Stars who left Hollywood and never came back! Who and Why?

Here are some examples of stars who have significantly reduced their Hollywood presence or left altogether:

• Bridget Fonda: The actress from the well-known Fonda family stepped away from acting in the early 2000s and stated in 2023 that she enjoys being a “civilian” too much to return.  
• Cameron Diaz: After a successful career, Diaz took a break after 2014 to pursue “different things” and needed a “deep reset.” While she returned in 2025 for Netflix’s “Back in Action,” reports suggest she may be looking to step away again.  
• Daniel Day-Lewis: Known for his intense method acting and numerous accolades, Day-Lewis announced his retirement from acting in 2017.
• Rick Moranis: After the tragic death of his wife, Moranis significantly reduced his acting roles in the late 1990s to focus on raising his children. He has done some voice work more recently but largely remains out of the spotlight.  
• Phoebe Cates: A popular actress in the 1980s, Cates stepped back from acting in the mid-1990s to focus on raising her family with actor Kevin Kline.
• Cary Grant: A Golden Age of Hollywood icon, Grant retired from acting in 1966 at the age of 62 to dedicate himself to raising his daughter.
• Ian Somerhalder: Known for “The Vampire Diaries,” Somerhalder stated in 2023 that he stepped away from acting about four years prior to focus on raising his children and building his companies.
• Eliza Dushku: The “Bring It On” star revealed in 2024 that she has shifted her focus to education and is pursuing a career in mental health, having become certified in psychedelic-assisted therapy and starting studies to become a mental health professional.  
  
• Angus T. Jones: The “Two and a Half Men” star publicly criticized the show in 2012 due to his religious beliefs and expressed a desire to leave.  
• Bridgit Mendler: Known for her Disney Channel work, Mendler stepped back from Hollywood to pursue her doctoral degree and announced the adoption of her child in 2024.
• Leelee Sobieski: Sobieski stated in a 2016 interview that she was “done with movie stuff” and is focused on her business and children.
• Mia Wasikowska: Known for “Alice in Wonderland,” Wasikowska has said she is “pretty content” since leaving Hollywood, enjoying a life beyond being in trailers, stating that fame “didn’t suit me.”  
• Frankie Muniz: A popular teen actor in the early 2000s, Muniz left Hollywood to pursue a career in open-wheel racing.
• Jennifer Stone: Known for “Wizards of Waverly Place,” Stone went to college to get a nursing degree after the show concluded.
• Kal Penn: Penn took a break from acting to work in the Obama administration and has since balanced acting with other pursuits.