Actresses Who Quietly Left Hollywood to Work Normal 9-to-5 Jobs

Many actors and actresses choose to leave the high-profile world of Hollywood for more stable or private lives. Some take breaks, but others build entirely new careers in fields like medicine, law, teaching, or retail. It’s common for these transitions to happen after successful careers in film or television, demonstrating that people can achieve professional success outside of entertainment. The following people are examples of those who have made this change, finding fulfilling work in everyday professions.

Ariana Richards

Ariana Richards, famous for playing Lex Murphy in ‘Jurassic Park’, left acting to become a professional artist. After earning a degree in Fine Arts and Drama from Skidmore College, she continued her education at the Art Center College of Design. She’s now a successful painter, specializing in portraits and landscapes, and has received recognition for her talent. Her artwork is often displayed in galleries, showcasing her passion for painting.

Jennifer Stone

Jennifer Stone, known for her role as Harper Finkle on Disney’s ‘Wizards of Waverly Place,’ made a surprising career change and became a registered nurse. She finished nursing school right when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its worst and immediately began working on the front lines. Having lived with Type 1 diabetes herself, Stone was driven to help others through healthcare. Today, she continues to take on acting roles occasionally while primarily working in a hospital emergency room.

Kay Panabaker

Danielle Panabaker became well-known for her acting roles in shows like ‘No Ordinary Family’ and ‘Fame,’ but she decided to leave acting in 2012. She went back to school, earning a history degree from UCLA, and then discovered a passion for working with animals. Today, she’s a zookeeper at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, focusing on caring for animals and teaching others about them. This is a big change from her previous career as a public figure to a more specialized job in animal science.

Bridgit Mendler

After finding fame as the star of ‘Good Luck Charlie’ and building a music career, Bridgit Mendler turned her attention to education and technology. She went on to earn degrees from both MIT and Harvard Law School, proving her interests extend far beyond performing. In 2024, she revealed she’s now the CEO of Northwood Space, a company developing satellite technology. This move shows her dedication to combining her skills in aerospace and law after years in the entertainment industry.

Carrie Henn

Carrie Henn is best remembered for playing Newt in the iconic 1986 sci-fi film ‘Aliens,’ alongside Sigourney Weaver. Surprisingly, despite the movie’s huge success and praise for her acting, she didn’t continue with a Hollywood career. Instead, she prioritized her education and earned a degree in child development, allowing her to work with young people. Today, Henn works as an elementary school teacher in California and enjoys a private life outside of the entertainment world.

Nikki Blonsky

Following her breakout role as Tracy Turnblad in the 2007 movie ‘Hairspray,’ Nikki Blonsky explored other career paths. While still taking on occasional acting jobs, she became a licensed cosmetologist to ensure a steady income. She worked at a salon in Great Neck, New York, providing professional hair and makeup services. Blonsky has frequently emphasized the value of having a reliable skill to fall back on in the unpredictable world of entertainment.

Lisa Jakub

You might remember me as Lydia Hillard from ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ – I also had a small role in ‘Independence Day’. It feels like another lifetime! I actually quit acting when I was only 22. Honestly, I was craving a more normal life. I ended up becoming a writer, and I’m a certified yoga instructor now too. I’ve written a couple of books, including ‘You Look Like That Girl’, where I talk about what it was like growing up as a child actor and why I decided to leave Hollywood. These days, I mostly lead workshops helping people navigate big career changes and focus on their mental wellbeing and mindfulness – it’s incredibly rewarding.

Karyn Parsons

Karyn Parsons is most famous for playing Hilary Banks on the TV show ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’. After the show finished, she became passionate about education and preserving history, and she began writing to share these interests. She started Sweet Blackberry, a charity that teaches children about the accomplishments of African Americans. She’s also written several children’s books highlighting important historical figures who aren’t usually taught in schools.

