Hollywood is glitzy, glamorous, and famous—but not all actors desire to remain in the limelight for the rest of their lives. Some opt to trade movie stages for whole new experiences, catching fans off guard in the process. Here’s a countdown of 10 actors who abandoned Tinseltown for surprising careers. You’ll do a double-take!
10. Frankie Muniz – Race Car Driver
Everybody recalls Frankie Muniz from Malcolm in the Middle as the charming, hyperactive kid. But having dominated sitcom stardom, Muniz shifted his gears to racing, driving for Formula BMW USA, ARCA Menards, and more circuits. He’s also tried his hand at real estate, but racing is still his primary interest—lines of dialogue traded for laps around the circuit.
9. Eliza Dushku – Therapist-in-Training & Activist
Buffy faithful recognize Eliza Dushku as the unapologetic Faith. Today, she’s devoting her time to aiding others to heal. Since leaving acting in 2017, Dushku has been a board director for THRIVE-Gulu, supporting survivors of war, and is working toward a master’s degree in counseling and clinical mental health. She’s also researching psychedelic-assisted therapy—a career change as daring as some of her TV stunts.
8. Cameron Diaz – Author & Entrepreneur
Golden girl of Hollywood Cameron Diaz, the star of The Mask, There’s Something About Mary, and Charlie’s Angels, retired from acting after Annie in 2014. Diaz turned to wellness and entrepreneurship, co-launching organic wine company Avaline, authoring The Longevity Book, and investing in health and biotech venture firms. She did make an exception for Back in Action, but her passion isn’t in Hollywood.
7. Peter Ostrum – Veterinarian
Peter Ostrum, Charlie Bucket in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, most famously rejected a three-movie contract to pursue his passion for animals. He graduated with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and spent years as a veterinarian in Lowville, New York. From candy factories to clinics, Ostrum’s career transformation is one of the most confectionery in Tinseltown history.
6. Jeff Cohen – Entertainment Lawyer
Goonies’ Chunk might have been hapless and adorable on-screen, but Jeff Cohen remade himself as an entertainment attorney after he quit acting at 16. Co-founding Cohen Gardner LLP, today he represents clients in TV and film, with a distinctive insider’s eye for the legal aspects of the business.
5. Danny Lloyd – Teacher
Danny Lloyd, who frightened filmgoers as young Danny Torrance in The Shining, swapped horror for a peaceful existence in teaching. Following a brief acting career, he turned to biology and then science teacher in Kentucky and Missouri. He even had a cameo in Doctor Sleep, but the classroom is where he shines brightest.
4. Freddie Prinze Jr. – Cookbook Author & Family Man
Teen heartthrob Freddie Prinze Jr., who starred in She’s All That and I Know What You Did Last Summer, left the acting business to work on family and cuisine. He wrote a cookbook, Back to the Kitchen, and became a stay-at-home father, podcaster, and foodie—evidence that Hollywood celebrities can succeed in real life.
3. Gwyneth Paltrow – Entrepreneur
Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow moved from the silver screen to the world of wellness with Goop. The company has become a multimillion-dollar lifestyle brand, with a print magazine and Netflix docuseries. Paltrow returns to acting on occasion, but her true passion appears to be building her business empire.
2. Ian Somerhalder – Eco-Entrepreneur & Farmer
Ian Somerhalder, known for playing Damon Salvatore on The Vampire Diaries, traded vampire drama for green activism and farm life. Somerhalder, who owns The Absorption Company with his wife, also started the Ian Somerhalder Foundation. Living on a Los Angeles-area farm, Somerhalder proves Hollywood can be abandoned for a more down-to-earth, fulfilling life.
1. Mara Wilson – Writer
Mara Wilson captivated crowds as Matilda and in Mrs. Doubtfire, but she left acting behind to become a writer. She’s written books and a play, looking back on her life and career as a child star. Wilson’s writing reminds us that sometimes, the pen is mightier than the movie contract.
Hollywood may dazzle with fame and fortune, but for these actors, the most fascinating stories started after they left the spotlight.