Although we mere mortals are unable to imagine celebrities leading an unhappy life, it does happen. Often too much is the pace, pressure, media, and travel. They want to take a break in order to do something else they enjoy. Usually, people don’t even remember they started once in Hollywood when they were so well settled back into “normal life.” So, who are the celebrities who left behind the glory of an essential life that is lower than that? Keep reading to find out who these celebrities are, to find out!
Kirk Cameron – Religion
For his role in Growing Pains, Kirk Cameron is best remembered. Despite getting two Golden Globe nominations, he decided to give up acting and make a bigger commitment to his faith. He is very active with his church, hosts an evangelical television show, and occasionally makes appearances.
Kirk Cameron – Religion
Josh Saviano – Lawyer
For good, Josh Saviano has abandoned Hollywood. For his role in The Wonder Years, he became well known. After the show, he went to Yale and earned a political science degree. He then opted to pursue a degree in law and graduated from Cardozo. He worked for many years as a lawyer at Morrison Cohen LLP and currently works on his law-related projects.
Josh Saviano – Lawyer
Greta Garbo
Leaving Hollywood at the height of your career is nearly unheard of. But that’s exactly what Greta Garbo did. The three-time Academy Award-nominated actress started her silent film career before speaking debut in Anna Christie in 1930. After a spell of “box office poison.” she decided to retire at the age of 35. Garbo enjoyed a retirement vacation life of leisure. She also started a massive art collection that, by the time she died, was worth millions.
Greta Garbo
Peter Ostrum – Veterinarian
In Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory, Peter Ostrum is best known as Charlie. He decided that acting was not his passion and realized that to help animals, there was something he wanted to do. He got a degree from Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. At the moment, he is a practicing vet and mostly treats horses.
Peter Ostrum – Veterinarian
Danny Lloyd
In “The Shining,” Danny Lloyd played Danny Torrance. In 1982, he retired from acting. Lloyd quit the acting profession around the age of 13 or 14 because he grew tired of the process of auditioning. He has no regrets. As of 2017, he is working as a teacher at a community college in Kentucky.
Dany Lloyd
MC Hammer
Stanley Kirk Burrell, aka MC Hammer, had an incredible career in music. From the late 1980s until the early 1990s, he had amazing commercial success and popularity. He decided to switch careers after accumulating over $13 million of debt. Presently, he officiates weddings, teaches and develops Apple apps.
MC Hammer
Jeff Cohen – Lawyer/Writer
Jeff Cohen is well known for his chubby character in The Goonies. He played the character named “Chunk.” He worked hard to modify his image after the film. He started playing football and lost a large amount of weight. He went to Berkeley college and then to UCLA law school. He is still practicing law to this day. We’re proud of you, Jeff!
Jeff Cohen Lawyer/Writer
Gary Coleman – Security Guard
Gary Coleman was a household name during the 70s and 80s, after his role in the hit television show Diff’rent Strokes. He was an adorable young actor that won over Americans with his humor. But it appears that his career was short-lived. Although he was seen as one of the most promising stars of the time, Coleman later struggled financially. Unfortunately, while working as a security guard in 2010, he passed away.
Gary Coleman
Jonathan Taylor Thomas – Harvard Graduate
Jonathan Taylor Thomas was a very cute heartthrob for a teen. He is renowned for portraying Randy Taylor in Disney’s 1994 film The Lion King and Pinocchio in New Line Cinema’s 1996 film The Adventures of Pinocchio on Home Improvement and voicing young Simba. To pursue his education, he decided to leave acting. He studied in Scotland at Harvard, Columbia, and St. Andrew’s University. The schools are pretty impressive, JTT!
Jonathan Taylor Thomas – Harvard Graduate
Carrie Henn
Carrie Hen was the adorable girl in Alien, starring alongside Sigourney Weaver. Henn won the Saturn Award for “Best Performance by a Younger Actor/Actress.” That same year, she was nominated for the Young Artist Awards as well. That was the only role for her. She decided to pursue education and is still in the profession!
Carrie Henn
Doris Day
Doris Day was the talk of the city during the ’60s and’ 70s, becoming one of the biggest stars of that time. A true Hollywood legend, her name is never going to be forgotten. However, this star took herself out of the spotlight after facing personal issues of her own. She shifted her attention to her family life and also helped to recover wounded animals!
