful child star who was cast as Joanie Cunningham in the legendary sitcom Happy Days when she was 13 years old and remained in the role for over 8 years, well into the 1980s.
Erin Moran Retirement
Even through her success, Moran eventually moved out of Los Angeles and actually settled in the California mountains before deciding to move to Indiana, where she sadly died in 2017.
Jack Gleeson – Theology Student
Jack Gleeson is one of the most well-known actors in the world today. After all, he did portray the monstrous child-king Joffrey on HBO’s hit TV series, Game of Thrones.
Jack Gleeson – Theology Student
However, while playing Joffrey has its perks, it’s not easy playing one of television’s most reviled characters, and when his character was killed off, he chose to leave acting and pursue theology in college.
Kirk Cameron – Christian Ministry
Kirk Cameron is a well-known and well-liked actor who is best known for his role as Mike Seaver in the popular 1980s sitcom Growing Pains. Cameron is also active in another field, religion, in addition to his acting career.
Kirk Cameron – Christian Ministry
Cameron co-founded the Way of the Master ministry in 2002 with fellow evangelist Ray Comfort, and is thought to be involved in preaching and missionary work since then. We’re sure he had no idea he’d end up on this path back then. We’re happy for him!
Josh Saviano – Lawyer
Most people are familiar with Josh Saviano from the comedy-drama series The Wonder Years, where he played Paul Joshua Pfeiffer. Josh, who was only 12 when the show first aired, dropped out of high school and went on to study law, eventually becoming a senior partner in a major law firm.
Josh Saviano – Lawyer
Saviano briefly returned to acting in 2014, playing a lawyer in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. In 2015, he left Morrison Cohen to launch two new businesses: JDS Legal, a law firm, and Act 3 Advisors, a celebrity brand consultancy.
Frankie Muniz – Race Car Driver
Frankie Muniz is a well-known face in the entertainment industry. He played Malcolm in the Middle’s title character and appeared in a number of other films and television shows over the years.
Frankie Muniz – Race Car Driver
Muniz was introduced to the world of car racing in 2001, and he took a break from acting in 2007 to compete professionally. Since then, he’s won a number of races and has competed in the Atlantic Championship.
Cary Grant – Stay at Home Dad
There are a few actors who immediately come to mind when people talk about the “Golden Age of Hollywood,” and Cary Grant is near the top of that shortlist, with roles in films like The Awful Truth (1937), Bringing Up Baby (1938), His Girl Friday (1940), The Philadelphia Story (1940), and To Catch A Thief (1955), among others.
Cary Grant – Stay At Home Dad
When Grant was 62, he decided to leave Hollywood, claiming that the “Golden Era” of the Californian film industry had passed him by and that providing a stable environment for his newborn daughter, Jennifer, was more important to him.
Greta Garbo – Early Retiree
Greta Garbo’s name is almost synonymous with “Classic Hollywood.” Despite having only appeared in a handful of movies, many of them silent, Garbo made a lasting impression on the world of film, before she decided to retire at the early age of 35.
Greta Garbo – Early Retiree
Garbo lived a life of leisure from 1940 onward, vacationing abroad and having to travel with a select group of friends, as well as collecting art. Garbo was known for going for long daily walks with friends or by herself throughout her life. For photographers, the media, admirers, and curious New Yorkers, “Garbo-watching” became a sport.
Syd Barrett – Art (and Gardening)
Syd Barrett was a founding member of Pink Floyd, one of the most successful musical groups of all time. Barrett was inducted as a member of Pink Floyd into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.
Syd Barrett – Art (and Gardening)
Barrett retired from public life despite Pink Floyd’s success and chose to live in a quiet home in his hometown of Cambridge, where he focused on creating large, abstract canvas pieces as well as gardening.
Agnetha Faltskog – Astrology Studies
ABBA, the Swedish pop group, was one of the most influential collaborations in music during the 1970s and 1980s. ABBA was a force to be reckoned with, with worldwide success – and Agnetha Faltskog, ABBA’s leading woman, was the one who wielded it.
Agnetha Faltskog – Astrology Studies
However, following the band’s disbandment and Agnetha’s brief solo career, the Swedish singer purchased an isolated country house in her homeland, where she concentrated on her astrology studies, yoga, and horseback riding.
