Rapping the gospel.
Kurtis was not just a rapper and not just a big rapper — he was the first commercially successful rapper EVER. His single “The Breaks” from his 1980 self-titled debut album is the first certified gold record rap song. But after fifteen albums, he turned to God. Blow — real name Kurtis Walker — founded Harlem’s Hip Hop Church.
The rap star and born-again minister spends his time both preaching there as well as singing and acting as a DJ. There are a lot of career changes here, but this one might be the wildest. He still sometimes comes out with music, but it’s slowed down in recent years so he can focus on other work.
Doris Day
A day's work at the animal shelter.
Doris's day in the limelight lasted for nearly three decades, from the forties to the sixties. She brought girl-next-door looks, boundless energy, and a memorable singing voice. Her romantic comedies were her biggest successes, including “Send Me No Flowers” and “That Touch of Mink.” She even earned an Oscar nomination for “Pillow Talk.”
Once she finished acting, her other passion took over: animals. She founded the Doris Day Animal Foundation, which advocates for quality-of-life initiatives for animals of all kinds. She seemed to particularly like horses, as well as those family classics dogs and cats.
Blake McIver Ewing
Where's Waldo? Probably singing somewhere.
He might not have been the biggest name in Hollywood, but there are plenty of people who recognize the name and face of Blake McIver Ewing. Not only was he Derek from the original “Full House” series, but he was also Waldo from “The Little Rascals.”
Today he's known as Blake McIver and is doing everything he can to find success as a singer. Even when he was acting his characters frequently sang and danced, so we can't fault him for trying his hand professionally. His 2014 album “Time Manipulator” was received well by critics and fans, but didn't launch him back into the spotlight.
Shirley Temple
From film to politics.
When films were still in their infancy, Shirley Temple was the queen of the scene. Her films “The Little Princess” and “Heidi” made her a superstar, but she wasn't able to stay in the limelight after she grew up. She ended up leaving acting at only twenty-two years old, getting involved in politics.
She ended up becoming a United States ambassador to Ghana and the former country of Czechoslovakia in the 1970s and 1980s. Temple passed away at the age of eighty-five in 2014, not only being the mold for child actors but the mold for moving into a different life.
Kurtis Blow
Rapping the gospel.
Kurtis was not just a rapper and not just a big rapper — he was the first commercially successful rapper EVER. His single “The Breaks” from his 1980 self-titled debut album is the first certified gold record rap song. But after fifteen albums, he turned to God. Blow — real name Kurtis Walker — founded Harlem's Hip Hop Church.
The rap star and born-again minister spends his time both preaching there as well as singing and acting as a DJ. There are a lot of career changes here, but this one might be the wildest. He still sometimes comes out with music, but it's slowed down in recent years so he can focus on other work.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Left the court behind to do pretty much everything else.
He spent years dominating in the paint as a towering figure for the Milwaukee Bucks and later the Los Angeles Lakers, and then Abdul-Jabbar moved on to coaching, getting all the way up to assistant coach for the Lakers.
This huge man has now embraced his talent as a writer, having written and co-authored more than thirteen books. Many of the books are about himself, basketball, or African Americans, but there are also some children's books, as well as “Mycroft and Sherlock” with Anna Waterhouse. He also applied himself to humanitarian work and earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama.
Danny Tamberelli
Little Pete has a little podcast.
Tamberelli played “Little Pete” in “Pete & Pete” alongside Michael Maronna, and enjoys a successful life now that he isn't part of the spotlight anymore. He works as a musician, and has had a number of tries at the musical life, including playing bass and singing for the rock band Jounce, and as the bassist for folk/pop band Every Good Boy.
He's on the podcast “The Adventures of Pete and Pete” with Maronna, and is also a touring member of the sketch comedy group Manboobs with Jeremy Balon. He's appeared on a number of other podcasts, has done voice work for “Grand Theft Auto V,” and has a child with his wife.
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaq is busy off-court.
The biggest basketball player to ever hit the court — figuratively and literally — has had plenty of small roles during his life, including novelty rapper, movie star, and Icy Hot salesman. Once he stepped away from the spotlight, however, he started to do even better.
He went back to college to earn an MBA as well as a doctorate in education. He's become an honorary sheriff's deputy in Georgia, and he even got his music career back up with a recent track about LaVar Ball. He also sits behind the desk for TNT as an NBA analyst as his full-time job. The big guy keeps busy.
