Top 20 TV Stars Who Left Fame Behind

Bridgit Mendler first rose to prominence at a young age as a child actress in several Hollywood films, before gaining even wider fame for her starring role in “Good Luck Charlie”. As she grew older however, Mendler traded her Disney Channel stardom for a chance to research the stars up in the sky. In early 2024, she announced the launch of her satellite data startup, Northwood Space, where she took the helm as CEO. “Expect the unexpected!” Mendler tweeted after the news broke—but perhaps we never should have been surprised. After all, she’s already proved herself as a multitalented actor and singer—who’s to say what else she can do as she follows her passions?

‘90s heartthrob Jamie Walters made a name for himself on the hit teen drama “Beverly Hills, 90210”. Around the same time, he made a memorable guest appearance on the cult sci-fi series “Quantum Leap”. His list of credits also includes the short-lived and less popular musical series “The Heights”, which certainly proved he was as good a singer as he was an actor! But in 2002, Walters made a “Quantum Leap” of his own when he left being a Hollywood hunk behind for a more ordinary life as a firefighter and paramedic. We can’t help but wonder if he ever serenades his fellow firefighters during downtime.

Most famous for his role as Billy Campbell in the ‘90s soap opera “Melrose Place”, Andrew Shue is an example of a star who turned away from celebrity life for a noble cause. Shue’s global non-profit organization Do Something was founded with the stated goal of making it “cool” for young people to carry out acts of community service. Additionally, he co-founded CafeMom, a social networking site for mothers, which was once valued at around $100 million. In 2010, Shue wed ABC News correspondent Amy Robach, but their marriage came to an end after her affair with fellow “Good Morning America” co-anchor T. J. Holmes was revealed. Their divorce was finalized in 2023.

Staci Keanan began her career at the tender age of five and eventually rose to fame as a child actress in the TV shows “My Two Dads” and “Step by Step.” She later went MIA to pursue a law degree, and the career change seems to have turned out well for the former actress. Keanan currently works as a full-time attorney in Los Angeles under her birth name, Anastasia Sagorsky. Additionally, she holds down a side gig as an adjunct professor at Southwestern Law School, where she taught a course about correctly prosecuting and defending DUI cases in 2022. Hollywood may be behind her, but it seems she’s still got that dramatic flair.

Jon and Kate Gosselin might have scored eight adorable children and their own hit reality show on TLC with “Jon & Kate Plus 8,” but what did they lose along the way? Well, for starters, their marriage. The series began as an innocent glimpse into the lives of the couple and their twins Mady and Cara, along with their sextuplets Alexis, Aaden, Collin, Hannah, Leah, and Joel. But it took some dramatic turns over the course of its run, including Jon and Kate’s separation and a battle over custody. After leaving the series, Jon returned to the IT profession, where he worked before the show. He also took up DJing, which we’re certain isn’t a sign of a midlife crisis!

“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” was one of the most popular sitcoms of the 90s, helping to launch the acting career of rapper Will Smith. While Smith grabbed the spotlight as the titular character, the series also featured several other standouts, including Karyn Parsons, who portrayed the ditzy Hilary Banks, her most notable role to date. After the hit comedy finished its run, Parsons took an intentional step back from acting to focus on a more meaningful pursuit, founding Sweet Blackberry, a nonprofit dedicated to teaching kids about Black history. It’s admirable to see someone use their fame and success to make a real difference in society!

Back in 1984, actor Chris Robinson, best known for his role on “General Hospital,” dropped the now-iconic line, “I’m not a doctor, but I play one on TV,” in a cough syrup ad. If such an ad were made with “CHiPs” actor Erik Estrada instead, that line may have to be written a little differently. Because Estrada didn’t just portray a cop on TV, he became one in real life. In 2008, the actor joined the Muncie, Indiana police department, working as a reserve officer. Since then, he has also worn the badge in the states of Virginia and Idaho, living out his childhood dream. Although he has largely stepped back from Hollywood, Estrada still occasionally returns to the screen.

