30 Celebrities That Turned To Normal, Everyday Jobs After Their Fame Ran Out
Do you want to know more about these 30 celebrities that turned to normal, everyday jobs after their fame ran out? Then check out this article that takes a deep dive into these familiar celebrities that ended up leaving the film industry to make a living. When it comes to fame, it doesn't last forever, and that is true for these celebrities on the list.
Not every celebrity is lucky enough to hold fame their entire career, which leads many to turn to normal jobs, such as writers, entrepreneurs, and lawyers. Some celebrities on this list were not even forced to get a normal job but chose to out of interest. So if you want to find out more about these 30 celebrities, then be sure to check out this article.
Peter Ostrum
You might recognize Peter Ostrum as he starred as Charlie Bucket in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Ostrum starred alongside Gene Wilder and was only 12 years old at the time of filming. Ostrum only starred in one film throughout his career and turned down an offer to be a part of a three-movie series as he didn't want to pursue an acting career.
Ostrum left his acting career behind and pursued a veterinarian career as he was passionate about taking care of animals. Ostrum realized he wanted to become a veterinarian when his parents bought a horse for their ranch. Ostrum misses acting sometimes and was glad to be a part of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Jeff Cohen
Jeff Cohen is another child actor that decided to pursue a different career even though he starred in one of the most popular movies during the 1980s. Cohen starred as Chunk in the hit film The Goonies and looks pretty unrecognizable to his younger self. Cohen only starred in a few television shows and movies throughout his career and decided that acting wasn't for him at a young age.
Cohen pursued a law degree after he decided to leave his acting career behind and became an entertainment lawyer. Cohen became one of Hollywood's leading entertainment lawyers and founded Cohen Gardner LLP.
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Sarah Michelle Gellar is best known for her role as Buffy Summers in the hit television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Gellar went on to star in several films and television shows throughout her career, such as I Know What You Did Last Summer, Scooby-Doo, Southland Tales, and Ringer.
Although Gellar had a successful acting career, she decided to take a step back from acting and became the co-founder of FoodStirs, which is a company that focuses on baking goods that use non-GMO ingredients. Gellar has also stated that she will most likely return to acting sometime in the future.
Gene Hackman
Gene Hackman is best known for his performances as an actor in several legendary films such as The French Connection, The Quick and the Dead, and Enemy of the State. Hackman took a step back from acting in 2004, with his last film being Welcome to Mooseport, as he got tired of the film industry.
Hackman decided to become a writer and wrote five historical novels throughout his writing career. Hackman has retired from his writing career and is living the rest of his days in peace. Hackman is considered to be one of the legends of Hollywood as he starred in more films than most actors.
Mara Wilson
You might recognize Mara Wilson as she starred in several 1990s films as a child actress but decided to take a step back from the film industry once she got older. Wilson starred in films such as Mrs. Doubtfire, Miracle on 34th Street, Matilda, and A Simple Wish.
Once Wilson hit her teenage years, she knew that she wanted to pursue a different career. Wilson decided to become a writer and wrote the book Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame. Although Wilson decided to pursue a different career, she still makes appearances on several television shows.
Phoebe Cates
Phoebe Cates was one of the most popular actresses during the 1980s, as she starred in some of the biggest films during that decade. Cates is best known for her role as Linda Barrett in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, but also starred in films such as Gremlins and Drop Dead Fred.
Cates decided to take a break from acting in the early 2000s and opened up her own boutique store in New York City that she manages herself. Cates married Kevin Kline at a young age, and the couple shares two children together. Cates has expressed that she is happy with her job and doesn't mind being away from the camera.
Danielle Fishel
Danielle Fishel is best known for her role as Topanga Lawrence in Boy Meets World. Fishel starred in several films and television shows throughout her career, such as Full House, The Chosen One, and Girl Meets World. Fishel is still actively acting, but she decided to pursue other careers as well and works as a reporter for the YouTube channel and website, PopSugar.
