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Some celebrities stay in the spotlight for decades, but others decide that fame simply isn’t the life they want. After stepping away from acting, sports, or music, many well-known faces traded red carpets for careers that look surprisingly ordinary. Some went back to school, others started businesses, and a few found completely unexpected professions far from Hollywood. While fans still recognize them for their most famous roles, their day-to-day lives couldn’t be more different.
Here are 15 once-famous people who now work normal jobs.
Peter Ostrum
After starring as Charlie Bucket in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Peter Ostrum chose not to pursue acting. He became a veterinarian and spent decades caring for large farm animals.
Jeff Cohen
Best known as Chunk in The Goonies, Jeff Cohen left acting behind and built a successful career as an entertainment lawyer. Today, he even represents fellow actor and longtime friend Ke Huy Quan.
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Eliza Dushku
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Bring It On actress stepped away from Hollywood and earned a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. She now works as a therapist.
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Peter Weller
Although he’ll always be remembered as RoboCop, Peter Weller earned a doctorate in Renaissance art history and has taught art history at the university level.
Randy Johnson
One of baseball’s greatest pitchers reinvented himself after retirement as a professional photographer. His work has included concerts, sporting events, and wildlife photography.
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Crispin Bonham-Carter
Known for playing Mr. Bingley in the 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, he left acting to pursue education and became an English teacher before moving into school leadership.
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Robert Maschio
Fans remember him as Dr. Todd Quinlan on Scrubs, but Robert Maschio later transitioned into a career as a real estate agent in California.
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Charlie Korsmo
After appearing in films like Hook and Dick Tracy, Charlie Korsmo left acting, studied law, and eventually became a law professor.
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Danny Lloyd
Danny Lloyd terrified audiences as young Danny Torrance in The Shining. Instead of continuing in Hollywood, he became a biology teacher.
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Phoebe Cates
The Fast Times at Ridgemont High star quietly retired from acting and later opened a boutique on New York City’s Madison Avenue.
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Nikki Blonsky
After starring in Hairspray, Nikki Blonsky worked as a hairstylist and makeup artist while continuing to take on occasional acting projects.
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Bridgit Mendler
The former Disney Channel star shifted her focus to education and technology. She later co-founded a space communications startup, taking her career in a completely different direction.
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Frankie Muniz
The Malcolm in the Middle star pursued professional auto racing after leaving television. He has since built a career behind the wheel while also exploring business ventures.
Tonya Harding
Years after dominating headlines as a figure skater, Tonya Harding reportedly operated a landscaping business and later worked in other hands-on professions outside elite sports.
Tami Stronach
Best known as the Childlike Empress in The NeverEnding Story, Tami Stronach left acting as a child. She built a career in dance, choreography, and arts education before eventually returning to perform years later.
The post 15 Once-Famous People Who Now Work Normal Jobs appeared first on Den of Geek.
