Celebrities Who Quit Acting For Surprising Reasons
Actors can fall off the map for many reasons, but these celebs publicly announced their departure from
Hollywood to do some interesting things.
Rick Moranis Dimitrios Kambouris /
Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
Rick Moranis
Rick was a huge star in the '80s and '90s and starred in "
Little Shop of Horrors," "
Ghostbusters," and "
Spaceballs."
Rick Moranis
Mark Mainz / Getty Images
Entertainment / Getty Images
Rick Moranis
Rick hasn't starred in a film since
1997. His wife passed away from breast cancer in
1991, and after of few years of trying to work and raise their children, he said: "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." He has done some voice-over work and released a few comedy albums since his departure from live-action films.
Jamie Lee Curtis VINCE BUCCI /
AFP / Getty Images
Jamie Lee Curtis
Jamie Lee started in horror movies and successfully transitioned to comedy films, including "
Trading Places" and "
A Fish Called Wanda."
Jamie Lee Curtis
Frazer Harrison / Getty Images Entertainment / Getty Images
Jamie Lee Curtis
She publicly announced her intention to quit acting but starred in "
Beverly Hills Chihuahua" and "
You Again."
We can only imagine it was for the money. She has since devoted her time to writing children's books, and she filed a patent for a special kind of diaper that could carry baby wipes without soaking through.
Joaquin Phoenix GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP / Getty Images
Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin has been acting since he was 8, starring alongside his older brother. In his adult career, he was recognized for his work in "
Gladiator" and "
Walk the Line."
Joaquin Phoenix ROBYN
BECK / AFP / Getty Images
Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin stunned everyone when he declared he was leaving acting in order to pursue a hip-hop career, which prompted the world to think that he might have lost his mind. His extremely bizarre interview with
David Letterman seemed to confirm that theory. It was all revealed to be part of a massive hoax, which is detailed in the mockumentary "
I'm Still Here."
Mara Wilson
Mara Wilson
Mara was the cutest as the lead in "
Matilda" and little Maddie in "
Mrs. Doubtfire."
Mara Wilson
Mara Wilson
Mara quit acting because she felt it limited her creativity. She works for a non-profit organization called Publicolor, which examines how color affects behavior and mood, especially within education.
She has stated that she's interested in writing young adult books as well.
Erik Per Sullivan Evan Agostini / Getty Images Entertainment / Getty Images
Erik Per Sullivan
Erik is mostly known for the role of
Dewey in "
Malcolm in the Middle."
Erik Per Sullivan
Brad Barket / Getty Images Entertainment / Getty Images
Erik Per Sullivan
Puberty was a curse for Erik, as he did not transition from adorable child star very well.
Adulthood has been the bane of many a child star; it seems like the only kids who make it never have that awkward teenage phase. Erik has gone back to college at
USC.
Sean Connery AFP / AFP / Getty Images
Sean Connery
Sean became famous for his turn as
James Bond, and he went on to be a successful movie star after his bit in the franchise was over, starring in the third "
Indiana Jones" and a few
Hitchcock films.
Sean Connery
Jeff J
Mitchell / Getty Images
News / Getty Images
Sean Connery
After "
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" failed at the box office, Sean decided to quit acting; it was just that big of a disappointment. He also turned down the role of
Gandalf in "
The Lord of
Rings" series, a gig that would have kept him working for ten more years, as it turns out. He apparently didn't fully comprehend the script.
Greta Garbo Lisa Maree
Williams / Getty Images Entertainment / Getty Images
Greta Garbo
Greta was a classic Hollywood beauty with three
Oscar nominations. She seemed like she had years to go in her career. And yet
...
Greta Garbo
Mireya Acierto / Getty Images Entertainment / Getty Images
Greta Garbo
The film "
Two Faced Woman" ruined her career. Seriously. Most actresses take on silly movies for the money at some
point their careers, but they always move on to better projects. But after this movie failed, she completely withdrew from Hollywood and the public in general. She never married and never had children and lived alone until her death in
1990.