Throwing In The Towel
Everything that glitters isn't always gold in Hollywood. From the ones who couldn't take the pressures anymore to those who are just dealing with life, here are some actors who gave up the glitz and glam of Tinseltown.
Frankie Muniz
Frankie Muniz shot to fame for his role as the endearing titular character in the hit series Malcolm in the Middle. He also starred in blockbusters like Big Fat Liar, Agent Cody Banks, and Racing Stripes. However, despite being a household name in the early 2000s, Muniz left the world of acting—and got behind the wheel of a racecar instead.
Paula R. Lively, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Frankie Muniz
In 2008, Muniz tried his hand at open-wheel racing and competed in the Atlantic Championship. He hit the racetrack again in 2021, this time using stock cars. He went on to race a full season with Rette Jones Racing for the 2023 ARCA Menards Series, where he got 4th place in the standings. Currently, he races part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Zach Catanzareti Photo, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Jennette McCurdy
Jennette McCurdy rose to fame after starring in Nickelodeon’s hit series iCarly. She went on to appear in other Nickelodeon shows and her comedic timing was a hit with an entire generation of kids. But despite the success, McCurdy quit acting after she left Nickelodeon.
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Jennette McCurdy
Since giving up the limelight, McCurdy has taken a backstage role, directing and writing. In 2022, she shocked the world when she released her memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died. The book detailed her harrowing childhood with her abusive mother and her experiences as a child actor. It went on to become a become a number one New York Times bestseller.
Jen Lowery, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Sandra Bullock
Sandra Bullock is one of America’s sweethearts, beloved for her versatility and ability to nail both comedic and dramatic roles. But since her appearance in 2022’s Bullet Train, the Academy Award-winner has disappeared from the spotlight.
Thomas Atilla Lewis, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Sandra Bullock
Turns out even an acting titan like Bullock needs a break. In 2022, the actress told The Hollywood Reporter just how much she needed to step back. "I'm so burnt out,” she said. “I'm so tired, and I'm so not capable of making healthy, smart decisions and I know it”.
Angela George, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Daniel Day-Lewis
Daniel Day-Lewis is famous for his incredible method acting, and is undoubtedly one of the greatest actors of his generation. Throughout his career, he’s captivated audiences and won three Oscars for his performances in movies like There Will Be Blood, Lincoln and My Left Foot. But in 2017, the actor announced his retirement.
Sean Reynolds, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Daniel Day-Lewis
In a statement that was released by his agent, Day-Lewis said that his choice to retire from acting was a “private decision” and that he was "immensely grateful to all of his collaborators and audiences”. Back when Day-Lewis semi-retired in the 1990s, he became a shoemaker in Florence. We wonder what he’ll get up to now that he’s fully hung up his acting shoes.
Jürgen Fauth, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Bruce Willis
Bruce Willis is one of Hollywood’s favorite actors, known for his charm and iconic performances in movies like Die Hard, Pulp Fiction, and The Sixth Sense. However, in 2022, the actor officially retired—and the reason why is heartbreaking.
Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Bruce Willis
In 2023, Willis’ family announced his diagnosis with frontotemporal dementia, which left him struggling with aphasia, a neurological condition that impacts one's ability to speak and understand language. Naturally, Bruce needs to focus on his health and spending time with his family.
George Weinstein, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Bryan Cranston
Bryan Cranston has had a prolific career on film and the stage, but most people recognize him from his roles in Malcom In The Middle and Breaking Bad. The latter won him three Emmy awards.
Peabody Awards, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Bryan Cranston
Technically, Cranston hasn’t quite given up on Hollywood yet, but he did tell GQ Magazine that he plans to take a break in 2026, for at least six months. During that time, he'll pause all action at his production company and escape with his wife to a foreign country.
Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Emma Watson
We all know her as Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter movies, but since then, she’s graced the screen in acclaimed films like The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Little Women. However, in 2019, the actress disappeared from Hollywood.
David Shankbone, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Emma Watson
In 2023, Watson admitted to the Financial Times that she wasn’t “very happy” acting. She explained: “I think I felt a bit caged. The thing I found really hard was that I had to go out and sell something that I really didn’t have very much control over”. Luckily for fans, Watson did say that she hasn’t totally given up on acting—she just needs the right project to inspire her.
Joella Marano, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Taylor Momsen
Most people will remember Taylor Momsen from the hit series Gossip Girl. But long before that, she appeared in beloved kids’ movies like Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Hansel & Gretel, and Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams. However, back in 2008, Momsen decided to give up movies for a career in music.
Ralph Arvesen, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Taylor Momsen
Nowadays, Momsen is known as the lead singer of the band The Pretty Reckless. On her break away from Hollywood, Momsen said that acting was “a childhood thing that I got put into at two years old. I wasn't making my own choices then”. Seems like the choice Momsen made for herself was a good one—the band has released four albums and, in 2021, became the first female-fronted band to get seven number-one singles
dephisticate, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow quickly became a household name after her breakout role in Shakespeare in Love, which also snagged her an Academy Award. She went on to star in acclaimed films like The Talented Mr. Ripley, The Royal Tenenbaums, and Iron Man, but the last few years have seen her embrace a new passion: Goop.
Andrea Raffin, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Gwyneth Paltrow
Goop is Paltrow’s wellness company and she having so much fun running it, that she has no wish to go back to acting. In an interview with Naomi Campbell on her YouTube series No Filter With Naomi, Paltrow confessed that she’ll only return to the big screen for her husband, screenwriter Brad Falchuk. “That’s sort of it,” she said. “If my husband writes something and wants me to do it, I’ll do it.”
