Hollywood is synonymous with glamour, glitz, and lots of money. It’s not all it seems. Despite all the fame and attention these stars have received, many ended up returning to the nine-to-five life. Many of us wish we could live the star lifestyle, but some of our favorite celebs want to fade into the corner cubicle.
Check out these former celebs who left the spotlight and began working at an “average” job. You would never have thought that their careers in the spotlight would have inspired different paths. So continue reading to find out which Hollywood celebrities said goodbye to the red carpet and are now working in surprising jobs.
Mara Wilson Is A Writer
Mara Wilson was a huge child star throughout the 90s. She starred in blockbuster films such as Mrs. Doubtfire and Matilda. She has told the media that she has quit acting to focus on her passion for writing. She had previously written for Cracked.com and published a book in 2016 titled Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame.
Wilson chose to stay ahead of her competitors and exited the business while she was at the top. Wilson turned her creative energy into writing. She made it seem easy, even though it can be challenging to transition from child actor to serious adult author.
Tom Selleck Owns An Avocado Farm
Tom Selleck has had many well-known roles throughout his acting career, including in Magnum, P.I., Three Men and a Baby, and Friends. He actually focuses mainly today on avocados, surprisingly. He lives on a 60 acres avocado farm in Westlake Village, CA.
“So I like to get outside and work on the farm, from fixing roads to clearing brush. I hate going to the gym, so sweating outdoors sure beats sitting on a stationary bike staring at my navel. And I work cheaper than anyone I could hire to do it.”
Sarah Michelle Gellar Is A Start-Up Founder
Gellar’s television breakthrough came in 1993 when she played Kendall Hart on “All My Children.” However, her worldwide fame came from her portrayal as Buffy in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” In 2015, Gellar co-founded Foodstirs, a startup that sells baking kits for kids. She also released a cookbook in 2017.
Gellar and her partners wanted products that would encourage children to bake, so they developed a line of baking equipment and kits. Although Gellar is a celebrity, it was not easy to start a business. But they found their feet, finally.
Dylan Sprouse Is A Brewmaster
Remember the adorable twins from Big Daddy? They moved from LA to New York 7 years ago to attend NYU. In the dorms, Dylan started brewing mead, a fermented alcoholic beverage derived from honey featured as the beverage of choice in “Game of Thrones.”
Summer 2017 was the grand opening of his locally owned and operated mead brewery, All-Wise Meadery, in Brooklyn, NY. His brother Cole returned to acting after graduating, moved to Vancouver, and is currently starring in the teen drama “Riverdale.” At 24 years old, Dylan is the youngest master brewer in the United States.
Jennie Garth Curates a Subscription Box For Moms
Jennie Garth is best known for her portrayal of Kelly Taylor in the original series “Beverly Hills, 90210”, as well as the 2008 reboot. Since this, she has landed a few small roles. However, she focuses today on other ventures. She owns MomGiftBox.com, which sells a bi-monthly box subscription targeted toward moms.
The mother of three appeared in What About You and in Mystery Girls and was a contestant on Dancing With the Stars in 2007. In 2020, Garth and Tori Spelling launched the Beverly Hills, 90210 rewatch podcast, “9021OMG. The Illinois native was also featured in two TV movies a year later.
Josh Saviano is a Lawyer
Kevin Arnold’s best friend, Paul Pfeiffer, was played by Josh Saviano. After The Wonder Years, Saviano never got the big break he was hoping for. After the show ended, he returned to television for Law & Order Special Victims Unit. However, after two years, he quit acting.
However, he studied political science at Yale and then went on to law school. He is now a practicing attorney, married, and living in New York. Ok, so he doesn’t have it too bad, unlike some of them…
Linda Kozlowski
Crocodile Dundee became a sensation, however, after the second one was a flop, she knew it was her time to retire from acting. She married her co-star for 24 happy years, but sadly they split. She stepped away from the spotlight and focused on real estate. Kozlowski has also launched a new travel business in Morocco, ‘Dream My Destiny,’ which offers luxury experiences from around the world.
“My ambitions now are to continue to work hard with my tour company and to enjoy the wonderful people and experiences that cross my path as a consequence of this endeavor,” About leaving Hollywood, she said. “Never give up, never second-guess yourself and never compromise your vision. If you do, you’ll regret it every time!”
Elizabeth Shue
Actress Elizabeth Shue has had an illustrious career starring in films like the Karate Kid and Back to the Future, but when she married director Davis Guggenheim, naturally, her priorities changed. Instead of focusing on her career Elizabeth chose to focus on her family and three kids, and she often turned down major roles.