Peter Ostrum – Veterinarian
Peter Ostrum is one of the most well-known child actors in film history, but he only appeared in one film. Ostrum starred opposite the incomparable Gene Wilder in the 1971 film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as Charlie.
Peter Ostrum – Veterinarian
Ostrum went on to have a more “normal” life after his brief – but brilliant – stint in Hollywood, and ended up having to work as a veterinarian in the state of New York.
Sean Connery – Retirement
Sean Connery is best known for his role as British secret agent 007, James Bond, in one of his first film roles. Connery was the first to portray the legendary action hero – and is still widely regarded as the definitive Bond – but he’s gone on to play a slew of other iconic roles, winning BAFTAs, Oscars, the coveted Henrietta award, and a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II for his contributions to British film and acting.
Sean Connery – Retirement
Even huge stars like Sean Connery may want to retire from the spotlight – and Connery confirmed his retirement in 2007, saying he won’t be joining the cast of the fourth Indiana Jones film because “retirement is just too damned fun.”
Jonathan Taylor Thomas – Harvard Graduate
Jonathan Taylor Thomas rose to prominence as a child actor, when he portrayed the character Simba in The Lion King and Randy Taylor on the popular ABC sitcom Home Improvement.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas – Harvard Graduate
After all his acting career, Thomas went on to study philosophy at Harvard and now continued to live a private life away from acting and the media attention. We’re proud of you!
Alfonso Ribeiro – Dancer/Host
Most people will recognize Alfonso Ribeiro as Carlton from the 1990s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Alfonso went on to become a TV show host, a Dancing with the Stars contestant, a dancer, and a singer after his stint as a television actor.
Alfonso Ribeiro – Dancer Host
Catch 21 was revived in 2019, with Ribeiro reprising his role as host. Ribeiro portrayed Chris Paul’s fan in a series of State Farm Insurance commercials in 2020. Ribeiro voiced a character in the Muppets Haunted Mansion in 2021.
Nicky Blonsky – Hair Stylist
Despite the film’s box-office success, Nikki Blonsky did not continue acting after playing Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray in 2007. She instead returned to New York, where she now works as a hairstylist.
Nicky Blonsky – Hair Stylist
Blonsky began a video blogging series on her Instagram account in 2020, in which she interviews other celebrities. Blonsky confirmed that she is currently residing on Long Island in August 2020.
Chris Owen – Waiter
Chris Owen starred as the Sherminator – er, Chuck Sherman – in the cult classic American Pie, but despite the film’s success and his well-known role, Owen struggled to find new work and ended up working as a waiter at a sushi restaurant for a while.
Chris Owen – Waiter
He eventually resigned and is now a photographer. Fortunately, his personal wealth appears to have improved in recent years, and he’s landed a number of additional film roles since then.
Kevin Jonas – Entrepreneur
The Jonas Brothers are still a hugely successful band, but Kevin Jonas appears to have known what he was doing when he left the group. And his brothers seem to be okay with it as well!
Kevin Jonas – Entrepreneur
Kevin Jonas is now an entrepreneur, having founded a real estate firm as well as a restaurant-finding smartphone app. Jonas and his wife Danielle announced the release of a children’s book titled There’s a Rock Concert in My Bedroom in September 2021.
Danny Lloyd – Biology Professor
In Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 masterpiece The Shining, Danny Lloyd gave one of the most memorable performances in horror film history as Danny Torrance. Lloyd, however, did not pursue a career as an actor despite his powerful, memorable, and, let’s face it, creepy performance.
Danny Lloyd – Biology Professor
Lloyd joined the biology department at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, as an associate professor in 2004. Lloyd made his first acting appearance in 38 years in a cameo role as a baseball game spectator in the Shining sequel Doctor Sleep in 2019.
MC Hammer – Ordained Minister
“Stop! It’s Hammer Time.” MC Hammer was a huge success as one of the first people to bring hip hop into the mainstream of popular music. His song “Can’t Touch This,” as well as his distinct appearance and “Hammer Pants,” are still well-known today.
MC Hammer – Ordained Minister
Hammer became an ordained minister after experiencing financial hardship and bankruptcy, and in addition to all of the entrepreneurial ventures he’s been involved in over the years, he now devotes his full time to his Christian calling.
