Stars who walked away from Hollywood at the height of their fame

In 2014, at the peak of her fame, this Oscar-winning actress walked away from Hollywood to become her dad's live-in care giver after he got a lung transplant. She lived with him until his death in 2021 and told The Independent newspaper: "[The decision was] not hard at all. In fact, it was a blessing and an honour to be able to do that. Not everyone can be in that position." She eventually went back to acting, but bowed out again after becoming a mom to twins in 2023.

Cameron Diaz’s last film was in 2014, and she later said she entered retirement to prioritize her marriage and motherhood over long days on set. In 2022, she came out of retirement for a Netflix film alongside Jaime Foxx, but a source told Daily Mail she’s ready to retire again.

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Three-time Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis announced his retirement from acting in 2017, following the release of ‘Phantom Thread.’ Known for his meticulous method acting, Day-Lewis chose to step away from the screen in pursuit of a more private life. He later told W Magazine that he wasn’t even sure what triggered his leaving but didn’t feel like his art was good enough for him.

Cary Grant, one of Hollywood's most charismatic actors, retired from the film industry in 1966 at age 62. He shifted his focus to raising his daughter, Jennifer. "I could have gone on acting and playing a grandfather or a bum, but I discovered more important things in life,” he said, according to a biography.

Jane Fonda took a 15-year hiatus from acting at the height of her career to focus on political activism from 1990 to 2005. She came out of her retirement for the flick staring J-Lo ‘Monster In Law’ and had an especially triumphant return with her own sitcom ‘Grace and Frankie’ from 2015 to 2022.

The queen of romantic comedies mostly retired from acting in 2010 to focus on work behind the screen and “living more.” In a 2019 interview with The New York Times, she said acting was never really her passion. “I think the feeling with Hollywood was mutual," she said. "I felt done when they felt done, probably."

Phoebe Cates, star of ‘Gremlins’ and ‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High,’ retired from acting in 1994 to focus on her family. She later opened a boutique in New York City and has remained dedicated to her personal life and business ventures.

Peter Ostrum, who played Charlie Bucket in ‘Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,’ decided not to pursue an acting career after his debut role. He became a successful veterinarian, dedicating his life to caring for animals.

Two-time Oscar winner Gene Hackman officially retired from acting in 2004. He decided to devote his time to writing novels, stating that acting had become too "routine." Hackman has since published three historical fiction novels.

Greta Garbo, one of the greatest actresses of her time, retired from acting in 1941 at 36. She led a private life in New York City, avoiding public appearances and focusing on her personal relationships. She frequently went for strolls around New York with oversized sunglasses on, and “Garbo-watching” became a sport for the paparazzi.

Shirley Temple, Hollywood’s original child star, retired from acting at 22. She transitioned into a successful political career, serving as a U.S. ambassador and becoming a dedicated public servant. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1972, which she survived, but became one of the first public figures to discuss the disease in public.

French actress and sex symbol Brigitte Bardot retired from acting in 1973 at the age of 39. She said it was “a way to get out elegantly.” She became a fierce animal rights activist and established the Brigitte Bardot Foundation to protect animals from abuse.

Best known for her roles in ‘Matilda’ and ‘Mrs. Doubtfire,’ Mara Wilson retired from acting as a teenager. She chose to focus on her education and eventually pursued a career in writing. She has frequently commented on how Hollywood tries to build up and destroy young women.

After a successful acting career with roles in ‘Ghostbusters’ and ‘Honey, I Shrunk the Kids,’ Rick Moranis took a hiatus from acting in 1997 to raise his children after the passing of his wife. While he has made occasional appearances in recent years, Moranis has primarily focused on his family life saying he hasn't missed acting too much.

The glamorous actress who starred in films like ‘Rear Window’ and ‘To Catch a Thief,’ retired from acting in 1956 (age 26), when she married Prince Rainier III of Monaco. She embraced her new role as a princess and dedicated her life to philanthropy and her family.

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Neve Campbell, best known for her roles in 'Party of Five' and the 'Scream' franchise, chose to take a break from acting in the early 2000s and move to London. She later returned to acting, but her hiatus allowed her to prioritize her mental health and well-being. “I needed a minute,” she told Stephen Colbert in 2018. “I was feeling a little bored of the whole thing."

Hayden Panettiere, best known for her role in the TV series ‘Nashville,’ took a step back from acting to focus on recovering from addiction and postpartum depression after the hit show wrapped in 2018. In 2023, she returned to the screen for ‘Scream.’

Jeff Cohen, who played Chunk in the 1985 film ‘The Goonies,’ retired from acting as a teenager. He pursued a career in law and entertainment, eventually becoming a successful entertainment attorney and founding his own law firm Cohen & Gardner.

Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow announced in 2019 that she was retiring from acting to focus on her lifestyle brand, Goop. “I think part of the shine of acting wore off, you know, being in such intense public scrutiny,” she said on an episode of ‘Quarantine with Bruce,’ a couple of years before her infamous ski-gate trial.

Angus T. Jones, who played Jake Harper in ‘Two and a Half Men,’ left acting in 2013 due to conflicts with his religious beliefs. Jones chose to focus on his spirituality, becoming involved in the Seventh-day Adventist Church and advocating for a faith-driven life.

After a successful career as child actors and teen idols, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen chose to leave acting behind in the early 2010s. They pursued careers in fashion and co-founded their successful luxury fashion brand, The Row, proving their versatility as entrepreneurs.

Portia de Rossi, best known for her roles in ‘Ally McBeal’ and ‘Arrested Development,’ announced her retirement from acting in 2018. She decided to focus on her art curation company, General Public, and enjoy a more peaceful life with her wife, Ellen DeGeneres.

Known for her roles in ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’ and ‘Terms of Endearment,’ Winger took a hiatus from acting in the mid-90s. Disillusioned with Hollywood’s limited roles for women, she focused on personal projects and her family. There was even a documentary ‘Searching for Debra Winger’ about her abrupt departure, though she returned to the screen again in the 2000s.

After a long and successful career, legendary actor Sean Connery chose to retire in 2003 after his final film, ‘The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.’ Despite offers to continue acting, Connery decided to focus on his personal life and enjoy a peaceful retirement in the Bahamas, where he died in 2020.

In 2024, the actress announced that she and her husband were physically leaving Hollywood to live in Spain. The Daily Mail reports that the move is "for their son's sake," as they don't want the five-year-old to get “sucked into the Hollywood cycle.” The source added: "She has had everything that she wanted in Hollywood.”

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