When Elizabeth was offered the lead in ‘The Good Wife,’ she turned it down, stating that she was no longer interested in acting. While she still appears in one or two roles occasionally, Elizabeth has expressed her ambivalence towards this, and if she had her way, she would just give the whole thing up.
Brandon Call Works At A Gas Station
Brandon Call began his career as a child actor in the mid-80s. He appeared on shows such as “Baywatch” and “Magnum P.I.” However, his most memorable role was also his last. He played J.T. Lambert in the series “Step By Step” from 1991-1998.
When the show ended, Call decided to give up acting for good. He hasn’t been spotted that often; however, today, many have reported that he works at his parent’s gas station in California.
Big Hoss Is A Bar Owner
Corey Harrison, aka “Big Hoss,” is an American businessman known for his role in the reality tv show Pawn Stars. Corey began working at the shop at the age of 9 and worked his way up to manager.
As of now, he has a 10 percent partnership in the shop and has recently claimed that he is ‘focusing on other aspects of his business.’ He recently bought the famed Beauty Bar on historic Fremont Street. During the day, the bar offers services such as manicures and, at night, hosts musical acts.
Karyn Parsons Runs An Educational Video Company
Karyn Parsons played the spoiled and demanding cousin of Will Smith on the hit 90s sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” Parsons landed herself a few ok roles after the sitcom ended in 1996. However, she has mainly stayed away from the big screen since the early 2000s. Today, she runs a company that creates videos to educate children about unsung black heroes.
Her company produced The Journey of Henry Box Brown. This short film is about Henry Brown, an ex-slave who sent himself to freedom in a wooden box. Parsons continues to do meaningful work in the community, having helped many young African-American children.
Danica McKellar Is A Mathematician
Danica McKellar began acting at the age of 12. Her breakthrough role came in 1988 when she landed the role of Winnie Cooper in The Wonder Years. After The Wonder Years ended, McKellar went back to school and graduated from UCLA with a degree in mathematics. She even wrote her own mathematical theory.
The actress has been tirelessly working since 2015 to ensure that Christmas joy is felt at home. Her movies include Crown for Christmas and My Christmas Dream. We’ll not only see McKellar in four new movies, but she will also be executive producing them.
McKayla Maroney Is A Musician
McKayla Maroney gained international fame as a part of the “Fierce Five” at the 2012 Summer Olympics. The team won gold overall. She won silver on vault and was not at all happy. Photos of her “not impressed” face quickly went viral on the internet.
She has since left the gym due to an injury and turned her focus to music. In the summer of 2016, she released a single called “Ghost.” She told Us, “I like to say my genre is vulnerable pop because it’s all melody and lyrically driven and heart-driven.”
Frankie Muniz Worked as a Racecar Driver
Frankie Muniz was a child star in the late 90s and early 2000s. He bagged himself lead roles in movies such as Big Fat Liar and My Dog Skip and the popular TV show Malcolm in the Middle. In 2004, he turned his passion to racing cars and signed a 2-year deal with Jensen Motorsport. He still continues to race professionally.
Muniz spends his time in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he runs an olive shop. Because of his early success, Muniz has been able to spend his time on whatever interests him.
Jon Gosselin Worked As A Line Cook & DJ
The former Jon & Kate Plus 8 star is now a full-time DJ. He has a residency at the Building 24 nightclub in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. He has also taken up a part-time job, at TGI Fridays, as a line cook. Is he struggling that much? He said he works there 8 hours per week because he enjoys it.
He revealed to Lately that he was working as an IT director in a healthcare facility during the coronavirus epidemic. “My job is to set up and teach providers, who are doctors, how to use telemedicine. So I developed a procedure rather quickly, and my boss, the CIO, bought software that we had never used before. I had to learn it in five, six hours.”
Taran Noah Smith Became A Vegan Farm Owner
Taran Noah Smith played the younger son on Home Improvement. At 17 years old, he married Heidi van Pelt. Heidi was 16 years older. Can we get a cougar alert? However, he wanted to get control of his trust fund and was able to do so by marrying Heidi.
Heidi was a long-time vegan, so she and Taran decided to open up a non-dairy cheese manufacturer and restaurant, Playfood, which specialized in vegan and organic foods. He also assisted in the rebuilding of homes following Hurricane Harvey, and he has installed art installations. He was able to pursue his passions with the TV money he earned.
