It is difficult for us, mere mortals, to imagine celebrities living unhappy lives, but it does happen. The pace, pressure, media, and travel can all be overwhelming. They want to take a break to do something else they enjoy. People usually forget they started in Hollywood once they’ve settled back into “normal life.” So, who are the celebrities who have traded in their fame for a simpler life? Continue reading to find out who these famous people are!
Kirk Cameron – Religion
Kirk Cameron is best known for his role on the TV show Growing Pains. Despite receiving two Golden Globe nominations, he decided to give up acting in order to devote more time to his faith. He is very involved in his Church, hosts an evangelical television show, and occasionally appears on television.
Kirk Cameron – Religion
Josh Saviano – Lawyer
Josh Saviano has ended his career in Hollywood for good. He rose to prominence as a result of his role on The Wonder Years. Following the show, he attended Yale and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science. After that, he decided to pursue a law degree and graduated from Cardozo Law School. He was a lawyer at Morrison Cohen LLP for many years and is now working on his own legal projects.
Josh Saviano – Lawyer
Greta Garbo
Leaving Hollywood at the height of your career is almost unheard of. Greta Garbo, on the other hand, did exactly that. The three-time Academy Award nominee began her silent film career before making her speaking debut in Anna Christie in 1930. After a period of “box office poison,” she decided to retire at the age of 35. Garbo relished her retirement vacation lifestyle. She also began a massive art collection that was worth millions of dollars by the time she died.
Greta Garbo
Peter Ostrum – Veterinarian
Peter Ostrum is best remembered for his role as Charlie in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. He realized that acting was not his true calling and that he wanted to do something to help animals. He graduated from Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine with a degree in veterinary medicine. He is currently a practicing veterinarian who primarily treats horses.
Peter Ostrum – Veterinarian
Danny Lloyd
Danny Lloyd portrayed Danny Torrance in the horror film “The Shining.” In 1982, he stopped acting. Lloyd quit acting when he was 13 or 14 years old because he was tired of the auditioning process. He has no qualms about what he’s done. As of 2017, he is employed as a teacher at a community college in Kentucky.
Dany Lloyd
MC Hammer
MC Hammer (Stanley Kirk Burrell) had an illustrious musical career. From the late 1980s to the early 1990s, he had phenomenal commercial success and popularity. He decided to change careers after amassing a debt of over 13 million dollars. He now officiates weddings, teaches, and creates Apple apps.
MC Hammer
Jeff Cohen – Lawyer/Writer
Jeff Cohen’s chubby character in The Goonies is well-known. He performed the song “Chunk.” He worked hard to change his image after the film. He started playing football and quickly lost a lot of weight. He attended Berkeley College and then UCLA Law School. He continues to practice law to this day. We’re proud of you, Jeff!
Jeff Cohen Lawyer/Writer
Gary Coleman – Security Guard
Gary Coleman became a household name in the 1970s and 1980s after starring in the hit television show Diff’rent Strokes. He was a charming young actor who charmed Americans with his wit. His career, however, appears to have been brief. Coleman struggled financially later in life, despite being regarded as one of the most promising stars of the time. Unfortunately, he died in 2010 while working as a security guard.
Gary Coleman
Jonathan Taylor Thomas – Harvard Graduate
Jonathan Taylor Thomas was a super cute teen heartthrob. He is best known for his roles as Randy Taylor on Home Improvement and as young Simba in Disney’s The Lion King in 1994 and Pinocchio in New Line Cinema’s The Adventures of Pinocchio in 1996. He decided to stop acting to further his education. He went to Harvard, Columbia, and St. Andrew’s University in Scotland for his education. JTT, those are some impressive schools!
Jonathan Taylor Thomas – Harvard Graduate
Carrie Henn
Carrie Hen co-starred with Sigourney Weaver in Alien as the adorable girl. The Saturn Award for “Best Performance by a Younger Actor/Actress” went to Henn. In the same year, she was nominated for the Young Artist Awards. That was her sole responsibility. She chose to become a teacher and is still doing so!
Carrie Henn
Doris Day
Doris Day was the talk of the town in the 1960s and 1970s, becoming one of the biggest stars of the era. Her name will never be forgotten as a true Hollywood legend. However, after dealing with personal issues of her own, this celebrity stepped away from the limelight. She shifted her focus to her family and even assisted in the recovery of injured animals!