Portia de Rossi might not outshine Nicole Kidman as the most famous blonde Aussie, but she could easily claim the title of the funniest. De Rossi was a natural in her role as Lindsay Bluth Fünke in the cult comedy series “Arrested Development.” The show brought her more fame, leading to a recurring part in ABC’s hit series “Scandal.” While we’d have loved to see more of her in both comedic and dramatic roles, de Rossi surprised everyone in 2018 by announcing her retirement on her wife Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show. Apparently, the only thing that can bring her back to the screen is another season of “Arrested Development,” so here’s hoping we get a comeback soon.

As one of the younger brothers of the titular character in Fox’s “Malcolm in the Middle,” Dewey quickly became a fan favorite. This was actor Erik Per Sullivan’s breakout role, and it essentially remains the only major one throughout his career. Sullivan’s filmography is surprisingly limited, with his most notable role outside the show being Sheldon the Seahorse in “Finding Nemo.” After “Malcolm in the Middle” wrapped up, Sullivan made a quiet exit from Hollywood and later studied at the University of Southern California. We can’t help but respect his choice to opt for a more peaceful, low-key life. After all, as Dewey would say, “the future is now, old man!”

We can certainly understand why an actor might be disappointed to be forever tied to just one role. After all, range is important. But sometimes, a character is so iconic that it’s not necessarily a bad thing. That was the case with Danielle Fishel’s portrayal of Topanga Lawrence in ABC’s “Boy Meets World.” Following the show’s conclusion, Fishel focused on pursuing her education and earned a degree in psychology from California State University, Fullerton. She also transitioned into becoming a host, working on “The Dish” for the Style Network and a series of other pop culture programs. Though she reprised her role as Topanga in the spin-off series “Girl Meets World,” Fishel has built a life that goes well beyond Hollywood’s spotlight.

Forget “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle”—how about “Harold & Kumar Go to the White House”? It might sound hard to believe that anyone from the “Harold & Kumar” movies would ever dabble in politics. But believe it or not, one of the franchise’s stars, Kal Penn actually joined Barack Obama’s administration, after aiding in his 2008 presidential campaign. This meant Penn, who was starring in the medical series “House,” stepped back from acting and transitioned to another house—the White House. Penn also served as a co-chair of Obama’s re-election campaign, which ultimately proved successful. He resigned from his position on the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities in 2017 and has since returned to acting.

Some people just love to learn and Danica McKellar is a prime example. On “The Wonder Years”, she gave us a glimpse into suburban life in the 1960s through her character, Winnie Cooper. The show didn’t just entertain; it also shed light on serious topics such as the impact the Vietnam War had on families. McKellar’s drive to acquire knowledge and educate people clearly expanded beyond the run of the show. Impressively, she earned a degree in mathematics from UCLA summa cum laude. Not only that, she has also authored several books designed to make math a little less intimidating and a lot more fun for young readers.

These famous twins have been working since they were nine months old. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen began their career as infants, sharing the role of Michelle Tanner on the ABC sitcom “Full House.” Even while the show aired, they appeared in other films and TV shows, eventually founding their own production company, Dualstar, in 1993. However, as the 2000s rolled around, they set their sights on a much different path: fashion. In 2006, they launched their luxury fashion brand, The Row, and soon left Hollywood entirely to fully concentrate on it. Although they still occasionally make the news, Mary-Kate and Ashley no longer command the kind of media attention they once did, which suits them just fine.

Many struggling actors in Hollywood dream of the kind of opportunity Nikki Blonsky had. As a high school student, Blonsky auditioned for “Hairspray,” beating out over a thousand aspirants for the role of Tracy Turnblad. She couldn’t have asked for a better screen debut, as it earned her two Critics’ Choice Awards and a Golden Globe nomination. However, maintaining that momentum proved challenging. Despite playing the lead on ABC Family’s “Huge,” the show only lasted one season and the roles dried up soon after. The New York native later obtained a cosmetology license and began working as a hairstylist and make-up artist in her hometown. While she still appears sporadically in films, Blonsky hasn’t reclaimed the level of fame she once enjoyed.