Doris Day
Lark Voorhies
In Saved by The Bell, Lark Voorhies was known as Lisa Turtle. She was nominated six times for the Young Artist Award, winning for her work in the show in 1990 and 1993. During her career, she took on a couple of other small acting roles. To pursue writing, she left acting. To date, she has three books published!
Lark Voorhies
Barret Oliver
Beginning as a child actor, Barret Oliver temporarily stole our hearts in The Never Ending Story. His career ended when he became an adult after his last role in 1989 and decided acting was not for him. It was not for him to act. He decided and preferred to be on the other side of the camera. He works in printing and photography now, and he has proven himself successful in this field. His work has been shown in museums and gallery exhibitions.
Barret Oliver
Rick Moranis
In Hollywood movies like Ghostbusters, Little Shop of Horrors, and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. This Canadian actor is most recognized for lead roles. After losing his wife in 1991, Rick decided to give up his acting career for six years to focus on his kids. The traveling that went along with filming was too much to handle when being a single parent. He’s made a comeback to voice acting in the past decade, however.
Rick Moranis
Brittany Ashton Holmes
Brittany Ashton Holmes became known when she played a character named Darla in Little Rascals. Her acting career was short-lived, and she decided she did not want to be in the limelight when she grew up. She is pursuing a degree in political science now and is a barista.
Brittany Ashton Holmes
Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple was awarded a special youth Oscar at seven for her contribution to film in the year 1935. By age 22, Temple had lost interest in acting entirely. As a politician and diplomat, she returned to the spotlight in the 1960s and, in 1989, as the US ambassador to Czechoslovakia.
Shirley Temple
Andrew Shue
The young heartthrob of Melrose Place, Shue, became one of the world’s most famous mommy bloggers for seven years during the ’90s. The former actor exchanged scripts for content and co-founded CaféMom alongside his childhood best friend, Michael Sanchez. CaféMom is a social networking site that focuses on women’s interests and provides assistance, advice, and suggestions.
Andrew Shue
Amanda Bynes
Amanda Bynes was a child star who, as a young adult, continued to have an acting career. To pursue fashion design, she decided to abandon the spotlight. She was best known for her television and film work throughout the 1990s and 2000s. She has received numerous awards, including a Critics’ Choice Award and seven Kids’ Choice Awards.
Amanda Bynes
Angus T. Jones
Angus T. Jones became popular for his role in Two and a Half Men. After he left the show, he faced some controversy in his personal life and in the media. He became a Seventh Day Adventist and worked for a P.Diddy-founded multimedia company.
Angus T. Jones
Jack Gleeson
The not so lovely King Joffrey was Jack Gleeson in Game of Thrones. He chose to take a break from acting because he did not enjoy it as much as he used to. At present, he is a full-time student, deciding what to do with his career.
Jack Gleeson
Mara Wilson
Mara Wilson was an unbelievable actress as a child! She gave very memorable performances in films like Matilda, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Miracle on 34th Street. She decided to pursue writing and philanthropy instead of continuing with acting. She wrote a book that was published in 2016, acting like a kid, about her experiences. Wilson is currently working for a nonprofit called Publicolor in New York.
Mara Wilson
Danica McKellar
In The Wonder Years, everybody remembers Danica McKellar as the lovely Winnie Cooper. She is a woman of tremendous talent. She was always gifted in school and graduated summa cum laude from UCLA with a degree in mathematics. She has published many math books, including “Math Doesn’t Suck.” She has brought math to the small screen with her show called Math Bites.
Danica McKellar
Frankie Muniz
Frankie Muniz was a massive star in the 90s. He is best known for his star role in Malcolm in the Middle. He was nominated for 2 Golden Globes and an Emmy. Awesome! In addition to acting, he is a very talented race car driver. Today, he continues to pursue race car driving.
Frankie Muniz
Andrea Barber
Andrea Barber is best remembered for playing Kimmy Gibbler in Full House. She returned recently as her original character in the Netflix reboot. After Full House, aside from acting, she attended Whittier College in California, where she earned an English degree. She studied at the University of York afterward. She returned to the USA to direct Whittier’s international study program.
Andrea Barber
Tony Danza
Tony Danza is both a former professional boxer and an actor as well. After Who’s The Boss rapped, he starred in the reality show Teach: Tony Danza that featured him teaching a 10th grade English class in Philadelphia. His goal was to raise awareness of the educational state of America.
Tony Danza
Karl Malone
For the 55-year-old Karl Malone, the days of his super successful basketball career are long gone. Following his career on the court, Malone took on several interesting jobs. He took his shot, wrestling as well, at the silver screen. After all that, he decided to become a lumber trucker.
