By 
Most celebrities spend years trying to reach the top of their industry, which makes it especially surprising when someone willingly walks away right after achieving massive success. Some stars became exhausted by constant attention, others wanted quieter lives away from cameras, and a few simply lost interest in fame altogether despite still being incredibly popular. In many cases, fans expected these people to dominate entertainment, sports, or television for decades longer than they actually did. Their sudden disappearances only made them more fascinating over time. Walking away while still at the peak of public attention remains one of the rarest decisions any famous person can make.
IMDb
Phoebe Cates
After becoming a major film star during the 1980s, Phoebe Cates largely left acting behind to focus on family life.
IMDb
Rick Moranis
Rick Moranis stepped away from acting during the 1990s to focus on raising his children after becoming one of comedy’s biggest stars.
IMDb
Bridget Fonda
Bridget Fonda disappeared from Hollywood despite building a successful acting career throughout the 1990s.
IMDb
Cameron Diaz
After years of major box office success, Cameron Diaz quietly retired from acting and stayed away from Hollywood for nearly a decade.
IMDb
Daniel Day-Lewis
Widely considered one of the greatest actors ever, Daniel Day Lewis repeatedly disappeared from the industry and eventually retired completely.
IMDb
Dave Chappelle
Dave Chappelle famously walked away from an incredibly successful television career at the height of his popularity.
IMDb
Gene Hackman
Gene Hackman quietly retired after decades of acclaimed performances and rarely returned to public life afterward.
IMDb
Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo left Hollywood while still enormously famous and spent the rest of her life avoiding publicity almost entirely.
IMDb
Jack Gleeson
After becoming internationally famous as Joffrey in Game of Thrones, Jack Gleeson stepped away from acting for several years.
IMDb
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan shocked the sports world when he temporarily retired from basketball while still dominating the NBA.
The post 10 Famous People Who Chose to Step Away at the Height of Their Fame appeared first on Den of Geek.
