Ex-Famous Figures With Better Life After Fame
Fame usually promises jet lag, stress, and a lifetime subscription to being recognized in supermarket aisles. But some people step away from the spotlight and discover that the real jackpot was a quiet schedule and a normal chair that never needs to be part of a press tour.
The retro documentaries love to revisit their glory days while ignoring the part where they finally learned to sleep eight hours. Some found calm jobs, and others found new obsessions that no studio executive could ever approve. Turns out ordinary life can be surprisingly generous.
Anyone curious about unexpected peace will enjoy what happened next.
Lisa Whelchel
Devoted herself to family life and to writing books on parenting and faith.
Tom Selleck
Slowed his workload to raise his daughter and maintain a California ranch.
Kirk Cameron
Put mainstream acting aside to create faith-centered film projects.
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Shifted her focus to Foodstirs, a baking-mix company she helped launch.
Steven Seagal
Settled in Russia and mixed martial arts pursuits with unconventional diplomatic roles.
Angus T. Jones
Stepped away from peak TV earnings to study and work behind the scenes in production.
Greta Garbo
Retired young and lived anonymously in New York, avoiding publicity entirely.
Dave Chappelle
Left huge contracts behind for a low-profile life on his Ohio farm.
Nikki Blonsky
Shifted to beauty work and retail jobs after her early success in film.
Kevin Jonas
Used the band’s hiatus to run a telecom business and work in construction.
Jeff Cohen
Became an entertainment lawyer and now handles negotiations for other actors.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas
Prioritized studies at Harvard and Columbia before shifting to small directing projects.
Grace Kelly
Walked away from acting to take on the formal duties of Monaco’s royal family.
Gene Hackman
Retired from movies and started publishing historical novels far from Hollywood noise.
Rick Moranis
Stepped away from the industry to raise his kids and keep a steady home life.
Josh Saviano
Moved from TV memories to corporate law work in a New York firm.
Daniel Day-Lewis
Traded award speeches for long hours, shaping wood, and learning shoemaking in Italy.
Mara Wilson
Built a quieter career writing essays and creating indie theater pieces.
Phoebe Cates
Left film sets behind to run a boutique in New York focused on gifts and home goods.
Frankie Muniz
Went from sitcom fame to racing circuits and running an oils-and-vinegars shop.