Doris Day
Lark Voorhies
On Saved by the Bell, Lark Voorhies played Lisa Turtle. She had been nominated for the Young Artist Award six times and had won for her work on the show in 1990 and 1993. Throughout her career, she has had a few minor acting roles. She quit acting to pursue a career in writing. So far, she’s had three books published!
Lark Voorhies
Barret Oliver
Barret Oliver, who began his career as a child actor, briefly stole our hearts in The Never Ending Story. His acting career came to an end when he became an adult after his final role in 1989 and decided acting was not for him. He decided that acting was not for him and that he would rather be on the other side of the camera. He now works in printing and photography, and he has had a lot of success in these fields. His work has been displayed in museums and gallery exhibitions.
Barret Oliver
Rick Moranis
This Canadian actor is best known for his roles in Ghostbusters, Little Shop of Horrors, and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids in Hollywood films. After the death of his wife in 1991, Rick decided to take a six-year break from acting to focus on his children. The traveling that came with filming was too much for a single parent to handle. He has, however, made a comeback to voice acting in the last decade.
Rick Moranis
Brittany Ashton Holmes
Brittany Ashton Holmes became well-known for her role as Darla in Little Rascals. Her acting career was brief, and she decided that she did not want to be in the spotlight as she grew older. She is a barista and is currently pursuing a political science degree.
Brittany Ashton Holmes
Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple received a special youth Oscar at the age of seven for her contribution to film in the year 1935. By the age of 22, Temple had completely lost interest in acting. She rose to prominence as a politician and diplomat in the 1960s, eventually becoming the US ambassador to Czechoslovakia in 1989.
Shirley Temple
Andrew Shue
Shue, the Melrose Place’s young heartthrob, became one of the world’s most famous mommy bloggers for seven years in the 1990s. The former actor co-founded CaféMom with his childhood best friend, Michael Sanchez, who exchanged scripts for content. CaféMom is a social networking site for women’s interests that provides support, advice, and recommendations.
Andrew Shue
Amanda Bynes
Amanda Bynes was a child actress who went on to have a successful acting career as an adult. She made the decision to leave the spotlight to pursue a career in fashion design. She was best known for her television and film work in the 1990s and 2000s. She’s won a slew of awards, including seven Kids’ Choice Awards and one from the Critics’ Choice Awards.
Amanda Bynes
Angus T. Jones
Angus T. Jones became well-known for his role in Two and a Half Men. After he left the show, he faced some backlash in his personal life and in the media. He became a Seventh-Day Adventist and worked for P.Diddy’s multimedia company.
Angus T. Jones
Jack Gleeson
In Game of Thrones, Jack Gleeson played King Joffrey, who was not so lovely. He decided to take a break from acting because he didn’t enjoy it as much as he used to. He’s currently a full-time student trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life.
Jack Gleeson
Mara Wilson
Mara Wilson was a fantastic actress when she was younger! She gave memorable performances in films such as Matilda, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Miracle on 34th Street. Instead of continuing her acting career, she chose to focus on writing and philanthropy. She wrote a book about her experiences as a child, which was published in 2016. Wilson is currently employed by Publicolor, a New York-based nonprofit.
Mara Wilson
Danica McKellar
Danica McKellar is best known for her role as Winnie Cooper in The Wonder Years. She is a gifted individual. She was gifted in school and received a summa cum laude from UCLA with a mathematics degree. She has several math books under her belt, including “Math Doesn’t Suck.” She brought math to the small screen with her show Math Bites.
Danica McKellar
Frankie Muniz
Frankie Muniz was a massive star in the 1990s. He is best known for his leading role in Malcolm in the Middle. He received two Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe nominations. That’s fantastic! In addition to acting, he is a gifted race car driver. He is still competing in race cars today.
Frankie Muniz
Andrea Barber
Andrea Barber is best known for her role as Kimmy Gibbler in Full House. She recently returned as her original character in the Netflix reboot. After leaving Full House, she attended Whittier College in California, where she earned an English degree. She went on to study at the University of York after that. She returned to the United States to direct Whittier’s international study program.