Tony Danza – English Teacher
Who’s the boss? Tony Danza may or may not have been the boss at one point – but that’s debatable! – but he also taught English at Northeast High School in Philadelphia for a short time.
Tony Danza – English Teacher
He went back to acting after that, but not before writing and publishing I’d Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had: My Year as a Rookie Teacher at Northeast High, a memoir about his experiences.
Freddie Prinze Jr. – Cookbook Author
Freddie Prinze Jr. was one of the early 2000s’ “it” actors. Prinze, who starred in She’s All That and I Know What You Did Last Summer, is married to Sarah Michelle Geller, his slasher film co-star whom he met on set.
Freddie Prinze Jr. – Cookbook Author
Prinze, in addition to his acting career, is an avid home cook who has published a cookbook of his recipes titled Back to the Kitchen. Prinze explained why in an interview with 2020 People, “I had kids and not having a dad, it was always more important to me to be a present father,” he said, referring to his father’s death when he was a baby.
Jeff Cohen – Lawyer/Writer
Which Goonie is your favorite? Chunk, we’re willing to bet. He’s unquestionably ours. However, Jeff Cohen, who starred as Chunk in the 1985 blockbuster The Goonies, chose not to capitalize on his Hollywood success.
Jeff Cohen – Lawyer Writer
Instead, he pursued a career as a lawyer. He attended the prestigious University of California, Berkeley, and in addition to founding his own law firm, Cohen & Gardner, he writes for the Huffington Post on a regular basis.
Carrie Henn
“Carrie Henn” isn’t a well-known name, owing to the fact that she only appeared in one film. But that one film – 1986’s Aliens – is considered an action/horror/sci-fi classic, and Henn has earned a place of honor among the franchise’s devoted fans.
Carrie Henn
Henn returned to school after her brief stint in Hollywood, eventually becoming a California schoolteacher, though she still attends fan conventions and corresponds with her Aliens co-star, Sigourney Weaver.
Doris Day – Animal Rights Activist
Doris Day’s meteoric rise to fame ensured that she would be remembered for the rest of her life. Her contributions to American culture are undeniable, as evidenced by films like Young at Heart (1954), The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), Pillow Talk (1959), and Move Over, Darling (1963).
Doris Day – Animal Rights Activist
Despite the lasting impression she’s made, she hasn’t acted since the 1970s. Instead, she’s concentrating on another issue: animal welfare. Day is the founder of a number of animal welfare organizations and has even co-authored a book on the subject. She owns and operates a hotel in addition to her nonprofit work.
Lark Voorhies – Author
Lark Voorhies’ portrayal of Lisa Marie Turtle on NBC’s Saved By the Bell was a hit, but she chose to end her illustrious acting career. Third Degree, an alternative band, was founded by Voorhies, who was also the lead singer.
Lark Voorhies – Author
However, she has been concentrating on a different creative endeavor since 2010, and she is now a published author. Reciprocity, Trek of the Cheshire, and A True Light were all self-published by Voorhies.
Grace Kelly – Princess
Some people’s entire lives, both inside and outside of Hollywood, are extraordinary and magical. Grace Kelly only acted for 6 years, but in that time she won several Golden Globes, an Academy Award, a New York Film Critics Circle Award, and a BAFTA nomination, as well as starring in three classic Hitchcock films – all before she was 26.
Grace Kelly – Princess
Kelly met and fell in love with Rainier Louis Henri Maxence Bertrand Grimaldi, better known as Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, after her meteoric success and inevitable rise to fame. Grace became a real-life princess after Kelly and Rainier III married in a fairytale-like story.
Rick Moranis – Stay-at-Home Dad
Rick Moranis is best known for his roles in Ghostbusters, Little Shop of Horrors, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, and Spaceballs to American and international audiences, but to Canadians, he’ll always be Bob McKenzie from SCTV (Second City Television).
Rick Moranis – Stay At Home Dad
Moranis, who is still regarded as a huge comedic star today, retired from acting in 1997 to focus on raising his children after his wife’s untimely death. Since then, he’s been on a hiatus from acting, but in recent years, he’s slowly reappeared in a few select projects.
Brittany Ashton Holmes – Student
Brittany Ashton Holmes is best known for her role as Darla in the 1994 film The Little Rascals, which she played when she was only five years old. She was also a cast member of Ellen (1994) and We Hate Paul Revere (2014).
