- 7 months ago
From Hollywood royalty to everyday citizens - these stars chose a different path! Join us as we count down the celebrities who walked away from fame for quieter, more fulfilling lives. Some went into teaching, others found success in business, and a few even became firefighters. Fame isn't for everyone!
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00:00No! We face-painted each other! I'm not leaving him here!
00:03Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most notable stars who
00:09willingly stepped out of the limelight, even if they eventually returned.
00:13I made my family disappear.
00:18Number 50. Charlie Korsmo.
00:21Despite starring in the comedy flick What About Bob? The real question is,
00:25what happened to Charlie Korsmo?
00:27You're going to die.
00:30I'm going to die.
00:32It's going to happen.
00:34The answer is pretty simple. The child star quit acting, went to college,
00:38and even worked for the House of Representatives for a spell.
00:42It's a far cry from his early days, where you could see his youthful energy in movies
00:46like the aforementioned What About Bob and the live-action Hook.
00:50Dad?
00:58I want to go home.
01:00Korsmo's only been in projects since the turn of the millennium, and since he now serves
01:04as a corporate law and finance professor, something tells us that number won't be going up anytime
01:10soon.
01:10I get to write about, you know, whatever I want to write about for the most, within reason,
01:16right? For the most part. So it's a great job.
01:19Number 49. Ray Hance.
01:22Don't worry if you don't recognize the name.
01:24Most people will only know this actress by her earlier moniker, Heather Donahue.
01:29I'm so sorry.
01:34The Blair Witch actress was unceremoniously catapulted into stardom due to the film's
01:39explosive success. But since the found footage story used her real name and likeness, it also
01:45made it difficult for Hance to get other work, or live a normal life for that matter.
01:49Well, I personally really wouldn't do any of it again, but I'm very glad it exists in
01:54the world.
01:55So in 2008, Hance officially retired from acting, and later changed her name. She's been off
02:01the grid ever since, and is probably happier that way.
02:04There is no such thing as enlightenment. There's only continuous practice realization.
02:10And then that's also been rephrased as one continuous mistake. Continuous failure.
02:17Number 48. Willa Ford.
02:19The music industry is fickle. One minute, you're at the top, and the next, you're a washed up
02:24has-been.
02:24Willa Ford definitely started strong with her hit, I Wanna Be Bad, in 2001. But she
02:35couldn't springboard that success into any of her future albums, which ranged from disappointing
02:40to flat-out misfires. To her credit, Ford saw the writing on the wall, and quietly dipped
02:45out of the music business to pursue another passion, interior design.
02:49Love you. I hit the road, Jack. I'm through with you. Did you understand that?
02:56She's made a few guest appearances on TV, and released the occasional track, but for
03:00the most part, Ford seems content with her new path.
03:04It was really a no-brainer for me to just completely pivot, because I knew something was missing
03:08in my soul.
03:09Number 47. Danny Lloyd. It's not always a good thing to say your acting career peaked at the
03:14age of six. But then again, Danny Lloyd wanted it that way. Plus, if you're going
03:19to put all your eggs into one basket, Stanley Kubrick's The Shining is a good choice.
03:24What about Room 237?
03:30Room 237?
03:33You're scared of Room 237, ain't you?
03:36Lloyd's performance as the young Danny Torrance should have turned him into the child star of
03:41the century. But instead, he stepped back from acting, grew up, and is reportedly an associate
03:46professor in Kentucky.
03:48I was just starting to read, so it wasn't like I could study a script or anything. It
03:53had, you know what I mean? I had to, like, repeat lines that were spoken to me and kind
03:58of learn them that way.
04:00Outside of a cameo in 2019's Dr. Sleep, Lloyd has happily left Hollywood behind.
04:05He hits the ball every time, like he can read the pitcher's mind.
04:09Number 46. Stacey Keenan.
04:11It's every teen's dream to star in an iconic sitcom. And Stacey Keenan had two. She spent her
04:18teenage years on My Two Dads and Step by Step.
04:21I think he's making a comeback. Must not be going very well.
04:25She continued to dabble in acting throughout the 2000s, but after graduating cum laude from UCLA,
04:32her output became more and more scarce. Then in 2013, Keenan informally stepped away from the
04:38business, instead practicing law under her birth name, Anastasia Sigorsky.
04:43It's an old-fashioned type of show. It's, you know, it's a very gentle,
04:47gentle-spirited family show, and it's kind of rare these days. So I really think that that spirit,
04:53at least what we hear from fans, I think that plays a big part.
04:57As of 2021, she's an adjunct associate college professor for Southwestern Law School.
05:03For those keeping track, the child star to college professor pipeline is looking pretty foolproof at
05:08this point.
05:09As especially as a teenager, to see myself on television, I would have hated and critiqued
05:14every single thing about my looks and my acting and everything else.
05:18Number 45, Lark Voorhees. It's hard to book a role in Hollywood and harder to book one on a popular
05:25show. Lark Voorhees did both with Saved by the Bell and became an overnight sensation.
05:39Unfortunately, when the show ended, so did her popularity. Voorhees struggled finding parts of
05:45the same caliber as Lisa Turtle and slowly pivoted her work into writing, having independently published
05:51several self-help books.
05:52Round and round the world goes. We happen to be entertainers. This is our particular angle.
06:00That, alongside a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, has kept her busy, but not too busy to
06:06return to Bayside High School for the Saved by the Bell revival. It wouldn't have been the same
06:11without her.
06:12Hey, you know, I'm still mad that that little dwee beat me at becoming Miss Bayside.
06:16Yeah, me too.
06:18Number 44, Al Green. When you have 11 Grammys, it's safe to say your legacy is set in stone.
06:24Al Green certainly thought so, though the actual reasoning for changing his sound varies
06:29depending on who you ask.
06:39The prolific soul singer was going through a rough patch in the 70s, both critically and
06:44commercially. When he fell off a stage during a performance, Green took that as a sign from
06:49God to pursue a new direction. He became an ordained pastor and began releasing gospel music.
06:55Green had a dream and woke up born again.
06:59Did you ever ask yourself why it happened then that night?
07:05I was scared to ask why it happened then that night because I don't want nothing to change.
