Let’s get real: to outsiders, Hollywood stardom is the ultimate dream. The red carpet, the popping flash bulbs, the throngs of devoted followers—it’s the life everyone aspires to. But for certain celebrities, that so-called glamorous facade comes with stress, uncertainty, and a grind that simply isn’t worth it. A surprising number of celebrities have opted to step off the stage, get away from the cameras, and live quieter, steadier, more grounded lives. Some traded scripts for stethoscopes, some traded movie sets for family dynamics, and a few pursued interests with no relation whatsoever to the spotlight. Here are 10 major stars who chose real life to be the part they really wanted to play.
10. Jennifer Stone
Best recognized as Harper on Wizards of Waverly Place, Jennifer Stone appeared to be meant to remain in Hollywood. But as her roles began to dwindle, she found a new purpose that was much more important to her. Stone set aside acting and became a registered nurse, eventually volunteering for the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. On World Health Day, she wrote about how proud she was to have made the career change, stating she discovered a purpose that far exceeded being an actress. Saving lives became a much larger role than any Disney Channel character could provide for Stone.
9. Erik von Detten
If you were a kid in the late ’90s or early 2000s, then Erik von Detten was ubiquitous—Disney Channel films such as Brink! Catapulted him to teen heartthrob status, and he even had a supporting role in The Princess Diaries. But unlike most of his generation, however, von Detten opted that Hollywood wasn’t where long-term security was. He retired quietly from acting and moved into a career in finance, describing in an interview why he wished to ensure a stable future for his family. Acting, although thrilling, wasn’t a guaranteed affair—and von Detten preferred sturdiness to stardom. These days, he lives as far away from the spotlight as possible, being a husband and father.
8. Peter Ostrum
Peter Ostrum’s is one of the strangest Hollywood tales. He played Charlie Bucket in the 1971 film classic Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, securing one of the most recognizable child performances ever. After that, however, he never performed again. Instead, Ostrum went on to study veterinary medicine, working as a dairy vet for decades in upstate New York. He confessed that the stresses of being a child star were not something he enjoyed, and he never wanted to go back to Hollywood. In 2023, he formally retired from veterinary practice, ending one part of his life after a long and productive career far removed from the camera.
7. Kay Panabaker
You may recall Kay Panabaker from teen soap operas such as Summerland or from appearing in Disney Channel’s Cyber Bully. But Panabaker abandoned acting entirely in 2012. Unlike so many others, however, she wasn’t pushed out—she just knew her heart was elsewhere. Panabaker returned to school, learned about zoology, and is now a zookeeper at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. In interviews, she has indicated that she grew tired of acting and found happiness working with animals. For her, swapping scripts for wildlife conservation wasn’t a career shift—it was an opportunity to do something she really loved daily.
6. Rick Moranis
Rick Moranis was a comedy icon in the ’80s and ’90s, with hits such as Ghostbusters and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. But disaster hit when his wife died in 1991, leaving him to bring up their two kids alone. Moranis decided to retreat from Hollywood altogether, prioritizing his family. Though he rejected numerous offers, he regrets nothing, explaining to The Hollywood Reporter that he enjoyed the slower, more realistic life he established beyond the business. Though fans have long wished he would return in full, Moranis is still one of Hollywood’s most highly regarded cases of an actor who preferred real life to fame.
5. Bridgit Mendler
Bridgit Mendler was a Disney darling with hits such as Good Luck Charlie and Lemonade Mouth, but instead of pursuing stardom, she focused on education and ingenuity. Mendler received a Master’s degree from MIT and a law degree from Harvard before starting her own space technology company, Northwood Space, which she currently heads as CEO. And on top of that, she’s also become a mother. For Mendler, being a success isn’t about walking on red carpets anymore—it’s about being a pioneer in science and technology and having a family. Her path proves that there’s more than one means to shine.
4. Frankie Muniz
Frankie Muniz was once one of the world’s most familiar child stars due to Malcolm in the Middle. When the show ended, though, Muniz chose not to pursue Hollywood acting. Instead, he set aside Hollywood for other interests, such as professional racing and being in a band. While word came out just recently that he would be reprising his role in a reboot of Malcolm in the Middle, for years, he was content leading a life far from the Hollywood shuffle. For Muniz, the thrill has always been in the pursuit of experiences—whether in the driver’s seat, under the stage lights, or just away from the glare.
3. Erik Per Sullivan
As Malcolm in the Middle’s youngest brother, Dewey, Erik Per Sullivan was a fan favorite. Unlike most child actors, however, he didn’t attempt to ride that stardom into adulthood. Instead, he quietly hung up acting in 2010 and went on to get educated. These days, he’s a graduate student studying Victorian Literature—a world away from sitcom stardom. His old TV mom, Jane Kaczmarek, had this to say in an interview: he’s doing great academically and had no real interest in acting following the show. Hollywood was simply a detour for Sullivan en route to a very different career.
2. Jonathan Taylor Thomas
Jonathan Taylor Thomas, also known as JTT, was the ’90s dream boy due to Home Improvement and being the voice of young Simba in The Lion King. But whereas everybody thought he was going to coast on that forever, Thomas decided to take a leap of faith and bail. Thomas quit Home Improvement before its last season to concentrate on school, studying at Columbia, Harvard, and St. Andrew’s in Scotland. While he’s made the occasional cameo appearance, Thomas has mostly lived a low-key, private existence. Although fans remain fond of him, JTT appears more than happy to bid adieu to Hollywood stardom.
1. Karyn Parsons
Karyn Parsons was a one-time Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star who became one of the most recognizable sitcom stars of the ’90s, playing Hilary Banks on the popular show. Once the show wrapped up, however, she took a divergent route. Parsons relocated to New York, learned filmmaking, had a family, and began Sweet Blackberry, a nonprofit that introduces untold Black history to children. In interviews, she’s told her priorities changed over the years, and juggling acting and motherhood proved too much. Now, she’s dedicated to teaching, storytelling, and community work—a heartwarming reminder that there is life after sitcom fame.
Fame may shine bright on the surface, but for these stars, leaving Hollywood wasn’t the conclusion—it was the start of something else. Whether they discovered purpose in family, science, animals, or activism, each of them showed that sometimes the most important role you can have is the one behind the camera.