Celebrities Who Left The Spotlight
They’re everywhere and then suddenly they’re not. Whether it’s because of the fickle nature of fame or because they wanted out of the spotlight, many celebrities faded from public view. Here are some notable stars who slipped from our collective radar.
Greta Garbo
One of the first international movie stars, Sweden’s Greta Garbo was perhaps the greatest actress during the silent and early sound eras. Garbo was equally famous for leaving it all behind: despite her status, she made her last film in 1941 and thereafter shunned the spotlight, living a very private life in New York City. Four years before she died in 1990, Garbo told a biographer that she had been “tired of Hollywood…I really wanted to live another life”.
Shelley Long
With a few noted roles in films, Shelley Long became a household name with her co-starring role on the classic sitcom Cheers starting in 1982. After five seasons, her contract was up and she chose to move on. She starred in a few films in the late 1980s and early 1990s, most notably The Money Pit, Beverly Hills Troop, and The Brady Bunch Movie, but her later success never eclipsed her time on Cheers.
Taran Noah Smith
Being a child actor is fraught with difficulties, not least of which is navigating the challenges of building a career in the business as an adult. After starring as the youngest brother on Home Improvement, Taran Noah Smith turned his back on fame to focus on a company he co-founded, Playfood, devoted to sustainable building and organic food production.
ABC, Home Improvement (1991-1999)
Jake Lloyd
Another child actor, Jake Lloyd ended up appearing in the biggest film franchise in history, playing the young Anakin Skywalker from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. Unfortunately, his experience wasn’t too good, with overwhelming media attention and bullying. He only appeared in a few more films but ultimately chose to leave the industry for good.
Twentieth Century, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)
Tippi Hedren
Tippi Hedren’s fame came from starring in two Alfred Hitchcock films, The Birds and Marnie, but her relationship with Hitchcock was difficult and she soon tired of the industry. She stepped back from the limelight and focused her energy on animal rights activism, and what acting work she did was mainly to support her non-profit foundation. Hedren is probably best known today as Melanie Griffith’s mother.
Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds by ackdziatkowiec
Meg Ryan
Meg Ryan was a big star in the 1990s. She appeared in three of the most popular rom-coms of the late 1980s and early 1990s—When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, and You've Got Mail. Ryan has, in recent years, stepped back from the blockbuster roles that made her famous, focusing on her personal life and working behind the scenes as a writer and director.
Warner Bros., You've Got Mail (1998)
Bridget Fonda
Bridget Fonda, part of the Fonda acting dynasty, had a big start in the 1990s, appearing in Single White Female, Jackie Brown, and The Point of No Return. After 2000, she disappeared from Hollywood’s spotlight, focusing on her family.
Single White Female (1992) - Clip: Surprise Twins (HD), ScreamFactoryTV
Cameron Diaz
Cameron Diaz was everywhere in the 1990s. Able to perform in drama and comedy, she worked steadily throughout the decade and into the new century. After 2014’s Annie, she decided to focus on business ventures instead, including a wellness company.
Little Girls Everywhere | Annie (Cameron Diaz, Quvenzhane Wallis), Scene City
Julia Stiles
Julia Stiles was another actress who seemed to be everywhere and appeared to be poised for big things. After a few big films in the late 1990s and early 2000s, she wasn’t as visible in the public eye. Stiles chose to pull back from big films and focus on personal projects and spending time with her family.
David Shankbone, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Andrew Keegan
Andrew Keegan was a co-star with Julia Stiles in 10 Things I Hate About You, and like Stiles, seemed to have a big career ahead of him. After some successful films, he chose to step back from fame and has devoted himself to community and spiritual efforts.
Michael Schoeffling
After starring as Jake Ryan in Sixteen Candles, Michael Schoeffling was a teen idol. Rather than pursuing a Hollywood career, Schoeffling focused on his family and a new career in woodworking. He now makes custom furniture in Pennsylvania.
Sixteen Candles - Ending, Pamul Thakur
Taylor Momsen
A child actress in the Jim Carrey version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Taylor Momsen made the transition to teen actor in Gossip Girl. Instead of continuing with acting, Momsen has focused on music, fronting her band, The Pretty Reckless.
Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill first came to the public’s attention as part of The Fugees and later with her acclaimed solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. She also had some acting roles but by 2000, she dropped out of the spotlight and focused on family. She has sporadically recorded music and toured but not on the same level that she had in the 1990s.
Phoebe Cates
The 1980s It Girl, Phoebe Cates became famous for her role in Fast Times in Ridgemont High. She worked steadily for the remainder of the 1980s and early 1990s but she chose to leave the public eye and focus on her private life.
Universal, Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
Jessica Alba
Jessica Alba was one of the top stars of the first decade of the 2000s. It seemed like her continued success was assured in the industry but instead, she chose to focus on running her own business. She started The Honest Company, making eco-friendly products for families, and it has been a huge success.
Mara Wilson
As a child actor, Mara Wilson had some high-profile roles in the 1990s, including Matilda, Mrs Doubtfire, and Miracle on 34th Street. Critics lauded her acting abilities at such a young age, but she soon tired of the Hollywood life and chose to become a writer.
Mia Sara
Mia Sara came to the public’s attention in Ferris Bueller's Day Off and later appeared in the film Legend. However, she chose to walk away from a movie career and found a quiet life away from Hollywood raising her children and pursuing other creative outlets.
Paramount, Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
Lori Petty
Although Lori Petty continues to act after her 1990s heyday in Tank Girl, A League of Their Own, and Point Break, she has focused mostly on directing and doing voice work. The pace of that kind of work seemed better suited for her and she realized fame wasn’t what she really wanted.
TANK GIRL Clips - Best Lines (1995), JoBlo Movie Clips
Angus T Jones
Angus T Jones hit it big as a child actor in the long-running sitcom Two and a Half Men. As he got older, he felt that the show didn’t really align with his values, and he left the industry to focus on education.
Two and a half Men - Best of SEASON 1 by TM
Meg Tilly
Meg Tilly always made for a unique screen presence with her quirky personality and her signature voice. After some big roles in the 1980s and early 1990s, she left the industry to focus on writing and has written a number of novels.
Leelee Sobieski
For a while, Leelee Sobieski seemed to be the next big thing as a serious actor. As suddenly as she seemed to appear in the spotlight, she disappeared. Rather than acting, Sobieski has instead focused on being an artist, working as a painter and sculptor.
David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Rick Moranis
After becoming famous as a cast member on the classic Canadian sketch comedy show SCTV, Rick Moranis had a high-profile movie career, appearing in Ghostbusters, Spaceballs, and the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids franchise. Sadly, his wife passed away in 1991 and Moranis retired from acting to raise his children. It was recently announced that he was returning to acting in the upcoming Spaceballs sequel.
Ghostbusters (1984), Columbia Pictures
Jennette McCurdy
Jeanette McCurdy had an active career as a child star on iCarly and Sam & Cat. Rather than pursuing an adult acting career, McCurdy turned to writing instead. Her acclaimed memoir I'm Glad My Mom Died, based on her one-woman stage show, was a candid portrait of child stardom and her abusive mother.
iCarly (2007–2012), Nickelodeon Network
Eliza Dushku
Eliza Dushku had some high-profile roles as a child actress and later on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spinoff Angel. By 2017, she had effectively retired from acting, began studying sociology and psychology, and is currently pursuing her master's degree in psychology. Dushku has also made allegations about abuse she suffered, in particular on the set of True Lies, when she was 12.
Buffy and Faith Being Extremely Heterosexual Gal Pals, SGL
Mischa Barton
Michae Barton came into the spotlight for her role in The OC but since then, she has been vocal about her negative experiences on the set of that series and in Hollywood in general. Since then, she has become involved in various charitable causes and is active in speaking about what Hollywood and fame do to young actors.
Dylan Sprouse
Being a tween star may seem like a dead-end, and when you’re part of a set of twin tween stars, the outlook for a long showbiz career seems difficult. Dylan Sprouse, twin brother of Cole (both of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody fame), took a break from acting and focused on school. Dylan earned a degree in archaeology at New York University and now runs a meadery (he makes mead).