Brittany Ashton Holmes Is A Barista
Brittany Ashton Holmes played the adorable Darla in The Little Rascals. She shut the door on Hollywood soon after that role and wanted a normal childhood. She is currently pursuing a political science degree and is a barista at Starbucks.
“I was [an] actress when i was little, and did this movie called Little Rascals. It’s like really embarrassing to watch, and it don’t want to act any more.” That’s a shame because it’s one of our favorites.
Danielle Colby is a Dance Studio Owner
Danielle Colby is best known for her work on the History channel series “American Pickers.” However, before she helped sort collectibles, she worked as a dancer. She was inspired by a show she once saw in Chicago and decided to begin her own burlesque dance troupe, which was very successful in the mid-west.
Due to her success, she was able to open her own burlesque dance academy called “Dannie Diesel’s Bump ‘n’ Grind Academy.” Sources claim that Danielle currently spends her free time in Puerto Rico. She continues to help rebuild the Island and dedicates her time to animal shelters and orphanages and raising awareness about the human trafficking crisis.
Peter Ostrum is a Veterinarian
Peter Ostrum can be best remembered for his role as Charlie Bucket in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Unfortunately, even after the success of this film, Ostrum was never seen in Hollywood again.
Ostrum decided to leave Hollywood after being offered a three-year contract. He was passionate about animals and refused the offer. However, he has managed to make a pretty good life for himself. He decided to go to veterinary school and moved to upstate New York. He is still a practicing veterinarian.
Jeff Cohen Is An Attorney
Cohen played Chunk in the 1985 hilarious hit movie, The Goonies. His last acting role was in 1991. However, acting was not the only career path he wanted to go down. Cohen went to law school. After graduating, he founded Cohen & Gardner, LLP.
Cohen was aware from a young age that all the major actors in the industry had law degrees. Cohen is now a highly sought-after entertainment lawyer. His early success helped him to understand the intricacies of the industry.
Rebecca Ritters Became A Journalist
The only child of Philip and Julie Martin, on the hit show Neighbours, was Hannah Martin, also known as Button. Hannah was played by Rebecca Ritters. Since leaving the show, Rebecca Ritters has had a few roles on TV.
She received a degree in Politics and International Relations from the University of Melbourne. She was later offered a position as a news and current affairs producer for the Australian Broadcasting Company. Today, she works as a producer for Deutsche Welle in Berlin.
Leanna Creel Is A Production Company CEO
Leanna Creel started acting throughout the 1980s alongside her identical sisters, Monica and Joy. They had roles in TV movies “The Wonderful World of Disney: Parent Trap III” and “Parent Trap: Hawaiian Honeymoon.”
After appearing on an episode of “Beverly Hills, 90210”, Leanna landed the coveted role of Tori on “Saved by the Bell.” Today, Creel is the founder and CEO of a full-service photography and video production company that specializes in food, travel, and lifestyle content.”
Gary Dourdan
Actor Gary Dourdan is mostly known for his portrayal of Warrick Brown in the popular CSI series. After appearing on the show for 8 years, fans were completely shocked when Dourdan’s character was killed off at the beginning of season 9.
After he departed from CSI, Gary landed a few television roles, but not as a part of the main cast. He landed roles in Being Mary Jane and Mistresses. He played Dr. Malcolm Reynard on the TV show First Wives Club in 2021 and was featured in an episode at The Last OG. He also participated in several video games made after the popular franchise.
Chris Owen Serves Sushi
Chris Owen played The Sherminator in the famous American Pie franchise. He still continues to act. However, he needed a job to supplement his acting pay. He reportedly became a waiter at a sushi restaurant. Maybe The Sherminator will make a comeback.
Chris has also been seen in many National Lampoon films, including Van Wilder and Gold Diggers, as well as in episodic roles in various TV series. His recent projects include the Last Sharknado, It’s About Time (2018), and A Cape Cod Christmas (2021). He reportedly became a waiter at a sushi restaurant. Maybe The Sherminator will make a comeback.
Julia Stiles is a Mom
Actress Julia Stiles was one of our favorite actresses in the 90s, and we loved her in Save The Last Dance and 10 Things I Hate About You, but since then, we have not seen her around much. It seems that for whatever reason, she wasn’t welcomed back into Hollywood and now spends her time being a new mommy.
Stiles plays Georgina Clios, currently on Sky Atlantic’s Riviera. This program was the network’s most successful original series. Stiles also stars in the new Prime Video series The Lake, which is a comedy series about a struggling family trying to connect.