Brittany Ashton Holmes – Student
Brittany left acting for good after a few other roles between the ages of 5 and 7. Brittany now lives and works in Los Angeles, where she is also pursuing a degree in political science.
Shirley Temple – Politician and Ambassador
Shirley Temple is arguably the most famous child star of all time. She has had a cocktail and a hairstyle named after her since she was five years old in 1932, and she starred in countless films between 1932 and 1949.
Shirley Temple – Politician And Ambassador
She did not, however, retire after her film career was completed. Temple went on to become a political figure, serving as US Ambassador to Ghana from 1974 to 1976 and then to Czechoslovakia from 1989 to 1992.
Andrew Shue – Entrepreneur and Soccer Player
Between 1992 and 1998, Andrew Shue was a huge heartthrob as Billy Campbell on Melrose Place, but after his acting career ended, he went on to play professional soccer for the Bulawayo Highlanders in Zimbabwe top league, and later for several professional soccer teams in the United States.
Andrew Shue – Entrepreneur And Soccer Player
In addition to his sports career, Shue founded two prominent online businesses, “DoSomething” and “CafeMom,” the latter of which was the most visited by women on the entire internet in 2007.
Meghan Markle – Duchess
Meghan Markle was a successful actress on the hit lawyer show Suits when she met Prince Harry of the British Royal Family. The two decided to get married in mid-2018.
Meghan Markle – Duchess
Markle gave up her acting career to focus on her new royal responsibilities. They eventually settled in California, where she grew up, to pursue business ventures and charity work. Archie and Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor are their two children.
Phoebe Cates – Charity Work
Phoebe Cates is probably best known for her role in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, but after her film success, she decided to take a break from the entertainment industry.
Phoebe Cates – Charity Work
Cates now devotes her time to charity work and raising awareness for Juvenile Diabetes. Cates provided the voice of Kate Beringer from Gremlins for the video game Lego Dimensions in 2015.
Karyn Parsons – Film Producer
On The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Karyn Parsons played Hilary, Will Smith’s cousin. Despite the opportunities that came her way, Parsons chose to work behind the scenes, founding Sweet Blackberry, an animated film production company that funds and produces films about unsung African-American heroes.
Karyn Parsons – Film Producer
Parsons has also written two children’s books: How High the Moon (2019), a middle-grade novel loosely based on stories about her mother’s childhood in the Jim Crow South, and Flying Free (2020), a picture-book biography of Bessie Coleman illustrated by R. Gregory Christie.
Tom Selleck – Avocado Farmer
The man with the mustache, Tom Selleck. Selleck made his name and fortune as Thomas Magnum in Magnum P.I., and he is unquestionably one of television’s biggest and most iconic stars.
Tom Selleck – Avocado Farmer
He decided to retire to a 60-acre ranch in California, where he still manages an avocado farm. He did, of course, return to acting, most recently in CBS’s Blue Bloods.
Hayden Christensen – Farmer
Hayden Christensen, a Canadian actor, had a few minor roles before actually rising to film history notoriety in 2002 as Anakin Skywalker in the second two Star Wars prequels. Great!
Hayden Christensen – Farmer
The movies were huge commercial successes, but Christensen decided he wanted a simpler life and moved to his own farm in Ontario, where he gradually learned how to be a farmer through trial and error.
Geena Davis – Social Activist
Geena Davis is a phenomenal actress who has a special place in cinematic history thanks to her roles in Thelma & Louise and Cutthroat Island. Being a strong female star, on the other hand, isn’t easy.
Geena Davis – Social Activist
Davis has shifted her focus from acting to social activism in recent years, founding the Geena Davis Institute of Gender in Media, which conducts important research on female representation in television and film, as well as advocacy for equal representation of women in these fields.
Vanilla Ice – Real Estate
Vanilla Ice’s 1989 hip hop hit “Ice Ice Baby” catapulted him to pop stardom, but despite his initial success, he became concerned in the mid-’90s that his musical career might not be able to support him, so he began studying real estate and even published a book on the subject.
Vanilla Ice – Real Estate
Vanilla Ice now runs a successful real estate company in addition to his musical career. Ice narrated a BBC Radio 5 Live documentary podcast about the theft of the racehorse Shergar in June 2021.
