MomSkoop
Remember the adorable kids who made us laugh and cry on our favorite TV shows and movies? Some of them grew up to become even bigger stars, but others simply vanished from the spotlight.
Many former child actors chose to walk away from fame, seeking normal lives far from Hollywood’s glare. Their stories are fascinating, full of surprising career changes and personal journeys that took them in completely different directions.
1. Peter Ostrum (Charlie from Willy Wonka)
Winning the golden ticket changed Charlie’s life, but Peter Ostrum decided one movie was enough. After starring in the beloved 1971 classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, he received offers for more roles but turned them all down. Acting just wasn’t his passion.
Instead of chasing Hollywood fame, Peter pursued veterinary medicine and now works with large animals in upstate New York. He’s perfectly happy treating horses and cows rather than attending red carpet events. His daughter even followed in his footsteps, becoming a veterinarian too.
Peter occasionally does interviews about the film but has zero regrets about leaving show business behind.
2. Mara Wilson (Matilda)
With telekinetic powers and a brilliant mind, Matilda captured hearts everywhere in 1996. Mara Wilson was Hollywood’s sweetheart, also starring in Mrs. Doubtfire and Miracle on 34th Street. But growing up in the public eye became increasingly uncomfortable for her.
She retired from acting in her early teens, feeling awkward and out of place as she got older. Hollywood wasn’t kind to former child stars who didn’t fit a certain mold. Mara found her true calling as a writer instead.
Today she pens books, articles, and plays while living a quieter life in New York City, far from the cameras that once followed her.
3. Jonathan Lipnicki (Stuart Little)
Those oversized glasses and adorable one-liners made Jonathan Lipnicki unforgettable in Jerry Maguire and the Stuart Little films. Everyone remembered the kid who said the human head weighs eight pounds. But as he grew up, the cute roles dried up fast.
Jonathan struggled with bullying and depression after his child star days ended. He stepped away from major Hollywood projects to focus on his mental health and martial arts training. The transition from famous kid to regular teenager proved incredibly challenging.
While he’s done occasional acting work since, Jonathan mostly stays out of the spotlight, preferring a more private existence.
4. Karyn Parsons (Hilary Banks)
Hilary Banks was the fashionable, self-absorbed sister who made us giggle throughout The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’s six-season run. Karyn Parsons played her to perfection, becoming a household name in the 1990s. When the show ended, she made a surprising choice.
Rather than auditioning for more sitcoms, Karyn founded Sweet Blackberry, a nonprofit creating animated films about unsung Black heroes for children. She wanted to educate kids about important historical figures often left out of textbooks. Her passion shifted from entertaining to educating.
She occasionally acts but dedicates most of her energy to her meaningful nonprofit work and raising her family.
5. Angus T. Jones (Two and a Half Men)
As the half in Two and a Half Men, Angus T. Jones was one of television’s highest-paid child actors, earning $300,000 per episode. He grew up before millions of viewers for nearly a decade. Then something unexpected happened in 2012.
Angus had a religious awakening and publicly called the show filth, urging people to stop watching. He left the series and Hollywood entirely, pursuing spiritual studies instead. The decision shocked fans and industry insiders alike.
He’s since stayed completely out of the entertainment world, attending college and exploring his faith. Money and fame couldn’t compare to finding personal peace and meaning.
6. Jeff Cohen (Chunk from The Goonies)
Hey you guys! Remember Chunk and his famous truffle shuffle? Jeff Cohen stole scenes in the 1985 adventure classic The Goonies with his comedic timing and lovable personality. But Hollywood had few roles for him as he matured and lost weight.
Facing limited opportunities, Jeff made a brilliant pivot. He went to law school at UCLA and became an entertainment lawyer in Los Angeles. Now he represents actors and other creative professionals, using his insider knowledge to help them navigate the industry.
His law firm has become quite successful, proving that leaving acting was the smartest career move he could have made for himself.
7. Hallie Eisenberg (Pepsi Girl)
Those curly locks and expressive face made Hallie Eisenberg the star of countless Pepsi commercials in the late 1990s. She also appeared in movies like Bicentennial Man and Paulie. Everyone recognized the Pepsi Girl, and her career seemed unstoppable.