07:09While still commercially successful, this marked change in style implied that Green was bowing
07:14out of mainstream music. It didn't last, though, and he was back to breaking records with soul
07:19music by the 80s.
07:21Do you have another album in you?
07:22Yeah, I'm going to make another. I'm writing one now.
07:25Number 43, Chris Humphreys. In between shooting free throws in the NBA,
07:30Chris Humphreys made headlines for his off-court shenanigans with Kim Kardashian.
07:35Their high-profile 72-day marriage ended in a cataclysmic media storm,
07:40and Humphreys apparently doesn't want to go through it again.
07:43You know, for me, it's just certain things happen in life and you got to move forward.
07:48In 2019, after 13 years on the court, the basketball player hung up his professional jersey
07:54for the last time. Ever since, he's stayed away from the game and the media. Last we heard,
08:00Humphreys was pursuing several business ventures, dabbling in both fast food and real estate.
08:05It's the kind of profession that won't put his life under a microscope, that's for sure.
08:10You know, I've never been someone to really, like, watch, you know, the show on TV or anything
08:15like that, so. Number 42, Andrew Hsu. Given all the backstabs, affairs, and juicy scandals that
08:22filled Melrose Place's scandalous storylines, it made sense that leading man Andrew Hsu felt he'd
08:28had enough drama for one career. Here's my phone number. Give me a call if you can't find anybody
08:34or if you change your mind. Yeah, I don't count on it. So when the show ended in 1998, he bid
08:40Hollywood goodbye. In the decades since, Hsu's only appeared in two projects, one of which he wrote
08:45and produced, and another where he went uncredited. I didn't actually ask her, she just came out and
08:51said. He's stayed plenty busy, though, founding a non-profit and a social media platform, on top of
08:57raising several kids. It's the best kind of drama-free life you could ask for. They were all
09:02talking about their kids, showing pictures, and talking about projects, and I was just talking
09:06about Amy. I said, my wife is coming to interview all of you. Really? And we have five kids between
09:10us. She's an incredible mom. You're going to meet her, really. Number 41, Mike Vittar. Who would
09:15have guessed Benny the Jet would grow up to be a firefighter? The Sandlot is all kinds of iconic,
09:21in no small part because of its exceptional cast. But despite all that acclaim, actor Mike Vittar
09:27had another calling. But you're really him. You're the babe. The soul in the sweat. In 1997,
09:37as he graduated high school, Vittar left acting behind to become a firefighter. Reportedly,
09:43he's still a Los Angeles native to this day. Only now, he's putting out fires instead of heading to
09:48set or learning lines. As legendary as the Sandlot may be, at this point, Vittar has been a firefighter
10:04over three times longer than he was an actor. His reputation spread all over town. From then on,
10:10he was known as Benny the Jet Rodriguez. Number 40, Jamie Walters. If you don't remember the name,
10:17you probably know the voice. Jamie Walters starred in and sang the opening theme to The Heights.
10:23While the show only lasted a season, the song topped the charts and surged its vocalist to utter
10:28stardom. He followed it up with a memorable stint on Beverly Hills' 90210 before, well,
10:43fizzing out completely. What are you working on? It's a promo for the admissions office. I'm trying
10:48to pick out the prettiest parts of campus to use. Well, why don't you just use a shot of yourself
10:53talking about how much you like it here? You're one of the prettiest things I've seen on campus.
10:57Walters refocused on music after, but each successive album performed worse than the last.
11:03In 2002, he dropped it entirely and instead became a paramedic and a firefighter. Wait,
11:09is there an echo in here? We were busy with our careers, and that's why it didn't really pan out,
11:14but really fond memories, and I'm glad to hear that she has the same.
11:18Number 39, Carrie Henn. The nine-year-old behind Newt had no acting experience prior to her debut
11:25in Aliens, and she has very few credits after the franchise either.
11:29Carrie Henn is her name, and though she endeared herself to moviegoers everywhere,
11:41she decided to throw in the acting towel after Aliens. What's she doing now, you ask? She got
11:46married, had a kid, and is an elementary school teacher in California.
11:50So I went to school to be a teacher. Tell them, tell them what you do.
11:54I teach fourth grade. Come on, man, you teach nine-year-olds.
11:58Henn hasn't returned to acting, but she doesn't ignore her alien roots either. You can still see
12:03her at the occasional convention or press interview, where she's happy to talk about all things
12:08Xenomorph. If you come out on top like an Aliens, can you go any higher?
12:11Number 38, Lucas Babin. Whoever said you have to choose between beauty and brains?
12:17For the first part of his career, Lucas Babin was a fashion model known for his eclectic roles
12:22in comedies like School of Rock. But after getting his fill, Babin opted for a change of pace and
12:38went into law. In 2018, the actor-turned-lawyer was elected district attorney of Tyler County,
12:44Texas. He even spearheaded an indictment against Netflix for their release of the controversial
12:49film Cuties. If you're not wearing the full armor of God, the fiery arrows from Ephesians 5 or 6,
12:59they're coming at you all the time. If that's not a metaphor for how little Babin wants to return
13:04to acting, we don't know what is. You find yourself in a position where you're trying to make arguments
13:10that you think, God, do I really even believe what I'm trying to convince these people of?
13:16Number 37, Eric Purr Sullivan. For seven seasons, Dewey stole scenes as the chaotic little brother of
13:23Malcolm in the middle. But he'll look different in the reboot. Original actor Eric Purr Sullivan
13:37has been out of the Hollywood machine for several years, and he doesn't seem motivated to return
13:42anytime soon. He hasn't been seen since the 2010 film 12. Instead, Purr Sullivan has been committed
14:02to his studies and is allegedly pursuing a master's degree at Harvard. Even though you won't see him at
14:08cast panels or reunions, he's apparently still supportive of the show's legacy, just in his own
14:13quiet way. With many of the major players making a return, including Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston,
14:20and Jane Kaczmarek. But one big name not on the list for the Disney Plus reboot is Eric Purr Sullivan.
14:26Number 36, Ariana Richards. Actors are artists in their own way, but in the case of Ariana Richards,
14:33she became an artist in a more traditional sense.