Danny Lloyd
Shining bright like a farmer.
In 1980, Lloyd starred alongside Jack Nicholson and Shelly Duvall in the blockbuster horror hit “The Shining,” but after that Lloyd didn't appear in much. In fact, one of the few roles he's had since the eighties was in “Doctor Sleep,” the distant sequel to “The Shining” which came out in 2019.
His Twitter bio states that he's a teacher and a farmer, two of the most down-to-earth jobs that we can think of. Fun fact: While he was filming “The Shining,” Lloyd had no idea it was a horror film — director Stanley Kubrick didn't let him see any of the scary stuff.
Cameron Diaz
Stay-at-home Diaz.
You couldn't throw a sock full of wet chewing gum in the nineties and two-thousands without hitting a Cameron Diaz movie poster, it seemed. She was one of the biggest stars of the era, but her last role was in 2014, and in 2018 she told Entertainment Weekly that she was “actually retired.”
She wants to spend as much time as possible with her kid while her husband Benji Madden works. No nanny for this famous A-lister. Going from a red carpet delight to a stay-at-home mom isn't a move many people would make, but sometimes the thing you're meant to do in life isn't what you always expect.
Willa Ford
Wanted to be bad but is actually pretty good.
Willa Ford announced what she was about in 2001 when she released the single “I Wanna Be Bad,” which climbed up to number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her second single, however, came out on September eleventh, 2001, and when it failed to get anywhere she decided the music industry wasn't for her.
She dipped her toe into acting and gets roles every now and again, but she currently works full-time as an interior designer. She's the founder and head designer of Los Angeles-based Wford Interiors, channeling her creative energy into making beautiful spaces for her clients.
Andrew Shue
From an aspiring writer to a media giant.
For anybody who tuned in to “Melrose Place” during the nineties, Andrew Shue was Billy Campbell, the aspiring writer and ladies man. Before the show even ended, however, Shue was an entrepreneur.
He co-founded DoSomething.org in 1993, a nonprofit that motivates young generations to make positive changes online and off. He went on from there, co-founding Club Mom, an offline shopping club. After that came the social networking site CafeMom, and the digital media giant CafeMedia, which has 102 million monthly unique visitors and 417 million social followers, according to LinkedIn.
Lauren “Lo” Bosworth
The hills are alive with the sound of self-care.
Anybody who turned on MTV during the aughts was familiar with Lo Bosworth. She practically grew up in front of the camera. She played none other than herself on the series “Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County” until 2005, and then made the jump to “The Hills” from 2007 to 2010. Since then she traded in a starring role for a leading role, having founded her own personal care brand.
The brand, Love Wellness, sells cleansers, probiotics, vitamins, and more. She also runs the lifestyle site TheLoDown and co-hosts a weekly podcast called “Lady Lovin',” which probably gets a lot of clicks.
Al Green
The singer is preaching to the choir.
With eight top ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100, Al Green is quite the musician. But he's way more than just a musician to the people of Memphis, Tennessee. For more than forty years he has been a pastor for the Gospel Tabernacle Church in the city.
Neither the church, nor Green himself, have a website to visit, but TripAdvisor of all places has some info. A few reviews raved about his preaching style. His faith was on display during a 2016 interview with the site Commercial Appeal, in which he said that he has regular conversations with God.
Angus T. Jones
Two and a half men at church.
For more than a decade, Angus T. Jones starred on “Two and a Half Men” as Jake Harper, Jon Cryer's son. We're sure you've heard of the show — it was one of the most popular sitcoms ever. In 2012, Jones found faith, becoming baptized, and left the show, making only a few appearances until the show ended in 2015.
He went to college at the University of Colorado at Boulder, and in a 2016 interview with “People,” he said that he was working as the president of Tonite, an events company founded by the son of Sean “Diddy” Combs, Justin.
Macaulay Culkin
Home alone, recording a podcast.
It will be impossible for Culkin to separate himself from his child acting roles. His biggest appearance was as Kevin McCallister in the “Home Alone” movies, and he also appeared in “My Girl” and “Richie Rich.” His acting days are, for the most part, over, but he's still an entertaining guy.
He runs the satirical lifestyle blog Bunny ears, which also runs a weekly podcast hosted by Culkin (he's credited as “Mack” Culkin) and, until just the past year, his friend Matt Cohen. He isn't interested in getting back into acting, but you can't take the entertainer out of him.