Angus T. Jones became a household name in the 2000s, thanks to his role in the popular CBS sitcom “Two and a Half Men.” During this period, he was the highest-paid child actor on TV, reportedly earning $300,000 per episode. In late 2012, at the peak of his fame, Jones suddenly announced that he was done appearing on the show. This was because he had been baptized and was turned off by the sitcom’s mature content, which he later described as “filth.” Jones ultimately left “Two and a Half Men” after 10 seasons and largely retreated from the spotlight. He has since worked as an executive in a multimedia company, but now expresses a desire to return to acting someday.

This former child star first rose to prominence on the Nickelodeon sketch series “All That,” before landing her own program, “The Amanda Show.” Bynes then progressed to teen idol with roles in successful comedies like “Big Fat Liar” and “What a Girl Wants.” In 2010, after a prominent part in “Easy A,” Bynes announced she was taking an indefinite break from acting. Subsequently, she faced a slew of legal troubles and grappled with substance use disorder, which led to her being placed under a conservatorship. Despite overcoming these challenges and ending the conservatorship, Bynes doesn’t seem ready to return to the screen. Instead, in 2023, she decided to pursue a new career as a manicurist.

Jonathan Taylor Thomas soared to immense fame in the ‘90s, gracing the covers of countless magazines and adorning the bedroom walls of many teenage girls. Thomas gained popularity thanks to his role as Randy Taylor on the ABC sitcom “Home Improvement.” He earned further recognition for voicing young Simba in “The Lion King” and the titular character in the 1996 film “The Adventures of Pinocchio.” In 1998, Thomas decided to exit “Home Improvement,” directing his attention towards getting a degree from Harvard. While his presence in the limelight has significantly waned since then, Thomas stands by his decision wholeheartedly. These days, he’s more focused on working behind the camera, taking on directing and screenwriting roles.

One half of the Sprouse twins – the child actors famous for their roles in “Big Daddy” and “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” – Dylan and his brother Cole have enjoyed steady acting work nearly their entire lives. But while Cole landed the role of Jughead on “Riverdale” and starred in the 2019 film “Five Feet Apart”, Dylan has taken a radically different path in life. In 2011, Dylan began studying video game design at the Gallatin School of Individualized Study, graduating in 2015. Three years later, he opened the All-Wise Meadery in Brooklyn. He has also dabbled in acting throughout the years, albeit in smaller, intimate projects; nothing like the big, mainstream work he used to do.

You may not know Jack Gleeson by name, but you certainly know his face, his oh so once punchable face. That’s right – Joffrey Baratheon! Gleeson earned renown and acclaim for playing the slimy Baratheon... Lannister?... child, but it seems like acting wasn’t for him. Gleeson announced his retirement after wrapping up “Game of Thrones”, telling Entertainment Weekly that he had stopped enjoying it and didn’t want to turn it into a lifelong career. He subsequently studied theology and philosophy at Dublin’s Trinity College, where he graduated in 2015. Five years later, Gleeson returned to the screen, albeit in much more muted roles than the one he gained popularity for.

Muniz earned incredible popularity throughout the 2000s for his titular role on “Malcolm in the Middle”, while also venturing into film with movies like “Big Fat Liar” and “Agent Cody Banks.” Shortly after “Malcolm” wrapped in 2006, Muniz announced his retirement from acting and subsequently ventured into race car driving, performing music, and managing a band called Astro Lasso. And aside from a recent stint on “Dancing with the Stars,” Muniz is taking it easy with his partner Paige Prince. They currently co-manage a specialty olive oil shop in Arizona called “Outrageous Olive Oils & Vinegars.”