Andrea Barber
Tony Danza
Tony Danza is an actor and a former professional boxer. After Who’s The Boss? wrapped, he starred in the reality show Teach: Tony Danza, in which he taught a 10th grade English class in Philadelphia. His goal was to raise awareness about the state of education in the United States.
Tony Danza
Karl Malone
Karl Malone’s super-successful basketball career is in the past for the 55-year-old. Following his time on the court, Malone took on a variety of interesting jobs. He wrestled as well as taking his shot at the silver screen. After all of that, he decided to become a lumber trucker.
Karl Malone
Terrell Owens
In the NFL, Terrell Owens has made quite a name for himself. There’s something else in his eyes now that he’s retired from the pitch. While he has been offered a variety of jobs, it appears that his heart is telling him to pursue a modeling career. Amazing right?
Terrell Owens
Macaulay Culkin
Who could forget about our favorite eight-year-old who was left home alone? Although he disappeared for the most part when he was in his late teens, we’ve seen him make cameo appearances here and there. One example of this was his Google spoof commercial for Home Alone. He’s currently pursuing a newfound passion: forming a comedic rock band.
Macaulay Culkin
Danielle Fishel
Danielle Fishel starred as Topanga in the hit ’90s sitcom Boy Meets World. She wanted to do something different after the show ended because it had lasted so long. Fishel chose to host the satirical show The Dish, and she reports for Popsugar. She recently reprised her role as Topanga in the Disney spin-off series Girl Meets World.
Daniel Fishel
Freddie Prinze, Jr.
Freddie Prinze Jr. was undeniably a teen heartthrob. He had major roles in I Know What You Did Last Summer, and She’s All That, both of which captivated audiences. Since leaving the big screen, he’s spent a lot of time cooking. He released his cookbook in 2016.
Freddie Prinze, Jr.
Lucy Liu
In Ling Woo, Lucy Liu portrayed Ally McBeal. She was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for her work! Of course, she was Alex in Charlie’s Angels as well. Aside from acting, she is involved in the visual arts. She creates paintings and photographs. Her work has been donated to a number of charities. Lucy, you’re incredible!
Lucy Liu
Elizabeth Berkley
Elizabeth Berkley is best known for her role in the television series Saved By The Bell. She has also appeared in a number of film and stage productions. She’s recently taken a break from acting and is focusing on writing. In 2011, she published Ask-Elizabeth, a self-help book.
Elizabeth Berkley
Linda Kozlowski
Unfortunately, Crocodile Dundee’s Linda Kozlowski is no longer an actress. She hasn’t worked in the industry in a long time. She married her ex-husband, Paul Hogan after they met on set. They’ve been married for 23 years and have a teenage son together! Since then, the couple has divorced, and Linda Kozlowski is rumored to be relocating to Morocco with her new partner, Moulay Hafid Baba. She is no longer in the entertainment industry and is focusing on her personal life.
Linda Kowoloski
Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey became a huge star in the 1990s thanks to films like Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and The Mask. He has taken a break from acting to pursue painting. For the past six years, that has been his sole focus. He even has his own show at a gallery in Las Vegas.
Jim Carrey
Steven Seagal
Steven Seagal was a martial arts instructor in Japan before returning to the United States to pursue acting. After retiring from acting, he went into law enforcement. He worked for the Louisiana Police Department as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff. Steven Seagal is a 7th-dan black belt in Aikido, according to Wikipedia. Isn’t it amazing?
Steven Seagal
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Sarah Michelle Gellar was, of course, Buffy for many years. We adore this show! Recently, she’s been pursuing her other passion: cooking. Foodstirs, her own start-up, was co-founded by her. It sells baking kits for kids. Freddie Prinze Jr. has been her husband for over 15 years! She also enjoys cooking.
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Vanilla Ice
Vanilla Ice is, of course, a rapper who rose to prominence in 1985. He is currently pursuing a career in real estate. He buys houses, renovates them, and then sells them. His show, The Vanilla Ice Project, airs on HGTV and features him overseeing home renovations.