Angelina Pivarnick
So long, Jersey.
She was a member of the original cast of “Jersey Shore,” and after plenty of drama during one and a half seasons she said goodbye. During an interview with “Hollywood Life,” she admitted that she regretted leaving the show, but that her departure allowed her to pursue a career helping others. She now works as an EMT for the New York fire department.
During 2018 and 2019 she found some time in her busy schedule to make an appearance on “Jersey Shore Family Vacation.” She's also planning to return as a member in the upcoming season. We hope she isn't taking too much time away from her important job to do that.
Erik Estrada
Though this seasoned actor has almost a hundred and fifty credits to his name, being on the screen is far from his only focus.
After famously appearing as Officer Frank Poncherello in “ChiPs,” it left him wanting a lot more. Well, life imitated art in July of 2015 when Estrada became a sworn-in member of the police reserve force in St. Anthony, Idaho.
Since being sworn in, Estrada has helped the department get a police dog, and also works to protect children from online predators. He has also previously served as a reserve officer in Muncie, Indiana. Is he going to hit all of the states that begin with an I?
Lisa Whelchel
Living the facts of life.
She starred as main character Blair Warner on “The Facts of Life” from 1979 to 1988, but once the show was over, Lisa Whelchel decided the spotlight wasn't for her. She got married a few months after the show ended to Steven Cauble, and made the move from entertainer to stay-at-home mom, wife, and author.
She's now written more than ten books and has also founded the MomTime Ministries. She's taken a few acting jobs over the last few years, though they have mostly been in TV movies. She also serves as a speaker and a life coach. She was also in, of all things, “Survivor: Philippines.”
Hank Aaron
Where does a baseball Hall of Famer go after he's hung up his glove for the last time?
Hank Aaron – who passed away early 2021 – played twenty-three seasons of Major League Baseball in Milwaukee. He also played for one season with the “Indianapolis Clowns.” After he left baseball he decided to go into business, becoming a franchisee with numerous different stores under his name. These include Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen, Church's Chicken, and Krispy Kreme.
His corporation, 755 Restaurant Corporation, owned almost thirty businesses in the Atlanta metro area. The corporation is named after the number of home runs Aaron knocked out of the park while he was playing.
Omri Katz
And poof! Katz was gone.
Omri Katz appeared in quite a few cult shows, among them, "Freaks and Geeks," and the unforgettable "Hocus Pocus." Katz dropped out of the Hollywood scene pretty quickly but pursued other things. Word on the street has it that he released a short film on YouTube that was a little NSFW.
According to IMDb, Omri ultimately became a hairdresser and currently splits his time between Los Angeles and Israel.
Andrea Barber
This actress went "From Full" house to full-time mom.
The now full-time mom actually originally auditioned for the role of D.J. Tanner. How about that! After she left the show, she got a degree in English from Whittier College and received an MA in Women’s Studies from the University of York in England.
The actress now acts as an assistant to the director of Whittier College’s Office of International Programs.
Jessica Alba
Honestly honey.
Jessica was on top of the world when she shot to stardom in the 2003 dance hit, "Honey." Initially, Alba was flooded with roles, but sadly over time, she started to get less and less. According to the actress, many casting agencies were confused about her ethnicity, and this was a bit of an issue in whitewashed Hollywood.
The beautiful actress hasn't been acting as much lately and has opened up her own lifestyle brand, the Honest Company.
Alyson Hannigan
The TV star found her passion in real estate.
"American Pie," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," and "How I Met Your Mother." These are just some of the huge roles that Hannigan had in her career. After a while, however, the actress faded out of the scene.
The film and TV star, however, got involved in real estate and picked up a new home worth nearly $8 million.
Rick Moranis
Honey, I'm staying home with the kids.
Our favorite nerd sadly left the acting scene after his wife tragically died. He had a great run in the 80s and early 90s with films such as "Spaceballs," "The Little Shop of Horrors," "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" and much, much more. Still, Moranis decided to step away from the big screen to focus on raising his two kids.
We are still awaiting his comeback!
Jonathan Taylor Thomas
From "Home Improvement" to behind the scenes.
Thomas was in the spotlight for most of his childhood and was on screen from as young as 8 years old. The heartthrob got a much-needed break and moved to behind the camera. According to the actor he just wanted to"go to school, to travel and have a bit of a break."