Jim Carrey – Director and Artist
Jim Carrey is one of the most talented, well-known, and financially successful actors in Hollywood. The Canadian actor has starred in a slew of classic films and has left an indelible mark in both comedy and drama.
Jim Carrey – Director And Artist
In recent years, however, the actor has shown a greater interest in directing theater and documentaries, as well as his own art, which he creates in a small New York studio.
Arnold Schwarzenegger – State Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger embodies the American Dream in every way. Schwarzenegger began lifting weights at the age of 15 and went on to win the Mr. Universe title at the age of 20, followed by seven Mr. Olympia titles.
Arnold Schwarzenegger – State Governor
Schwarzenegger rose through the ranks, first as a bodybuilder, then as an actor, and finally as the governor of the United States’ most populous state, California, where he served two terms.
Steven Seagal – Policeman
Steven Seagal, along with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jean Claude Van Damme, is regarded as one of Hollywood’s greatest action stars, went on to star in films such as Under Siege (1992).
Steven Seagal – Policeman
Seagal is also a real-life action hero, volunteering as a reserve police officer in Louisiana. In 2016, he received both Russian and Serbian citizenship. He was appointed Russia’s special envoy to the United States in 2018.
Big Hoss – Working at the Family Store
“Big Hoss,” Corey Harrison, is an American television personality who is best known for his work at the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas, which he co-owns with his father, Rick Harrison, on the documentary television show “Pawn Stars.”
Big Hoss – Working At The Family Store
Harrison made an appearance in “iLost My Head in Vegas,” a November 3, 2012 episode of the American TV series iCarly, alongside his father Rick and Chumlee. Hoss has been out of the spotlight since 2016, and he continues to work in his father’s and grandfather’s stores.
Gene Hackman – Writer
Gene Hackman was once a well-known actor. He first rose to fame in 1967 with the release of Bonnie and Clyde, for which he won and was nominated for multiple Academy Awards, BAFTAs, and Golden Globes.
Gene Hackman – Writer
Since then, he’s appeared in films such as The French Connection, Superman: The Movie, Crimson Tide, Enemy of the State, Get Shorty, and many others – but the successful actor’s talent isn’t limited to acting: in 1999, he began writing novels, and in 2004 he left his acting career to devote himself full-time to his writing. So far, he has published five novels.
Cameron Diaz – Investor
Cameron Diaz’s career was on fire in the 1990s, with roles in films like The Mask (1994), My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997), and There’s Something About Mary (1998). After starring in Annie in 2014, however, she vanished from the big screen, leaving the world confused.
Cameron Diaz – Investor
When the megastar announced her retirement from acting in 2017, it answered everyone’s questions. The former actress and published author have invested in health and biotech startups since retiring from acting. EEEEEATSCON, The Infatuation’s annual food festival, featured her as a keynote speaker in May 2019.
Lisa and Louise Burns – Lawyer and Microbiologist
The Shining, directed by Stanley Kubrick in 1980, is one of the best and most terrifying horror films ever made, and who can forget the menacing Grady twins? Did you know that Kubrick was looking for sisters, not twins, when he cast the roles? He didn’t decide to cast twins until the Burns twins auditioned because they were creepier.
Lisa And Louise Burns – Lawyer And Microbiologist
Their roles in the film made them well-known, but they were also typecast. The Burns twins took a break from acting after starring in the horror film and went on to become lawyers, while Louise went on to become a published microbiologist.
John Cassisi – Convicted Felon
John Cassisi was discovered by Bugsy Malone and Fish director Alan Parker, who went to a Brooklyn classroom and asked students to nominate the “naughtiest,” who happened to be Cassisi.
John Cassisi – Convicted Felon
Cassisi’s acting career, however, was brief—those were his first and last acting roles, and he left the industry in 1982. From there, he moved into construction and eventually rose to the position of Director of Global Construction for Citigroup. According to The New York Times, he pled guilty to a bribery scheme in 2015 and was sentenced to two years in prison and a $500,000 forfeiture.
Steven Anthony Lawrence – Acting Coach
Steven Anthony Lawrence starred in The Even Stevens Movie, Cheaper by the Dozen, That’s So Raven, Married… with Children, and The Amanda Show, and was best known for his role as Bernard “Beans” Aranguren in Even Stevens. Lawrence struggled to find adult roles after becoming well-known as a child actor.