Thora Birch
Thora Birch had some high-profile roles as a child and as a teenager and was praised for her acting ability. Able to do both comedy and drama, she seemed poised to become a respected actor as an adult, but she turned away from mainstream Hollywood. Focusing on independent film and theater, she is also involved in a number of projects behind the scenes.
John Manard, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Andrew Shue
With stardom from the 1990s nighttime soap Melrose Place, Andrew Shue was a household name. After doing a few movies, Shue shifted focus to social causes and digital media, founding the social platform dosomething.org for young people working in their communities.
Billy's Thinks Keith Is Stalking Alison I MELROSE PLACE, Melrose Place
Fairuza Balk
Fairuza Balk’s dark indie image was perfect for 90s films like The Craft. She appeared in many indie and mainstream films but after the 1990s, she seemed to disappear. She turned away from Hollywood for the most part, focusing on art and jewelry design.
Heather Donahue
Heather Donahue wasn’t a household name when she appeared in The Blair Witch Project in 1999. Although she had a few more acting roles, she realized that an acting career wasn’t where she wanted to be. Since the early 2000s, she has been running a farm and is focusing mainly on writing.
Haxan Films, The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Devon Sawa
Devon Sawa became a bankable actor, appearing in several successful films in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He soon discovered that fame wasn’t really what he wanted, and he decided to step away from Hollywood to live a more private life with his family.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas
Another child actor from Home Improvement, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, much like his TV brothers, has kept a low profile. Once a tween heartthrob, Thomas focuses on writing and directing these days and is content to be out of the spotlight.
ABC, Home Improvement (1991-1999)
Jack Gleeson
Jack Gleeson’s role as the tyrannical King Joffrey on Game of Thrones was a mixed blessing. A huge profile role that let him show off his acting chops but as hated as Joffrey was, it was bound to impact on Gleeson’s private life. Rather than build on the success of that role, he instead went back to school, and as for acting, he sticks with theater now.
HBO, Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
Sarah Michelle Gellar
TV’s Buffy had some success off the small screen as well, appearing in a number of big movies in the 1990s. Rather than continuing with that lifestyle, Gellar chose to focus on raising her children with her husband Freddie Prinze Jr while devoting her free time to charitable causes. She has made a few appearances in the last little while and will be involved in the upcoming Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot.
UPN, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
Freddie Prinze Jr
Like his wife Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr had some high-profile roles in the 1990s but by the time of their marriage in 2000, the two stepped back from fame to raise their children. Prinze has returned to the spotlight, but differently: with his love of professional wrestling, Prinze was involved in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as a writer and commentator, and later as a producer. These days he hosts a podcast on wrestling.
Skeet Ulrich
After some success in the 1990s and 2000s, Ulrich seemed to disappear. However, he did keep working, focusing on voice work and his private life. In 2017, he returned to the public eye with a role in Riverdale and reprised his role in the Scream franchise as well.
Alicia Silverstone
It seemed like you couldn’t watch a movie in the 1990s or a music video without seeing Alicia Silverstone. As one of the biggest stars of the 90s, it was surprising that her career seemed to slow down, but she was mainly focusing on her son and promoting a vegan lifestyle. She has returned to the spotlight with a number of high-profile projects on screen and streaming services.
Flickr, Walt Disney Television
Emilio Estevez
Emilio Estevez, son of Martin Sheen and brother of Charlie Sheen, chose to keep the family’s real name for his career, and in the 1980s, Estevez was doing just as well as his brother, maybe even more so, appearing in the classic teen movie The Breakfast Club. As Charlie remained, for good or bad, in the spotlight, Emilio shifted focus to directing and writing and has generally kept a lower profile.
Universal, The Breakfast Club (1985)
Frankie Muniz
Like many child actors, Frankie Muniz faced an unknown future in the industry after starring in Malcolm in the Middle. Rather than fight the difficult transition to adult roles, Muniz turned to business ventures and focused on his passion for car racing. He currently races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Fox, Malcolm in the Middle (2000-2006)
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