Thomas spends most of his time writing and directing these days.
Tiffany
The 80s pop star found herself in the world of vintage clothing.
The lively redhead who shot to fame in the 1980s by doing super popular mall concerts came out with a short-lived hit “I Think We’re Alone Now. Sadly the singer could not hold onto her singing career and faded out of the spotlight.
In 2015, the vocalist opened her own store called Tiffany’s Boutique, in Nashville. The store, which, according to a Twitter post, has since closed, specialized in designer and vintage clothing and accessories.
MC Hammer
This Hip Hop musician found his answer in the ministry.
MC Hammer grooved his way to the top of the charts with his hit song "U Can’t Touch This” in 1990. After massive success with that song and a series of others, he hit some rough times. Being a music star is not easy. After declaring bankruptcy, the singer turned to his faith and became a minister.
In addition to his love for the ministry, MC Hammer is also a huge fan of NASCAR and was spotted recently with the drivers.
Jennie Garth
The 90210 star became an internet businesswoman.
Garth was huge in the 1990s with her "Beverly Hills 90210" stardom. Garth, who played Kelly Taylor was probably on the bedroom walls of many teenagers back then. While she had a very long run in the spotlight (10 seasons to be exact!) after a smattering of appearances post 90210, she decided to develop some business acumen and create an online company.
Today, she is the CEO of TheGiftBox.com, an online-based gift subscription service. Good one Jenny!
Dylan Sprouse
This twin made it big in the drinks industry.
Cole Sprouse and his twin Dylan Sprouse played in the hit Disney Channel, "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody." A few years after his stint at acting, Dylan ventured out into the beverage industry and his real-life twin brother, Cole. The child actor has been seen serving coffee and craft beers in his brewery, the All-Wise Meadert in New York's East Village.
If you want to catch a glimpse of these two ex-stars, take a trip to New York City for some cold ones.
Ali McGraw
Namaste, Ali.
Sadly, the actress decided to leave showbiz and involve herself in the world of yoga. She is now an accomplished yoga instructor and has released numerous exercise DVDs.
Looks like the yoga life is more suited to Mcgraw because she was not so pleased with the celeb world.
Phoebe Cates
The 80s teen goddess turned fashion connoisseur.
Cates was one of the biggest teen stars in the 1980s, having appeared in movies such as "Gremlins" and "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." Cates, however, the lost interest in Hollywood life dedicated her life to her family and fashion.
The wife of Kevin Kline also opened her own boutique store in New York City.
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Buffy the Entrepreneur.
Buffy was our favorite vampire slayer ever. Thanks to this show, the actress Sarah Michelle Gellar became a household name. After many years on TV and film, the actress turned to a different field...food. Gellar founded the now enormously successful food company, Foodstirs — a cooking and baking-kit company that deals in organic and non-GMO ingredients.
We never could imagine Buffy calming down and turning to the kitchen, but it seems that life is full of surprises.
Geena Davis
This screen legend is helping women in the film industry.
Geena Davis is best known for her work in the films "Thelma & Louise," "Beetlejuice," and "A League of Their Own." After a very long and successful career, the actress took some time out from Hollywood life to focus on bettering the roles of women in film and how they are represented in the media. She founded the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media.
Good work Geena! We hope to see you again!
Karyn Parsons
This 90s starlet found herself in education.
Hilary Banks, the character from the beloved 90s series, "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" was a total hit back then. The actress had years of success in showbiz with the Will Smith sitcom, as well as in other productions such as "Major Payne" with Damon Wayans and "Lush Life." The actress, however, found her true passion in education. She created Sweet Blackberry, a non-profit that teaches kids about black history.
In 2020, Parsons was back starring in a new family drama called "Sweet Thing" about the"misadventures of a pair of siblings looking for childhood sanctuary amid familial turmoil and dysfunctionality." Sounds good!
Lark Voorhies
This former Saved by the Bell actress got saved by the brush.
Voorhies got famous from her Lisa Turtle character on "Saved by the Bell," making her a household name. After the show, the actress, unfortunately, quit acting and took to the canvass. The now painter, however, is apparently very private about her work and keeps it to herself.
Since 2010, Voorhies has also self-published three whole books: "Reciprocity," "Trek of the Cheshire," and "A True Light." Clearly talented in many aspects!