Fishel is also a spokeswoman for Nutrisystem, which is a company that sells weight loss products. Fishel started directing on the set of Girl Meets World and has since directed several episodes on different television shows.
Ali McGraw
Ali McGraw is best known for her roles in the films Goodbye, Columbus, The Getaway, Convoy, and Players. McGraw received the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year as she was one of the most popular actresses during the 1970s. McGraw went on to star in several films and television shows but ended up taking a break from the film industry as she wanted to focus on becoming a yoga instructor.
McGraw also became a big advocate for animal rights and hasn't returned to the big screen ever since. McGraw has released a number of yoga instructional videos and is satisfied with her new lifestyle.
Karyn Parsons
Karyn Parsons might look familiar to you as she portrayed Hilary Banks in the hit television series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Parsons gained a majority of her fame on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air but also starred in several films and television shows throughout her acting career.
Parsons is still taking acting roles here and there but is primarily focused on being a writer. Parsons has written three children's books already and is looking to write more in the future. Parsons also focuses heavily on charities that help children with unfortunate circumstances, so she has been doing a lot of good since she took a break from acting.
Kevin Jonas
Kevin Jonas is best known for being one of the band members of the Jonas Brothers. Kevin played alongside his brothers, Nick and Joe, and created one of the most popular pop-rock bands to come out of the United States. The Jonas Brothers' musical career was quite successful as they sold millions of records around the world, but that all ended when the band decided to stop making music in 2013.
Since then, Kevin decided to do something different with his life and is now a home builder and contractor. Kevin enjoys creating new homes for people and really likes his new career.
Mike Vitar
Mike Vitar is best known for his role as Benjamin Franklin "Benny the Jet" Rodriguez from the famous 1990s film The Sandlot. Vitar starred in a number of 1990s kids' movies, such as D2: The Mighty Ducks, D3: The Mighty Ducks, and Sunset Grill.
Although Vitar had a successful acting career as a teenager, he decided that acting wasn't for him once he got older, with his last film being The Sandlot 2. Vitar went on to become a firefighter for Los Angeles in 2002 and has been one ever since. He still looks back on his acting career and doesn't regret it at all.
Vanilla Ice
Vanilla Ice is best known for his hit song "Ice Ice Baby," as it was one of the most popular songs during the 1990s. Vanilla Ice went on to create more music throughout his career, but his musical career was hindered as he was sued by Queen due to the song "Ice Ice Baby" having a similar beat to one of their songs.
Since Vanilla Ice's musical career didn't really work out in the end, he decided to do something different with his life and became a house flipper. Vanilla Ice is doing great now that he has started to flip houses, as he is still pretty wealthy.
Nikki Blonsky
Nikki Blonsky is best known for her role as Tracy Turnblad in the musical film Hairspray. Blonsky ended up receiving a nomination for a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for her amazing singing and acting performance in Hairspray.
Blonsky went on to star in several films and television shows throughout her career and still appears on screen sometimes. When Blonsky isn't acting, she usually works as a hairstylist and even occasionally works at a high-end shoe store in New York City. Blonsky is always hard at work and isn't afraid to work normal jobs.
Dylan Sprouse
You might recognize Dylan Sprouse as he is one of the twin brothers that starred in The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. Sprouse starred in several films alongside his brother Cole such as The Astronaut's Wife and Just for Kicks. Sprouse was also the child actor that starred in Adam Sandler's film Big Daddy.
Sprouse is still actively acting and hasn't given it up yet, but he has picked up a new occupation as he is the owner of All-Wise Meadery, which is located in Brooklyn, New York. The meadery sells everything from coffee and beer and is one of Sprouse's biggest passions.
Jack Gleeson
Jack Gleeson is best known for his role as Joffrey Baratheon in HBO's Game of Thrones series and has starred in films such as Reign of Fire, Batman Begins, and A Shine of Rainbows. Although Gleeson was a pretty well-known actor, he decided to take a long break from the film industry as he wanted to focus on earning a degree.
