This story was originally published on May 5, 2014.
Breaking news: Being a celebrity isn’t the most important thing in the world. While some actors would have you believe that the universe revolves around their star power, others have left the biz for more fitting vocations. Maybe it’s because the immense pressure of a life in Hollywood finally got to them, or maybe it’s because they just realized they were sick of having to get a blowout to run to Walgreens.
Either way, there’s no denying that giving up life as an actor is a weighty decision. Veterans like Cary Grant and Grace Kelly paved the way for the Great Hollywood Escape, but plenty of people have followed in their footsteps. It seems like giving up fame could one day be as groundbreaking as getting fame in the first place. Whether celebs decide to use their notoriety for charity work or to conquer the Ivy Leagues, expect to see more and more of it. Ahead, eight celebs who said sayonara to the silver screen, by choice.
Geena Davis
Davis hit it big with roles in Thelma & Louise and A League Of Their Own — and, later, on the small screen in her self-titled sitcom. But, her time in Hollywood exposed her to a glaring problem that she felt needed to be addressed, stat: the portrayal of women in the media. Davis now runs the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, which is the only research-based organization that works to improve gender balance and reduce stereotypes in the programs we watch. The actress spends her time conducting studies and lobbying politicians and the media industry to start showing women in a more favorable light.
Mia Farrow
It’s easy to think of Mia Farrow as, say, her character in Hannah and Her Sisters, or even to associate her only with the Woody Allen scandal. But, Farrow’s true passion lies with her activism work. The former actress is a UNICEF ambassador and has gone on dozens of missions to Chad and the Darfur region. Her family drama may be hogging the spotlight as of late, but she works doggedly to improve the lives of children in impoverished countries.
Alicia Silverstone
From Cher Horowitz to earth mother — that’s Silverstone’s career arc in a nutshell. She’s made a handful of movie and TV appearances in the last decade, but has devoted most of her time to environmental issues. She’s one of the staunchest advocates for vegetarianism, eco-friendly products, and an allover holistic lifestyle, with a blog and several books to boot. Her take on living might not be for everybody, but there’s no denying her effort.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas
JTT was undoubtedly one of the biggest teen stars of the ’90s, and he was well on his way to building a solid post-Home Improvement career, stealing hearts all the while. But, he decided he’d had enough covers of Tiger Beat and went for something a little more academic. He’s attended Harvard, Columbia, and even the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and now he’s using his book smarts to write and direct. His avid fans might miss him, but he told People last year that he’s never regretted his career move.
Paul Newman
Newman-O’s, anyone? The late actor’s charitable products have become so ubiquitous, they’re almost as iconic as his original movie career. In fact, Newman’s Own has given away millions to worthy causes like children’s camps and aid for impoverished countries. That’s a pretty good reason to start hawking salad dressing.
Mara Wilson
After a stellar career as one of the cutest child actors around — and parts in Matilda and Mrs. Doubtfire — Mara Wilson decided she’d had enough of Hollywood (and that Hollywood may have had enough of her). Now, she spends her time writing funny essays for her blog and working at Publicolor, an NYC-based nonprofit that works on youth development. She also operates a pretty stellar Twitter account, but that’s just extra.
Grace Kelly
It could be argued that there is no higher calling than that of royalty. Kelly had quite a thing going in Hollywood, what with her Oscar win for Country Girl and roles opposite Cary Grant and the like. But, she gave it all up to become a wife, mother, and, of course, princess of Monaco. Some may disagree with her decision to toss her career aside, but can you really blame her? She was a princess, after all. Plus, she used her newfound power to head up numerous foundations for the arts.
Cary Grant
Grant had one of the most stellar careers of the 1900s, but a divorce in the ’60s seemingly derailed everything. The actor decided to retire from the business to focus on being a better father to his only daughter. And, unlike many actors who give up the craft, he stuck with it 100% — his last movie was the 1966 flick Walk Don’t Run. Props to you, Mr. Grant.
Phoebe Cates
Often credited by many teens as the cause of their sexual awakening, Phoebe Cates’ emerging-from-the-pool scene in Fast Times at Ridgemont High would be a defining moment in her Hollywood career. She’s also widely attributed to another loss-of-innocence moment: revealing that Santa Claus doesn’t exist in Gremlins.
Cates married actor Kevin Kline in 1989 and stopped acting in the mid ’90s, save for one film she did as a favor to best friend Jennifer Jason Leigh (yes, the two remained friends after Fast Times) in 2001. In addition to raising her two kids with Kline, Cates owns a boutique in New York City called Blue Tree.
Rick Moranis
Moranis got his start on Canadian radio and later joined the cast of the cult show SCTV. From there, it was onto unforgettable roles in Ghostbusters, Little Shop of Horrors, Spaceballs, and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. He lost his wife to breast cancer in 1991 and quit acting six years later to be a stay-at-home dad. “When my kids came home, there was music, and there were lights on, and there were great smells coming out of the kitchen. And it was just a joyful place to be, and that’s what I wanted,” Moranis said in a rare interview in 2013.
While he’s a bit of a recluse in New York City, Moranis hasn’t left the business entirely. He sporadically releases critically acclaimed comedy albums. In 2006, his album The Agoraphobic Cowboy was nominated for a Grammy. My Mother’s Brisket & Other Love Songs, a Jewish-themed album, was released in 2013.
Jack Gleeson
The most reviled king in Westeros met his demise at his own wedding, and Joffrey’s portrayer, Jack Gleeson, is fine with his unforgettable death-by-poison serving as the swan song for his acting career. “I’ve been acting since age eight. I just stopped enjoying it as much as I used to. And now there’s the prospect of doing it for a living, whereas up until now it was always something I did for recreation with my friends, or in the summer for some fun. I enjoyed it. When you make a living from something, it changes your relationship with it. It’s not like I hate it, it’s just not what I want to do,” Gleeson told Entertainment Weekly about his retirement at age 21. As for what’s next, he has one year left in college and may go on to pursue a post-graduate degree.
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