Sometimes our favorite celebrities take a step back from the limelight and lead ordinary lives. This is exactly why we decided to dig up some surprising celebrities that are no longer all the buzz in Hollywood but rather, have very normal jobs.
Kirk Cameron
During the 1980s and 1990s, Cameron starred on Growing Pains and many believed he’d act forever. Instead, he became an active Evangelical Christian, partnering with Ray Comfort in the evangelical ministry The Way of the Master, and he also co-founded The Firefly Foundation with his wife Chelsea Noble.
Kirk Cameron
Danica McKellar
Danica McKellar may have reached stardom from her role on The Wonder Years but she is so much more than that. McKellar went to and graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with honors! She has also written four non-fiction books that are geared to encourage middle school and high school girls to be more confident and to succeed in the world of mathematics.
Danica McKellar
Frankie Muniz
Former child star, Frankie Muniz, was everyone’s favorite middle brother from the hit show, Malcolm in the Middle. However, in 2006, Muniz retired from Hollywood and instead started racing cars. He was quite good actually but after a wrist injury, he retired, and in 2012, he joined the rock band Kingsfoil as the drummer. A few months later, Muniz sustained a mini-stroke and retired from the band as well. Not much has been heard about him since.
Frankie Muniz
Freddie Prinze Jr.
On screen Freddie Prinze Jr. has made us laugh and cry but it’s his life off screen that makes us love him more. First of all, his family is adorable, Freddie married our favorite slayer, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and they’ve got two wonderful kids together. Two, while he hasn’t “retired”, he did attend culinary school and recently released his first cookbook. All in all, this dad has got it goin’ on.
Freddie Prinze Jr.
Lucy Liu
Who could forget Lucy Liu as the vicious and totally ill-mannered Ling Woo from TV show Ally McBeal? Or her subsequent films like Charlie’s Angels, Kill Bill, and Payback. I mean, no can ever forget Lucy Liu! However, she’s more focused now on her career as a visual artist, director, and mother to her son Rockwell.
Lucy Liu
Steven Seagal
The martial arts master himself, Steven Seagal, is on this list. Seagal hasn’t been acting for some time now, in fact, he’s actually living in Russia and is good friends with Putin. Interesting to say the least.
Steven Seagal
Vanilla Ice
“Ice Ice Baby!” With his 90s success behind him, Vanilla Ice is currently living in Florida with his wife Laura and their two daughters.
Vanilla Ice
Peter Ostrum
Good ol’ Charlie from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is up next on our list. He’s been retired for many, many, years and is a veterinarian now.
Peter Ostrum
Liam Gallagher
If you remember the song ‘Wonderwall’ then you surely remember the band Oasis which then means you gotta know the name Liam Gallagher, he was their lead singer after all. Many believe he has gone solo but Gallagher denies this claim.
Liam Gallagher
Jon Gosselin
That’s right, the former reality star of Jon & Kate Plus 8 is on our list. And you won’t believe what he’s doing now. Gosselin is a DJ and a prep cook at T.G.I. Friday’s. Let that sink in.
Jon Gosselin
Chris Owen
It’s safe to say that Chris Owen will always be remembered as ‘The Sherminator’ from the American Pie film franchise! His role was iconic. However after these films, his acting career hit a slump and he became a waiter at a sushi restaurant in Santa Monica, California. Then in 2014, a journalist from the New York Daily News ran a piece about Owen and his new “career”. It was this article that helped him land a role in two films and on Criminal Minds.
Chris Owen
Lark Voorhies
Lark Voorhies is best remembered for portraying Lisa Turtle on Saved by the Bell. However, Voorhies hasn’t acted for some time and instead become a published author.
Lark Voorhies
Brittany Ashton Holmes
In 1994, Brittany won over everyone’s hearts as Darla from The Little Rascals. Then just two years later, she retired from acting. Currently, she’s pursuing a degree in political science.