Kirk Cameron Preaches As A Minister
Kirk Cameron is most recognized for his role as Mike Seaver on the ABC sitcom Growing Pains. During his time on the show, Cameron found religion and became a born-again Christian. Once the show was canceled, he knew what he wanted to do.
Cameron is now a minister and trains Christians in evangelism. With his partner, Ray Comfort, the two founded the ministry of The Way of the Master. The Ministry also has a weekly TV show that Cameron hosts.
Jonathan Bennett Teaches Spin Classes
Who could forget the gorgeous heartthrob Aaron Samuels from Mean Girls? Jonathan Bennett has moved on from his Mean Girls days. Bennet was awarded an eight-part MTV series, “Awkward,” in 2016. Bennett continues to film horror and holiday films.
He is also active on Instagram, where he posts photos often with his “Mean Girl” co-stars Lacey Chabert and Daniel Franzese. He is now a spin class instructor. He was instructing at Flywheels in Los Angeles.
Phoebe Cates Kline
Gremlins actress Phoebe Cates Kline may have had a busy career in the ’80s, starring in blockbuster after blockbuster, but in 1989 when she wed actor Kevin Kline that all changed. The couple soon moved to New York City to raise their two children, and Phoebe devoted herself to raising her son and daughter.
While she formally retired from acting, she did appear in one film in 2001, but for the most part, she spends her time running her Manhattan boutique and shoe store.
Steven Seagal Served As Deputy Sheriff
After years of dominating the box office with hits like Hard to Kill and Above the Law, the mythical man had lost his star status. Seagal’s contract with Warner Bros. ended with the release of the environmentally-themed thriller Fire Down Below in 1997.
He continues to make action movies and releases them at a fast pace. Steven Seagal once worked as a Deputy Sheriff since he has a special interest in border issues and also offered to train the new officers.
Gary Coleman Worked As A Security Guard
Gary Coleman may not stand so tall at just 4 feet and 7 inches, but you do not want to cross him while he’s on duty. Coleman may be best remembered for his role on Diff’rent Strokes. In 1998, while working security, a fan approached Coleman and asked for his autograph. Coleman refused, and a fight broke out. Coleman punched the woman multiple times in the face. He was suspended for 1-year.
The star child actor of the popular television series died in Provo, Utah, on May 2010. He was the victim of a string of financial and personal problems that became well-known after the show ended. He was 42 years old and lived in Santaquin (a small town close to Provo).
Charlie Korsmo Became A Lawyer, Activist & Professor
Charlie Korsmo was the child star best known for his role in Hook, playing alongside Robin Williams. However, he left Hollywood and decided to become an expert in law. This is becoming a pattern, it seems.
He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and then received his Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School in 2006. He is now an Assistant Professor of Law. Although it is quite different than his childhood, this passion turned out to be his greatest.
Michael Schoeffling Makes Furniture
Jake Ryan was known for being the heartthrob in the cult movie Sixteen Candles. After this big movie, Schoeffling landed a few more roles but called it quit in 1991. After he left the acting world, he moved to Virginia to focus on his passion for carpentry.
He owns a woodworking workshop in his hometown and occasionally appears on his daughter’s social media accounts. He creates handmade furniture, and it seems that it going pretty well for him.
Dylan & Blake Tuomy-Wilhoit Are Working Separately
Dylan and Blake Tuomy-Wilhoit are best known for playing Alex and Nicky, the twin sons of Uncle Jesse and Aunt Becky, on the popular 90s sitcom Full House. However, they grew up and decided to work apart.
Blake is a firefighter based in Atlanta. Nicky has returned to TV but has stayed behind the scenes and works as a sound technician. However, they both returned for a short stint on the Netflix Full House reboot Fuller House.
Kevin Jonas is App Entrepreneur
Kevin Jonas is the oldest brother in the pop band, The Jonas Brothers. Their rise to fame began around 2005, until 2013 when women fans couldn’t get enough. Kevin married Danielle and decided to live a normal lifestyle after meeting her.
He created and launched a food-searching app called Yood. Yood gives you the location and phone number of the highest-rated restaurant closest to you. Lately, Kevin’s singing career has been revived by The Jonas Brothers and the release of their new hits.
George Foreman Designs Grills
George Foreman is a two-time boxing heavyweight champion, as well as an Olympic Gold Medalist. After his retirement, Foreman was offered the job of endorsing a healthy cooking product, and he even helped give advice on the designs.