14:38After running away from dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, the child star appeared here and there while
14:48honing her art skills. Within a few years, Richards had begun to focus more exclusively on her paintings.
15:02She's still game for a project every now and then, but if you really want to see Richards at work,
15:07you're more likely to find it in an exhibit than at a movie theater.
15:10If you cried during a scene watching Jurassic Park for the first time.
15:14Okay, does getting scared count? Maybe a little tear of panic might have popped out when I was
15:18watching the screening.
15:21Number 35, Macaulay Culkin. Let's not mince words. Home Alone is simply iconic,
15:27and no one else could have brought Kevin McAllister to life quite like Macaulay Culkin.
15:31Afterwards, he had a stranglehold on kids' roles. But that fame is a lot for a child to deal with,
15:42and soon, the routine grew old.
15:45I'd like to stay, but I gotta go do my homework. It's been real.
15:50Seeking a more normal life, Culkin gave up acting after Richie Rich. He returned to the profession a
15:56few years later, notably joining the cast of Fallout in its second season. Though Culkin is
16:01back on screen, he continues to lay low and prioritize his family, his music, and his personal
16:08life.
16:08How was that?
16:09It was just like your grandpa.
16:10Really?
16:10The face, the eye.
16:11Yeah.
16:12The boots.
16:13I don't know.
16:13You gave me a chance. Look, you nailed it. Look, down to the icy stair thing.
16:17Yeah.
16:18You did it again.
16:18Number 34. Lili Sobieski. The 1991 film Deep Impact had a big, well, impact on one of its stars.
16:36For almost 20 years after, Lili Sobieski was a busy actor on both the big and small screen.
16:42But in 2012, she made the decision to leave it all behind and focus on her family. By 2014,
16:49she had two little ones to take care of. Sobieski found another artistic outlet with
16:54abstract paintings and sculptures, and opened an exhibit a few years later.
16:59You don't only have to have talent, but you have to have a lot of luck.
17:03And then you have to keep choosing different films, and you have to do big budget and small
17:09budget and keep changing.
17:10She uses her married surname for her artistic endeavors,
17:14seemingly proving that she's over Hollywood for good.
17:17I always wanted to be a painter and a writer, and my mom's a writer, and my dad's a painter.
17:20So it just kind of happened out of the blue.
17:24Number 33. Jeanette McCurdy.
17:27If you've read her memoir, I'm Glad My Mom Died,
17:29you know exactly why this iCarly star has stayed away from TV cameras.
17:34Okay, tonight on iCarly, Gibby is going to give you a special demonstration.
17:38He's backstage right now.
17:40Polishing his phaser.
17:43Without getting into the nitty-gritty, let's just say McCurdy has a very complicated relationship
17:48with acting. As a result, she didn't return for the iCarly reboot. Actually, she sparsely
17:54appears on camera at all anymore.
17:57I've tried to understand, and that didn't leave me anywhere productive.
18:05I would just spin my wheels trying to understand my mom's motives.
18:08This continued until you were 17?
18:10Yeah.
18:11And you describe in the book that you felt violated.
18:13Instead, McCurdy has channeled her energy into writing and directing,
18:18including an adaptation of I'm Glad My Mom Died. After all the pain she endured,
18:22it's reassuring to see McCurdy carve a worthwhile place for herself behind the scenes.
18:27And I'd be like, go mom! Like, you got this!
18:29And it's like, yeah, that's messed up. But when I was six, I didn't know that was messed up.
18:35Number 32. Eliza Dushku.
18:38When they say it's never too late to follow your dreams, they really mean it.
18:42Even though Eliza Dushku had spent decades making a name for herself in projects like Bring It On
18:47and Dollhouse, she didn't let that stop her from beginning anew.
18:50I transferred from Los Angeles. Your school has no gymnastics team. This is a last resort.
18:58Okay, so I've never cheered before. So what? How about something that actually requires neurons?
19:04In 2017, she stopped accepting roles, and in 2024, officially announced her retirement from acting.
19:10As it turns out, she spent the interim becoming a certified therapist.
19:14It changed my life working with psychedelic-assisted therapy. I think I spent arguably most of my life numbing.
19:20Now, Dushku boasts a master's degree in mental health counseling and spends her days helping trauma victims.
19:26So we'll say it again. It's never too late.
19:29Dushku calls psychedelic-assisted therapy a breakthrough effective treatment
19:34that helped pull her out of a dark abyss of substance use disorder and childhood trauma.
19:39Number 31. Gina Davis.
19:41A rising star cut short by a disastrous bomb called Cutthroat Island,
19:46it seemed Gina Davis wasn't long for the choppy waters of Hollywood, but she trudged on.
19:51On the other hand, we could do what we were born to do.
19:55Stay together and ride the early trades all the way to Madagascar.
19:59Best pirating waters in the world.
20:00The work was spotty at best, so Davis rolled up her sleeves and created a whole organization
20:05dedicated to improving the amount of female roles in film.
20:08And wouldn't you know, it helped her own career too.
20:11Gina Davis Institute for Gender and Media has been advocating for equal representation in media since 2004.
20:18After spending most of the 2000s behind the scenes,
20:21Davis re-emerged in the 2010s with a newfound surge of popularity.
20:25She's working more consistently now than she has in decades.
20:29Apparently, a break is just what the doctor ordered.
20:31It's very easy to impact change without offending anybody or anything just by saying,
20:39hey, you know in that scene tomorrow when I give a speech, could the crowd be half women?
20:44Number 30. Terrence Howard.
20:46Before stepping away from stardom in 2022, Terrence Howard had already built an impressive acting career.
20:53You might not recall his earlier roles in Dead Presidents or Mr. Holland's opus,
20:57but you'll definitely remember him as Colonel Rhodes in 2008's Iron Man.
21:03Next time, baby.
21:04Unfortunately, he was replaced by Don Cheadle in Iron Man 2,
21:08with reports suggesting it was due to his refusal to accept a pay cut.
21:13Despite this, Howard bounced back big time as Lucius Lyon in the smash hit Empire.
21:18It is my great honor to welcome back the heart and soul of Empire Enterprises,
21:24Miss Cookie Lyon.
21:26To Cookie.
