These stars were once everywhere, but in recent years they seem to have disappeared from the limelight. While some on this list have spoken openly about their withdrawal from the public arena, others simply seem to have disappeared without leaving a trace while others await their next major role on the screen. In any case, you probably haven’t seen these stars for a very long time on your TV screen!
20. Cameron Diaz
Do you remember “There’s Something About Mary”, “Shrek”, “Charlie’s Angels” and the many other movies that made Cameron Diaz famous? But what happened to her?
Apparently, the last film in which the actress appeared was “Annie” in 2014. It turns out she has retired and is enjoying life with her husband Benji Madden. However, Diaz said in a recent interview that it would be open to a sequel to “The Sweetest Thing”.
19. Michael Schoeffling
As loyal Jake Ryan fans may know, the actor who played it, Michael Schoeffling, left Hollywood. After memorable roles in “Mermaids” and “Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken”, he disappeared. Schoeffling now apparently lives in Pennsylvania and has a carpentry business. He and his wife have two adult children, including a girl model.
18. Stacey Dash
Stacey Dash made a name for herself in “Clueless” as Cher’s best friend. But her acting career has since ended. Nowadays, Dash is best known as a conservative political activist. She appeared as a FOX News commentator and recently ran for a seat in Congress before deciding to withdraw from the race.
17. Phoebe Cates
Best known for her roles in “Gremlins” and “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”, Phoebe Cates left the film business years ago. She is married to actor Kevin Kline, with whom she has two children. Cates appeared in the movie “The Anniversary Party” in 2001, but only as a favour to her friend Jennifer Jason Leigh.
16. Catherine Zeta-Jones
Catherine Zeta-Jones has kept a low profile in recent years. Until recently, the actress’ last major project was “Rock of Ages”, released in 2012. She was open about her diagnosis of bipolar disorder and was also involved in the fight against cancer led by her husband Michael Douglas. But Zeta-Jones has returned to greater acting roles with last year’s “Feud” and is currently working on a television show called “Queen America”.
15. Sarah Michelle Gellar
The actress of “Buffy” and “Cruel Intentions” did not remain in the world of cinema. Instead, she focused on her new company, Foodstirs, which manufactures sustainable, fair trade and organic bakery products. She has two children with her husband and her partner, actor Freddie Prinze Jr.
14. Freddie Prinze Jr.
After playing the lead role of a teenager in “She’s All That” and other movies, including the remake of “Scooby-Doo” and her one-season eponymous show “Freddie”, Freddie Prinze Jr. dropped the game. He prefers to be a stay-at-home father by doing odd jobs like being the voice of a character in “Star Wars Rebels”. He has also written a cookbook, “Back to the Kitchen”, and continues to have a strong marriage with Sarah Michelle Gellar.
13. Matthew Fox
“Party of Five” and “Lost” have made Matthew Fox famous, but he hasn’t made a film since 2015 and has publicly stated that he doesn’t like to play. Fox had a few legal issues several years ago, and he made headlines recently when his Bend house in Oregon was launched.
12. Calista Flockhart
Calista Flockhart found a leading role in the classic “Ally McBeal” of the late 1990s and early 2000s, then played in the family drama “Brothers and Sisters”. But then Flockhart took a more discreet path. She played the lead role of Cat Grant in “Supergirl” until the show moved from Los Angeles to Vancouver and became an occasional guest star. She may be happier spending time with her son, Liam, and her husband, Harrison Ford.
11. Jack Nicholson
Emblematic actor Jack Nicholson has not been seen since the 2010 show “How Do You Know”. An American remake of “Toni Erdmann” was supposed to bring Nicholson back to the big screen, but he withdrew from the project. His friend Peter Fonda says Nicholson is retired.
10. Amanda Bynes
The former teenage actress suffered a very public depression several years ago. After receiving treatment, she kept a discreet life. She has not played on screen since 2010, choosing instead to go to fashion school although she said in a 2017 interview that she would like to return to acting on television.
9. Dominic Monaghan
Lord of the Rings” Dominic Monaghan has not had a major role since “Lost” disappeared from the airwaves in 2010. He is to play in the Australian television drama “Bite Club” and he has just won a role in the filming of “Star Wars: IX”, although his role remains to be seen.
8. Bridget Fonda
Peter Fonda’s daughter (and Jane’s niece) Bridget has made a name for herself in movies like “It Could Happen To You” and “Single White Female”. Fonda has not had a role on the screen since 2002, but she is probably busy raising her son, Oliver, whom she had with her husband, composer Danny Elfman.
7. Chuck Norris
The last major roles that the martial artist and actor knew for “Walker, Texas Ranger” were in 2005. In recent years, he has supported his wife with health problems. Even though Norris himself is in semi-retirement, his legend of the tough guy is perpetuated through things like Chuck Norris Facts’ popular meme.
6. Dennis Franz
The actor “Hill Street Blues” and “NYPD Blue” Dennis Franz has not played since 2005. However, he presented an Emmy Award with co-star Jimmy Smits at the 2016 awards ceremony.
5. Doris Day
The iconic actress and singer Doris Day has appeared in too many great films to list them all. But the actress has not appeared on screen since the release of her sitcom “The Doris Day Show” in 1973. Instead, the 96-year-old woman is known as an animal protection activist with her own foundation and lives in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California.
4. Gene Hackman
Prolific actor Gene Hackman has no intention of returning to film, having retired several years ago. Her last role was in “Welcome to Mooseport” in 2004. He and his second wife live in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he enjoys cycling and writing books.
3. Rick Moranis
Rick Moranis, the actor of “Little Shop of Horrors”, “Ghostbusters”, “Spaceballs” and “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids”, seemed to be everywhere in the 1980s and early 1990s. Then his wife died and Moranis came out of the limelight to raise his children. He played mostly small roles, voice-overs and country comedy albums (believe it or not) in the years that followed. He recently came out of retirement to pick up the voice of Dark Helmet from “Spaceballs” in an episode of “The Goldbergs”.
2. Randy Quaid
Randy Quaid is best known for his films “Independence Day” and “National Lampoon”, as well as for his erratic behaviour over the past ten years and more.
1. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
The Olsen twins have left the world of cinema. Mary-Kate and Ashley refused to join the Fuller House meeting with their old costars and no longer like being in front of the camera either. The twins run the clothing lines The Row and Elizabeth and James together. Mary-Kate is also married to the French financier Olivier Sarkozy while Ashley is alone.