Karl Malone
Terrell Owens
In the NFL, Terrell Owens has earned himself quite a name. There is something else in his eyes now that he has retired from the pitch. It seems like his heart is telling him to pursue a career in modeling while he has a collection of jobs offered. What are your ideas on that?
Terrell Owens
Macaulay Culkin
Who could have forgotten our eight-year-old favorite, who was left at home alone? Even though, for the most part, he fell off the grid when he entered his late teens, we have seen minor appearances from him here and there. One such example of this was his spoof commercial for Home Alone for Google. Nowadays, he’s pursuing a newfound interest – creating a comedic rock band.
Macaulay Culkin
Danielle Fishel
Danielle Fishel, of course, played Topanga in the hit ’90s Boy Meets World sitcom. The show lasted many years, and when it wrapped up, she wanted to pursue something different. Fishel chose to host the satirical show The Dish, and she reports for Popsugar. She has recently returned to acting as Topanga in the Disney spin-off series, Girl Meets World.
Daniel Fishel
Freddie Prinze, Jr.
Freddie Prinze Jr. was, for sure, a teenage heartthrob. He played major roles that captivated everyone’s hearts in I Know What You Did Last Summer and She’s All That. Since he left the big screen, he has put a lot of time into cooking. He published his cookbook in the year 2016.
Freddie Prinze, Jr.
Lucy Liu
In Ling Woo, Ally McBeal was played by none other than Lucy Liu. She was nominated for a Primetime Emmy because of her work! She, too, was Alex in the Angels of Charlie, of course. Aside from acting, she works in the visual arts world. She does pictures and paintings. A great deal of her work was donated to charity. Pretty cool, Lucy!
Lucy Liu
Elizabeth Berkley
For her role in Saved By The Bell is where Elizabeth Berkley is best known. She has also appeared in a range of film and stage productions. Recently, she’s been taking a break from acting and is concentrating on writing. She wrote a self-help book called Ask-Elizabeth in 2011.
Elizabeth Berkley
Linda Kozlowski
Linda Kozlowski from Crocodile Dundee is, unfortunately, no longer an actress. For quite a while now, she has been out of business. She married her ex-husband, Paul Hogan after the two met on set. They have been married for 23 years, and they have a teenage son together! Since then, the two have been divorced, and Linda Kozlowski is reportedly moving with her new partner, Moulay Hafid Baba, to Morocco. She is no longer in the show business and is spending a great deal of time on her personal life.
Linda Kowoloski
Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey certainly became a massive star in the 90s with films such as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and The Mask. He took a break from acting to pursue painting. For the last six years, that has been his focus. He even has his own exhibit at a gallery in Las Vegas.
Jim Carrey
Steven Seagal
Steven Seagal was a martial arts instructor in Japan before he moved back to the USA to pursue acting. After retiring from acting, he went into law enforcement. He was the Reserve Deputy Sheriff of the Lousiana Police Department. Did you know that in Aikido, Steven Seagal is a 7th-dan black belt? Pretty awesome, right?
Steven Seagal
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Sarah Michelle Gellar, of course, played Buffy for years. A show that we love! Lately, she has pursued her other passion: cooking. She co-founded her own start-up called Foodstirs. It sells baking kits for children. She has been married to Freddie Prinze Jr. for over 15 years! She also loves to cook.
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Vanilla Ice
Vanilla Ice is a rapper who, of course, rose to fame in 1985. He is currently pursuing real estate. He buys homes, renovates them, and later sells them. His show, which can be seen on HGTV, is his Vanilla Ice Project, which features him leading home renovations.
Vanilla Ice
Gary Dourdan
Actor Gary Dourdan is best known as Warrick Brown, Shazza Zulu in the television series A Different World, and Mickey Monroe in the crime thriller Righteous Villains for his role in CSI. Did you know that for eight years, he had been on CSI? His character was sadly killed off at the start of season 9. These days, he collects cars and is pursuing a career in DJing.
Gary Dourdan
Helen Hunt
Actor Gary Dourdan is best known as Warrick Brown, Shazza Zulu in the television series A Different World, and Mickey Monroe in the crime thriller Righteous Villains for his role in CSI. Did you know that for eight years, he had been on CSI? His character was sadly killed off at the start of season 9. These days, he collects cars and is pursuing a career in DJing.