Brittany Ashton Holmes
Josh Saviano
Way back when, Josh Saviano starred on The Wonder Years but he retired ages ago and instead attended Yale University, graduating with a degree in Political Science. Saviano now runs a law firm, JDS Legal, and a celebrity brand consultancy agency, Act 3 Advisors.
Josh Saviano
Jeff Cohen
Ahh, the one and only Chunk from The Goonies. Jeff Cohen has come a long way – he’s an attorney and also the founding partner of Cohen & Gardner, LLP. Not bad at all!
Jeff Cohen
Taran Noah Smith
You probably know Taran Noah Smith by another name…that of Marcus “Mark” Jason Taylor, the youngest son on the wonderful television show, Home Improvement. However since 2005, Smith and his then-wife opened a non-dairy cheese manufacturer and restaurant, Playfood, in California. Playfood specializes in only vegan and organic foods.
Taran Noah Smith
MC Hammer
You know the name MC Hammer, especially if you’re a fan of the 90s! For a few years now, he’s stopped singing and has instead launched many startup ventures, like being a web mogul to an activist to running a mixed martial arts management company.
MC Hammer
Kevin Jonas
The oldest Jonas brother is definitely on our list! He hasn’t been up on the big stage for quite some time, instead, he’s a husband, father to two daughters, and also an entrepreneur. Kevin is the co-CEO of The Blu Market, which is a marketing company focused on bolstering a company’s social reach.
Kevin Jonas
Cole And Dylan Sprouse
Admit it, you loved watching the Sprouse twins on the Disney Channel show, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. It was practically everyone’s guilty pleasure. Since then, they both graduated from New York University and started their very own fashion line. Dylan launched his own photography site and even an All-Wise Meadery in Brooklyn, New York. While Cole, has actually stepped back into acting, he landed a role on the new CW show, Riverdale.
Cole And Dylan Sprouse
Angus T. Jones
Little Jake Harper from Two and a Half Men is all grown up now. We all practically watched him grow up on that show! However in 2014, Jones left the show because it seriously conflicted with his religious beliefs. In 2016, Jones teamed up with Tonite, a multimedia and event production company.
Angus T. Jones
Gary Dourdan
After acting on CSI for eight whole years, Gary Dourdan’s character was killed off at the beginning of season 9. This turn of events certainly shocked the fans, but nowadays he spends his time collecting classic cars and working as a DJ.
Gary Dourdan
Jonathan Taylor Thomas
Many teenage girls all over America were smitten with Jonathan Taylor Thomas and most still are! (Guilty as charged). To many, he will always be remembered as Randy Taylor from Home Improvement and for voicing young Simba in The Lion King. But did you know that he’s a director and more importantly, in 2010 he graduated from Columbia University?
Jonathan Taylor Thomas
Nikki Blonsky
Nikki Blonsky starred in Hairspray but hasn’t found much success since then. Instead she received a cosmetology license and works part-time as a hairstylist and a makeup artist.
Nikki Blonksy
Julia Stiles
Julia Stiles debuted at just age 11 on the big Hollywood scene. With hit films like 10 Things I Hate About You and Save the Last Dance, Stiles seemed like she was going nowhere. However Stiles took a step back and focused on charity work, where she was heavily involved for Habitat for Humanity. Moreover she also graduated from Columbia University with a degree in English literature.
Julia Stiles
Kirstie Alley
Kirstie Alley’s big breakthrough was as “trekkie” Lieutenant JG Saavik in the film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. From there, she starred in Cheers, Look Who’s Talking, and It Takes Two to name a few. In 2013, she took a break from acting and has focused on her weight gain and loss through her work with Jenny Craig.
Kirstie Alley
Carrie Henn
If you recall the film Aliens then you definitely remember Newt! Well, not long after this role, Carrie Henn retired, became a teacher, and never did movies again. Unless of course, they were related to Aliens.
Carrie Henn
Amanda Bynes
Amanda Bynes officially retired from acting in 2012 and set her sights to become a fashion designer. She enrolled to the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Irvine but was unable to complete her studies due to serious legal problems. Bynes was charged a DUI, then criminal possession of marijuana, which lead to attempted tampering with evidence, and reckless endangerment. She was then sent to a psychiatric facility after certain accusations spewed on her part.