Mike Vitar
This Mighty Duck became an LA firefighter.
Mike Vitar shot to stardom as a child in the kids classic, "The Mighty Ducks." He also starred in the film "Sandlot." In 1996, however, the young actor left the scene and decided to work in a completely different field — the LA Fire Department.
We're sorry to see him out of Hollywood. He could have been a real star.
Kevin Jonas
From the top of the pops to the top of the apps.
If you were a teen in the mid to late 2000s, there is no way you won't recognize this face. The performer Kevin Jonas was of course none other than one-third of the famous band, The Jonas Brothers. After the brothers split up in 2013, Kevin decided to get into the world of tech and actually successfully created an app called Yood. The nifty app displays all nearby restaurants that serve the type of food you want, as well as a Yelp rating.
Maybe down the line, the ex-teen pop prince will incorporate his music into an app. That would be an interesting mix. There is no doubt however that this Jonas brother is talented in multiple areas.
Gene Hackman
This legend was blessed with the acting gene, as well as the writing gene, yet decided to settle for the latter.
Legendary actor, Gene Hackman is famous for classics such as "The Firm," "Enemy of the State," "Unforgiven," and many, many more. After a long and successful career in Hollywood, the veteran actor decided to call it quits in 2004 and pursue the world of literature. He has since authored several historical fiction novels and also co-wrote four books with Daniel Lenihan: "Wake of the Perdido Star," "Justice for None," "Vermillion," and "Escape from Andersonville."
Perhaps one day the star will bring some of his writing to life. One can only hope.
Jack Gleeson
An evil king turned academic.
King Joffrey Baratheon was a memorable character to all "Game of Throne" fans out there. The actor behind that unforgettable face, however, turned his back on acting in order to pursue the books. Jack Gleeson told Entertainment Weekly that he, in fact, had been acting since he was eight years old and actually saw it more as a hobby. The actor left the biz to study theology and philosophy. According to the Herald Sun, the Irish native now works in a small theater company.
While he is probably very satisfied in his new field, Gleeson is rather young, so a return to the screen (or stage), is still a strong possibility!
Sasha Obama
First server at the takeout window on Martha’s Vineyard.
Sasha Obama, the daughter of the former US President, spent the summer of 2016 working at Nancy’s Restaurant in Oak Bluffs.
Some people believe this was Obama’s idea, and that it was meant to help his daughter transition from her sheltered life in the White House to the regular world.
Mercedes Lander
The rock drummer hits the drums at gigs and hits the streets as a real estate agent.
The all-female heavy metal band Kittie came to fame at the end of the 1990s, with their hit song “Brackish”. The band started out as “nu-metal” and did well when that was for a brief time still a thing, but afterward, the trio changed their sound to a “heavier” vibe. Sadly, tastes changed in the new millennium and the death metal style did not help the band win over any new fans.
This left Mercedes Lander with the need for a new source of revenue. Currently, she is working as a real estate agent in her homeland of Canada, but still finds time to tour with the band.
Jon Gosselin
The dinner rush must seem easy compared to feeding eight kids.
Jon Gosselin starred in one of the most popular reality shows of all time, "Jon & Kate Plus 8," but we guess really irresponsible parenting is not a great thing to put on your resume, because Jon started working as a waiter to make ends meet.
The famously controversial father figure was hired to wait tables at the Black Dog restaurant in Beckersville, Pennsylvania. Although there are rumors that Jon was fired not too long ago for showing up late and a bad attitude. According to his Instagram page, he is now working as a DJ.
Michael Maronna
The Adventures of Pete and Pete star is still electric on set, but only behind the scenes.
If you grew up in the ’90s, then you definitely remember Mike Maronna as the older of the two Petes on the Nickelodeon hit show "The Adventures of Pete and Pete." When the show ended in 1996, the actor landed some bit parts in a few movies before settling down in the job he is still doing today as an electrician for movies and television.
Maronna has worked on movies such as "Sex and the City" and "Men in Black 3" and on tv shows like "Elementary" and "Nurse Jackie. You can also tune in to his podcast, which he hosts with the younger Pete, Danny Tamberelli.
Frankie Muniz
Quit acting to become a professional racecar driver and drummer.
