10 Celebrities Who Left Hollywood for Regular Jobs

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While both fame and fortune are sought after by many, it seems that life at the top is not always as fulfilling as most people hope.  Many celebrities who work for years to obtain fame and success, often find that their true calling in life has actually lies outside of the spotlight.  Although the decision can often be difficult, many have chosen to walk away from their lives in the public eye in order to pursue interests outside of the entertainment industry. Whether it be writing, painting, or construction, many former famous people have found that life in the ‘regular’ world can be rather rewarding. Here are 10 celebrities who left Hollywood for regular jobs.

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10. Mara Wilson

Mara Wilson, best-known for her role as the title character in the 1996 film, Matilda.  However, Wilson starred in very few productions after the film, and after 2000, she disappeared from Hollywood all together.  In 2012, Wilson commented on her exit from the film industry, stating: “Film acting is not very fun. Doing the same thing over and over again until, in the director’s eyes, you ‘get it right’, does not allow for very much creative freedom. The best times I had on film sets were the times the director let me express myself, but those were rare.” Since her exit from the spotlight, Wilson has been working as a writer and hopes to break into the world of young adult fiction.

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9. Phoebe Cates

During the 80s and 90s, Phoebe Cates appeared in several well-known films including Gremlins and Drop Dead Fred.  However, in the early 2000s, Cates decided to leave the acting world to spend more time with her family.  In 2005, she also opened a boutique in the Upper East Side of New York City called Blue Tree.  The New York Times described the boutique as “a version of Elizabeth Street for the Carnegie Hill crowd, a little oasis of downtown aesthetic at Ladies Who Lunch prices.”

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8. Rick Moranis

Actor Rick Moranis rose to fame during the 1980s when he appeared in several now-classic films including Ghostbusters and Spaceballs.  However, six years after the death of his wife, Moranis left Hollywood behind stating: “I’m a single parent and 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.”

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7. Cary Grant

Before walking away from his legendary career, Cary Grant was often regarded as one of the best actors of his generation. However, despite achieving great success, Grant decided to retire from acting at the age of 62 to be a stay-at-home father for his young daughter, Jennifer.  During his retirement, Grant dedicated most of his time to creating a room full of Jennifer’s childhood artifacts.

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6. Karyn Parsons

Karyn Parsons is best-known for her role as Hilary Banks on the popular 90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Although the role catapulted her to mainstream success, when the show ended in 1996, Parsons had a difficult time shedding her Fresh Prince past.  After years of taking on minor roles, Parsons decided to leave acting behind and pursue other interests.  Parsons now works for her own non-profit organization, Sweet Blackberry, whose mission is to bring “little known stories of African American history to children everywhere!”

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5. Kevin Jonas

Kevin Jonas and his brothers rose to fame when their band gained mainstream success in 2005.  However, after nearly a decade of popularity the group’s fame began to wane.  In 2012, the group attempted to boost their careers by starring in a reality show which featured all three brothers; however, after just two seasons, the brothers officially ended the group, and the show was cancelled.  Since then, Jonas has become a certified contractor in the state of New Jersey stating: “I like to get my hands dirty. I’ve been blessed in my life where I get to say ‘You know what? I want to do this.’”

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4. Nikki Blonsky

When Nikki Blosnky portrayed Tracy Turnblad in the 2007 film, Hairspray, many fans and critics believed that she had the potential for a promising career.  However, Blonsky decided to take a break from acting in 2011 after feeling like Hollywood did not provide adequate opportunities for plus size models.  After rumors began to circulate that she had been working in a hair salon, Blonsky tweeted: “It’s true Im workin@ Superstar Salon as a makeup artist & more Im proud 2 b workin & helpin pay bills BUT ill NEVER loose sight of my dreams.”  Since then; however, Blonsky has returned to Hollywood and appeared in several films and television productions.

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3. Omri Katz

Omri Katz rose to fame during the early 80s when he landed a starring role on the popular series Dallas.  Throughout the 80s and 90s, Katz continued to land roles in films and television shows including the popular 1993 film, Hocus Pocus.  However, by 1996, Katz had walked away from the spotlight in order to work as a hairdresser.

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2. Jon Gosselin

Jon Gosselin became one of reality TV’s most famous dads when he and his then wife, Kate Gosselin, and their eight children, were featured on a TLC series, Jon & Kate Plus 8. However, when Jon and Kate began having marital issues – which ultimately resulted in divorce – Jon disappeared from the spotlight. Since then, Jon Gosselin decided that he wants to live a “regular” life and has worked very regular jobs including waiting tables at local restaurants.

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1. Dylan Sprouse

Dylan Sprouse is best-known for his role as Zack Martin on the Disney series, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, and its spin-off, The Suite Life on Deck.  However, after gaining a high level of success, Dylan and his twin brother Cole, decided to take a break from acting in order to lead normal young adult lives.  Dylan Sprouse is currently enrolled as a student at New York University, and he also works as a waiter in the city.

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