21:27After reprising his role as Quentin in the Best Man franchise one last time,
21:32he announced that he was stepping away from Hollywood.
21:35He's certainly acted since then, though, so maybe there's more to come.
21:39Number 29. Portia de Rossi.
21:42What do you do when you want to try something new or more challenging?
21:45For Portia de Rossi, it meant leaving an enviable acting career behind to start a business.
21:51De Rossi rose to fame in the late 90s as Nell Porter on Ally McBeal,
21:55earning a SAG award for her performance.
21:57The people, men and women, draw unfair conclusions.
22:02We've come to expect the bias.
22:03Her next notable success was Arrested Development, which boosted her career even more.
22:12However, in a 2018 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show,
22:16Portia surprised fans by announcing her retirement from acting.
22:19One big reason for this?
22:21She wasn't comfortable with all that publicity.
22:23I kind of knew what acting would look like for me for the next 10, 20 years.
22:28So I decided to quit and start a business.
22:32She went on to launch an art curation company called General Public, serving as its CEO.
22:37She did make a brief comeback for Arrested Development's fifth season, though.
22:41I think I'm gonna go now.
22:44Find out who my real family is.
22:46Number 28.
22:47Teddy Dunn
22:48Fame may be everything to some, but to others, not so much.
22:51Just ask Teddy Dunn.
22:53He had a brief but memorable presence in Hollywood,
22:56popping up in shows like Gilmore Girls and Grey's Anatomy.
22:59This game is what I've been training for my entire life.
23:02This is my chance to go to college.
23:04This is my whole future.
23:05But, of course, his most famous role was as Duncan Cain in Veronica Mars.
23:09Is there a file on me?
23:10There's a file on everyone who was connected with Lily.
23:17What does mine say?
23:18Even though he played a major role in the series,
23:21midway through season two, he disappeared, leaving fans with many questions.
23:26Fast forward to leaving acting, and Dunn secured a law degree.
23:30As of 2020, he has been serving as an assistant United States attorney in Washington, D.C.
23:35This just goes to show there are many things that can be more fulfilling
23:39than chasing Hollywood fame.
23:41I love you.
23:43Always have.
23:45Always will.
23:48You better.
23:51Number 27.
23:52MC Hammer.
23:53Back in the early 90s, if you weren't jamming to You Can't Touch This,
23:57could you even call yourself a true hip-hop fan?
24:00My, my, my, my music hit me so hard, makes me say, oh my lord.
24:06The song was a massive hit, and MC Hammer was everywhere,
24:10becoming the first hip-hop artist to earn diamond status.
24:13With his catchy lyrics, hammer pants, and high-energy dance moves,
24:17he became a pop rap icon.
24:19You can't touch this.
24:20But his meteoric rise didn't last.
24:22By the mid-90s, the rapper's popularity dipped, and he ran into deep financial troubles.
24:29Despite the hit to his fame and fortune, Hammer never fully walked away from music.
24:33He kept going on tours, performing at concerts, and appearing in TV commercials.
24:38He's still respected for his community works, and seen as a pioneer for making rap mainstream.
24:43I really appreciate y'all.
24:45It's all love.
24:46Okay.
24:46Stay best, blessed, and be blessed.
24:48Number 26.
24:49Bridget Mendler
24:51From Disney star to space CEO.
24:53Yep, Bridget Mendler's career glow-up was seriously next level.
24:58In the early 2010s, Bridget was a huge name, especially for Disney fans.
25:03Hey, Evan, Evan, what am I supposed to do?
25:06Reality!
25:07I'm crying out loud.
25:09You can't call me by my human name.
25:12I'm Sliggle Wart.
25:13I'm sorry, Sliggle Wart.
25:15She stole the show as Teddy Duncan in Good Luck, Charlie,
25:18and rocked the stage in Lemonade Mouth.
25:21Plus, her catchy songs turned her into a full-on pop sensation.
25:36But instead of sticking around in Hollywood, Mendler pulled a major plot twist.
25:42Stepping away from acting, she dove into academics and crushed it.
25:45After enrolling at MIT and Harvard, she became the co-founder and CEO of Northwood Space.
25:52As an actress, sometimes you just feel like the spokesperson for other causes and other
25:57activities.
25:58And I wanted to feel more of a direct connection to the impact that I could have.
26:02Total powerhouse move.
26:03Oh, and Jennifer Stone?
26:05She's another Disney star who made a U-turn too, leaving acting to pursue a career in nursing.
26:10I've never had a job before.
26:12Well, except for the dollar grandma gives me for rubbing lotion on her feet.
26:15Number 25.
26:16Karen Parsons.
26:17During the six-season run of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,
26:20Karen Parsons played Hillary, the stylish cousin of Will Smith's character.
26:24Daddy, I need $500.
26:28Hill, you should really consider expanding your vocabulary.
26:31Her performance made the character a big-time fan favorite,
26:34contributing significantly to the show's lasting popularity.
26:37I'm a celebrity, and men are intimidated by me.
26:41I'm a beautiful woman trapped in an even more beautiful woman's body.
26:44But after the series ended, things became rocky for Parsons.
26:48She struggled to land roles that matched that level of success,
26:51and even her own projects failed to take off.
26:54Gradually, she disappeared from the limelight, but found purpose elsewhere.
26:58Parsons started Sweet Blackberry, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing lesser-known
27:04stories of Black history to children through books and animation.
27:08A rewarding pivot for sure.
27:10We have a lot of stories that I want to tell.
27:13So many stories I want to tell.
27:14Parsons tried returning to acting several years later, but couldn't stage a major comeback.
27:19Number 24.
27:21Ian Somerhalder.
27:22First, he grabbed everyone's attention as Boone on Lost.
27:26Then he stole Hearts as the dangerously charming Damon Salvatore in The Vampire Diaries.
27:31Do you think this is funny?
27:32Yes, Elena.
27:33I find hilarity in the links that I have to go to to repeatedly save your life.
27:37These high-profile shows skyrocketed Ian Somerhalder's fame,
27:40yet he didn't remain in Hollywood's spotlight for long.
27:43After starring in Netflix's V Wars, which was later cancelled,
27:48Somerhalder quietly vanished from acting for five years.
27:51I'm a doctor.
