30 Former Stars Who Quit Showbiz for Normal Jobs

The world of entertainment is pretty ruthless. One can become famous and infamous overnight. With every movie release, the fate of celebrities in the industry changes, and so is the general public’s perception. It is a common observation that people who join the showbusiness are hungry for fame and want to be noticed and admired.

However, there are many such celebs who joined the entertainment industry, attained fame, reached the status of superstars, and still chose to leave everything behind on purpose. That’s not an easy feat at all. But, it seems like they didn’t want to stay in the public eye for long as fame didn’t entice them much. As unbelievable as it may sound to you, numerous celebrities decided that they didn’t want to spend their lives under constant media scrutiny and gave up fame for regular jobs. We know you are eager to find out which celebs quit showbusiness for routine jobs, so here we go.

During the late nineties and early twenties, Freddie Prinze Jr. was the nation’s rising star. He was virtually everywhere. The actor achieved fame for his incredible comic timing and heartfelt romcoms that made him the most promising heartthrob of the 90s. Even in unconventional movies such as She’s All That and I Know What You Did Last Summer, all appreciated Freddie’s performance.

He was also a part of his sitcom for one season. But then something happened, and he vanished from the silver screen. Freddie Prinze Jr. was nowhere to be seen. People wanted to know where this heartthrob had gone. Then it turned out that Freddie had opted for a career switch. He was also fond of wrestling and had contributed extensively to the WWE’s message boards. So when he wanted a career shift, WWE was keen on hiring him as a writer, producer, and director for the organization. Now that’s what we would call a genuine powerbomb.

Phoebe Cates was the starlet of the 1980s. Cates was like the goddess of acting for those in their youth during that era. Her performance in Fast Times at Ridgemont High was declared formative and appreciated by critics overwhelmingly. After this iconic movie, Cates appeared in another classic in the 1980s, titled Gremlins.

By that time, Phoebe Cates had everything going in her favor. She was successful beautiful, and people adored her. And then, she dropped a bomb on the public by announcing her retirement from screen acting. Later, it was revealed that she ventured into the world of fashion and opened her own boutique in NYC known as Blue Tree, inspired by her hubby Kevin Kline. With products like Abraham Lincoln dolls, Blue Tree became a huge success, and with this, Cates formally firmed her position as an entrepreneur.

The basketball journeyman, Kris Humphries, had played for nine different professional teams. The Minneapolis-native played for both Brooklyn Nets and the New Jersey, which is an achievement in itself. However, the ace athlete never played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, his hometown’s team. When his career was going great, Humphries met Kim Kardashian and turned his life upside down.

The two got married quickly, and Humphries suddenly found himself under the spotlight. He found it difficult to deal with the paparazzi following his every move and tabloids featuring him regularly. Then he got embroiled in on-court heckles and was publicly harassed. That did it for the journeyman, and the couple filed for a divorce just 72 days post their marriage. Humphries took retirement from the NBA and shifted focus to franchising fast-casual restaurants in his hometown.

We all have heard of the philosophy that life is unfair and unpredictable. The Malcolm in the Middle’s theme song widely promoted this philosophy. However, for the central character of the show, played by Frankie Muniz, that wasn’t the case. He believed that life might take unpredictable turns, but it wasn’t unfair.

And, it turned out that Muniz was looking for those unpredictable turns. Since the age of 16, Frankie Muniz has been interested in car racing. His interest intensified when he drove the pace car for Daytona-500. Muniz eventually became a professional racer. He even won an award for sportsmanship. He also owns an olive oil store in Arizona.

Shaq O’Neal may not be as good with throws, but as far as his career and personal life are concerned, there’s certainly a lot going on. Who doesn’t know Shaq O’Neal, the NBA Hall-of-Fame, and his performance on the court showcase just one aspect of his personality? He has switched many careers so far from making movies to appearing as a TNT basketball commentator in outstanding outfits and churning out hip-hop albums.