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Michael Caine
Michael Caine is an iconic British actor with a career that spans over six decades. Caine has won two Academy Awards and appeared in many blockbuster movies, including Alfie, The Dark Knight Trilogy, and The Italian Job. But in 2023, the actor confirmed his retirement.
Finnish Heritage Agency, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Michael Caine
Considering he’s 91-year-old, it’s not too surprising that Cain is calling it quits. In an interview with the BBC, Cain spoke about his wish to end his career on a high note: “I’ve figured, I’ve had a picture where I’ve played the lead and had incredible reviews …What am I going to do that will beat this?”
Manfred Werner, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mary-Kate And Ashley Olsen
The Olsen twins are still known for being two of Hollywood’s most successful child stars. They rose to fame after starring in popular TV series and movies like Full House, It Takes Two, and New York Minute. But by 2005, they’d disappeared from the big screen.
David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mary-Kate And Ashley Olsen
Mary-Kate and Ashley went on to become fashion designers, launching their own luxury brand, The Row, in 2006. The twins have proven they’ve got what takes to make it in the world of fashion, becoming influential designers and winning multiple awards from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).
Everett Collection, Shutterstock
Eva Mendes
Eve Mendes’ acting career started in the late 1990s, and she gained fame for her roles in movies like Training Day and 2 Fast 2 Furious. She went on to star in hit movies like Hitch and Ghost Rider but hasn’t graced the big screen since appearing in husband Ryan Gosling’s 2014 directorial debut, Lost River.
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Eva Mendes
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Mendes said she gave up on acting because she “got tired of fighting for the good roles” for Latinas. Mendes explained: “There just was a point where I thought, 'I'm going to create my own opportunities and become a producer on things and create my own material,' but it just didn't feel worth it to me.” Nowadays, she’s a successful businesswoman and philanthropist.
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Amanda Bynes
Amanda Bynes is another child star who won hearts for her performances on Nickelodeon shows. Kids loved her in the The Amanda Show and audiences continued to enjoy her talent in movies like She's the Man and Hairspray. But in 2010, Bynes had to quit acting for a tragic reason.
The Heart Truth, Wikimedia Commons
Amanda Bynes
Like many child stars, Bynes struggled with mental health problems. After a much-publicized downward spiral, she was placed in a conservatorship from August 2013 to March 2022. Bynes graduated from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, but according to her most recent update, is now pursuing a career as a manicurist.
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Michael J Fox
Michael J. Fox is beloved for his iconic roles as Marty McFly in the Back to the Future franchise. He also appeared in movies like Casualties of War, Doc Hollywood, and the sitcom Spin City. In the ‘90s, Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which eventually forced the actor to reduce his workload. But in 2020, Fox revealed he was retiring altogether.
Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock
Michael J Fox
Sadly, due to his illness, Fox’s speech is becoming unreliable, making it difficult to perform. In his memoir, he explained that "not being able to speak reliably is a game-breaker for an actor". Fox also revealed that he was experiencing memory loss, further confirming his decision to leave Hollywood.
Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock
Lisa Bonet
Lisa Bonet is most famous for her role as Denise Huxtable in The Cosby Show and its spin-off A Different World. She also appeared in movies High Fidelity, Enemy of the State, and Road To Paloma, but has spent much of her life outside of the limelight.
Lisa Bonet
Bonet hasn’t formally retired, but she hasn’t appeared in anything since Ray Donovan, in 2016. Two years later, the actress admitted that she “always had one foot in and one foot out of the business”. She also said her lack of interest in acting correlated with Hollywood’s lack of good roles for women of color.
Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock
Portia De Rossi
Portia de Rossi made a name for herself with roles in the much loved TV series Ally McBeal and Arrested Development. She also appeared in the hit show Scandal, but hasn’t been doing much acting since 2017.
John Mathew Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Portia De Rossi
De Rossi hasn’t spoken about her decision to quit acting but she clearly stays busy with other work. Alongside wife Ellen DeGeneres, the actress has focused her energy on LGBTQ+ and animal rights.
Pulicciano, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Karyn Parsons
Most of us will recognize Karyn Parsons from her portrayal of Hilary Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. However, we haven't seen much of her since her days on the popular sitcom.
Greg2600, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Karyn Parsons
While Parsons did go on to land some minor film roles, she’s given up acting to become an author and comedian. She’s also the founder of Sweet Blackberry, a nonprofit organization that uses children books and cartoons to highlight African American historical figures and achievements.
Miguel Discart, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Robert Redford
Known for his charm, dashing good looks, and decades-long career, Robert Redford is a Hollywood icon. His most famous roles were in classic movies like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Ordinary People, but Redford has also narrated many documentaries and was still captivating audiences up until 2018.
Robert Redford
In 2018, Redford appeared in the biographical crime film, The Old Man & The Gun. A year later, he confirmed that he had officially retired from the limelight: "Never say never, but I pretty well concluded that this would be it for me in terms of acting [...] I thought, 'Well, that’s enough.' And why not go out with something that’s very upbeat and positive?"
Meghan Markle
Of course, since marrying Prince Harry in 2018, we all know Meghan Markle as the Duchess of Sussex. But before entering into a life of royalty, Markle was a fan favorite in the hit legal series Suits.
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Meghan Markle
Since her royal wedding, Markle has had to trade her acting career for humanitarian work. However, she and Prince Harry did grace the small screen to appear in the 2022 Netflix docuseries, Harry & Meghan and there are rumors that the couple might appear in more series in the future.
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