While the glitz and glamour of Hollywood may seem irresistible, some celebrities have chosen to trade red carpets for more ordinary routines. From a former Disney star turned nurse to a Willy Wonka actor who became a vet, these famous faces found fulfillment outside the spotlight.
Jennifer Stone, best known for playing Harper on Wizards of Waverly Place, stepped away from acting after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2013. She became an ER nurse, inspired by her own condition, and worked on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'I wanted to be somebody that was like, “Look, I’ve been where you’ve been, and it gets better,”' she told People.
Phoebe Cates, star of Fast Times at Ridgemont High, left Hollywood in the 1990s to raise her family with actor Kevin Kline. She now runs Blue Tree, a chic clothing and homeware boutique in New York’s Upper East Side. Meanwhile, Kevin Jonas co-founded a residential development company and an influencer marketing firm during the Jonas Brothers’ hiatus before the band reunited in 2019.
Peter Ostrum, who played Charlie Bucket in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, never acted again after the film. He studied veterinary medicine at Cornell University and worked as a vet for over three decades before retiring. Freddie Prinze Jr. also pivoted, moving from acting to professional wrestling: he was hired by WWE as a writer and producer after his wrestling blog gained popularity, and now hosts the podcast Wrestling With Freddie.
Cameron Diaz spent a decade away from acting, investing in biotech startups, writing a book, and launching a wine brand called Avaline. She returned to film with the Netflix comedy Back in Action and is set to reprise her role as Princess Fiona in Shrek 5 in 2027. Frankie Muniz, star of Malcolm in the Middle, became a professional race car driver and will return to NASCAR in 2026 after a wrist injury.