Shaquille has definitely had been there and done that sort of a career after retiring from basketball. But out of all his career choices, the one that stands out the most was that he became a cop. Yeah, that’s true, folks. He loved the police so much that he became a part of it in multiple cities. First, he became a reserve officer after going through the sheriff’s academy in LA, busted criminals of a hate crime in Miami, and worked on cases in Georgia and Virginia. Shaquille O’Neal has served as an honorary sheriff deputy in both US states, and that’s nothing short of an achievement.

All of us considered Welcome to Mooseport a regular comedy flick. However, this turned out to be one of those rare opportunities to stardom that celebrities come across in Hollywood for Gene Hackman fans. It gave Hackman a chance to display his comical side as by that time, and he had only played highly acclaimed but somewhat very serious roles.

But in reality, this movie catalyzed to convince Hackman that he needed a career shift. And, he retired from acting shortly after and turned to write. He went on to become an acclaimed author. So, if your dad were a fan of Gene Hackman’s acting, now they would be reading his books. He is currently an accomplished author known for historical fiction such as Escape From Andersonville.

Kevin Jonas needs no introduction. The Jonas Brothers band was the ultimate boy band of the last decade for music buffs. And, it came as a massive shock that the band was no more and the brothers were going solo. In 2019, the prayers of the band’s fans were answered with their reunion after a gap of 6 years.

But have you ever thought about what the Jonas Brothers were up to during the hiatus? While Joe and Nick followed the same path of music and made their name as solo artists, Kevin Jonas had other plans. He founded several businesses, including a phone app Yood that simplified online food ordering, the Blue Market that connected social media influencers with interested firms, and a construction firm offering custom-built houses and home renovations, JonasWerner. After all, he’s only human!!

The 2007 release Hairspray was not merely another flick. It introduced us all to a brand-new way of life. The musical was a hit for many reasons, one of which was Nikki Blonsky’s acting. After setting the bar high with her debut movie, Blonsky grabbed the lead role in ABC Family’s show Huge, but it was aired for only one season. Nikki Blonsky didn’t wait for offers to come her way as she was already looking for career alternates.

And, she did find one and earned a cosmetology license in Great Neck, New York. As a certified cosmetologist, she helped people learn how to get great hair and makeup looks. Later on, Blonsky got a job at Superstar Hairstylists. However, she made it clear that this was a temporary break and she will one day return to acting.

Kal Penn visited White Castle in 2004, and by 2009 he was in the White House- what an upgrade! Who would have thought that someone who played the character of a goof in the Harold & Kumar franchise would capture such a serious position of a government employee? But he indeed got employed as the White House Office of Public Engagement’s Associate Director.

But you may not know about this sudden career change as Penn used his real name Kalpen Mody while working with the government. His position required him to connect with underrepresented communities. After serving for two years, he took a break to film the third part of the movie Harold & Kumar. He resigned from his job and resumed acting shortly after.

Willa Ford is known for making notoriety appear likable. Back in 2001, she released her single I Wanna Be Bad, which was a smash hit and influenced many of her fellow musicians such as Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears to create suggestive and unconventional songs. It won’t be wrong to state that Ford raised the bar for pop musicians with just one song.

Ford, however, wasn’t keen on following a career as a musician as she was more interested in designing homes. So, she stepped away and transitioned into the interior designing world. And with W Ford Interiors, she built an impressive brand for herself. Do you know Scott Disick hired Ford to be the in-house designer for his show Flip It Like Disick?

One of the key indications that you are in a messed-up relationship is when your partner changes the name of their television show. And this seems to be the situation faced by celebrity couple Kate Gosselin and Jon Gosselin. After having eight kids and a pretty hectic lifestyle, Jon began to wander, which was well-documented on the TLC reality show titled Jon & Kate Plus 8.

Their divorce was quite an ugly one as it was full of scandals. However, Kate got to keep the show, renaming it to Kate Plus 8. On the other hand, Jon worked in numerous odd jobs such as serving at restaurants, installing solar panels, DJing, being a cook at T.G.I Friday’s, etc. But none of his jobs were as shocking as this one- he became a stripper, also known as an exotic dancer, to make ends meet.

