Celebrities who have WALKED AWAY (country, hollywood, Family, Music)

[DontH8Me]

I'll add Zach Galligan, even though in his case I just think the offers dried up. He got carried away with his sense of importance after Gremlins and the rest is a story we've all seen.

I think in many cases with folks in Hollywood "walking away" is more like a disenchantment with the whole industry. People think it's all glamour and glitter, and beneath a very thin veneer of that is a lot of ugly and depravity, soul-selling and debauchery. It's not for everyone. I've worked in the industry and would never let my kids work in it.

Many times someone is the flavor of the month and then tossed aside like yesterday's newspaper, and then they spend the entire rest of their lives trying to crawl back up from obscurity. Look at what happened to Dana Plato.

I am so glad Michael Schoeffling did what he did - my only regret is that he didn't take me with him!

[John23]

Some people voluntarily just don't get into the hollywood scene...ralph macchio comes to mind. Maybe they choose not to be in it, vs "walking away".

Didn't Demi Moore move to Idaho after her hits in the 90's? And Johnny Depp moving to France.

And some walk away for awhile to get an education, I think Emma Watson went to Brown, Natalie Portman Harvard, etc.

[D. Scott]

Originally Posted by D. Scott

the "American ninja." made like a real ninja and vanished. That guy was my idol growing up. Where are ya Mike? You owe me a Ninjutsu lesson!

Jaye Davidson-Played Ra in Stargate. Walked away from acting after "The crying game."

I found Mike. he is doing work in his garden. Guy must have invested well, Home looks gorgeous. I guess Ninjas have a green thumb as well!

Michael Dudikoff Actor | Official Web Site | Category Archive | HAPPENING

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by CampfireR

Mike can stick with Sammy. Those two were made for each other. You don't need either to get the '78 debut sound BACK! It's BACK!

That's a different topic. I haven't yet bothered to listen to their new stuff yet.

[JL]

I think many from the cast of Love Boat went on to normal non-Hollywood lives after the show and with the exception of Tom Selleck, i never really saw much of the other Magnum PI cast members too. Same for the cast of Too Close For Comfort.

[picklejuice]

Most of the cast of Little House.

And in a weird way, Grace Kelly/Princess Grace of Monaco.

[robertpolyglot]

Originally Posted by picklejuice

Most of the cast of Little House.

And in a weird way, Grace Kelly/Princess Grace of Monaco.

Age 52+/-. Sad indeed. I remember that being on the news. It seemed surreal.

[PippySkiddles]

Originally Posted by picklejuice

And in a weird way, Grace Kelly/Princess Grace of Monaco.

well she in fact did walk away. Great one to mention. At the height of her career she gave it all up for an entirely new role and life

[BlueWillowPlate]

Has Phoebe Cates already been mentioned? After she married Kevin Kline she pretty much stayed home with the kids, correct? Loved her in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

Originally Posted by domergurl

The kid who played Bruno in bicycle thief ...
The kid who played Diane lanes love interest in A Little Romance

One of my favorite movies, and that kid perfectly inhabited his character.
I wish I could find a translated version of the book (it was French.)
Apparently Thelonious Barnard made one more movie in 1981, Allons z'enfants, which was well-received, and has not been heard from again.

Shirley Temple was a HUGE child star back in her day, and deservedly so. She grew up to helm a beautiful televised fairytale series, then held political office in the 70's, but never again was in show business.

~~from DONTH8ME
I am so glad Michael Schoeffling did what he did - my only regret is that he didn't take me with him!

Ditto. That guy was so dreamy and it would be hard to top that particular performance.

[legalsea]

Greta Garbo comes to mind. She retired from acting back in the 1940s, refusing all subsequent movie offers, until her death in 1990.