Some fans believe this child actor had outgrown his cuteness and was having a hard time finding an acting gig after "Malcolm in the Middle." The truth is that Frankie Muniz actually quit acting to become a racecar driver. He signed a two-year contract with Jensen Motorsport as a driver. He also played drums for pop-rock band Kingsfoil in Pennsylvania for a few years. “It’s my focus 1,000 percent right now. I want to be the best drummer I can be for the band and for me.”
These days Frankie Muniz and his wife run a gourmet food store specializing in olive oils and vinegar in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Geoffrey Owens
From "The Cosby Show" to Trader Joe's.
In 2018, a Trader Joe's customer found an unexpected sight when he went to get his far-too-expensive groceries: former “The Cosby Show” star Geoffrey Owens, who played Elvin Tibideaux, doing the bagging. It took place in Clifton, New Jersey.
Owens has continued to land small parts once his big show ended in 1992. In an interview with “Good Morning America,” he said that he wasn't ashamed of the work. “There's no job better than another...every job is worthwhile.” Now that's the kind of thing we want to cheer for. The increased attention from that interview has been getting him more roles.
Susan Boyle
Won the world over with her amazing voice but decided to step out of the spotlight and into a Scottish betting store.
Susan Boyle proved to the world in 2009 that looks can be deceiving when she blew everyone away on the reality TV show "Britain’s Got Talent" with her amazing voice. She went on to release an album that quickly became the best-selling debut album in UK history.
The singer received many awards and accolades but decided that fame wasn’t for her and that she wanted to live out the rest of her life as normally as possible. She found a job at a Scottish betting store and when The Sun interviewed the manager, he said what we were all thinking: “We were all in shock.”
Amanda Bynes
Went from all over the place to back on track as a fashion designer.
Amanda Bynes looked like she was on her way to superstardom. She got her start on Nickelodeon’s "All That" and "The Amanda Show" and went on to star in "What I Like About You" and "What A Girl Wants." But the young star disappeared from screens and started appearing in the tabloids as she went through a series of mental breakdowns.
These days, she seems happy and healthy. She enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles and has her sight set on fashion design.
Taran Noah Smith
Used his Hollywood money to buy a vegan farm that produces non-dairy cheese.
Taran rose to fame when he was just 7 years old as the youngest son on "Home Improvement". When he was 17, he had a legal battle with his parents over his $1.5 million trust fund and won. He used the money to open a company named Playfood, which manufactured vegan non-dairy cheese.
In 2017, he went back to his Tool Time roots and helped fix homes destroyed by Hurricane Harvey.
Mackenzie Rosman
Ruthie Camden from "7th Heaven" now tries to perform real-life miracles as the chairman of CureFinds.
When the series ended in 2007, Mackenzie Rosman got some small parts in "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" and "Ghost Shark" but had a hard time finding her next big role. When she turned 18, she decided that maybe posing for Maxim magazine would help bring her back into the public eye and show everyone that she was not a little girl anymore.
When that attempt failed, she quit show business and began working for the non-profit CureFinds which focuses on support and research for cystic fibrosis.
Freddie Prinze Jr.
Do you know what Freddie did last summer? He wrote a cookbook.
Freddie Prinze Jr. was a fan favorite in the ’90s, starring in "I Know What You Did Last Summer" and "She’s All That," but surprisingly the actor decided that he wasn’t passionate about acting and that his true love is cooking.
Prinze even wrote a cookbook titled "Back to the Kitchen" which includes 75 recipes and stories about the actor’s life. His wife, actress Sarah Michelle Geller, wrote the forward.
Mara Wilson
The Matilda cutie decided to quit acting, came out as bisexual and became an author.
Mara Wilson was an immensely popular child star in the 1990s, with roles in hit films like "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "Matilda." When she entered her teen years, she decided to take a break from acting and focus on school and having a normal life.
After the Orlando shooting, Wilson came out as bisexual. She is not interested in returning to acting and released her first novel in 2016.
George Foreman
Went from grilling boxers in the ring to grilling anything and everything in infomercials.
George Foreman is a two-time heavyweight boxing world champion and Olympic gold medalist, but when he quit the sport the bills added up and he needed a new way to make money.
He signed on as the spokesperson for the George Foreman Grill in 1994. Since then, he has helped sell over 100 million grills worldwide.
Nikki Blonsky
From Hairspray to a hairstylist.
Nikky Blonsky was sensational as Tracy in the 2007 musical "Hairspray" and was even nominated for a Golden Globe, but sadly could not find much work in film or television. The actress got her cosmetology license and found work at a Long Island salon.