During the 1990s, the Latin song Rico Suave was a huge hip-hop hit. Strangely, the seductive son wasn’t recorded by someone named Rico Suave but Gerardo. Yes, that’s right. The deep voice was rendered by Gerardo, who had transitioned into the music world as a singer.

But then another shock awaited his fans as he suddenly decided to shift career. Of course, when we think of Gerardo, we get the image of a shirtless male singing suggestive songs, and the idea of the Lord doesn’t ring a bell at all. However, it is a fact that in 2013, the ex-musician announced to become a youth pastor in Kentucky and Kansas.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s was an iconic movie, the poster of which was found in almost every dorm room back then. And, how can we forget the little black dress, which is still considered a wardrobe staple? Let’s thank Audrey Hepburn for giving us this classic and also for introducing us to unique ways of styling and dressing.

With that movie, Hepburn reached the peak of her career, but sadly, she decided to retire soon after to work with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Audrey worked with UNICEF for most of her adult life. She assisted the agency as a child when the Netherlands was war-torn. In 1988 she formally retired from acting and joined UNICEF as an official ambassador. She later went on numerous field missions and proved herself a valuable part of the organization.

Cary Grant was the heartthrob of the 1960s. Many of his movies were smash hits such as North by Northwest and His Girl Friday. He was handsome, charming, and one of the most bankable leading men in Hollywood as he could fit into any genre movie reasonably well. At 62, he suddenly stopped acting in 1966 and became a board member of several companies.

The first company he joined the board of was a cosmetic firm Faberge. At that time, people assumed that this was an honorary figurehead seat. However, eventually, Grant served on boards of many other firms such as the Academy of Magical Arts, MGM, and Western Airlines. He took the job seriously, attended all the meetings, and used similar approaches for all boards, which is why he was so popular as a board member.

For those growing up during the 1990s, Mara Wilson is definitely recognizable. Wilson’s portrayal of the character of Matilda in the cinematic adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic is still sketched in people’s minds. This character made Wilson an icon. However, despite the early fame, Wilson decided not to pursue acting as a career and retired from the entertainment industry at 13.

After bidding farewell to acting, Mara Wilson shifted her focus to writing later on. She transitioned into a prolific writer and wrote many bestselling books, including a memoir called Where Am I Now? True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame was based on her own experiences as a child star. She never returned to the silver screen but did regularly perform storytelling.

The primary theme of Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster Jurassic Park was the relationship parents share with their children. Children were the soul of this movie, and Ariana Richards is one of them. Many of the movie’s fans still remember Richards’s performance as she gave Lex considerable on-screen attitude. But where did she vanish after giving that mind-blowing performance?

Ariana Richards was reportedly living in Oregon and ventured into the world of painting. She is into impressionistic paintings and has even won national awards. It is apparent that inherently Richards was an art lover, so she left acting and joined the Skidmore College and the ArtCenter College of Design to gain expertise on the craft.

Cameron Diaz made a fantastic big screen debut after appearing in the blockbuster movie The Mask, along with Jim Carrey. Her journey into the world of showbusiness was an exciting one as she delivered one hit after another until 2014 when she featured in her last movie as an actress- Annie. The charming actress lit up the screen with her enthusiasm and spontaneous comic timing. However, she ultimately developed a liking for another profession and took retirement from acting in 2014.

Diaz decided she wanted to become an author and hence, started writing. She has written two bestsellers since her retirement. Her work now focuses on promoting improvement in different aspects of life. Her first self-authored book, The Body Book, is about keeping your body healthy. The second book- The Longevity Book, is about making one’s life successful and productive.

After featuring in hit television shows such as All That and pathbreaking movies like She’s The Man, Amanda Bynes seemed like the next big thing in the world of entertainment. However, her career turned out to be another one of Hollywood’s cautionary tales. Shortly after being shot to fame, Bynes underwent a dark phase and developed mental health issues.

