Ever pause and ask yourself what becomes of a star who’s had enough of red carpets and popping cameras? Hollywood is good at drawing people in, but not always at retaining them. For some, the fame, stress, or lifestyle simply aren’t adequate, and they swap celebrity for something simpler, more fulfilling—or simply a good ol’ change. From child stars to music legends, these are 16 stars who stunned fans by leaving fame behind, beginning with the newest.
16. Mara Wilson
The star of Mrs. Doubtfire and Matilda moved out of the limelight in 2000. Wilson has stated that acting became linked with worry and rejection for her, so she switched to writing instead. She is now an author with two books to her name, one of which is a memoir about her years as a child actor.
15. Shirley Temple
Way before Hollywood produced a seemingly endless array of child stars, there was Shirley Temple, the child star. But she stunned the planet by retiring at 22, claiming she’d “had enough of pretend.” Instead, she embarked on a distinguished diplomatic career, serving as a U.S. ambassador.
14. Phoebe Cates
80s staples such as Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Gremlins made her a legend, but by the early 1990s, Cates had retired from acting. She opted for domestic bliss with husband Kevin Kline and subsequently opened a boutique in New York City.
13. Adrian Grenier
Best known as Vincent Chase in Entourage, Grenier traded Hollywood for Texas. After two decades in the industry, he said he wanted a life rooted in family and nature. While he hasn’t quit acting completely, he only takes on projects that truly align with his values.
12. Rick Astley
He gave us “Never Gonna Give You Up,” then disappeared from the music scene for nearly three decades. Burned out and disillusioned with the pop world, Astley walked away. He’s since returned to performing, but strictly on his own terms.
11. Ian Somerhalder
Following The Vampire Diaries, Somerhalder quit acting in 2019 to relocate to a farm with his family. His new interest? Environmental activism, ranging from regenerative agriculture to climate change documentaries. As far as he is concerned, he doesn’t miss acting at all.
10. Jennifer Stone
Redeemed as Harper on Wizards of Waverly Place, Stone quit acting to pursue nursing. She announced on Instagram that she went onto the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic, influenced by the nurses that she looked up to.
9. Erik von Detten
Disney golden boy of Brink! And The Princess Diaries traded acting for a finance career. He said that Hollywood instability didn’t agree with his vision of having a big family and being financially secure.
8. Peter Ostrum
Recognize him as Charlie in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory? That was his sole movie part. Ostrum then took a whole different route—practicing as a dairy veterinarian. He’s reported having no regrets about hanging up his Hollywood hat.
7. Kay Panabaker
Having appeared in Summerland and Cyber Bully, Panabaker quit acting in 2012. She pursued her true passion—animals—and is now a zookeeper at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
6. Rick Moranis
The popular Honey, I Shrunk the Kids star walked away from the movies in the ’90s after his wife died. He decided to raise his children as a single dad, later commenting that he never regretted putting his family first instead of his acting career.
5. Bridgit Mendler
From Good Luck Charlie to Lemonade Mouth, Mendler appeared to be headed for long-term Hollywood stardom. Instead, she went on to attend MIT and Harvard for higher studies, and today she’s the CEO of her own space startup, Northwood Space. She’s also a new mom—and considers parenthood her best role.
4. Frankie Muniz
The Malcolm in the Middle actor left the craft of acting to follow his dreams and get behind the wheel of racing cars and making music. Although he’s due to resurface for a reboot, his hiatus afforded him time to live out hobbies away from Hollywood.
3. Erik Per Sullivan
Another Malcolm in the Middle graduate, Sullivan (Dewey), quit acting in 2010. He’s currently pursuing a course in Victorian Literature and, in the words of ex-co-star Jane Kaczmarek, just lost interest in the game.
2. Jonathan Taylor Thomas
One of the biggest teen idols of the ’90s, Thomas left Home Improvement and put school first—studying at Columbia, Harvard, and St. Andrew’s University. He told People he just wanted a normal student life after years of nonstop work.
1. Karyn Parsons
She was best known to her fans as Hilary Banks from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, but Parsons’ true passion turned out to be story and education. Having left acting, she established the nonprofit Sweet Blackberry, which educates children about Black history, and raised a family.
From sitcom stars to music icons, these celebrities demonstrate that sometimes the best career change is ditching fame. Whetherit’ss raising children, saving lives, starting companies, or simply opting for peace instead of paparazzi, their stories reveal that life after Hollywood can be even richer than fame.