Helen Hunt
Nick Offerman
He plays a manly man, Ron Swanson, and has received a lot of praise for his role. He continues to act, but a side job is also pursued: carpentry. He was fond of crafting furniture and ships. He is also known for his role in The Founder, in which he portrays one of the brothers who developed the McDonald’s fast-food chain, Richard McDonald.
Nick Offerman
Barbi Benton
Barbi Benton is famous for being a beautiful Playboy Bunny. She also has experience with television, movies, and five albums she’s recorded! She is an extraordinarily talented lady. In the 1980s, she retired from show business to raise her kids and currently works in real estate.
Barbi Benton
Sharona Alperin
There’s no doubt that you have heard of the song named ‘My Sharona’ Doug Fieger wrote these lyrics for his 1979 hit after his girlfriend, Sharona. They’ve been together for four years. Alperin is now a realtor in LA and has many entertainment industry clients.
Sharona Alperin
Al Franken
Al Franken is hilarious! He was an incredible SNL actor and writer. He was an amazing actor and writer on SNL. He has authored several satirical books as well. He has a keen political interest and is running for a Senate seat. He won the Minnesota seat in 2009 and was re-elected in 2014 for a second term. Awesome!
Al Franken
Liam Gallagher
Liam Gallagher is a songwriter and singer. He is best known for being part of the well-known rock band of the 1990s, Oasis. He began his own clothing line after Oasis, called Pretty Green, which is still operating today. Gallagher is noted for his outspoken and abrasive manner, a penchant for wearing parkas, and distinctive singing style as one of the most recognizable British music figures.
Liam Gallagher
Roseanne Barr
In the sitcom Roseanne, Roseanne Barr played a hilarious mom. She is now renowned and hopes to be elected to office for her political work. She was a candidate for the Peace and Freedom Party in the 2012 presidential election. In 6th place, she arrived. Ever since the election, she has appeared on many TV programs discussing politics.
Roseanne Barr
Jon Gosselin
Jon became famous due to the success of the TLC show Jon and Kate Plus 8. When Discovery Health offered the couple a reality series chronicling their family’s lives, Jon and his former wife received local media coverage until the sextuplets were 17 months old. He divorced Kate in 2009 and worked a series of jobs. He is currently a DJ performing in his hometown of Atlantic City.
Jon Gosselin
Chris Owen
Chris Owen is a photographer and an American actor. In the American Pie film franchise, he is best known for his role as Chuck Sherman, a.k.a. The Sherminator, appearing in American Pie, American Pie 2, American Pie Presents: Band Camp and American Reunion. In all of the franchise’s films and projects, he is the only actor to appear. He still resides in LA and works as a waiter at a sushi restaurant.
Chris Owen
Ariana Richards
Ariana Richards was a child actress in the 80s who appeared in Tremors and Jurassic Park films. She changed occupations and decided to pursue painting. She traveled to Skidmore and the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena to study art.
Ariana Richards
Tommy Rettig
Tommy is renowned, of course, for being Lassie’s best friend. He also co-starred in the mid-1960s television teen soap opera Never Too Young with another former child actor, Tony Dow, and recorded the song with the group, The TR-4, under that title. After the show wrapped, he pursued some other acting projects, but he was unsatisfied. He became a software engineer and worked working with computers until he died in 1996.
Tommy Rettig
Mackenzie Rosman
Mackenzie Rosman is renowned in 7th Heaven for portraying the character named Ruthie Camden. For the majority of her childhood and teenage years, she was on the show. Outside of acting, she is a devout philanthropist. She is most involved as chairwoman of Curefinders, which assists children suffering from cystic fibrosis.
Mackenzie Rosman
Steven Anthony Lawrence
Steven Anthony Lawrence is most famous for his work on Disney Channel. He appeared in the beloved show, Even Stevens. However, he didn’t leave acting soon after that. He later appeared on several other kid-friendly TV shows and movies. Once he retired from the world of acting, he settled into a life of teaching, which he adores. He now teaches acting techniques and helps his pupils prepare to handle the business side of acting as well.
Steven Anthony Lawrence
Lauren Conrad
Lauren Conrad was first seen on the reality show, Laguna Beach, before graduating and moving on to the sequel series, The Hills. When 2009 came around, Lauren wasn’t able to see herself as taking part in another reality TV show. So, she steered her career in another direction. Despite the fact that she was the highest-paid cast member on The Hills, Lauren knew career longevity in reality TV is uncommon. Instead, she’s gone on to write a successful book series as well as designer clothing.