27:52I can help make you better.
27:53Between raising his children with actress Nikki Reed,
27:57engaging in environmental activism,
27:58and running a farming business, his priorities probably changed.
28:03In a 2024 interview, he confirmed that he had stepped away from acting.
28:07You might wonder why when he could still find other roles.
28:10Maybe he just found a new path that fit the life he wanted at the moment.
28:14I've been working since I was 10 in front of cameras,
28:18and this seemed like the most perfect sort of time to separate a little bit,
28:23change the focal points a little bit,
28:27and really dial into some strengths and forge some new paths.
28:31Number 23.
28:32Peter Ostrom.
28:34Remember Charlie from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory?
28:37That's Peter Ostrom.
28:39And yes, he charted an unusual path, unlike most child stars.
28:43Look at me!
28:43Look, I've got it!
28:44The big golden ticket is mine!
28:46After starring in the film, Ostrom never acted in any other,
28:50even turning down a three-film deal for Willy Wonka.
28:54He was so reluctant to talk about his one-time role that at some point,
28:57he made people believe it was his brother who played Charlie.
29:00I'm a shooting star!
29:01I'm a rocket!
29:02Instead of Hollywood, something else stole his heart.
29:06After returning from filming Willy Wonka,
29:08Ostrom was fascinated by the work of the veterinarian who cared for his family's horses,
29:13and decided to become a vet himself.
29:16Over the years, he has happily kept the tradition of sharing stories
29:19about his one-time stardom with curious fans.
29:22If you don't try, you're guaranteed to fail, you know?
29:26Number 22.
29:27Jeff Cohen.
29:29The Goonies is a cornerstone of 80s pop culture,
29:31and Jeff Cohen was a big part of what made it so memorable.
29:34I'm not afraid of the dark.
29:36I like the dark.
29:37I love the dark.
29:39But I hate nature.
29:40I hate nature!
29:41He might look different today,
29:43but back then, he was the clumsy, hilarious chunk
29:46who brought a lot of warmth to the group.
29:48Slap!
29:49Slap!
29:50Slap!
29:50Slap!
29:51Slap!
29:51Slap!
29:53Well, not long after his breakout role,
29:55Cohen stepped away from acting,
29:57went to law school,
29:58and became an entertainment lawyer.
30:00A successful one at that.
30:01He was last seen in a film in the 1991 flick Perfect Harmony.
30:05Like Cohen,
30:06Carrie Green, who plays Andy in The Goonies,
30:08also faded from the limelight after the film
30:11and a few other notable ones.
30:13I believe in you.
30:14Cooties always make mistakes.
30:16Don't make any more.
30:17Number 21.
30:19Grace Kelly.
30:20From Hollywood royalty to actual royalty,
30:23Grace Kelly's life was the stuff of fairy tales.
30:26In the early 1950s,
30:28she was a popular movie star known for her elegance
30:30and poised presence on screen.
30:32Is there something on your mind?
30:33It doesn't make sense to me.
30:37What does?
30:38Women aren't that unpredictable.
30:41She even snagged an Academy Award for The Country Girl,
30:43where she proved she could play something different
30:45from her usual glamorous roles.
30:47I'm going back to New York
30:49to the peace and comfort of a quiet room.
30:52For the first time in years,
30:53I won't have to wonder where he is.
30:55But at the peak of her career,
30:56Kelly shocked the world by retiring from acting at age 26
31:00to marry Prince Regnier III of Monaco.
31:03Fully embracing her duty as princess,
31:06she closed the curtain on her Hollywood chapter.
31:08Sadly, at age 52,
31:10Grace passed away in a car crash,
31:12but she will always be remembered
31:13as a symbol of timeless grace and old Hollywood appeal.
31:17I was very lucky in my career and I loved it.
31:19But I don't think I was accomplished enough
31:26as an actor to be remembered for that particularly.
31:28Number 20, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.
31:32These famous twins have been working
31:34since they were nine months old.
31:36Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen began their career as infants,
31:40sharing the role of Michelle Tanner
31:42on the ABC sitcom Full House.
31:44You got it, dude.
31:46Even while the show aired,
31:48they appeared in other films and TV shows,
31:50eventually founding their own production company,
31:53Dual Star, in 1993.
31:55However, as the 2000s rolled around,
31:57they set their sights on a much different path, fashion.
32:00The Row started as kind of a little side project
32:03for Mary-Kate and I,
32:05and it started with a t-shirt.
32:08In 2006, they launched their luxury fashion brand,
32:11The Row,
32:12and soon left Hollywood entirely to concentrate on it.
32:16Although they still occasionally make the news,
32:18Mary-Kate and Ashley no longer command
32:20the kind of media attention they once did,
32:23which suits them just fine.
32:25Number 19, Michael Sheffling.
32:28For a brief period in the 1980s,
32:30Michael Sheffling seemed poised
32:32to become a Hollywood superstar.
32:34Sheffling's debut as Jake Ryan in 1984's 16 Candles
32:38made him an instant teen heartthrob.
32:40Happy birthday, Samantha.
32:44Good night.
32:49It already came true.
32:51It was the perfect springboard for a flourishing career,
32:54but things just never really lined up perfectly
32:57for Sheffling afterwards.
32:59Although he went on to star in a number of films,
33:01including Vision Quest and Mermaids.
33:03So was that you who carved red socks on the door?
33:08That used to be my room.
33:09Sheffling never quite attained the level of fame
33:12many believed he would.
33:13In between acting jobs,
33:15he took up carpentry and began making furniture.
33:18This eventually became his full-time career
33:20as he gave up acting completely
33:22following 1991's Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken.
33:25Laura, I love you.
33:28Number 18, Nikki Blonsky.
33:30Many struggling actors in Hollywood
33:32dream of the kind of opportunity Nikki Blonsky had.
33:36As a high school student,
33:37Blonsky auditioned for Hairspray,
33:39beating out over a thousand aspirants
33:41for the role of Tracy Turnblad.
33:43Good morning, Wilder Lord.
33:47She couldn't have asked for a better screen debut,
33:49as it earned her two Critics' Choice Awards
33:52and a Golden Globe nomination.
33:54However, maintaining that momentum proved challenging.