Gleeson graduated from Trinity College in Dublin and studied philosophy and theology. Gleeson, along with a buddy he met in college, founded the Collapsing Horse Theatre Company. Although Gleeson said that he was retiring from acting, he has returned and is looking to star in more films.
Charlie Korsmo
Charlie Korsmo is best known for his roles as the Kid in Dick Tracey and Jack Banning in Hook. Korsmo only starred in a couple of films throughout his career which included Men Don't Leave, What About Bob?, and The Doctor. Although Korsmo had a successful acting career as a child, he decided that acting wasn't what he wanted to do for the rest of his life.
Instead of being on the big screen, Korsmo decided to become a lawyer and graduated from Yale University with a law degree. Barrack Obama even nominated Korsmo to be on the Board of Trustees of the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation.
Cameron Diaz
Cameron Diaz is famously known for starring in several films starting in the 1990s. Diaz was one of the top actresses at one time and starred in films such as The Mask, There's Something About Mary, Charlie's Angels, and The Holiday.
Diaz decided to take a step back from acting in 2014 as she wanted to focus on raising her family and doing something else with her life. Diaz ended up becoming a writer and has written two books about living a healthy lifestyle and has even created a company that focuses on making organic wine. Diaz has announced that she might return to acting, but it is all rumors at this point.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas
You might recognize Jonathan Taylor Thomas if you are into 1990s sitcoms, as Thomas portrayed Randy Taylor in Home Improvement. Thomas starred alongside one of the legends of comedy, Tim Allen, in the hit sitcom series that lasted for eight seasons.
Thomas also starred in a number of films, with a few being The Lion King, Tom and Huck, Man of the House, and Wild America. Thomas enjoyed his time as an actor but decided to take a step back from acting as he wanted to become a writer for television. Thomas is now a director and writer for Hollywood, so he didn't venture too far off the path.
Angus T. Jones
Angus T. Jones is best known for his role as Jake Harper in the hit television series Two and a Half Men and starred alongside Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer. The sitcom became one of the biggest shows on television, but that wasn't Thomas's first acting role as he starred in a number of films, such as Simpatico, See Spot Run, and The Rookie.
Thomas decided to take a break from acting a long time ago and wanted to do something else with his life. Thomas is the co-founder of Tonite, which is a company that manages events, and he really enjoys his new job.
MC Hammer
MC Hammer is best known for his song "U Can't Touch This," "2 Legit 2 Quit," and "Pumps and a Bump." MC Hammer was one of the biggest rappers during the 1990s but his fame didn't last too long as he had to file for bankruptcy.
That didn't stop MC Hammer from finding something else to do with his life as he decided to become a minister. MC Hammer has been quite successful with his new occupation and is glad that he changed his ways of thinking. MC Hammer will always be remembered as one of the best rappers and dancers of the 1990s.
Taran Noah Smith
Taran Noah Smith is best known for his role as Mark Taylor in the hit 1990s sitcom Home Improvement. Smith starred in a couple of films and television shows while he was young, such as Ebbie and Batman Beyond. Smith found that acting wasn't for him and wanted to pursue a different career, which ended up being something that you wouldn't expect.
Smith decided to become a carpenter as he always found that he liked building things, and it was something that he was pretty familiar with as he starred in Home Improvement. Smith has been working as a carpenter ever since and doesn't plan to return to Hollywood.
Danny Lloyd
Danny Lloyd is best known for his role as Danny Torrance in Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. Although The Shining was one of the scariest films to come out on the big screen, Danny was sheltered by Kubrick and thought that he was filming a children's movie.
Lloyd's acting career didn't last too long, and he only starred in a couple of films, such as Terror in the Aisles, Room 237, and Doctor Sleep. Lloyd went on to become a farmer and community college professor but was still open to reprising his role as Danny in Doctor Sleep. Danny looks back on his acting career as some of the best times of his life.