It seems like her customers are pleased, with one saying, “‘she did a great job, and I look like a SUPERSTAR. Thanks to all the wonderful staff and I wish all the best to their newest employee cosmetologist Nikki Blonsky.”
Ariana Richards
Went from knowing her way around a dinosaur to knowing her way around a canvas.
Ariana Richards was an extremely busy actress when she was young. She played Lex Murphy in "Jurassic Park" and had roles in other films such as "Battledogs" and "Tremors." However, she never really seemed to get past playing supporting characters and land a leading role.
She decided to quit acting and focus on her painting. She attended Skidmore College and graduated with a degree in Fine Arts and Drama. Today she is a successful portraitist and lives in Oregon with her husband and son.
Jonathan Bennett
Lindsay Lohan’s love interest in "Mean Girls" is now a spin class instructor.
Jonathan Bennett played the hot yet sweet love interest in the now-classic teen movie "Mean Girls."
Since then he has mostly worked on TV movies. Now, he is a spin instructor at Flywheel in Los Angeles.
Jeff Cohen
He grew up, shed the weight, and left the Truffle Shuffle behind to become a lawyer.
Jeff Cohen played the memorable role of Chunk in the 80’s cult classic "The Goonies" but when he reached puberty and lost his baby fat, he also lost his ability to land new roles. Cohen summarized what happened best, “puberty hit and forced Cohen into early retirement.”
He left show business behind, became a lawyer, and started his own law firm titled unsurprisingly, Cohen & Gardner, LLP.
Hallie Eisenberg
The Pepsi Girl quit acting and her boyfriend is singer Owen Danoff.
Hallie Eisenberg starred in those cute Pepsi commercials when she was only six. Who could forget her cute dimples, curly hair, and sassy attitude? Hallie went on to act in several feature films including "Bicentennial Man," "The Insider," "Beautiful," "The Miracle Worker," and "The Goodbye Girl."
In 2010, she decided to quit acting and finally focus on her studies and enrolled at the American University in Washington, D.C.
Gary Coleman
Gary Coleman’s short stature didn’t stop him from getting a job as a security guard and punching a woman in the face.
The late legendary child star was on "Diff’rent Strokes" for eight years, but later had trouble finding permanent acting gigs and began working as a security guard. In 1998, while on the job, a fan named Tracy Fields came up to him asking for an autograph. Coleman then, allegedly, punched her in the face multiple times.
He was arrested and sentenced to a 1-year sentence and $1,665 in medical bills.
Leanna Creel
"Saved by the Bell" actress discovered her passion behind the scenes.
In the 1990s, Leanna Creel played the character of Tori Scott in "Saved by the Bell." She had small parts in "One West Waikiki" and "Ned and Stacey" but discovered she preferred doing her work off-camera. Creel co-founded her own production company which was later bought by Lionsgate.
She then went on to start her own photography company.
Steven Anthony Lawrence
Beans now spends his time teaching children how to act.
No one can forget the character of Beans from "Even Stevens," he was one of the best parts of the show. However, for young actor Steven Anthony Lawrence, this unforgettable role may have kept him from getting other gigs.
He spent some time as Santa’s helper at a mall in California and now gives acting lessons to children.
Chris Owen
Went from American Pie to Japanese sushi.
Chris Owen played the memorable role of the Sherminator in "American Pie" as an expert on women, at least in his own mind. After the second film in the series, the actor played a few small parts in some "National Lampoon" movies but sadly disappeared from our screens over time.
It has been many years since American Pie and the actor hasn’t made it big in show business. His Twitter follower count is low and he works as a waiter in a sushi restaurant in Los Angeles.
Liam Gallagher
When he’s not busy publicly feuding with his brother, the former singer runs a fashion label.
For a while in the 1990s, Oasis was one of the biggest bands in the world. Unfortunately, brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher found it impossible to get along and therefore unsurprisingly went their separate ways after Noel quit the band in 2009 to go solo. Liam has been busy in the years since: he had a child with an American journalist and got divorced because his wife was not super excited about him having a child with another woman.
He also founded the clothing label Pretty Green a few years ago. The company is based in London and sells menswear, mostly parka jackets, and polo shirts, basically allowing men to dress like Liam Gallagher. Surprisingly, reports show that the company is fairly successful.