Amanda Bynes
Erik Per Sullivan
Dewey! Yes, the younger brother of the Malcolm in the Middle show is on our list. Up until 2010, he was still acting with his last role was in the film Twelve. However since then, no one has been able to track him down.
Erik Per Sullivan
Phoebe Cates
Phoebe Cates the actress, singer, and model that won our hearts back in the 80s with roles in Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Gremlins. Currently, she is a stay at home mom and she also runs her own boutique, Blue Tree, on New York’s Madison Avenue.
Phoebe Cates
Erin Moran
As if Erin Moran really needs an introduction! Okay, fine. Moran starred as Joanie Cunningham from Happy Days and its spin-off, Joanie Loves Chachi. Ever since 2012, she hasn’t starred in any films or television shows. Although, she is now an author.
Erin Moran
Kel Mitchell
Look! It’s Ed from Good Burger. Well, yes, but since his acting day, he’s gone on to become a stand-up comedian, musician, and dancer.
Kel Mitchell
Macaulay Culkin
Everyone, and we mean everyone, knows Macaulay Culkin. He was considered the most successful child actor since Shirley Temple! Which is quite impressive. However, he hasn’t starred in any films in many, many years and is instead the singer of The Pizza Underground. Culkin tends to keep to himself and stays out of the limelight as much as possible.
Macaulay Culkin
Danny Lloyd
You probably remember Danny Lloyd from The Shining, a role he was critically acclaimed for. It wasn’t long after The Shining that Lloyd retired, currently he’s a biology professor at a community college in Kentucky.
Danny Lloyd
Mark Feehily
Irish singer and songwriter, Mark Feehily, was one of the lead singers of the boy band ‘Westlife’ during 1998 until 2012. Since then, he’s launched a solo career but its not proving so successful.
Mark Feehily
Karyn Parsons
You probably remember Karyn Parsons as Hilary Banks from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and as you should, she was brilliant! But it’s what she’s been up to lately that’s most impressive. Parsons is the creator of Sweet Blackberry, a line of animated films featuring unsung black heroes.
Karyn Parsons
Gene Hackman
For five decades, Gene Hackman starred in many hit films for which he won two Academy Awards, three Golden Globes and two BAFTAs. He retired from acting in 2004 but during the years of 1999 to 2013, Hackman was a successful author.
Gene Hackman
Omri Katz
Omri Katz will always be Max Dennison from Hocus Pocus but he hasn’t acted since 2002. Instead, he’s shifted to a career as a hairdresser.
Omri Katz
Peter Billingsley
Billingsley is of course Ralphie from A Christmas Story and he probably always will be. Currently, he’s a director and producer.
Peter Billingsley
Doris Day
Doris Day was the top ranking female box-office star and in 2012, she was still ranked sixth of the top 10 box office performers (male and female), even though her last starring role was in 1968. She’s currently very active in animal rights and welfare causes.
Doris Day
Rick Moranis
Surely you remember Rick Moranis from his many roles in sketch comedy, such as Ghostbusters, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, and The Flintstones. Thing is, he actually took a break from his acting career in 1997 after the tragic death of his wife, Ann, due to breast cancer. Moranis has been a stay at home dad, raising his two kids as a single parent – now that’s noble.
Rick Moranis
Sean Wilson
Sean Wilson is an English actor known for his role as Martin Platt in the television showCoronation Street. He’s now… a cheesemaker. That is not a typo. He actually owns his own cheese company, ‘Saddleworth Cheese Company’ and has also published a few books regarding cheese.
Sean Wilson
Barret Oliver
Barret Oliver is of course Bastian Balthazar Bux from The NeverEnding Story. However after 1989, Oliver left the acting world and instead, became a painter and photographer, specializing in 19th century processes. Much of his work has been displayed in museum and gallery exhibitions, along with films.
Barret Oliver