23 Celebs That Were Once Literally Everywhere, But We've All Forgotten Them
23 Celebs That Were Once Literally Everywhere, But We've All Forgotten Them
Michele BirdSun, June 28, 2026 at 1:31 PM UTC
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Murray Close / Sygma / Sygma via Getty ImagesAs fast as someone can become famous, sometimes they can disappear in what feels like the blink of an eye. From childhood stars to successful musicians, there are all sorts of reasons why celebs have chosen to leave their careers behind. Here are the men and women who once dominated Hollywood, but now live much quieter lives out of the spotlight:1. To start, Rick Moranis is famous for his roles in the Ghostbusters franchise, Little Shop of Horrors, and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. He pulled back from acting after his wife died of breast cancer in 1991. "I just found that it was too difficult to manage raising my kids and doing the traveling involved in making movies," he said. "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." He later took on voice-acting roles and made his last onscreen appearance in 2020.2. Tara Reid rose to fame in the late '90s and early '00s for her bombshell roles in the American Pie franchise and Van Wilder. While she still acts, her roles have been more minor, with short TV guest appearances and lesser-known films.
Jason Laveris / FilmMagic / Getty Images3. Jonathan Taylor Thomas spent his youth in the spotlight with roles in Home Improvement, The Lion King, and I'll Be Home for Christmas. In 2015, he made his final onscreen appearance in Last Man Standing and hasn't taken an acting job since.
Ron Galella, Ltd. / Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
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4. Erik von Detten got his start in the '90s with roles in Days of Our Lives, Recess, and Brink! His career grew even more in the early '00s when he landed parts in The Princess Diaries, Dinotopia, and Complete Savages. While he had much success, he left acting in 2010 to pursue a career in finance and didn't return to TV until 2024.
Ron Galella, Ltd. / Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images5. Tahj Mowry grew up in the spotlight with roles in Sister, Sister, Smart Guy, and Kim Possible. His acting slowed down widely between 2017 and 2021. Since then, he's landed a handful of acting gigs, with his last credit in Get Off My Lawn.
Ron Galella, Ltd. / Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images6. Phoebe Cates started her onscreen career in the '80s with roles in Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Gremlins. Her acting career came to a halt in 1994 so she could focus on raising her family. Since then, she's had two onscreen gigs in 2001 and 2015.
Walt Disney Television Photo Archives / Walt Disney Television via Getty Images7. Skeet Ulrich was a breakout star in the '90s with roles in The Craft and Scream. He's had sporadic roles over the years, with appearances in Riverdale, Scream VI, and Five Nights at Freddy's 2.
Mikel Roberts / Sygma via Getty Images8. Kate Upton found success as a Sports Illustrated model and eventually started acting with roles in The Other Woman and The Layover. In 2018, she took a hiatus to focus on raising her daughter with her husband, Justin Verlander. She finally returned in 2024 after landing a part in Sweet Dreams.
Donna Ward / Getty Images for Sports Illustrated
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9. You instantly knew it was going to be a good night if you heard LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem" or "Shots" come on. Sadly, the band hasn't released another studio album since 2011.
Steven Lawton / FilmMagic / Getty Images10. Leelee Sobieski was famous in the '90s and '00s for appearing in Never Been Kissed, Joy Ride, and The Glass House. In 2016, she revealed she had no plans to return to film. "I am just focused on my kids," she said. "I think that's mainly why I stopped."
Ron Galella, Ltd. / Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images11. Barry Watson is best known for his role as Matt in 7th Heaven, appearing in 153 episodes between 1996–2006. His last onscreen acting credit was in the TV series Naomi, which aired in 2022.
Lawrence Lucier / FilmMagic / Getty Images12. Michael Schoeffling stole our hearts as Jake Ryan in Sixteen Candles. But, we haven't seen much of him since he last appeared onscreen in 1991's Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken.
Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images13. Andrew Keegan made a name for himself in 10 Things I Hate About You, Party of Five, and 7th Heaven. He's taken a handful of roles each year since the 2010s, with his last onscreen appearance in Healing Towers.
Ron Galella / Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
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14. Marla Sokoloff had many iconic roles early in her career, including Full House,Whatever It Takes, and Dude, Where's My Car? She's had on-and-off roles over the years, with her most recent appearance in 2024's The Merry Gentlemen.
Ron Galella, Ltd. / Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images15. After years of making music with the Black Eyed Peas, Fergie left the group in 2017 to focus on motherhood. Her last solo album, Double Dutchess, was also released that same year. In 2026, she reunited with her former bandmates to accept the American Music Award for Best Throwback Song, celebrating the 2010 track "Rock That Body."
Rick Solomon / Getty Images16. In 2017, Katherine Langford became famous after getting cast as Hannah Baker in 13 Reasons Why. She hasn't appeared onscreen since 2022, when she was featured in the miniseries Savage River.
Jon Kopaloff / FilmMagic / Getty Images17. Evan Rachel Wood grew up in the public eye with roles in Practical Magic, Once and Again, and Thirteen. After a run on Westworld, she hasn't acted much and was last onscreen in 2023.
J. Vespa / WireImage / Getty Images18. Meg Ryan became a star for her roles in When Harry Met Sally..., Sleepless in Seattle, and You've Got Mail. In 2015, she stepped away from acting and made her way back to the big screen in 2023. "I took a giant break because I felt like there's just so many other parts of my experience as a human being I wanted to develop," she said. "It's nice to think of it as a job and not a lifestyle. And that is a great way of navigating it for me."
Ron Galella, Ltd. / Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images19. Ian Somerhalder had an accomplished acting career with roles in The Vampire Diaries and Lost. In 2019, he made his last TV appearance as Luther in V-Wars. Since retiring from acting, his focus has been on family and pursuing projects he's passionate about. He recently partnered with Nutro, a natural pet food company.
Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images
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20. Taylor Lautner was everywhere when he starred as Jacob Black in the Twilight Saga. While he hasn't had a major TV or movie credit since 2022, he has another exciting role on the horizon — his first baby! The actor and his wife, Tay, announced they were expecting in March 2026.
Mark Sullivan / WireImage / Getty Images21. Emma Watson skyrocketed to fame when she got cast as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter franchise. Her last major movie was in 2019 when she appeared as Meg in Little Women. "The most important thing, really — or the foundation of your life — is your home and friends and family," she said. "I think I worked so hard for so long that my life sort of bottomed out."
Gareth Davies / Getty Images22. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen became childhood stars after getting cast as Michelle Tanner in Full House. After finding more success with Two of a Kind, Passport to Paris, and Our Lips Are Sealed, they left Hollywood to pursue fashion.
Ron Galella, Ltd. / Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images23. Finally, Amanda Bynes was an overnight sensation after landing roles in All That, Big Fat Liar, and What I Like About You. In 2010, she quit acting after starring in Easy A. But in recent years, she's struggled with substance use, mental health, legal woes, and even faced being under a conservatorship until she filed to terminate it in February 2022. Most recently, she spoke about her weight loss journey after losing almost 30 pounds in December 2025.
Chris Polk / FilmMagic / Getty ImagesWhich celeb do you miss the most who is no longer in the spotlight? Drop your thoughts in the comments or the anonymous form below.
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