But Hallie decided to prioritize education over entertainment. She attended American University in Washington D.C., studying international relations and eventually earning a master’s degree. Acting took a backseat to academics and personal growth.
Her older brother Jesse Eisenberg became the famous actor in the family. Hallie occasionally does small acting projects but mostly lives privately, working outside the entertainment industry entirely.
8. Erik Per Sullivan (Dewey from Malcolm in the Middle)
Dewey was the youngest brother who often got overlooked but always found clever ways to stand out on Malcolm in the Middle. Erik Per Sullivan played him brilliantly from ages nine to seventeen. When the beloved sitcom ended in 2006, so did his acting career.
Erik essentially vanished from Hollywood overnight. He attended the University of Southern California but kept an extremely low profile, avoiding interviews and public appearances. Rumors swirled about what happened to the talented young actor.
To this day, Erik remains one of Hollywood’s most mysterious disappearances. He’s done no acting work since 2010 and lives completely outside the public eye.
9. Taran Noah Smith (Home Improvement)
Playing the youngest Taylor son on Home Improvement made Taran Noah Smith famous throughout the 1990s. Mark was the sensitive, thoughtful kid who wore black and wrote poetry. When the show wrapped in 1999, Taran was just sixteen years old.
He immediately left acting and never looked back. Taran got married young, started a vegan cheese company, and became involved in various business ventures. He also battled legal issues involving his trust fund money from the show.
These days, he works in construction and lives a remarkably normal life. Fame at such a young age left him wanting nothing to do with Hollywood’s chaos.
10. Jack Gleeson (King Joffrey)
Everyone loved to hate King Joffrey on Game of Thrones, which meant Jack Gleeson did his job perfectly. His portrayal of the cruel boy king was so convincing that some fans couldn’t separate actor from character. The intense fame became overwhelming.
After Joffrey’s memorable death scene, Jack announced he was quitting professional acting at just twenty-one years old. He found celebrity culture shallow and wanted to pursue academic interests instead. He returned to Trinity College Dublin to study philosophy and theology.
Jack now runs a small theater company in Dublin, performing for the love of the craft rather than fame or fortune.
11. Danny Lloyd (The Shining)
Riding that tricycle through the Overlook Hotel’s creepy hallways made Danny Lloyd iconic in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. He was just six years old during filming and didn’t even know he was making a horror movie. Kubrick protected him from the scariest elements.
After a couple more small roles, Danny left acting completely. He became a biology teacher in Missouri, educating middle school students about science. His students sometimes discover his famous past and can’t believe their teacher was in such a legendary film.
Danny rarely discusses his brief acting career and prefers his quiet life as an educator, far from Hollywood’s madness and mayhem.
12. Ariana Richards (Jurassic Park)
Screaming at velociraptors and surviving dinosaur attacks made Ariana Richards unforgettable as Lex in Jurassic Park. She perfectly captured the terror and wonder of being trapped with prehistoric creatures. The 1993 blockbuster launched her into stardom.
But Ariana had another passion calling her name. She studied fine arts and drama at Skidmore College, eventually choosing painting over acting. Her artwork has won awards and sold at galleries across the country. Creating art brought her more satisfaction than reading scripts.
She occasionally attends Jurassic Park reunions but spends most of her time in her studio, creating beautiful paintings instead of making movies.
13. Mason Gamble (Dennis the Menace)
That mischievous grin and endless energy made Mason Gamble the perfect Dennis the Menace in the 1993 film adaptation. He terrorized Mr. Wilson and charmed audiences everywhere with his troublemaking antics. Hollywood seemed like his future.
Mason did a few more projects but gradually stepped away from acting during his teenage years. He attended UCLA and studied marine biology, developing a fascination with ocean life instead of movie sets. The transition happened quietly, without dramatic announcements or explanations.
Today Mason works behind the scenes in various capacities, occasionally dabbling in film production but never returning to acting. His Dennis days feel like ancient history now.