33:57Despite playing the lead on ABC Family's Huge,
34:00the show only lasted one season,
34:02and the roles dried up soon after.
34:04I take the most horrifying situation to make it worse.
34:08It's like this twisted gift.
34:12The New York native later obtained a cosmetology license
34:15and began working as a hairstylist and makeup artist
34:18in her hometown.
34:19While she still appears sporadically in films,
34:22Blonsky hasn't reclaimed the level of fame she once enjoyed,
34:25unless you count her crazy cameos.
34:27If I could just jump through the window,
34:31be with you.
34:33I mean?
34:38If you jump, I'll catch you.
34:40Number 17.
34:42Angus T. Jones
34:43Angus T. Jones became a household name in the 2000s,
34:47thanks to his role in the popular CBS sitcom
34:49Two and a Half Men.
34:50I'm hungry.
34:51Is this gonna be a problem?
35:00I guess not.
35:02During this period,
35:03he was the highest paid child actor on TV,
35:06reportedly earning $300,000 per episode.
35:09In late 2012, at the peak of his fame,
35:12Jones suddenly announced that he was done appearing on the show.
35:15This was because he had been baptized
35:17and was turned off by the sitcom's mature content.
35:20Which he later described as, quote,
35:22filth.
35:22Please stop filling your head with filth.
35:26Jones ultimately left Two and a Half Men after 10 seasons
35:29and largely retreated from the spotlight.
35:32He has since worked as an executive in a multimedia company,
35:36but now expresses a desire to return to acting someday.
35:40Number 16.
35:41Amanda Bynes
35:42This former child star first rose to prominence
35:45on the Nickelodeon sketch series All That
35:47before landing her own program, The Amanda Show.
35:50Thanks, my name's Amanda, and welcome to my show!
35:54Bynes then progressed to Teen Idol,
35:56with roles in successful comedies like Big Fat Liar
35:59and What a Girl Wants.
36:01In 2010, after a prominent part in Easy A,
36:04Bynes announced she was taking an indefinite break from acting.
36:07There's a higher power that will judge you for your indecency.
36:11Tom Cruise.
36:12I hope for your sake that God has a sense of humor.
36:15Subsequently, she faced a slew of legal troubles
36:18and grappled with substance use disorder,
36:21which led to her being placed under a conservatorship.
36:24Despite overcoming these challenges and ending the conservatorship,
36:27Bynes doesn't seem ready to return to the screen.
36:30Instead, in 2023, she decided to pursue a new career as a manicurist.
36:35She added,
36:36In the last several years,
36:37I've been working hard to improve my health
36:39so that I can live and work independently,
36:41and I will continue to prioritize my well-being in this next chapter.
36:44Number 15.
36:46Jonathan Taylor Thomas
36:47Jonathan Taylor Thomas soared to immense fame in the 90s,
36:51gracing the covers of countless magazines
36:53and adorning the bedroom walls of many teenage girls.
36:57We're past the nod stage.
36:59What?
37:00She gave me a kiss.
37:02Thomas gained popularity thanks to his role as Randy Taylor
37:05on the ABC sitcom Home Improvement.
37:07He earned further recognition for voicing young Simba in The Lion King
37:11and the titular character in the 1996 film The Adventures of Pinocchio.
37:16You're a puppet.
37:17You're not a real boy, Pinocchio.
37:18You're a real boy.
37:20In 1998, Thomas decided to exit Home Improvement,
37:23directing his attention towards getting a degree from Harvard.
37:27Call when you get there.
37:28Call before you get there.
37:30Or I could open the emergency door and just yell out the plane.
37:34While his presence in the limelight has significantly waned since then,
37:37Thomas stands by his decision wholeheartedly.
37:40These days, he's more focused on working behind the camera,
37:43taking on directing and screenwriting roles.
37:46Randy looked familiar.
37:48Well, you know, I used to work with Kristen.
37:56That's not it.
37:57Number 14, Phoebe Cates.
38:00The 1980s were a significant era for teen comedy movies,
38:04many of which became classics and launched their young actors into stardom.
38:08I want a relationship.
38:10I want romance.
38:12You want romance in Ridgemont?
38:14We can't even get cable TV here, Stacey.
38:16You want romance.
38:17One of such rising stars was Phoebe Cates.
38:20Born to a family of Hollywood insiders,
38:23Cates began her career as a dancer and model before venturing into acting.
38:27Her breakthrough came with 1982's Fast Times at Ridgemont High,
38:31followed by another success with Gremlins two years later.
38:34In 1989, Cates got married to fellow actor Kevin Kline, with whom she welcomed two children.
38:46By the mid-90s, Cates decided to scale back on acting and prioritize raising her family.
38:52She eventually opened a boutique in New York City called Blue Tree, which she continues to oversee.
38:57What's that?
38:58Oh, funny you should ask.
39:01I think this would be perfect for her.
39:02This is the perfect husband bracelet.
39:05Number 13, Steven Seagal.
39:07Love him or hate him, but you can't deny the fact that Steven Seagal had Hollywood in a chokehold during the 90s.
39:13You're not a cook.
39:17Yeah, well, I also cook.
39:22At the outset of the decade, Seagal was largely unknown, but by its end, he had become one of Hollywood's most prominent action stars,
39:30even though he essentially played the same character in every film.
39:33However, as the 21st century progressed, Seagal's star diminished significantly,
39:38relegated to a string of laughably bad direct-to-video releases.
39:41Hey, uh, did your brother kill my son?
39:46Concurrently, his association with Russia grew stronger, and he was granted citizenship to the country in 2016.
39:53He has not appeared in a film since 2019, the year following his appointment as Russia's special envoy to the U.S.
40:00Number 12, Bridget Fonda.
40:03Born into the renowned Fonda acting dynasty, Bridget Fonda began her career at the tender age of five.
40:09Throughout the late 80s and 90s, she worked tirelessly, starring in notable films like The Godfather Part 3 and Jackie Brown.
40:18That damn girl, you getting high already? It's just 2 o'clock.
40:24Is that late?
40:25You know, you smoke too much of that shit. That shit's gonna rob you of your own ambition.
40:29Not if your ambition is to get high and watch TV.
