10+ Major Celebs Who Decided To Retire From Hollywood

Playing one of the most hated television characters in television history was enough of an acting legacy for Jack Gleeson.

He now runs his own touring theatre company, Collapsing Horse Theatre.

After starring in films like Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Gremlins, Phoebe Cates retired from acting in 1994 at the age of 30.

She left acting to raise her children with actor Kevin Kline, whom she married in 1989.

The Gangs of New York actor retired after becoming sick of Hollywood.

He told Variety, "All my life, I’ve mouthed off about how I should stop acting, and I don’t know why it was different this time, but the impulse to quit took root in me, and that became a compulsion. It was something I had to do."

One of the most famous actresses of all time kept the reasons for her retirement a secret until 1986.

"I was tired of Hollywood. I did not like my work. There were many days when I had to force myself to go to the studio… I really wanted to live another life." [She said].(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greta_Garbo#CITEREFBroman1990)

Amanda's sad struggle with her mental health put her in a very difficult position in Hollywood. On top of ailing mental health, she also struggled with alcoholism.

She retired from Hollywood in 2010 to focus on herself.

She also recently rejoined Instagram!

Nicki Minaj announced her retirement from music in September 2019, shocking her fans.

She also promised to do an episode of her radio show, Queen Radio, about retiring.

Canadian staple and Ghostbusters star Rick Moranis retired in 1991 after the death of his wife, Anna.

He has done a few voiceover roles since then, and a handful of guest appearances on shows like The Goldbergs.

After those appearances, his retirement was clarified to be more of a "hiatus."

I miss her!

Cameron Diaz officially retired from acting in 2014. She now writes books (she's authored two!) and spends her time hanging out with her husband, Good Charlotte frontman Benji Madden.

"The way I look at it is that I’ve given more than half of my life to the public. I feel it’s OK for me to take time for myself now to reorganize and choose how I want to come [back] into the world," she said in a recent interview.

Sean Connery's last film before retiring was The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. which I enjoyed, for the record.

He officially retired in 2006, but still does some voice work from time to time.

Remember tiny Anakin Skywalker?

Actor Jake Lloyd starred in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace...and that's it. He was bullied so badly by other children that he quit acting entirely.

I hope he's thriving far, far away from cruel Star Wars fans.

She was the epitome of a child actor. However, by age 22, Shirley Temple was officially done with acting.

She retired in 1950. Her next stop? Politics. She served as the US Ambassador to Czechoslovakia from 1989 to 1992.

Leelee Sobieski is synonymous with beloved '90s films.

Sobieski starred in several high-profile films, including Deep Impact, Eyes Wide Shut, and Never Been Kissed. She quit acting in 2012 to raise her children, and is now a successful artist.

Taylor Momsen retired from acting in 2011. However, while she doesn't portray fictional characters anymore, she isn't entirely done with entertainment — she's a musician!

She is now the lead singer of the band, The Pretty Reckless.

Doris Day retired from acting in 1975, after years of box office success that netted her a Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement, a Presidential Medal of Freedom, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

These days, she focused her efforts on animal activism before she passed away in May 2019.

Gene Hackman's 50-year career included roles in Unforgiven, Get Shorty, and The Royal Tenenbaums, to name a few. (My personal favorite is The Birdcage, but that's just me.)

Nothing like going out with a bang!