Lauren Conrad
Kevin Jonas
Who hasn’t heard of the iconic Jonas Brothers? Kevin was one-third of the singing trio and he got a taste of stardom when he was rather young. After he had met and married his wife, Danielle, Kevin decided it was time to take care of his family with a more reliable and practical career. So, he became a contractor and entrepreneur. However, he and his two brothers have recently reunited their band and have resumed releasing music!
Kevin Jonas
Dylan Sprouse
With his twin brother, Cole, Dylan Sprouse started acting at just 8 months old. The two are most famous for their hit TV show, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody on Disney Channel. Additionally, the twins shared the role of Julian McGrath in Big Daddy. After the twins’ show came to an end, Dylan decided to enroll in NYU and pursue other interests outside of acting. These days, he’s a brewer and co-founder of the All-Wise Meadery in Brooklyn, New York. There, he’s a CEO and head mazer.
Dylan Sprouse
Cameron Diaz
Last appearing in Annie in 2014, Cameron Diaz has retired from acting. Instead, she’s now the author of two self-help books: The Body Book and The Longevity Book. She’s spoken about the fact that she’d experienced fame at such a young age and that she hadn’t taken time to have a private life. So, it was crucial for her to take time for herself and who knows, maybe one day she’ll return to the spotlight?
Cameron Diaz
Phoebe Cates
Who could forget Pheobe Cates’ incredible performance in Fast Times and Ridgemont High? There’s no doubt in our minds that she could have easily become the next A-list celebrity in Hollywood. However, she instead chose to lead a quiet life outside of the spotlight. She retired from acting and became a stay-at-home mom for a while. After she’d gotten married to Kevin Kline, she was inspired. And so, she started working at her boutique in New York, Blue Tree.
Phoebe Cates
Kris Humphries
You must have heard the name Kris Humphries at some point or another. The Minneapolis-born basketball player has played for nine professional teams, including the New Jersey and Brooklyn Nets. However, he never once played for his hometown team, the Minnesota Timberwolves. But then, something changed. He met Kim Kardashian. Kris married Kim and all of a sudden, the spotlight followed him everywhere. After he and Kim divorced just 72 days later, he retired from the NBA, moved back home, and began franchising fast-casual restaurants.
Kris Humphries
Shaquille O’Neal
He may not be great at free throws, but there’s a lot going on with the beloved Shaquille O’Neal. In addition to his successful NBA career, he’s appeared in movies, created hip-hop albums, and did some basketball commentating. All the same, he has one post-basketball career that’s different than the others. Shaquille loves cops, so he decided to become one – in multiple cities. He’s gone through Los Angeles’ sheriff academy and became a reserve officer. In fact, he’s busted perps committing a hate crime in Miami. Additionally, he participated in cases in Virginia and Georgia, becoming an honorary sheriff’s deputy in both states.
Shaquille O’Neal
Nikki Blonsky
When she appeared in 2007’s Hairspray alongside John Travolta and Zac Efron, Nikki Blonsky blew people away. After that performance, she wasn’t able to land more major roles. So, she left Hollywood altogether and found other ways to pay her rent. Nowadays, she works at a hair salon in New York City as a cosmetologist and is doing great! While she did make a brief return to Hollywood in 2017 for the movie Dog Years, she’s been keeping to herself since.
Nikki Blonsky
Gene Hackman
At first, Welcome to Mooseport was meant to be a gentle comedy. This was a rare opportunity for Gene Hackman to get some laughs while starring alongside Ray Romano. Instead, all it did was cause Gene to decide to retire from acting altogether. Nowadays, the former actor is spending his days writing books – historical novels, to be exact. All the same, we’ll always think of him when we watch movies like Bonnie and Clyde, Superman, and Unforgiven.
Gene Hackman
Hayden Christensen
After appearing in the Star Wars movies, Hayden Christensen was offered many opportunities to keep acting in big movies. However, the actor turned them all down, one after another. He instead bought land in Ontario, Canada, and began working on his very own farm. Later on, he started his own clothing company. In 2017, he returned to Hollywood, appearing in a movie named First Kill. Maybe he’s back for good?
Hayden Christensen
Michael Schoeffling
If you’re someone who’s grown up watching Sixteen Candles, you must have had a crush on Jake Ryan – we all did, honestly. The actor who played the iconic character, Michael Schoeffling, was undoubtedly about to become America’s male sweetheart. Things took an unexpected turn, however. After Sixteen Candles, he appeared in eight movies before calling it quits. He got bored with the entertainment industry and wanted to spend more time with his family. So, he moved to Pennsylvania and became a woodworker, making custom furniture.