40:31Fonda continued to act until 2002, when she abruptly decided to retire from the spotlight, for a much quieter life.
40:38I did a very good job.
40:39I used to sew up pigs. That was my specialty.
40:42The following year, she suffered a serious car accident that fractured her back, and later got married to film composer Danny Elfman.
40:49Since her retirement, Fonda has maintained a very low profile, only resurfacing in 2009 for the premiere of Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds.
40:58When asked if she would consider returning to the silver screen, Fonda dismissed the notion completely.
41:04I don't think so. It's too nice being a civilian.
41:07Number 11, Shirley Temple.
41:09During the Great Depression, Shirley Temple became a beacon of hope and joy for many Americans.
41:14On the good ship, lollipop, it's a sweet trip to a candy shop.
41:23Temple rose to fame as a child actress in the 1930s, captivating audiences worldwide with her talent, charm, and signature curly hair.
41:31At the height of her career, she was one of Hollywood's biggest sensations, and the leading box office draw.
41:37Lean on me, until you get started.
41:39However, as Temple grew older, her box office success declined, leading her to retire from the big screen at the age of 22.
41:50Subsequently, Temple pursued a career in politics and was appointed as a delegate to the United Nations General Assembly by President Richard Nixon.
41:58She would go on to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia.
42:02I think we all learned from the past. I just feel we shouldn't live there. We shouldn't live in the past.
42:10Number 10, Greta Garbo.
42:12You can't talk about the biggest stars of old Hollywood without mentioning Greta Garbo.
42:16During the era of silent films, the Swedish actress was a sensation.
42:21Even when talkies took over, Garbo managed to stay on top despite fears her Swedish accent would be a problem.
42:28Prepare the passport for the Spanish envoy.
42:30But what really added to her legend is how she walked away from Hollywood when she was still at the height of fame.
42:37After starring in Ninochka and her final film, Two-Faced Woman, Garbo retired and never came back.
42:43Take your light from me.
42:52I want nothing more from life than always to take my light from you.
42:56No comebacks, no appearances, nothing.
42:58For years, people wondered why.
43:01But Garbo refused to tell even friends.
43:03She eventually told a Swedish biographer that she hated her work and simply wanted a life away from fame.
43:09Can I make a speech now?
43:11Please.
43:12Number 9, Dylan Sprouse.
43:14One half of the Sprouse twins, the child actors famous for their roles in Big Daddy and the Suite Life of Zack and Cody,
43:20Dylan and his brother Cole have enjoyed steady acting work nearly their entire lives.
43:25Why can't you drive us to the playground?
43:27Because I have to rehearse new choreography for my next show.
43:30Mr. Mosby thinks I need some younger moves.
43:33But while Cole landed the role of Jughead on Riverdale and starred in the 2019 film Five Feet Apart,
43:38Dylan has taken a radically different path in life.
43:40It's been a quiet few months in Riverdale.
43:43Spring slid into summer.
43:46And some semblance of normal life resumed.
43:48In 2011, Dylan began studying video game design at the Gallatin School of Individualized Study, graduating in 2015.
43:56Three years later, he opened the All Wise Meadery in Brooklyn.
44:00I started having to convince everybody that mead was a thing.
44:03And then Matt tried the mead that I was making, and now we are convincing everybody mead is a thing.
44:10He's also dabbled in acting throughout the years, albeit in smaller, intimate projects.
44:16Nothing like the big mainstream work he used to do.
44:19Number 8.
44:20Freddie Prinze Jr.
44:21In the late 90s and early 2000s, you couldn't walk into a movie theater without seeing this guy's face plastered on a movie poster or six.
44:29That changed sometime around 2004, right after the release of Scooby-Doo 2.
44:33It was around then that he transitioned to voice work, an industry he has remained in ever since.
44:48You may have heard his voice in Mass Effect 3 or Star Wars Rebels.
44:51Who are you?
44:53I'm the guy who was stealing that crate.
44:55Hey look, I stole this stuff, whatever it is, fair and square.
45:00And you made it pretty far, but I've got plans for that crate.
45:04It's still acting work, just not the kind that attracts the paparazzi.
45:07Although, for what it's worth, he did make a return to the silver screen for the I Know What You Did Last Summer reboot.
45:13However, Prince Jr. has primarily focused his attention in other fields.
45:17He co-wrote a cookbook with Rachel Wharton and served as a producer and director for the WWE.
45:23Yes, really.
45:24First of all, Booker, that's not a claim, that's a fact.
45:28And there are people in this room, in that ring right now that can attest to it.
45:34Number 7. Jack Gleeson
45:35You may not know Jack Gleeson by name, but you certainly know his face.
45:39His oh-so-once-punchable face.
45:42Don't you think we ought to do something about it?
45:45That's right, Joffrey Baratheon.
45:47Gleeson earned renown and acclaim for playing the slimy Baratheon, uh, Lannister child?
45:52But it seems like acting wasn't for him.
45:55Killed a few puppies today.
45:58Show him.
45:59Show him.
46:01Gleeson announced his retirement after wrapping up Game of Thrones,
46:04telling Entertainment Weekly that he had stopped enjoying it and didn't want to turn it into a lifelong career.
46:09He subsequently studied theology and philosophy at Dublin's Trinity College,
46:14where he graduated in 2015.
46:16Five years later, Gleeson returned to the screen,
46:19albeit in much more muted roles than the one he gained popularity for.
46:23Killing you would send your brother a message.
46:29But my mother insists on keeping you alive.
46:32Number 6.
46:33Mara Wilson
46:3490s kids will undoubtedly remember Mara Wilson as that adorable little actress from movies like Mrs. Doubtfire and Matilda.
46:40This is Natalie.
46:42Oh, hello, Natalie.
46:44Are you wearing bug spray?
46:45Oh, Maddie.
46:47Oh, it's quite a right deal.
46:48No offense taken.
46:48I was a little liberal with the atomizer.
46:50Unfortunately, Wilson quickly grew disillusioned with the prospect of acting and the fame that came with it.
46:56In a 2012 blog post, Wilson addressed the various reasons for her early retirement,
47:01including the lack of creative freedom, the ridiculous celebrity aspect,
47:04and the dehumanizing audition process.