After a very public breakdown, Bynes realized that she needed professional help and improved her mental health status. Eventually, Bynes got her life back on track, but she wasn’t too keen on working in the movies this time. Instead, she opted to enter the world of fashion and introduced her personal clothing line in 2007, and in 2014, she joined the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. Bynes graduated with an associate’s degree and transformed into a fashion designer. She even released a public apology to make up for her erratic behavior and vowed to turn her life around with a brand-new career.

Danny Lloyd appeared in a masterpiece titled The Shinning, achieved tremendous public acclaim, and then he suddenly decided to retire from Hollywood. Fans were dismayed as they wanted to know Why. The reason Lloyd shared later was that he was just 6 when he appeared in The Shinning and the horrific scenes he had to act out made the entire experience traumatic for him. He was actually told that this wasn’t a horror movie, and he only realized later that he had been tricked.

Hence, he decided to leave acting for good and took up a different career option- a biology teacher. Lloyd altogether avoided the world of glitz and glamor. He lives in Kentucky with his family and doesn’t intend to visit or stay in any hotel in Colorado. The ex-actor is associated with Elizabethtown Community and Technical College.

Along with Cole, his twin brother, Dylan Sprouse had a very successful run in the blockbuster teen drama Riverdale from CW. However, after appearing in the Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Sprouse grew disinterested in acting and developed an interest in brewing. It may sound strange to you, but the former actor brewed up many different recipes of innovative drinks like Mead.

Are you wondering what kind of a beverage it is? Well, it is a specialty drink made by mixing different fermented ingredients with honey. Currently, Sprouse runs a mead brewery based in Brooklyn. For your information, before opening a brewery, Sprouse earned a degree in video game designing from New York University.

In 1987 Tiffany Darwish was sixteen when she reached the top slot in pop charts with the single I Think We’re Alone Now and removed her last name. The song was a cover for a 60s rock tune. And then, Tiffany came up with an innovative idea to promote her music- she embarked on a tour of shopping malls across the country.

This experiment worked remarkably as her music became popular, and she reached out to the teens. Her debut album was a hit and sold well. Afterward, public interest in her music dropped, and so did the sales. Growing weary of her career in the music industry, Tiffany switched careers and opened a clothing store in Nashville. She created clothes exclusively for the teens and found success as a businesswoman.

It is interesting that Shirley Temple, the child star who sang and danced in many Hollywood classics such as Curly Top, shares her name with a non-alcoholic beverage. The beverage Shirley Temple is a lemon and lime-based soda combined with grenadine. But, for your information, the drink is named after her.

During the late 1960s, Shirley Temple got bored of acting and turned her focus away from show business. She developed an interest in making the world a peaceful place by becoming a government employee and later joined United Nations. She served at vital positions such as the Ambassador to Czechoslovakia, the Ambassador to Ghana, and the Chief of Protocol of the United States.

Peter Ostrum’s claim to fame is that he played the character of Charlie in the hit movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. It was a golden opportunity to make it big in Hollywood, but Ostrum had other plans. The child star wasn’t interested in acting at all. Then something more inspiring happened to him right after he decided to quit acting.

After returning from the set to his home in Texas, Ostrum was pleasantly surprised to find a horse waiting for him. His parents had bought the animal for Peter. One day his horse got sick, and a veterinarian arrived to check the animal, and that’s when it struck to Peter Ostrum that this was what he wanted to do. He pursued a career in veterinary medicine and completed his doctorate from Cornell University.

Do you remember who performed the infamous dance move dubbed The Truffle Shuffle in the movie The Goonies? It was none other than the child star Jeff Cohen. The former actor made headlines when he arrived on set without informing anyone that he had chickenpox. Afterward, he realized that his heart wasn’t into acting and decided to quit the industry.

So, what has he been up to after leaving acting? Growing up, Cohen developed a liking for law and became a lawyer. However, he couldn’t totally forgo the connection he shared with Hollywood, so he founded an entertainment law firm called Cohen & Gardener LLP. Variety, the American Bar Association, and the Hollywood Reporter profiled the company for its remarkable work.