Steven Anthony Lawrence – Acting Coach
Lawrence has only had a few roles since 2015, but he hasn’t completely abandoned acting—he teaches acting classes to young students. As he told Business Insider, he coaches “anybody that’s hungry.”
Lisa Whelchel – Author
Lisa Whelchel is an accomplished singer and songwriter who is best known for her appearances as a Mouseketeer on The New Mickey Mouse Club and her role in The Facts of Life. Whelchel’s album All Because of You received a Grammy nomination.
Lisa Whelchel – Author
She also appeared on reality television, where she competed in Survivor and placed second, winning the fan favorite award. She hasn’t appeared on television since the 1980s, but she has written ten books, many of which are about motherhood, homeschooling, and adult relationships.
Erik Estrada – Police Officer
Erik Estrada is best known for playing officer Francis (Frank) Llewelyn “Ponch” Poncherello in the cop drama CHiPs, which aired from 1977 to 1983. Despite the fact that he went on to star in a slew of TV shows and movies, as well as participate in a couple of reality shows, his role in CHiPs left an indelible impression on him.
Erik Estrada – Police Officer
Estrada is now a police officer and an I.C.A.C. (Internet Crimes Against Children) investigator, and you can find him riding a police motorcycle. He is a reserve police officer as of 2016.
Al Green – Pastor
Al Green was a well-known soul singer in the 1970s, with hits like “Take Me to the River,” “Let’s Stay Together,” and “I’m Still in Love with You.” Green, an 11-time Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, has a soul.
Al Green – Pastor
Al Green is now a pastor, in case you didn’t know. After falling off the stage and injuring himself, Green became an ordained pastor and turned to gospel music. He took it as a message and prayed to God, directing his attention to his church.
Ali MacGraw – Yoga Teacher
Ali MacGraw was a real beauty in the 1970s and 1980s, and she became a household name after starring in Goodbye, Columbus in 1969, for which she won the Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer. She went on to star in Love Story in 1970 and was named the world’s top female box office star in 1972.
Ali MacGraw – Yoga Teacher
Although nothing seemed to be slowing down her career, she found a new passion in yoga. In her early 50s, she became a Hatha Yoga devotee and co-produced Ali MacGraw: Yoga Mind and Body, a bestselling yoga video with American yoga master Erich Schiffmann.
Shaquille O’Neal – Doctorate in Education and Reserve Officer
Shaquille O’Neal, better known by his nickname Shaq, is a legendary basketball player. The 7-foot-1-inch four-time NBA champion played for the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, and Miami Heat during his 19-year career in the league. But, aside from basketball, he has a plethora of hidden abilities.
Shaquille O’Neal – Doctorate In Education And Reserve Officer
O’Neal has four rap albums under his belt, has appeared in numerous films and reality shows, and holds an MBA and a doctorate in education. He’s also a reserve officer, and he was awarded an honorary U.S. Deputy Marshal title.
Jon Gosselin – Waiter
Jon Gosselin is best known for his role on the reality TV show Jon & Kate Plus 8, which aired from 2007 to 2009. While we were falling in love with Jon and Kate, their marriage was falling apart right in front of our eyes. The breakup was messy and made headlines, but we didn’t hear much more from Jon after that, except that he was stripping at a male revue in Atlantic City in 2017.
Jon Gosselin – Waiter
Aside from that, Jon has been working as a waiter and prep cook in Pennsylvania restaurants, as well as DJing on the side. He is an IT director at a private, non-profit healthcare facility as of 2020.
Michael Maronna – Electrician
Michael Maronna is best known for his roles as “Big Pete” Wrigley on The Adventures of Pete & Pete from 1989 to 1996. Despite the fact that his last acting credits were in 2013, he didn’t completely vanish from the scene.
Michael Maronna – Electrician
Maroona is now an electrician in New York, working on films and television shows such as Sex and the City and Be Kind Rewind. He also has a podcast with Danny Tamberelli, who plays Pete on The Adventures of Pete & Pete.
Danny Tamberelli – Podcast Host
Danny Tamberelli, who played Little Pete in The Adventures of Pete & Pete, went on to have a successful career as a voice actor, starring in The Magic School Bus from 1994 to 1997, 1992’s The Mighty Ducks, and 2013’s Grand Theft Auto. On All That, he was also a member.