Lark Voorhies
Lark Voorhies is best known for her role as Lisa Marie Turtle in the NBC sitcom Saved by the Bell. Voorhies ended up receiving six Young Artist Awards for her performance as Lisa and became one of the most popular actresses during the 1990s. Voorhies went on to star in several television shows and films throughout her career, with a few being How High, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Family Matters.
Voorhies ended up taking a break from acting and decided to become a writer. Voorhies has written three books and has even reprised her role as Lisa in the new Saved by the Bell series.
Josh Saviano
Josh Saviano is best known for his role as Paul Pfieffer in the hit television series The Wonder Years. Saviano only starred in a couple of television shows throughout his career, such as Reading Rainbow, Camp Cucamonga, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Saviano gave up acting at a young age and decided to focus on school. Saviano graduated from Yale University with a political science degree and a law degree. Saviano also created a company that helps artists with creating their own businesses. Saviano doesn't plan to return to acting as he enjoys his regular jobs more than he did acting.
Michael Maronna
Michael Maronna is best known for his role as Big Pete Wrigley in the television show The Adventures of Pete & Pete. Maronna went on to star in several films throughout his childhood, with a few being Home Alone, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Slackers, and 40 Days and 40 Nights.
Maronna decided that acting wasn't for him and he became an electrician for the film industry as he still liked working in Hollywood. Although Maronna took a long break from acting, he recently stated that he might return to the big screen and is planning to star in the horror film I Saw the TV Glow.
Danny Tamberelli
Danny Tamberelli is best known for his role as Little Pete in the hit television series The Adventures of Pete & Pete. Tamberelli was one of the most famous child actors during the 1990s, as he starred in a number of television shows and films during that time.
Tamberelli starred in films such as The Mighty Ducks, The Adventures of Huck Finn, and Josh and S.A.M. Once Tamberelli got older, he knew that acting wasn't for him anymore and decided to pursue a musical career. Tamberelli also started a podcast with Michael Maronna, his old friend from The Adventures of Pete & Pete.
Chris Owen
Chris Owen is best known for his role as The Sherminator in the American Pie film series. Owen starred in several films throughout his career, such as Major Payne, Can't Hardly Wait, Ready to Rumble, and Van Wilder. Although Owen had a successful acting career and worked on some of the biggest comedies in Hollywood, he decided to take a step back from acting.
Owen went on to become a waiter at a sushi restaurant in Santa Monica where he was spotted several times. Luckily things have changed for Owen as he is now a successful realtor which is much better than serving tables.
Erik Estrada
Erik Estrada is best known for his role as Francis Poncherello in one of the most popular police sitcoms, CHiPs. Estrada starred in over 200 films and television shows throughout his career with a few being The New Centurions, Caged Fury, and Hawaii Five-O.
Since Estrada had a lot of respect for law enforcement he decided to become a reserve police officer and later became an investigator for Internet Crimes Against Children. Estrada was proud to become a law enforcement officer, as he was always portrayed as one throughout his acting career. Estrada is still actively acting and doesn't mind playing the role of a police officer.
Angelina Pivarnick
Angelina Pivarnick is best known for starring in the Jersey Shore for a couple of seasons. Pivarnick also starred in a number of MTV television reality shows but decided that all the attention just wasn't her thing. Pivarnick decided to pursue an EMT career and worked for the Fire Department of New York City on Staten Island.
Pivarnick was happy that she decided to switch up her career as she was tired of being on reality television shows. However, she did recently star in All-Star Shore as she admitted that she missed the fame and attention.
Willa Ford
Willa Ford is best known for being a model, actress, singer, and dancer that rose to fame during the early 2000s. Ford released Willa Was Here, which was her first studio album that came out in 2001. Her single, "I Wanna Be Bad," made her one of the most famous pop singers of her time.
Ford went on to star in a couple of films throughout her career and even posed for Playboy. Ford decided to leave her glamorous life behind and became an interior designer. She enjoys her new occupation as she isn't the center of attention, which she became tired of when she was in the spotlight.