Did you grow up with a crush on Jake Ryan, the life and soul of the show Sixteen Candles? Well, let us confirm to you that you aren’t alone. He was so handsome, sweet, sensitive, and acted really well. So why wouldn’t anyone fall for this guy? Michael Schoeffling performed this character. He eventually became the frontrunner for USA’s leading man.

Schoeffling worked in 8 movies after appearing in Sixteen Candles, and then he took retirement from acting. Probably, the star got bored with the craft and wanted to give more time to his family, which comprised his wife and two kids. Later, he shifted to Pennsylvania and became a carpenter. Nowadays, Schoeffling creates custom furniture and likes to live a low-key life.

Who wouldn’t recall The Sandlot’s Mike Vitar- the iconic tale of baseball and summer friendships? Sadly, Vitar stopped acting in movies shortly after the movie was released. You would be surprised to know what made him leave Hollywood. His passion for serving the public forced him to become a Los Angeles firefighter.

But Vitar was suspended from the job afterward. Are you wondering how it happened? Well, there’s a sad story behind it. In 2015 on Halloween, Vitar got drunk with his off-duty firefighter friends and accused a man of tampering with Halloween candies with illegal substances. The firefighters beat and choked the man, and all of this was caught on tape. Vitar was arrested and pleaded no contest. The court put him on three years’ probation and suspended him for six months without pay.

Technically, the Growing Pain’s star Kirk Cameron hasn’t entirely quit acting. However, his performance endeavors aren’t restricted to the camera and his fans only. Cameron’s message has expanded to all areas of life. Now Kirk Cameron offers his services as a born-again Christian preacher and an evangelical.

Cameron worked in many faith-based movies such as Fireproof, Left Behind: The Movie, and Saving Christmas with the sole purpose of spreading his message to a broader audience. Apart from the films he has acted in, Kirk Cameron publicly disavowed the growing trend of anti-Christian sentiment in the entertainment industry. He also rejected some storylines while working on Growing Pains. Kirk also co-founded an evangelical multimedia program- The Way of the Master to train evangelical preachers.

The three most valuable imports from Sweden to America are Chocolate, Meatballs, and Greta Garbo. The well-known Scandinavian delighted movie buffs with her electrifying performances in silent movies such as The Flesh and the Devil and later successfully transitioned into talkies such as Camille. When she turned 35, Garbo abruptly took retirement from acting.

The reason was that she had grown weary of the spotlight and had even reduced her media appearances. She rarely attended parties, signed autographs, or gave interviews. Garbo wanted to change her career and lead a more private life, becoming an art collector. At the time of her death, Greta Garbo’s art collection was worth millions of dollars and comprised acclaimed masterpieces from the likes of Auguste Renoir.

Heather Donahue is most famous for appearing in horror genre classics like The Blair Witch Project. She is also remembered as the filmmaker who left the industry after filming the Blair Witch Project documentary. And now, she is known as a medical marijuana grower.

Though it is disappointing that she is no longer a part of the film industry, we are glad that she is doing great in her career of choice. You may find it amusing that after The Blair With Project was released, back in 1999, it was marketed as a movie depicting real-life events. So, those who watched the movie actually believed that Donahue was dead. This negatively impacted her career as an actress, so she decided to switch career. Donahue wrote a memoir titled Growgirl after acing the production of marijuana, which is regarded as a green medicine.

No one can beat Kristi Yamaguchi when it comes to figuring skating. The renowned athlete was no less than a global icon during the 1980s and 90s. Yamaguchi received medals at a quick pace, which you can refer to as “triple axel with a Y-spin landing.” Her status as an icon didn’t dissipate even when she left the rink but evolved into something new.

And that something was a female activewear brand that Kristi named after her own last name, Tsu. ya. She designs stylish clothing for her brand with a promise of offering activewear that’s comfortable, affordable, and fashionable at the same time. The most impressive thing is that all proceeds from this business are used to support her Always Dream Foundation that helps underprivileged children.