Hollywood might sparkle with red carpet and popping cameras, but offscreen, it can be exhausting, even demoralizing. While others pursue the limelight for decades, still others leave to forge entirely new lives. From royalty to fashion designers to stay-at-home parents, these are 16 major celebrities who opted for life after Hollywood, and where they wound up.
16. Karyn Parsons
As Bel-Air’s Hilary Banks, Karyn Parsons was a sitcom legend. But when her show Lush Life was cancelled, she went in a different direction. She moved to New York, pursued a course of study in filmmaking, began a family, and founded Sweet Blackberry, a nonprofit organization that tells untold stories of Black history to children. “My interests were changing. I have no regrets whatsoever. My life is wonderful,” she’s said.
15. Michael J. Fox
The iconic Back to the Future actor revealed his retirement in 2020 after suffering from memory loss on set during The Good Fight shooting. His move was reminiscent of the experience of characters he had played earlier, knowing when to take a step back. For Fox, the decision was poignant but left an enduring legacy of hope and resilience.
14. Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen
After serving as the faces of Full House and dozens of tween films, the Olsen twins exchanged scripts for sketchpads. Following their 2004 film New York Minute, they transitioned and created fashion empires, The Row and Elizabeth & James. Spotted out in public on occasion nowadays, Mary-Kate and Ashley have wholly accepted their roles as designers rather than actresses.
13. Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly possessed it all: an Oscar, Alfred Hitchcock movies, and global fame. But at only 26 years of age, she stunned the world by retiring from Hollywood to wed Prince Rainier III of Monaco. As Princess Grace, she devoted herself to philanthropy and domestic life, leaving the most refined legacy in Hollywood annals.
12. Phoebe Cates
With Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Gremlins, Phoebe Cates solidified her status as an ’80s icon. By the mid-’90s, however, she retired to raise children with husband Kevin Kline. Except for a very brief 2001 comeback, Phoebe has remained retired, now operating Blue Tree, a New York City boutique.
11. Jane Fonda
Jane Fonda left fans stunned when she quit in 1991 after marrying media tycoon Ted Turner. She believed then that her acting career was behind her. But in 2005, after they divorced, she made a comeback to Hollywood with Monster-in-Law and subsequently Grace and Frankie. She had this to say about her break: “I left for 15 years. I feel very lucky.”
10. Ke Huy Quan
From Indiana Jon, es where he was called Short Ro, und to The Goo,nies where he was referred to as Data, Ke Huy Quan fell off the radar for about 20 years because there were no opportunities for Asian actors. He took up work as a stunt coordinator instead. Inspired by Crazy Rich Asians, he made a dramatic return in Everything Everywhere All at Once and won an Oscar, and got cast in Kung Fu Panda 4 and The White Lotus.
9. Brendan Fraser
Brendan Fraser ruled the late ’90s with The Mummy and other hits before health issues and personal demons drove him from the limelight. Years away from Hollywood, his powerful turn in The Whale brought anOscar, and brought him back to fans who’d been championing his comeback all along.
8. Ian Somerhalder
From Lost to The Vampire Diaries, Ian Somerhalder was beloved by fans. But in 2019, he chose to leave acting behind. Now, he resides on a farm with his wife, Nikki Reed, and their kids, along with pursuing business ventures and making documentaries about sustainable agriculture. “I loved what I did for a long time,” he explained. “I don’t miss any of it.”
7. Evangeline Lilly
Evangeline Lilly became popular on Lost and entered the world of Marvel with the Ant-Man franchise. But then, in 2024, she announced that she was abandoning Hollywood to pursue her humanitarian endeavors and personal satisfaction. “Walking away from what feels like the obvious path (fame and wealth) can be intimidating,” she posted, “but walking into your dharma swaps the fear with fulfillment.”
6. Cameron Diaz
From The Mask to Charlie’s Angels to Shrek, Cameron Diaz was ubiquitous until 2014, when she took a hiatus after Annie. She called her decade-long absence “the best 10 years” of her life, dedicating it to family and giving birth to daughter Raddix. Recently, however, she returned with Back in Action with Jamie Foxx.
5. Rick Moranis
Comedy icon Rick Moranis appeared in Ghostbusters, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, and Spaceballs. But since his wife died in 1991, he was left to bring up their kids, formally retiring by 1997. Other than some voice-over work, Rick has avoided the limelight. “I found I didn’t miss it,” he conceded.
4. Bridget Fonda
Cousin of Jane Fonda and daughter of Peter Fonda, Bridget established her own career through Single White Female and Jackie Brown. After 2002, however, she retired quietly to raise her family with composer Danny Elfman. When asked if she’d ever act again, she replied curtly: “No. I don’t think so. It’s too nice being a civilian.”
3. Shelley Duvall
With unforgettable performances in The Shining and Popeye, Shelley Duvall was once ubiquitous. But in 2002, she stepped back from Hollywood to tend her family in Texas. She reappeared briefly for an indie film before dying in July 2024. “It’s the longest sabbatical I ever took,” she once declared. “But it was for really important reasons to get in touch with my family again.”
2. Gene Hackman
Two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman officially retired after 2004’s Welcome to Mooseport. He has since lived a peaceful existence in New Mexico, working on novels and spending time in retirement. “The business for me is very stressful,” he said, “and it had gotten to the point where I just didn’t feel like I wanted to do it anymore.”
1. Daniel Day-Lewis
Famous for melting into his parts, Daniel Day-Lewis is the sole winner of three Best Actor Academy Awards. In 2017, following Phantom Thread, he declared himself retired from acting. “This is a personal choice and neither he nor his representatives will say anything else on the matter.” To his word, he has stayed hidden from view.
Life After the Spotlight
These stars left Hollywood behind, but in so many ways, the real drama of their lives only began after the cameras stopped filming. Whatever path they took, family, philanthropy, fashion, or farming, they demonstrated there’s life, and frequently happiness, beyond fame.