15 Once-Famous People Who Now Work Normal Jobs

Some celebrities stay in the spotlight for decades, but others decide that fame simply isn’t the life they want. After stepping away from acting, sports, or music, many well-known faces traded red carpets for careers that look surprisingly ordinary. Some went back to school, others started businesses, and a few found completely unexpected professions far from Hollywood. While fans still recognize them for their most famous roles, their day-to-day lives couldn’t be more different.

Here are 15 once-famous people who now work normal jobs.

Peter Ostrum

After starring as Charlie Bucket in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Peter Ostrum chose not to pursue acting. He became a veterinarian and spent decades caring for large farm animals.

Jeff Cohen

Best known as Chunk in The Goonies, Jeff Cohen left acting behind and built a successful career as an entertainment lawyer. Today, he even represents fellow actor and longtime friend Ke Huy Quan.

Eliza Dushku

The Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Bring It On actress stepped away from Hollywood and earned a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. She now works as a therapist.

Peter Weller

Although he’ll always be remembered as RoboCop, Peter Weller earned a doctorate in Renaissance art history and has taught art history at the university level.

Randy Johnson

One of baseball’s greatest pitchers reinvented himself after retirement as a professional photographer. His work has included concerts, sporting events, and wildlife photography.

Crispin Bonham-Carter

Known for playing Mr. Bingley in the 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, he left acting to pursue education and became an English teacher before moving into school leadership.

Robert Maschio

Fans remember him as Dr. Todd Quinlan on Scrubs, but Robert Maschio later transitioned into a career as a real estate agent in California.

Charlie Korsmo

After appearing in films like Hook and Dick Tracy, Charlie Korsmo left acting, studied law, and eventually became a law professor.

Danny Lloyd

Danny Lloyd terrified audiences as young Danny Torrance in The Shining. Instead of continuing in Hollywood, he became a biology teacher.

Phoebe Cates

The Fast Times at Ridgemont High star quietly retired from acting and later opened a boutique on New York City’s Madison Avenue.

Nikki Blonsky

After starring in Hairspray, Nikki Blonsky worked as a hairstylist and makeup artist while continuing to take on occasional acting projects.

Bridgit Mendler

The former Disney Channel star shifted her focus to education and technology. She later co-founded a space communications startup, taking her career in a completely different direction.

Frankie Muniz

The Malcolm in the Middle star pursued professional auto racing after leaving television. He has since built a career behind the wheel while also exploring business ventures.

Tonya Harding

Years after dominating headlines as a figure skater, Tonya Harding reportedly operated a landscaping business and later worked in other hands-on professions outside elite sports.

Tami Stronach

Best known as the Childlike Empress in The NeverEnding Story, Tami Stronach left acting as a child. She built a career in dance, choreography, and arts education before eventually returning to perform years later.