Danny Tamberelli – Podcast Host
Tamberelli is the bassist and vocalist for the rock band Jounce and Every Good Boy, in addition to acting. He co-hosts a podcast with Michael Maronna, a former cast member of The Adventures of Pete & Pete, and is a founding member of the sketch comedy group Manboobs.
George Foreman – Christian Minister and Entrepreneur
Between 1967 and 1997, George Foreman, also known as “Big George,” was a two-time world heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist. We bet you didn’t know that after a brief retirement in the 1970s, he became a Christian minister and established a youth center.
George Foreman – Christian Minister And Entrepreneur
As well as being a professional boxer, George Foreman is also known for being the man behind the George Foreman grill. Since its introduction in 1994, the grill has sold over 100 million units!
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – Writer
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA for 20 years. The six-time NBA champion has been dubbed “the greatest basketball player of all time” by many coaches and players.
Kareem Abdul Jabbar – Writer
He retired as the NBA’s all-time leader in points scored, games played, and career wins. Abdul-Jabbar went on to act, coach, and become a martial artist after retiring from basketball. He is also a best-selling author. He’s penned more than 15 books!
Nikki Blonsky – Blogger
After starring as Tracy Turnblad in 2007’s Hairspray, Nikki Blonsky was discovered at an open casting call for unknowns and landed her big break. She had no prior professional acting experience, but after seeing the musical on Broadway, she knew she wanted to play Tracy.
Nikki Blonsky – Blogger
She’s largely disappeared from the spotlight since Hairspray, appearing in only a few TV shows, including Huge in 2010 and Smash in 2013, as well as a few film roles. To make ends meet, she worked as a hairdresser and cosmologist. As of 2020, you can find her on her Instagram account, where she hosts a video blogging series in which she interviews other celebrities.
Kurtis Blow – Ordained Minister
Kurtis Blow was the first commercially successful rapper to sign with a major label, and his song “The Breaks” was the first rap song to be certified gold. He released 15 albums during his career before becoming a born-again Christian in 1994 and an ordained minister in 2009.
Kurtis Blow – Ordained Minister
Blow, a rapper, DJ, worship leader, and licensed minister, originally founded The Hip Hop Church in Harlem, where he has combined his love of music with his love of God.
Michael Schoeffling – Woodworker
It’s no surprise that Michael Schoeffling modeled for GQ before stealing our hearts as Jake Ryan in Sixteen Candles in 1984. Before retiring from acting, he appeared in eight films, including Vision Quest (1985), Mermaids (1990), and Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken (1991).
Michael Schoeffling – Woodworker
He currently owns a woodworking shop and makes handcrafted furniture. He also enjoys spending time with his family, as evidenced by this photo of him and his daughter Scarlett as a baby.
Jennifer Stone – Nurse
Jennifer Stone became a fan favorite after her role as Harper Finkle on Wizards of Waverly Place from 2007 to 2017, as well as in the 2009 film Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie. She went on to star in a number of films, including Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars in 2010 and Mean Girls 2 in 2011, but she’s now gone from the spotlight at the age of 28.
Jennifer Stone – Nurse
Stone left acting to pursue a career as a nurse after being diagnosed with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults at the age of 20. She wanted to learn more about her disease.
Reed Alexander – Journalist
Reed Alexander is best known for his role as Nevel Papperman on the Nickelodeon show iCarly, which he played from 2007 to 2012 and later reprised in a 2014 episode of Sam & Cat. The 27-year-old actor has kept busy since then.
Reed Alexander – Journalist
She was working on a website for young people about healthy eating while earning her bachelor’s degree in media studies and broadcast journalism from New York University and a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University. He’s currently a financial news reporter for Insider, and you can see him in the iCarly revival in 2021.
Bridgit Mendler – Law Student
Bridgit Mendler, who played Juliet van Heusen on Wizards of Waverly Place, is another actress on this list. She went on to star in Good Luck Chuck from 2010 to 2014, Undatable from 2015 to 2016, and Nashville in 2017.
Bridgit Mendler – Law Student
She’s been a graduate student and researcher at MIT since 2017, with a focus on improving social media, while her career was just getting started. She began her studies at Harvard Law School in 2019.