Vanilla Ice
Gary Dourdan
Gary Dourdan is best known for his roles as Warrick Brown on CSI, Shazza Zulu on A Different World, and Mickey Monroe in the crime drama Righteous Villains. Did you know he spent eight years on CSI? His character was tragically killed off at the start of Season 9. He now collects cars and is pursuing a career as a DJ.
Gary Dourdan
Helen Hunt
Helen Hunt has been an actress since the age of ten! She is a gifted actress who has also won an Academy Award. She now works behind the camera as a producer. Hunt/Travel Productions, which she founded, is her own production company.
Helen Hunt
Nick Offerman
He plays Ron Swanson, a manly man, and has received a lot of positive feedback for his performance. He’s still acting, but he’s also working on a side project: carpentry. He enjoyed building ships and furniture. He is also known for his role as Richard McDonald in the film The Founder, in which he plays one of the brothers who founded the fast-food chain McDonald’s.
Nick Offerman
Barbi Benton
Barbi Benton is well-known as a charming Playboy Bunny. She’s also done TV, movies and has five albums under her belt! She’s a woman with a lot of talent. She left the entertainment industry in the 1980s to raise her children and now works in real estate.
Barbi Benton
Sharona Alperin
There’s a good chance you’ve heard the song ‘My Sharona.’ Doug Fieger wrote these lyrics for his 1979 hit after his then-girlfriend, Sharona. They’ve been together for four years. Alperin is now a real estate agent in Los Angeles, with a large number of clients in the entertainment industry.
Sharona Alperin
Al Franken
Al Franken is absolutely hilarious! On Saturday Night Live, he was a fantastic actor and writer. He was a fantastic writer and actor on Saturday Night Live. He’s also the author of several satirical books. He is running for a Senate seat because he is passionate about politics. He was elected to the Minnesota seat in 2009 and was re-elected in 2014. Fantastic!
Al Franken
Liam Gallagher
Liam Gallagher is a singer and songwriter from the United Kingdom. He is best known for being a member of Oasis, a well-known rock band from the 1990s. After leaving Oasis, he started his own clothing line, Pretty Green, and it is still going strong today. Gallagher is one of the most well-known British musicians, known for his brash and abrasive demeanor, penchant for wearing parkas, and distinctive singing style.
Liam Gallagher
Roseanne Barr
On the sitcom Roseanne, Roseanne Barr played a hilarious mother. She is now well-known for her political work, and she aspires to run for office. She ran for the Peace and Freedom Party in the 2012 presidential election. She came in sixth place. Since the election, she has appeared on numerous TV shows to discuss politics.
Roseanne Barr
Jon Gosselin
Jon became well-known as a result of the TLC show Jon and Kate Plus 8. Jon and his former wife were featured in the local media until the sextuplets were 17 months old when Discovery Health offered the couple a reality show about their family’s life. He divorced Kate in 2009 and worked a variety of jobs. He is currently working as a DJ in his hometown of Atlantic City.
Jon Gosselin
Chris Owen
Chris Owen is an American actor and photographer. He is best known for his roles in the American Pie film franchise as Chuck Sherman, a.k.a. The Sherminator, in American Pie, American Pie 2, American Pie Presents: Band Camp, and American Reunion. He is the only actor who has appeared in every film and project in the franchise. He still lives in Los Angeles and works as a waiter at a sushi restaurant.
Chris Owen
Ariana Richards
Ariana Richards was a child actress in the 1980s, appearing in films such as Tremors and Jurassic Park. Then, she decided to change careers and pursue painting. She attended Skidmore College and the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena to study art.
Ariana Richards
Tommy Rettig
Tommy is, of course, known for being Lassie’s best friend. In the mid-1960s television teen soap opera Never Too Young, he co-starred with another former child actor, Tony Dow, and recorded the song of the same name with the group The TR-4. After the show ended, he looked for other acting opportunities, but he was unsatisfied. He became a software engineer and worked with computers until his death in 1996.
Tommy Rettig
Mackenzie Rosman
Mackenzie Rosman is best known for playing Ruthie Camden in the TV show 7th Heaven. She spent the majority of her childhood and adolescence on the show. Outside of acting, she is a devoted philanthropist. She is most involved as chairwoman of Curefinders, a charity that helps children with cystic fibrosis.
Mackenzie Rosman