Celebrities,Movies & tvMAY 12, 2021

30 Ex-Actors Who Left Hollywood And What They Do Now

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Just because we might love a particular actor doesn’t automatically mean that acting is what they’ll do for the rest of their lives. Some beloved actors, from child stars to grownup celebs, gave up acting and picked entirely different paths in their lives.

While some became writers and reporters (in my biased opinion, the very best career paths ever), others were more adventurous with their aspirations, going for PhDs, working as nurses and soldiers, and even going into law.

Bored Panda has dug deep to find out what former actors went on to do with their lives, so scroll on down, upvote the career path changes that you think are the coolest, and let us know which of these actors’ roles you enjoyed in films the most.

Hollywood’s Ultimate Insider, Mike Sington, explained to Bored Panda that some fans believe that acting is a lifelong career because they only hear about them when they’re acting. “When they take a regular job, they fall out of the media’s attention and fans forget about them,” the celebrity and entertainment industry expert said. Read on for our full interview with Mike!

#21 Bridgit Mendler, Who Played Teddy Duncan On Good Luck Charlie, Is Pursuing A Degree At Harvard Law School

Disney

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124points

For one thing, you’ll have to deal with a lot of extra stress. And even though there are ways to manage it with exercise, meditation, social support, etc., it can, at times, become overwhelming. So your health, both physical and mental, can suffer if you don’t see a clear path forward.

#22 Former Two And A Half Men Star Angus T. Jones, Who Ditched Acting At Age 21. These Days, Jones Is Working On The Management Side Of Tonite, A Production Company Co-Run By Diddy's Son, Justin Combs

Former Two And A Half Men Star Angus T. Jones, Who Ditched Acting At Age 21. These Days, Jones Is Working On The Management Side Of Tonite, A Production Company Co-Run By Diddy's Son, Justin Combs

CBS

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124points

#23 Taran Noah Smith Who Played Mark Taylor "Home Improvement" Is Now A Carpenter

ABC

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118points

#24 Maia Brewton Starred In The 1987 Box Office Hit Adventures In Babysitting And Spent Three Seasons On The Fox Sitcom Parker Lewis Can’t Lose. The Actress Currently Works As A Lawyer

Maia Brewton Starred In The 1987 Box Office Hit Adventures In Babysitting And Spent Three Seasons On The Fox Sitcom Parker Lewis Can’t Lose. The Actress Currently Works As A Lawyer

Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

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110points

We sometimes tend to forget that actors are human beings just like us and don’t have everything figured out perfectly. So going from acting to trying something else entirely can make celebrities behave just like us.

#25 Danielle Fishel Who Played Topanga In "Boy Meets World" Is Now A Journalist

ABC

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108points

#26 Jonathan Taylor Thomas Who Played Randy Taylor In "Home Improvement" Is Now A Writer

ABC

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106points

#27 Nikki Blonsky, Who Played Tracy Turnblad In Hairspray, Was A Makeup Artist At Superstar Salon In New York

New Line Cinema

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99points

What’s important in these moments of career transition is keeping a positive mindset on the one hand and having a clear-cut action plan on the other. Being optimistic and grateful for what you have will sustain you in moments of difficulty while having even a rough idea of what you need to do will move you forward and give you a sense of accomplishment. So, despite all the media attention and the uncertainty, sometimes you’ve got to aim for your dreams—even if that means leaving something that you love, like acting, behind.