Stars Who Left Hollywood Behind: Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly and More

Celebrities such as Cameron Diaz and Rick Moranis rose to stardom in Hollywood — only to leave their acting careers in the past. Diaz got her start with a role alongside Jim Carrey in the 1994 film The Mask. The actress continued to find success with movies including My Best Friend's Wedding, There's Something About Mary, Vanilla Sky, Charlie's Angels and many more. After exchanging vows with Benji Madden in 2015, the Golden Globe nominee confirmed her decision to step away from acting. She welcomed daughter Raddix in 2019 via surrogate. In August 2020, the California native reflected on her decision to hit pause on her career. “I really looked at my life and I saw what I had been — when you’re making a movie, it’s the perfect excuse, they own you — and I realized I handed off parts of my life to all these other people,” she explained during an episode of the “In Goop Health: The Sessions” video series. “They took it. I basically had to take it back and take responsibility for my life.” Moranis, for his part, made a name for himself starring in projects including Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and Ghostbusters. The comedian stepped away from Hollywood to focus on raising his children, Mitchell and Rachel, after his wife, Ann Belsky, died of cancer in 1991. The actor offered a rare glimpse into his decision, telling USA Today in 2005, "I pulled out of making movies in about ’96 or ’97. I'm a single parent, and I just found that it was too difficult to manage raising my kids and doing the traveling involved in making movies. So I took a little bit of a break. And the little bit of a break turned into a longer break, and then I found that I really didn’t miss it." Scroll down for more stars who chose to part ways with Hollywood over the years:

In July 2025, the Oscar-winning actor said he has “no real intentions” of acting again unless a script really captures his attention.

“I have not worked since 2022 purposefully because I realized I had to stop,” Douglas said during a press conference at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic.

He went on to explain, “I had been working pretty hard for almost 60 years, and I did not want to be one of those people who dropped dead on the set. I have no real intentions of going back. I say I’m not retired because if something special came up, I’d go back, but otherwise, no.”

Douglas said that going forward, “in the spirit of maintaining a good marriage” he is “happy to play the wife” to his Oscar-winning spouse, Catherine Zeta-Jones.

The actor’s final screen credits include playing Dr. Hank Pym in 2023’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Benjamin Franklin in Apple TV+’s 2024 miniseries Franklin.

The Lost and Ant-Man actress shared via Instagram in June 2024 that she was “stepping away” from Hollywood — but would be leaving the door open for a future return.

“I am so filled with joy and contentment today as I live out my vision. Praise God, I feel so grateful for my blessings. Stepping away from what seems like the obvious choice (wealth and fame) can feel scary at times, but stepping into your dharma replaces the fear with fulfillment,” Lilly shared with her fans.

“I might return to Hollywood one day, but, for now, this is where I belong. A new season has arrived, and I AM READY...and I AM HAPPY. 🕊️💪🏽😊,” Lilly added.

Lilly’s last Hollywood credit — at least for now — was playing one of the titular superheroes in 2023’s Marvel blockbuster Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

In a Boston Magazine profile published in September 2024, Dushku revealed she has become certified in psychedelic-assisted therapy and is working towards earning a master’s degree in counseling and clinical mental health. Additionally, she and her husband, Peter Palandjian, are funding clinical trials and research on the therapeutic use of psychedelics for trauma care.

"I stepped away from acting a little over four years ago to raise my kids, build my companies and get these films launched," Somerhalder, who is best known for his role as Damon on The Vampire Diaries, told E! News in November 2023 about choosing to raise a family with wife Nikki Reed over his acting career. 

Two months later, Somerhalder said he now prioritized being a producer on documentaries, adding, "I love what I did for a really long time. I love making films, I just did it for so long. We had an amazing run. But this is our 2.0 version — about to be 3.0 version."

Jones is best known for his role as Jake Harper on Two and a Half Men, in which he starred alongside Jon Cryer and Charlie Sheen. Following his time on the sitcom, Jones largely removed himself from the public eye.

The former actor made headlines in 2012 when he urged viewers to stop watching Two and a Half Men. 

"I'm on Two And A Half Men, and I don't want to be on it. Please stop watching it and filling your head with filth … If I am doing any harm, I don’t want to be here,” he said in a YouTube video filmed for the Forerunner Christian Church, which he has since departed. “I don’t want to be contributing to [Satan's] plan. You cannot be a true God-fearing person and be on a television show like that. I know I can't. I'm not OK with what I'm learning, what the Bible says and being on that television show."