Rita Wilson
The "Sleepless in Seattle" actress now focuses on her writing for Harper’s Bazaar.
Rita Wilson, born Margarita Ibrahimoff, has been acting for decades. She has appeared in dozens of classic TV shows like "The Brady Bunch," "M*A*S*H," "Three’s Company," and "Fraiser." She even did a short stint on Broadway playing Roxie Hart in a revival of "Chicago."
These days she is acting less and spends her time as a contributing writer to Harper’s Bazaar. We guess that as the wife of Tom Hanks, a little time away from the spotlight is probably a nice change.
Kirk Cameron
Was born again as a Christian book author.
Kirk Cameron rose to fame on ABC’s beloved sitcom "Growing Pains" but found religion on set. Now, he focuses on writing books and starring in Christian films such as "Saving Christmas," "Mercy Rule," "Unstoppable," "Monumental," and "Fireproof."
Kirk did not grow up religious but found Christianity at 17 in what he refers to as a "life-changing encounter with Jesus".
Josh Saviano
Don’t listen to the rumors, Kevin Arnold’s best friend is an attorney and not Marilyn Manson.
There was a persistent rumor that abounded in the ’90s, secretly passed from one kid to the next, in which the actor who played Paul in "The Wonder Years" grew up to be Marilyn Manson. Apparently, something bad happened to poor Paul. He was twisted by fame and as he grew older decided to take on a more sinister identity.
He put on the mantle of Marilyn Manson in an effort to show America the price of its extravagance, like a distorted mirror. Admittedly, that is a great story, but it is simply not true. The reality is actually much more mundane. Josh Saviano, who played Paul, grew up and now works as a corporate lawyer. If you want, you can follow him on Twitter.
Vanilla Ice
From rapper to home renovator and real estate investor.
Vanilla Ice was a huge name in music for a very short while, but when his musical career took a dive, he made a drastic change. He started a real estate website with tips about how to make a profit from flipping houses.
Van Winkle talks about how his new career came to pass: “When ‘Ice, Ice Baby’ was selling a million records a day, I bought several properties: a home next to Michael J. Fox in L.A., a palace in Miami, and a mountain cabin in Utah; 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.”
Peter Ostrum
The "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" star went from working with Oompa Loompas to working with animals.
The classic movie "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" is a hit among children of all ages even now, decades after its initial release. Gene Wilder played a wonderful and goofy Willy Wonka, but he was perfectly complemented by inexperienced young actor Peter Ostrum who played Charlie Bucket. Following the release of the film, the Ostrum family purchased a horse, much to young Peter’s delight.
He must have really loved that horse, because soon after he quit acting and decided to become a veterinarian. He graduated from veterinary school in 1984 and is still working as a vet in Upstate New York, primarily with cows and horses.
Danica McKellar
Winnie Cooper went on to become a math genius.
Danica McKellar played the girl next door Winnie Cooper on "The Wonder Years." When the show ended, so did her desire to be an actress. She attended UCLA and graduated with honors with a degree in mathematics.
She uses her former glory for good, writing and helping to promote books about math.
Steven Seagal
From big-time action star to a small-town sheriff.
Steven Seagal has been making action movies for decades but has also been serving as a Reserve Deputy Chief in Louisiana. The martial arts expert even got his own reality show about his adventures as an officer of the law in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina — "Steven Seagal: Lawman." The show was forced to relocate to Maricopa County, Arizona after charges of animal cruelty. But trouble seemed to follow them when Seagal and the infamous Maricopa County sheriff, Joe Arpaio, ran a tank through the side of someone’s house. Where did they even get a tank?
Seagal was recently sworn in as a sheriff’s deputy in New Mexico. We wish him luck in his new career and hope the sheriff keeps the keys for all the vehicles securely locked up.
Danielle Fishel
The character of Topanga Lawrence may have returned in "Girl Meets World," but Danielle Fishel has also worked as an author, chef, director, and reporter for PopSugar.
Many children grew up alongside Danielle Fishel in her role as Topanga Lawrence-Matthews in "Boy Meets World." When the show ended, she spent a short while as the spokeswoman for Nutrisystem, then went on to become a resident reporter on PopSugar and eventually went back to acting, starring in the 2014 spinoff "Girl Meets World."
She also does some work for PopSugar’s spinoff channel PopSugar Girls Guide.