Let’s be real: life in Hollywood is not all glamour and glitz. Yes, there are red carpets, hefty paychecks, and constant attention, but for certain stars, that limelight shines too brightly. Whether it was burnout, tragedy, or merely a desire for a quieter existence, these celebrities took fans by surprise when they left the acting industry, sometimes temporarily, sometimes for good. Here’s a glance at 10 of Hollywood’s biggest stars who walked away from fame, from number 10 to the number one spot.
10. Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly paved the way before Meghan Markle captured headlines as a Hollywood royal. A true star of the 1950s, she dazzled audiences in Alfred Hitchcock classics and even snagged an Oscar before the age of 26. But at the height of her fame, she gave it all up to marry Prince Rainier III of Monaco. Grace traded scripts for palace life, devoting her time to philanthropy and cultural causes. One of the most renowned leading ladies of her era, she ended up becoming a real-life princess rather than a screen queen.
9. Daniel Day-Lewis
Few thespians have ever rivalled the ferocity or the trophy display case of Daniel Day-Lewis. Renowned for immersing himself fully in characters, he became the sole thespian to win three Best Actor Oscars. And then, having completed Phantom Thread in 2017, he shocked the industry by retiring. Though fans continue to hold out hope he’ll have a change of heart someday, for the time being, the man widely regarded as the greatest living actor appears happy enough away from the camera.
8. Cameron Diaz
Cameron Diaz dominated the box office for two decades, with hits like The Mask, Charlie’s Angels, and There’s Something About Mary. But after her role in Annie (2014), she walked away from acting, deciding Hollywood’s grind wasn’t worth it anymore. Since then, Diaz has focused on health, writing books, and launching her own wine brand. She may not be on movie posters these days, but she’s still thriving just on her own terms.
7. Gene Hackman
Two Oscars and a filmography full of classics make Gene Hackman one of the all-time greats. But in the early 2000s, he retired without fanfare, later solidifying in 2008 that he’d retired from acting period. Instead, he applied his creative talents to writing novels. Although his fans would adore another big-screen appearance, Hackman appears content with the pen rather than the camera.
6. Rick Moranis
For anyone who grew up during the ’80s or ’90s, Rick Moranis was a familiar household name due to Ghostbusters, Spaceballs, and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Yet since his wife, Ann Belsky, passed away in 1991, Moranis eased himself out of Hollywood to care for their children. He’s done some voice work here and there since then, but otherwise stayed out of the public eye. It wasn’t so much that he gave up fame as that he chose family first.
5. Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox captivated audiences on Family Ties with Alex P. Keaton and became an icon with Back to the Future. Even after a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in the ’90s, he worked for years. But in 2020, he announced that his condition made it impossible to memorize lines, and he formally retired. These days, his energy is devoted to his family and his foundation, which has brought in millions for Parkinson’s research.
4. Mara Wilson
Mara Wilson was among the most recognizable child stars of the ’90s, courtesy of Mrs. Doubtfire, Miracle on 34th Street, and her breakout role in Matilda. But in Hollywood, behind the cameras, things were not so kind. Between unattainable beauty ideals and losing her mother at a tender age, she decided to step away. Today, Wilson has rebranded herself as an author and voice actor, with a life far removed from the limelight of child stardom.
3. Frankie Muniz
Frankie Muniz transitioned from indie darling to household name playing Malcolm in the Middle. Rather than pursuing additional acting work, he turned to his true interests: racecar driving and music. Today, he’s more apt to be at the wheel or operating a business than on a movie lot. Although he appears sporadically here and there, Muniz has gladly eschewed Hollywood as his day job.
2. Ke Huy Quan
Decades before his Oscar-winning resurgence, Ke Huy Quan was a popular child actor in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and The Goonies. But as he matured, Hollywood ceased to cast him, particularly in ubstantial roles for Asian actors. So he retreated behind the scenes, serving as a stunt coordinator and assistant director for decades. His victorious return with Everything Everywhere All at Once decades later is a testament that talent never actually fades.
1. Brendan Fraser
Brendan Fraser was at one time the world’s most bankable star, with hits such as George of the Jungle and The Mummy setting him up as a favorite among fans. Yet the physical demands of action films, coupled with addictions and a traumatic experience with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, drove him out of the limelight. After years of virtual absence, he came back in The Whale with a jaw-dropping upset, winning an Oscar and reclaiming fans who had sorely missed him. Fraser’s tale is not one of departure from Hollywood; it’s one of comeback, more powerful than ever.
Hollywood careers seldom go in a straight line, and the boldest move of all is sometimes leaving the stage. Whatever they did, retired at the height of their career, turned their attention to family, or discovered new interests, these stars suggest that fame isn’t all. Sometimes life itself is the greatest role of all.