Phoebe Cates

Phoebe Cates was a popular actress in the 1980s, known for movies like ‘Fast Times at High’ and ‘Gremlins.’ She later chose to focus on raising her family in New York City. In 2005, she opened Blue Tree, an upscale boutique on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, where she sells carefully chosen clothing, jewelry, and home goods. This allowed her to express her creativity through retail, and she’s become a well-known figure in New York’s business world, rather than returning to Hollywood.

Shirley Temple

Shirley Temple, one of the biggest child stars ever, left acting at 22 to explore new paths. She dedicated herself to public service and international relations, working with multiple U.S. presidents. She notably served as the United States Ambassador to both Ghana and Czechoslovakia. Her change from beloved actress to respected diplomat is considered one of the most remarkable career transformations in American history.

Danielle Spencer

Danielle Spencer is best known for her role as Dee Thomas on the popular 1970s sitcom, ‘What’s Happening!!’. After the show and its follow-ups ended, she surprised many by changing careers completely. She went back to school, graduating from Tuskegee University’s veterinary program, and has been a practicing veterinarian for more than 25 years. Though she briefly revisited acting, she ultimately dedicated herself to animal healthcare, establishing a new and lasting career.

Mara Wilson

Mara Wilson, who starred in films like ‘Matilda’ and ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’, chose to leave acting in her late teens. She felt Hollywood wasn’t a healthy environment for her and decided to focus on writing instead. She’s now a successful author, having written plays, essays, and a memoir called ‘Where Am I Now?’. Wilson continues to be involved in the world of literature, expressing herself through writing rather than acting.

Andrea Barber

Most people remember Andrea Barber as Kimmy Gibbler from ‘Full House.’ After the show ended, she stepped away from acting for a while to focus on her education. She earned a master’s degree in Women’s Studies from the University of York and then worked as an academic counselor at Whittier College for several years. While she did reprise her role in the ‘Fuller House’ reboot, her time working in education really shaped her years away from television.

Dolores Hart

In the late 1950s, Vera Miles quickly became a popular actress, even appearing in films with Elvis Presley like ‘Loving You’ and ‘King Creole’. However, at the peak of her career in 1963, she surprised everyone by announcing she would become a nun. She joined a Catholic convent, the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Connecticut, and eventually became a leader there as Prioress. Remarkably, despite leaving Hollywood, she still participates in Academy Award voting as a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Maia Brewton

Valerie Brewton is known for her roles as Sara Anderson in ‘Adventures in Babysitting’ and Shelly on ‘Parker Lewis Can’t Lose.’ After finishing her teen years as an actress, she decided to pursue higher education and a career in law. She went to Yale University and became a qualified attorney in California. Now, she focuses on legal work and helping clients, a far cry from her early days in acting.

Kellie Shanygne Williams

Kellie Williams is best known for playing Laura Winslow on the popular TV show ‘Family Matters’ for nine seasons. After the show ended, she dedicated herself to helping her community. She created the Kellie Williams Program, which gives students in the Washington, D.C. area a chance to learn about making television. Now, she focuses on mentoring young people and working on community projects instead of pursuing acting roles in Los Angeles.

Lori Beth Denberg

Danielle Denberg first became known as a popular performer on the Nickelodeon sketch comedy show ‘All That’ in the 1990s. After acting less frequently, she retrained as a wedding officiant. Now, she works as a ‘celebrity wedding officiant,’ using her comedy skills to create unique and personalized wedding ceremonies. Beyond officiating, she also has experience working in offices, doing things like writing copy and providing administrative support.

Brittany Ashton Holmes

Brittany Holmes is most famous for playing Darla in the 1994 movie ‘The Little Rascals.’ After appearing in a few minor roles in the mid-90s, she left acting to live a private life. She reportedly earned a degree in political science and worked jobs like being a barista. She doesn’t want to return to fame and enjoys the peace and normalcy of everyday life.