Today, the George Foreman Grill has sold over 100 million units worldwide. He now lives with Mary Joan Martelly, his fifth wife, after his four marriages ended. He has a daughter, who is a professional boxer and has won a bout with a knockout.
Danielle Fishel Is A Reporter
Danielle Fishel is best known for her role as Topanga on the beloved 90’s TV series “Boy Meets World.” After Boy Meets World was over, Danielle played Topanga Matthews again in the spinoff Girl Meets World. This time, she teamed up with Savage. The show was centered around their daughter and her experience as an adolescent.
Danielle remained focused on television directing after Disney ended the series. She turned to journalism and has been a host on Style Network’s The Dish, as well as a resident reporter for PopSugar – a lifestyle platform.
Lisa Jakub Is A Writing Teacher
Lisa Jakub was a child star and is best remembered for her roles in “Mrs. Doubtfire” and “Independence Day.” Her last role was in the 2000 film “Double Frame.” Today, she is very happily retired from acting and concentrates on being an author, speaker, writing teacher, and yoga teacher.
She now teaches workshops on mental wellness to help people cope with depression and anxiety. In addition to her mental health advocacy work and teaching yoga, she has published That Girl Looks Like That Girl: How a Child Actor Stops Playing and Finally Grows up.
Vanilla Ice Was a Real Estate Investor
Vanilla Ice certainly had its glory days back in the 90s. However, when his records stopped selling, he needed a way to make money. Therefore, he turned to the real estate market. Ice would buy, flip and sell houses.
He once said, “When ‘Ice, Ice Baby’ was selling a million records a day, I bought several properties… then, a few years later, I took a break from touring, saw that my properties had cobwebs, so I sold them, and to my surprise, I made a huge profit.”
Michael Maronna Is an Electrician
If you a 90s baby, you may recognize this guy from one of your favorite Nickelodeon shows – The Adventures of Pete and Pete. Michael Maronna played Big Pete Wrigley. Maronna decided to take a step out from in front of the camera and jumped to behind-the-scenes work.
He is now an electrician in Hollywood. He has worked on the productions of Sex and the City, Notorious, Nurse Jackie, and Elementary. His primary focus is setting up and laying cables for film and television. After everything is installed, the film electrician will ensure that the equipment continues to work during filming.
Nikki Blonsky Works With Hairspray
Nikki Blonsky became a household name after landing the lead role of Tracy Turnblad in the movie adaptation of Hairspray. She continued to land small roles. However, she needed a side job in between acting auditions.
Therefore, she decided to get her cosmetology license. She now works part-time as a hairstylist and make-up artist in her hometown of Great Neck, New York. She made it clear that she was content working in a salon, paying her bills, and being a happy worker. Acting roles are rare, so this is a secure career.
Mackenzie Rosman is a Philanthropist
Mackenzie Rosman is best known for her role as Ruthie Camden in the hit TV series 7th Heaven. After the series wrapped in 2007, she received small roles on various TV shows and movies. However, she has mainly stayed away from acting.
Instead, she does a lot of philanthropy work. She is the national honorary chairman for CureFinders, a school fundraising program to help fund the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis.
Tony Danza Once Taught English
From 2009-2010, Tony Danza took a break from acting to become an English teacher. However, there was also a reality show involved. For the 2009-2010 school year, Danza taught a 10-grade English class in a Northeast Philadelphia High School. Teach: Tony Danza was filmed throughout that year, and 7 episodes aired.
About teaching, Danza has said, “The emotional tug of war that goes on is just unbelievable, and then in the midst of that, if you feel that the system doesn’t support you, that your job is at risk, then it’s a very, very difficult situation to be in.”
Andrea Barber Is An University Officer
Andrea Barber is best remembered as the slightly annoying best friend of D.J. Kimmy Gibler on the 90s sitcom Full House. However, she also had a recurring role on Days of our Lives before Full House.
After Full House wrapped, Barber graduated from Whittier College with an English Degree and then received her Master of Arts in Women’s Studied from the University of York in the United Kingdom. She then returned to Whittier to work in its Office of International programs. However, Barber did return for the Netflix reboot Fuller House.
Jason Zimbler Is A Software Designer
Melissa Joan Hart is still a very relevant name in Hollywood due to her enormous fame in the 90s. However, her little brother, on her breakout show Clarissa Explains It All, seemed to disappear out of the limelight.
After the show wrapped, he went on to study at the University of Notre Dame. He went back to Hollywood but stayed behind the camera. He now works as a software designer for HBO.