Michael Schoeffling
Ali McGraw
We’ve all heard of Ali McGraw. The successful actress was honored in Hollywood with impressions of her footprints and an autograph in front of the famous Grauman’s Theater after appearing in just three movies. All the same, the financial benefits of being a movie star weren’t enough for Ali to stay in the business. After spending decades acting, Ali turned to yoga in her 50s and it completely changed her perspective. She became a yoga teacher after that.
Ali McGraw
Mike Vitar
Mike Vitar was the go-to actor in Hollywood for sports movies in his youth after he starred in The Sandlot and The Mighty Ducks franchise. The young actor quickly realized how unstable life as an actor can be, so he said goodbye to his fame in favor of becoming a firefighter. After graduating from high school, he worked for Gerber Ambulance. Helping emergency medical services was part of the reason he wanted to become a firefighter.
Mike Vitar
Jamie Walters
After Aaron Spelling created a character tailored to Jamie Walters on Beverly Hills 90210, Jamie left after two seasons to pursue his musical career instead. Unfortunately, his music career didn’t take off the way he’d hoped, and so, Jamie went on to train to become a paramedic. Still living in Los Angeles, he now works full-time for the Los Angeles City Fire Department as a firefighter and paramedic.
Jamie Walters
Charlie Korsmo
Seeing as he’s now a law professor at Cal Western Reserve University’s Law School, you’d never guess that Charlie Korsmo was once a child star in Hollywood. He’d starred in Men Don’t Leave, Dick Tracy, What About Bob?, and Hook. Recently, however, he’s been active in law rather than acting. All the same, he’d appeared in the movie Chained for Life back in 2018, so maybe he’s still interested in acting gigs every now and again?
Charlie Korsmo
Danielle Christine Fishel
Most famous for her role as Topanga in Boy Meets World, Danielle Christine Fishel is now a writer for PopSugar and appears on their YouTube channel, PopSugar Girls Guide. It’s funny to think about how she’d been interviewed so much at the start of her career, and now she’s the one doing the interviews! Despite the fact that she hasn’t acted in a long while, there still are articles about her on PopSugar.
Danielle Christine Fishel
Geena Davis
Known for her roles in movies like Thelma & Louis and A League of Their Own, Geena Davis was always playing empowered women, and for good reason. Having been in some roles that really resonated with women, I became hyper-aware of how women are represented in Hollywood,” she once said. So, it’s not surprising that she’s now an activist. She’s sponsored research that discovered that women only make up 17% of crowd scenes in movies. She also founded the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media in 2006 to promote gender equality and balance in the media.
Geena Davis
Karyn Parsons
If you’ve watched The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, you know who Karyn Parsons is – she played Hilary Banks. After she played on the show, she decided to found the Sweet Blackberry Foundation. It’s a production company that educates children about Black history. The foundation creates incredible movies. One of them, The Journey of Henry Box Brown, tells the incredible story of former slave Henry Brown who literally mailed himself to freedom in a wooden crate.
Karyn Parsons
Jennie Garth
A lot of Beverly Hills 90210 fans loved watching Jennie Garth play the character of Kelly Taylor on TV. She made other TV appearances in shows like What I Like About You, Dancing with the Stars, and even had her own reality show, Jennie Garth: A Little Bit Country. While she’s still active in Hollywood, she’s also branched out into different career ventures. She became a businesswoman and collaborates with amazing brands.
Jennie Garth
Lisa Whelchel
Lisa Whelchel played Blair Warner on The Facts of Life and then decided to walk away from acting. She’d gotten married to Steven Cauble and then decided to become a stay-at-home mom and author. The writer has been making some nice money after publishing ten books on motherhood, religion, and a memoir as well. While she said goodbye to acting, she still came back to TV for Survivor: Philippines season 25. She won $100,000 as runner-up!
Lisa Whelchel
Kal Penn
Back in 2004, Kal Penn went to White Castle. Then, in 2009, he went to the White House. That’s quite the upgrade. Despite his comedic on-screen appearances in the Harold & Kumar franchise, he got a serious position in the White House Office of Public Engagement. Using his real name, Kalpen Modi, he worked with the government. After serving in this position for two years, he came back to Hollywood.
