20 Celebs From the ’90s Who Vanished From the Spotlight

The 1990s launched many popular stars, but as their lives evolved, they largely disappeared from the spotlight. Some chose to focus on education or family instead of acting, while others pursued completely different careers. Though a few made brief comebacks, most have lived private lives and rarely speak to the media. Here’s a look at twenty well-known actors and actresses from that decade and what led them to leave public life.

Jonathan Taylor Thomas

Most people recognize him from his roles on ‘Home Improvement’ and as the voice of young Simba in ‘The Lion King’. However, around the mid-2000s, he decided to step away from acting to go to college and study history and philosophy. While he’s done a few small TV appearances since then, he’s generally avoided high-profile roles and prefers to keep a private life, without a presence on social media.

Phoebe Cates

Phoebe Cates became well-known for her roles in films like ‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High’ and ‘Gremlins,’ but she stepped away from acting in the 1990s. After marrying Kevin Kline, she prioritized raising their family. Later, she launched Blue Tree, a clothing store on Madison Avenue in New York City. From then on, she was mostly seen at charity events and community gatherings rather than on the big screen.

Rick Moranis

Everyone knows him from classics like ‘Honey, I Shrunk the Kids’ and ‘Ghostbusters,’ but he really stepped back from making movies in the late ’90s. It was a personal decision – he wanted to focus on raising his kids after his wife sadly passed away. He wasn’t completely gone, though; he did some voice work and a few music projects here and there. Mostly, he’s stayed out of the public eye, with the occasional commercial being one of the few times we’ve seen him. I always admired him, and I respect his decision to prioritize family.

Bridget Fonda

After appearing in films like ‘Single White Female’ and ‘Jackie Brown’, she stepped away from acting in the early 2000s. She prioritized her family and chose to live a private life, avoiding Hollywood’s public scene. She rarely appears in public and doesn’t give interviews. Though her older movies are still available to watch, she remains largely out of the spotlight.

Linda Fiorentino

I first really noticed Linda Fiorentino in ‘The Last Seduction’ – what a performance! Then she was great in ‘Men in Black’, but after a few roles in the early 2000s, she seemed to step away from acting. I remember reading reports that she wasn’t really pursuing roles anymore and kept a pretty low profile. She’s always valued her privacy, which is admirable, but honestly, her work from the ’90s is still so iconic – a lot of us are still huge fans!

Leelee Sobieski

After gaining recognition in films like ‘Deep Impact’ and ‘Joan of Arc,’ she decided to step away from acting. Starting around 2010, she turned her attention to creating visual art and focusing on her family. She began showing her artwork using her married name and largely avoided public appearances. Since then, she’s appeared in very few movies or TV shows.

Andrew Keegan

He first became popular as a teen in movies like ’10 Things I Hate About You’ and on television in the 1990s. Later, in the 2010s, he started a community group in Venice, California, and began focusing more on local work and smaller independent films. As a result, he doesn’t appear in major movies or give many interviews anymore.

Karyn Parsons

Most people remember Karyn Parsons as Hilary Banks from ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’. After the 1990s, she stopped acting on screen and instead focused on creating educational materials about Black history for kids through her Sweet Blackberry Foundation. Now, she primarily works behind the scenes and in the publishing world.

Nikki Cox

I remember her vividly from shows like ‘Unhappily Ever After’ back in the nineties – she was a familiar face! But honestly, I hadn’t seen much of her on screen since the 2010s. From what I gather, she stepped back from regular TV work and focused on things like voice acting and writing, preferring to stay out of the spotlight. It’s been years since she’s done many public appearances or given interviews, so she’s definitely been keeping a low profile.

Mara Wilson

As a child, she won over audiences with memorable roles in ‘Matilda’ and ‘Mrs. Doubtfire.’ During her teenage years, she decided to take a break from acting in movies. She later found new creative outlets as a writer and voice actor. While she sometimes makes appearances at book events, she generally stays away from typical Hollywood acting jobs.

Jake Lloyd

Most people remember him as young Anakin Skywalker in the first ‘Star Wars’ film. After that, he decided to step away from acting. Over time, his family has shared that he values his privacy and well-being. He continues to live a private life and generally avoids the spotlight.

Bridgette Wilson

Before stepping away from acting in the mid-2000s, she appeared in films like ‘Billy Madison’ and ‘Mortal Kombat’. She then married tennis star Pete Sampras and dedicated herself to raising a family. Since then, she’s mainly been seen at charity events and sports-related functions instead of movie premieres, and hasn’t returned to acting in a significant way.

Yasmine Bleeth

Becoming well-known from her role on ‘Baywatch’ brought a lot of attention in the 1990s. She later took a break from acting in the early 2000s and has largely stayed out of the public eye since then, making few appearances in the media. She hasn’t been involved in many entertainment projects since.

Moira Kelly

Known for her role in ‘The Cutting Edge,’ she continued acting consistently throughout the 1990s. Later, she appeared less often in on-screen roles, focusing instead on voice acting and raising her family. She’s maintained a relatively private life in recent years.

Lark Voorhies

Best known for her role on ‘Saved by the Bell’, she didn’t consistently work in the entertainment industry after the show ended. She published books and occasionally appeared on television, but often preferred to stay out of the Hollywood spotlight. While she’d participate in occasional cast reunions, she largely lives a private life.

Gene Hackman

He was a well-known actor in 1990s movies, but he stopped acting in 2004. He then became a writer and co-wrote several books. His final movie appearance was in the early 2000s, and he passed away in February 2025.

Joe Pesci

He was a major star in the 1990s, known for his roles in crime and comedy films. However, he took a break from acting in the 2000s, turning his attention to music and working with friends. He began to appear less frequently, and after a few projects, mostly stayed out of the public eye.

Cameron Diaz

She was a popular actress in the 1990s and early 2000s, but stepped away from acting around the mid-2010s. During her time off, she focused on writing books about wellness and started her own wine company, Avaline. She largely stayed out of the public eye, avoiding events like red carpets and press tours. After several years, she began acting again, but continues to keep her private life to herself.

Edward Furlong

He first gained widespread recognition in ‘Terminator 2’ and continued working steadily throughout the 1990s. However, his career became less active after that decade, and he began taking extended breaks between projects. He occasionally appeared in smaller, independent films that didn’t receive much publicity, and he’s made far fewer public appearances than he did during his peak years.

Lisa Bonet

Many people recognized her from her roles on ‘The Cosby Show’ and in movies from the 1990s. After that, she intentionally took on very few acting jobs. She valued her privacy and kept her family life out of the spotlight. While people still remembered her earlier work, she generally stayed out of the public eye.

2025-11-12 01:16