Leanna Creel

Elizabeth Creel is best known for playing Tori Scott on the final season of ‘Saved by the Bell.’ After acting, she transitioned into the business of media production. She received a Master of Fine Arts degree in film from UCLA and started her own company focused on photography and video. Today, Creel works as a professional photographer and producer, creating commercial and wedding media for a range of clients.

Alana Austin

Alisa Austin was well-known in the 1990s and early 2000s, appearing in movies like ‘Motocrossed’ and ‘A Simple Twist of Fate’. After her time as a young actress, she decided to study medicine and the sciences. She then built a career in healthcare, eventually working in research and development. This represents a significant shift from performing to a dedicated scientific profession as she grew older.

Mackenzie Rosman

After playing Ruthie Camden on ‘7th Heaven’ for many years, Jessica Rosman chose to step away from the typical Hollywood scene and focus on her love of horses. She became a professional equestrian athlete, competing in show jumping, and also dedicates her time to supporting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Now, her days are filled with training at stables and competing nationally, a far cry from film sets and glamorous events.

Tami Stronach

Tami Stronach is best known for playing the Childlike Empress in the beloved film ‘The NeverEnding Story,’ but she didn’t immediately continue acting in Hollywood. Her parents were cautious about the entertainment industry, so she turned her focus to dance. She became a dance professor at Marymount Manhattan College and gained recognition in New York’s performing arts community. Stronach also started her own dance company, choosing to dedicate her career to dance and teaching rather than acting.

Heather Donahue

Heather Donahue quickly became famous for her role in the popular horror film ‘The Blair Witch Project’. However, she found it difficult to navigate the film industry and decided to pursue a different path, becoming a medical marijuana grower. She wrote about this change in her memoir, ‘Growgirl’, which shares her experiences after the height of her fame in the late 1990s. Now known as Rei Hance, she works as a writer and coach, helping others with personal and creative development.

Amber Scott

Robin Scott is best known for playing Maggie Banning in the 1991 Steven Spielberg movie ‘Hook’. Although it was a big production, she decided not to pursue a major acting career. She went on to graduate from Trinity College in Connecticut and work in the business world. Scott has generally kept her life private and has reportedly held administrative and business positions outside of the entertainment industry.

Marisa Ryan

Though many know her from her acting roles, like Nina DiMajo in ‘Wet Hot American Summer’ and various TV dramas, Ryan has largely transitioned to a career in real estate. While she still occasionally acts, she’s become a licensed real estate agent, assisting clients with buying and selling homes in competitive city markets. This new path offers her a sense of stability and freedom that can be hard to find as a professional actor.

Gene Tierney

Gene Tierney was a famous actress, even receiving an Academy Award nomination for her roles in films like ‘Laura’ and ‘Leave Her to Heaven’. Though she had a thriving career in the 1940s, she often took breaks to prioritize her personal health. Interestingly, during these breaks, she worked a regular job at a dress shop in Oklahoma, hoping to live a more normal life. This period shows a major movie star choosing to experience everyday work like anyone else, even after achieving fame.

Evelyn Keyes

I always remember Mimi Keyes as Suellen in ‘Gone With the Wind,’ and she really was a star during Hollywood’s amazing Golden Age. What’s so interesting is that later in life, she stepped away from acting and became a writer! She wasn’t just dabbling, either – she became a successful novelist and even wrote her autobiography, which gave a really honest look at what it was like behind the scenes in the old studio days. It’s amazing how she reinvented herself and found a whole second career writing novels and articles for big publications.

Lori Saunders

Best known for her role as Bobbie Jo Bradley on the 1960s TV show ‘Petticoat Junction’, Saunders continued acting in guest roles for a while after the series ended. She then retired from professional acting in 1980 and pursued her passion for photography and visual arts, creating and selling her own artwork. She shifted her focus from performing to a more private life dedicated to creative expression through visual mediums.

Share your thoughts on these career transitions and any others you remember in the comments.

2026-02-26 07:26