Kal Penn
Audrey Hepburn
Who hasn’t seen Breakfast at Tiffany’s? Everyone adores that movie, let’s be honest. Audrey Hepburn was a classic Hollywood style influence that we can still see in fashion today. While she did an amazing job acting, people tend to forget that she retired just a few years after her career peaked in Hollywood. Instead, she ventured into another world, working with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for all her adult life. In 1988, however, after she retired from acting, she became an official ambassador.
Audrey Hepburn
Cary Grant
The suave and handsome actor, Cary Grant, was Hollywood’s leading man who was able to flawlessly tackle any genre. In 1966, at age 62, he decided he no longer wanted to act. That’s when he became a board member for many companies. One company he was a board member of was Faberge. People assumed it was an honorary position, but Cary took the role very seriously. The same was true for his time serving on boards for MGM, the Academy of Magical Arts, and Western Airlines.
Cary Grant
Gerardo
Remember the ’90s Latin hip-hop hit Rico Suave? Weirdly enough, that song was not recorded by an artist named Rico. The voice behind the track belonged to Gerardo. After he transitioned into a behind-the-scenes music industry job, he threw everyone a curveball. In 2013, he announced that he was rededicating his life to the Lord. He then became a youth pastor in Kansas and Kentucky.
Gerardo
Geoffrey Owens
A Trader Joe’s customer took a series of photos of former “The Cosby Show” star Geoffrey Owens bagging groceries at a store in Clifton, New Jersey. Owens, who has continued to work in small roles since his time on the show ended in 1992, told “Good Morning America” that he is not ashamed of his side hustle. Owens’ previously dormant acting career benefited from his resurgence in the media. Since then, Owens has appeared in Tyler Perry’s “The Haves and the Have Nots” and ABC’s “Bless This Mess.”
Geoffrey Owens
Hank Aaron
Hank Aaron, a baseball legend, has shifted his focus from sports to business. Entrepreneur reported that he is now a franchisee with many business chains under his belt, such as Church’s Chicken, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, and Krispy Kreme.
Baseball Hall Of Fame Induction Weekend, Cooperstown, New York, USA 28 Jul 2018
Erik Estrada
Erik Estrada is a seasoned actor with nearly 150 credits to his name, but acting isn’t his only passion. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he was best known for his role as Officer Frank Poncherello in the television series “CHiPs,” but he was clearly hungry for more. In July 2016, Estrada was sworn in as a police reserve officer in St. Anthony, Idaho, bringing his fiction to life. He’s helped the department get a police dog and works to protect children from online predators since joining the force.
Erik Estrada
Angelina Pivarnick
Angelina Pivarnick, a former cast member of the hit reality show “Jersey Shore,” was involved in a lot of drama during her two seasons on the show. She admits to having regrets about leaving the show in an interview with Hollywood Life but is grateful that it allowed her to pursue a career helping others. Pivarnick now works for the FDNY as an EMT. She did manage to take a few days off from saving lives to appear on “Jersey Shore Family Vacation” in 2018 and 2019, and she’s set to return in the upcoming season.
Angelina Pivarnick
Al Green
Al Green is more than just a musician, with eight Billboard Hot 100 top ten hits. For more than 40 years, the singer of “Let’s Stay Together” has served as the pastor of Full Gospel Tabernacle Church in Memphis, Tennessee. Green and the church don’t appear to have a website. However, several recent TripAdvisor reviews praise the 11-time Grammy winner for his sermons. In a 2016 interview with the news site Commercial Appeal, he revealed that he has regular conversations with God, demonstrating his strong faith.
Al Green
Lauren (Lo) Bosworth
Lauren “Lo” Bosworth grew up in front of the camera for MTV viewers. She starred in the MTV hit series “Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County” as herself until 2005, then on “The Hills” from 2007 to 2010. She’s moved on from reality television and is now a serious girl boss. Bosworth is the co-host of the weekly podcast “Lady Lovin'” and the founder of the personal care brand Love Wellness. She also runs the lifestyle site TheLoDown.
Lauren (Lo) Bosworth
Willa Ford
Willa Ford’s hit single “I Wanna Be Bad” reached No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2001. She decided to leave the music industry after her second single failed to chart after its release on September 11, 2001. Ford dabbles in acting on the side, but her day job is as an interior designer. Her creative energy is now channeled into creating beautiful spaces for her clients as the founder and head designer of WFord Interiors in Los Angeles.
