These seven actors all chose to leave Hollywood after deciding to step away from the hectic schedules, demanding emotional work, or endless scrutiny of the public eye. Some eventually came back for guest appearances while others quit show business entirely.
Daniel Day-Lewis
Critics like to call Daniel Day-Lewis one of the greatest actors in film history, and they have good reason to! Best known for his method-acting approach to roles that he was incredibly picky about, Day-Lewis unexpectedly announced his retirement in 2017. We’ll see if it sticks.
Audrey Hepburn
This legendary star was all over the silver screen in the ’50s and ’60s, but after 1967’s Wait Until Dark, she stepped away for nearly a decade. She came back in 1976 for Robin and Marion and made a handful of other appearances before her death in 1993.
Cameron Diaz
Cameron Diaz decided to step away from acting to focus on being a mother back in 2014. For the twenty or so years prior to her retirement, Diaz established herself as an A-list celebrity and a leading woman. She does have a couple of projects in the pipeline now, so we could be on the eve of a Cameron Diaz rennaissance.
Sean Connery
The legendary Bond actor was so ashamed of 2003’s A League of Extraordinary Gentlemen that he announced his retirement shortly after. He did come back in 2012 to provide the voice for a character in an animated film, but otherwise, he stuck to his retirement until his death in 2020.
Shelley Duvall
Best known for her role in The Shining, Shelley Duvall left Hollywood in 2002. Her struggles with mental illness have been widely reported on over the decades, especially by tabloids. Her 2016 appearance on Dr. Phill was shocking, to say the least. Most recently, she landed a role in a new film called The Forest Hills.
Joe Pesci
The cinematic comedian who could make you laugh while also scaring the heck out of you stepped away from acting way back in 1999 after making hits like Goodfellas, My Cousin Vinny, Home Alone, and Casino. Thankfully, he has made a few exceptions to his retirement, appearing in films like The Irishmen in 2019.
Rick Moranis
The beloved comic, who got his start on Canada’s Second City Television sketch comedy show, stepped back from acting after the 1991 death of his wife, Ann Belsky. After dominating Hollywood comedies such as Ghostbusters, Spaceballs, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, and Little Shop of Horrors, we were sad to see him go but we completely supported his decision. We love you, Rick. Feel free to come back any time!