Jones later released a statement walking back his criticism, telling TMZ, "While I cannot address everything that has been said or right every misstatement or misunderstanding, there is one thing I want to make clear. Without qualification, I am grateful to and have the highest regard and respect for all of the wonderful people on Two and Half Men with whom I have worked over the past ten years and who have become an extension of my family."

He later attended University of Colorado Boulder, where he majored in environmental studies before switching to Jewish studies. Jones also joined the multimedia and event production company Tonite in 2016. 

The actress, who is part of the famous Fonda family, retired from the industry in 2002 to start a family with husband Danny Elfman. More than two decades later, Fonda said she had no plans to return to the big screen.

"I don’t think [there’s any chance]. It’s too nice being a civilian," she told the Daily Mail in April 2023.

"If I can have the best of both worlds, which is dip in and out of it occasionally, I'd be really happy, but I wouldn't ever be in that place where I was just on a treadmill," the Alice in Wonderland actress told IndieWire in March 2023 about moving to Australia. "I want to do more things in life other than be in a trailer."

She added: "It's great, and there are lots of great things, [but] the perception of it is quite different from the reality, and it didn't suit me as a person. You can really lose perspective because you're treated quite strangely. When that's your only reality, it's quite strange."

The Indiana native became a household name after appearing in George of the Jungle, The Mummy trilogy and other film roles. Fraser took a step back from acting in the late 2000s amid health problems and personal issues. He returned with TV projects including The Affair, Trust and Doom Patrol.

In 2019, the actor made headlines when he alleged that he was previously groped by former HFPA president Philip Berk. In response, Berk denied the accusations at the time.

Fraser went on to receive critical acclaim for his lead role in Darren Aronofsky's The Whale. The 2022 film scored him a Critics' Choice Movie Award and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor.

The Body Book author won people over with her work in romantic comedies and animation. Diaz appeared in films including The Holiday, What Happens in Vegas, Bad Teacher and The Other Woman. Her final project was the 2014 movie Annie.

After taking a step back from Hollywood, Diaz focused on motherhood. In June 2022, the SAG nominee announced her return to the big screen with Netflix's Back in Action alongside Jamie Foxx.

Schoeffling rose to stardom after he played Jake Ryan opposite Molly Ringwald in the 1980's film Sixteen Candles. He also booked roles in Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken, Vision Quest and Mermaids.

The former actor ultimately chose to move back to Pennsylvania with his family and opened a woodworking shop. Schoeffling's daughter, Scarlet, whom he shares with wife Valerie C. Robinson, has ventured into the modeling industry. The pair also have a son named Zane.

The California native became a fan-favorite in roles such as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Major Payne and The Job.

Parsons' last appearance was in 2002 before she built the Sweet Blackberry Foundation. The non-profit organization produces animated films and books about unsung Black heroes.

Parsons, who has since appeared in 2020's Sweet Thing, also published three children's books. She married director Alexandre Rockwell in 2003 and the twosome expanded their family with daughter Lana and son Nico.  

Moranis scored roles in Spaceballs, Parenthood, The Flintstones and the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids franchise at the height of his acting career.

Following his wife's passing at age 35, the Canada native left Hollywood to raise his kids. Moranis provided voiceover work to Disney's Baby Bear, released music albums and appeared at fan conventions over the years.

Moranis will reprise his role as Wayne Szalinski in the upcoming Shrunk reboot film.

The England native had a lengthy career in Hollywood with roles in My Left Foot, There Will Be Blood and Lincoln. He also appeared in My Beautiful Laundrette, A Room with a View, The Boxer, The Age of Innocence and more.

Day-Lewis is the only actor to have won three Best Actor Academy Awards and received a knighthood for his services to drama in 2014. Three years later, the Phantom Thread star issued a statement that he would no longer be working as an actor. 

“Daniel Day-Lewis will no longer be working as an actor,” the actor’s spokesperson told Variety in 2017. “He is immensely grateful to all of his collaborators and audiences over the many years. This is a private decision and neither he nor his representatives will make any further comment on this subject. ”

After delivering an iconic performance in the '80s film Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Cates continued to act in Gremlins and Drop Dead Fred.

The New York native married Kevin Kline in 1989 and the duo welcomed kids Greta and Owen. Cates hit pause on her acting career to focus on raising her children and ultimately decided not to return to the big screen. She opened a New York City boutique titled Blue Tree in 2005.

Dunn made a name for himself as Duncan Kane on Veronica Mars from 2004 to 2006. He later appeared in Grey's Anatomy, CSI:NY and several films before switching careers.

The Gilmore Girls alum has since become a lawyer and now serves as an Assistant United States Attorney at the United States Attorney's Office District of Columbia.

Dunn married Kendall Morrison in 2019 and they welcomed a son two years later.