Taran Noah Smith
From 1991 to 1999, Taran Noah Smith (of “Home Improvement”) played Mark, the youngest brother. Smith quit acting after the show and went on to found Playfood, a vegan cheese line. According to Entertainment Tonight, Smith now lives on a sailboat in Sausalito, California, and the cheese line appears to be no more, according to the brand’s now-defunct website. However, it appears that his time working on a home improvement show had an impact on his personal life.
Taran Noah Smith
Tiffany
The perky redhead who rose to fame in the 1980s by performing mall concerts and singing “I Think We’re Alone Now” quickly faded from view. Tiffany’s Boutique, her own store in Nashville, opened in 2015. Designer and vintage clothing and accessories were its specialty. According to the former pop star’s Twitter account, the shop closed a short time later.
Tiffany
Michael Maronna
In “Home Alone” and “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York,” he played big Pete on the classic Nickelodeon series “The Adventures of Pete & Pete,” and he also played Kevin McCallister’s older brother. He still works in Hollywood today, but this time as an electrician for TV and film production.
Michael Maronna
George Foreman
From being one of the best boxers in the world to pitching an iconic product in infomercials, Foreman has done it all. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been made thanks to his George Foreman Grills. It’s certainly preferable to be pummeled in the ring!
George Foreman
Blake McIver Ewing
Although he may not be well-known, many people recognize this former child star as Derek from the original “Full House” series or Waldo from the feature film “The Little Rascals.” McIver (he dropped the Ewing from his professional name) is now pursuing his dream of becoming a singer. It seems like a natural progression because his characters frequently featured him singing and dancing. In 2014, he released the album “The Time Manipulator.”
Blake McIver Ewing
Crystal McKellar
McKellar co-starred in the television series “The Wonder Years” with her sister Danica. Both sisters were considered for the lead role of Winnie, but Danica won out, and Crystal was cast as Becky Slater in her place. According to Biography.com, education was always a priority for the McKellar’s during their time in show business. McKellar went on to Yale, Oxford, and Harvard, where she received her J.D. Mithril Capital Management now has her as managing director and legal counsel.
Crystal McKellar
Jeffrey Allen “Skunk” Baxter
Steely Dan’s founding member Baxter later joined the Doobie Brothers. The guitarist has had a long career in rock and roll, working as a session guitarist with acts and artists such as Dolly Parton, Ringo Starr, Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton, and others. The legendary guitar-for-hire business now has top security clearances. His interest in recording technology led him to investigate and become fascinated with military software and hardware in the 1980s.
Jeffrey Allen Skunk Baxter
Omri Katz
Eerie Indiana, Matinee, Adventures in Dinosaur City, Disney’s Halloween comedy-fantasy film Hocus Pocus, and the CBS prime time soap opera Dallas, in which he played John Ross Ewing III, the son of J.R. Ewing and Sue Ellen Ewing, from 1983 to 1991, are among Omri Katz’s TV and film credits. Katz has left the world of acting to work as a hairdresser, according to IMDb.
Omri Katz
Peter Billingsley
Over the years, Billingsley has appeared in a number of films and television shows. In the 1983 Yuletide classic “A Christmas Story,” he played Ralphie Parker, a young boy determined to get his hands on an “official Red Ryder carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time.” Billingsley remained in the entertainment industry for the rest of his life. He now mostly works behind the scenes, with a few cameos thrown in for good measure.
Peter Billingsley
Isaac Lidsky
During the first season of “Saved By the Bell: The New Class,” Lidsky played the nerdy Weasel. According to the Tampa Bay Times, he was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa shortly after and told he would eventually lose his vision. According to CNN, he went on to become the first legally blind law clerk in the history of the United States Supreme Court, clerking for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and retired Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
Isaac Lidsky
Travis Tedford
After playing Spanky in the 1994 film “The Little Rascals,” Travis Tedford became a child star. He also appeared in Welch’s commercial as a “spokes-tyke” for the juice company when he was five years old. Tedford stopped acting in 2010 after appearing in the horror film “The Final,” according to IMDb. According to reports, he now works in his home state of Texas as an inbound marketing specialist.
Travis Tedford
Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt was on his way to earning a journalism degree when he dropped out and relocated to Los Angeles. Before becoming famous, he delivered refrigerators, chauffeured exotic dancers in a limousine, and worked for a fast-food chain in a chicken suit.
Brad Pitt
Madonna
Madonna Louise Ciccone is known as the “Queen of Pop” and is considered one of the most influential figures in popular culture. Madonna is known for her versatility and constant reinvention in music production, songwriting, and visual presentation. Madonna used to work at Dunkin’ Donuts in Times Square before she became famous.
Madonna