47:06Daddy, you're a crook.
47:09What?
47:10This is illegal.
47:13Here, keep drilling.
47:16Do you make money?
47:17Do you have a job?
47:19No, but don't people need good cars?
47:21Can't you sell good cars, Dad?
47:23And while she has left acting behind, she's still in the creative fields.
47:27She's lent her voice to BoJack Horseman and the famous podcast Welcome to Night Bale,
47:32and she's written both a book and a play.
47:34The latter was performed at the New York International Fringe Festival in 2013.
47:38But before you fold the omelet, I'd like the chef to hold the pan up and whisper his, or her, dreams into it.
47:44Number 5. Gene Hackman
47:45Gene Hackman, who passed away in February of 2025,
47:49was a legend long before he played little Bill Daggett in Unforgiven,
47:53a role that earned him a BAFTA, Oscar, and a Golden Globe.
47:57He says, give me over your pistol.
48:03I ain't drunk.
48:06Ordnance says you got to turn in your firearms to the county office, day or night.
48:12Hackman was notoriously private and rarely gave interviews.
48:16Perhaps he saw no need, or maybe he just didn't want to.
48:19Let me bust you. I want to bust you.
48:22I want to bust you.
48:23Don't shoot.
48:24Let me talk to you.
48:25Let me talk to you.
48:26You got a friend here, buddy.
48:28You got a friend.
48:29Regardless, during one such rare interview with Larry King in 2004,
48:33Hackman announced he would be retiring.
48:35This left 2004's Welcome to Mooseport,
48:38a political satire in which he co-starred with Ray Romano,
48:42as his final feature film.
48:43After retirement, he focused more on writing and published two novels as a solo writer,
48:48Payback at Morning Peak, and Pursuit.
48:51Some guy's following me.
48:54Who?
48:55I don't know.
48:57It has something to do with the assignment last week.
48:59Number 4. Rick Moranis
49:01After first finding fame with the Canadian sketch comedy series Second City Television,
49:07Rick Moranis successfully transitioned to major Hollywood productions.
49:11What sign are you waiting for?
49:12Gozer the Traveler.
49:14He will come in one of the pre-chosen forums.
49:16With prominent roles in franchises like Ghostbusters and Honey,
49:19I Shrunk the Kids, Moranis quickly became a household name.
49:22What are you saying, Nick?
49:28Swinging?
49:29Sadly, in 1991, his wife, Anne Belsky, passed away,
49:34leaving him to raise their two young children alone.
49:36The actor then made the difficult decision to step away from his thriving Hollywood career
49:41to focus on his kids.
49:42Although Moranis has been absent from live-action films,
49:45he has lent his voice to animated projects
49:47and appeared alongside Ryan Reynolds in an ad for Mint Mobile.
49:51So why am I here?
49:52I'm just...
49:54It's a huge fan.
49:55Oh, stop it.
49:56Come on, stop it.
49:57No, seriously.
49:57He was set to reprise his role as Wayne Zielinski in an upcoming sequel, Shrunk,
50:02but it was put on indefinite hold.
50:05Number 3. Frankie Muniz
50:07My name is Malcolm.
50:08You want to know what the best thing about childhood is?
50:11At some point, it stops.
50:12Muniz earned incredible popularity throughout the 2000s
50:15for his titular role on Malcolm in the Middle,
50:18while also venturing into film with movies like Big Fat Liar and Agent Cody Banks.
50:32Shortly after Malcolm wrapped in 2006,
50:34Muniz announced his retirement from acting
50:37and subsequently ventured in race car driving,
50:39performing music,
50:40and managing a band called Astro Lasso.
50:43And aside from a recent stint on Dancing with the Stars,
50:46Muniz is taking it easy with his partner Paige Prince.
50:49They currently co-manage a specialty olive oil shop in Arizona
50:52called Outrageous Olive Oils and Vinegars.
50:54I'm Frankie Muniz.
50:56And I'm Paige Price.
50:57And we are the owners of Outrageous Olive Oils and Vinegars.
50:59Don't fret, though.
51:00Muniz will be back in the driver's seat
51:02for the 2026 Malcolm in the Middle revival.
51:05Number 2.
51:06Cary Grant
51:07Grant was one of the finest leading men in Hollywood history.
51:15He could do it all,
51:17from suave romantic leads to screwball goofs
51:19to the dark and introspective characters of Alfred Hitchcock.
51:22Grant eventually retired in 1966
51:25in order to raise his newborn daughter Jennifer in peace.
51:28By then, he had also grown disillusioned with the direction of Hollywood,
51:32believing that the Golden Age,
51:33for which he was a major part, was ending.
51:35All right, but would you mind if I put on something more formal?
51:39He soon transitioned over to business work,
51:41becoming a director for both MGM and Fabergé.
51:44He also spent a lot of time traveling to Monaco,
51:46where his good friend Grace Kelly,
51:48herself retired from film,
51:50was literal royalty.
51:51Before we continue,
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52:13Number 1.
52:14Audrey Hepburn
52:15Among the most esteemed of leading ladies
52:17during the Golden Age of Hollywood,
52:19Audrey Hepburn was the first actress in history
52:21to win the BAFTA,
52:23Golden Globe,
52:23and Oscar for the same film,
52:25doing so for her role in Roman Holiday.
52:40Later, she would star in acclaimed films
52:42like Breakfast at Tiffany's and My Fair Lady.
52:45But Hepburn decided to leave the spotlight behind
52:47in the late 60s to focus on family.
52:49And she gave birth to her second child in 1970.
52:52I don't even want to own anything
52:54until I can find a place where new things go together.
52:57Not sure where that is,
52:58but I know what it's like.
53:02It's like Tiffany's.
53:03While she never quit acting altogether,
53:05she devoted much of her time to UNICEF
53:07and visiting countries like Ethiopia,
53:09Turkey,
53:10and Vietnam,
53:11eventually earning the Presidential Medal of Freedom
53:13for her efforts.
53:14Why not?
53:15Them she lived with
53:17would have killed her for a hat.
53:19Pin, let alone a hat.
53:21What other Hollywood stars or celebs
53:23have left fame behind?
53:24Let us know in the comments.
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