Five Actors Where Fatherhood Altered Their Careers

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Fatherhood is an incredible gift.  Many fathers take incredible pride in their children, and work as hard as they can to provide them with the best opportunities available.  However, for many working fathers, having children often results in several changes.  Working extended hours or taking long trips may no longer be an option when there are other responsibilities at home.  For famous fathers, this reality is all the more true.  Many actors with children often see a shift in their career once they enter the world of fatherhood.  Whether it be a change in roles, or walking away from the industry all together, these celebrity guys quickly learn that, for better or worse, things will never be the same.  Here are five actors where fatherhood messed up their careers.

1. Jeremy Renner

25th Annual Palm Springs  International Film Festival Awards Gala - Arrivals

In a recent appearance on the  Ellen show, Jeremy Renner spoke about fatherhood and revealed that his young daughter has messed up his career in the sweetest way possible. Renner told Ellen: “It’s kind of screwed my career in a lot of ways. Because I don’t really care about it so much ’cause I care about her so much. She’s like number one in my life. And now I get to do movies on the side. Daddy’s my best role to date, I think.”

 (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

2. Rick Moranis

Rick Moranis

Throughout the 80s, Rick Moranis starred in several popular films including Ghostbusters and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.  Unfortunately, Moranis walked away from his busy career in 1997 to take care of his young children after the death of his wife.  Moranis has not appeared in a live action production since then, and has stated: “…I just found that it was too difficult to manage raising my kids and doing the traveling involved in making movies. So I took a little bit of a break. And the little bit of a break turned into a longer break, and then I found that I really didn’t miss it.”

 (Photo by Mark Mainz/Getty Images)

3. Josh Duhamel

CBS, The CW, Showtime & CBS Television Distribution's 2014 TCA Summer Press Tour Party - Arrivals

Josh Duhamel is the proud father of one son with pop star Fergie.  When Axl was born in 2013, Duhamel took a break from his career to be a stay at home dad while Fergie continued to tour.  Luckily the brief break didn’t permanently damage Duhamel’s career.

(Photo by Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images)

4. Will Smith

Premiere Of Warner Bros. Pictures' "Focus" - Red Carpet

Will Smith is one of the most famous dad’s in the industry.  Two of his three children are also pursuing careers in the entertainment industry.  Smith has worked hard to help his children be successful, and has even taken roles alongside his youngest son, Jaden. In 2012, Smith and Jaden starred in the film After Earth.  Unfortunately, the film turned out to be a bit of a flop and since then Smith hasn’t appeared in any big hits. Also, some of Smith and his wife, Jada’s, parenting decisions have brought him under scrutiny.

(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

5. Dwayne Johnson

'G.I. Joe: Retaliation' - UK Premiere - Red Carpet Arrivals

Dwayne Johnson originally rose to fame as a professional wrestler known as The Rock.  During the late 90s, Johnson transitioned into an acting career.  However, as a proud father of one daughter, Johnson has taken a lot of roles in very family friendly films, ditching his once tough guy persona.  While Johnson’s career isn’t technically “messed up,” his street cred certainly is.

 (Photo by Stuart Wilson/Getty Images)

(Photo by Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images for Deadline)

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