In the 1990’s-2000’s, these actors were EVERYWHERE. You couldn’t watch a movie without seeing one of these faces blowing up the box office. But then, just as quickly as fame swept them up, their careers hit a sudden halt. Find out why these “it” stars are no longer relevant in the spotlight…
Tobey Maguire
You probably didn’t even realize you were missing Tobey Maguire until you just read that. Made famous by the original live-action Spider-Man films in the early 2000’s, Maguire’s last film was way back in 2013 aside from narrating the Pixar flick, “Boss Baby.” The comic films were such a hit that Maguire’s performances in other films left much to be desired, and he eventually dropped off from Hollywood.
Jack Nicholson
Nicholson has the most Oscar nominations of any actor in history, though he hasn’t appeared in a film since 2010’s flop, “How Do You Know?” Some people believe Nicholson is experiencing memory loss and that led to his retirement, but he has refuted the rumors.
Meg Ryan
“When Harry Met Sally,” “You’ve Got Mail,” and “Sleepless In Seattle” are timeless romcoms that kicked off Meg Ryan’s career. However, she did have several flops that set her back quite a bit.
Mo’Nique
Mo’Nique’s career was just picking up when she won an Oscar for her role in 2009’s “Precious.” Apparently, the newfound fame went to her head and she opposed everything that Hollywood stood for, and only did four projects after “Precious.”
Cameron Diaz
Cameron Diaz, a quality A-list actress, has slowly been stepping out of the spotlight for quite a few years now. Her most recent, top-tier project, “The Other Woman,” released in 2014, was her last film. She confirmed her retirement from acting in 2018.
Katherine Heigl
Heigl was a regular on the hit series “Grey’s Anatomy,” and an A-lister in many big films like “Knocked Up” in the mid 2000’s. However, she basically ruined her reputation when she trashed both projects by claiming Seth Rogen’s “Knocked Up” was sexist and Shondha Rhimes should have given her character on Grey’s more drama.
Mike Myers
Mike Myers told Hollywood to get out of his swamp, so they did.
Kevin Jonas
Boy band rocker turned reality star (?) was not his best move. After the Jonas Brothers officially broke up in order for the younger boys to pursue solo projects and Kevin to focus on his family, the oldest Jonas decided he and his wife should star in their own TV show. Aside from the band reconnecting in 2019, Kevin also dabbled in contracting.
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Her most iconic role was in Garfield, without a doubt. (Kidding). Jennifer was big in the 90’s, with major roles in “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and “Party of Five.” However, things started slowing down in the 2000’s and she hasn’t been in a film since 2012.
Phoebe Cates
The “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” alum was a starlet of the 1980’s and 90’s. After a whirlwind career, she suddenly took a long, much needed break from the film industry. She officially retired from acting in 1994.
Alyson Hannigan
Hannigan hasn’t really done anything substantial since the end of “How I Met Your Mother,” aside from her early days in the film “American Pie.”
Lara Flynn Boyle
Lara was the It Girl in the 1990’s, with pivotal roles in cult classic shows like “Twin Peaks” and “The Practice.” However, since 2014, Boyle has totally fallen off the map.
Renee Zellweger
My Queen, my Bridget Jones, Renee Zellweger was a hot commodity in the 2000’s. Remember “Chicago,” or “Jerry Maguire”? She took a step back from acting before resurrecting her career with a third installment of Bridget Jones, a Netflix limited series, and 2019’s Judy Garland biopic.
Mischa Barton
The OG It Girl Marissa Cooper of “The OC” didn’t agree with a life in the spotlight. She had a slew of bad behavior, including hard drinking and drug use, drunk driving, and car accidents. However, she just finished filming a “The Hills” reboot after years out of the spotlight.
Sally Field
Sally Field has been around for literally, an eternity. 2 Academy Awards, 2 Golden Globes, 3 Primetime Emmys, and a SAG Award. You’ve seen her in “Steel Magnolias,” “Mrs. Doubtfire,” and “Forrest Gump.” However, she’s been laying low for quite a while now. She’s picked up minor roles here and there.
Amanda Bynes
Bynes definitely suffered from child star syndrome. After hosting her own program, “The Amanda Show,” and then starring in several teen chick flick hits like “What A Girl Wants,” she suffered a serious mental break and struggled with drugs. After a lot of therapy and time away from the spotlight, she’s back and ready to open up about her experiences.
Kelly McGillis
McGillis was propelled into fame with her iconic role in “Top Gun.” However, she became a total recluse after 1989’s “Cat Chaser.” She never wanted to pursue acting again after that.
Aaron Eckhart
Known for his roles as George in “Erin Brockovich” and Harvey Dent/Two-Face in “The Dark Knight,” Aaron Eckhart was one of People’s 100 Most Beautiful in 2006. That’s gotta count for something, right?
Macaulay Culkin
Everyone knows him as Kevin from the famous troublemaker franchise, “Home Alone,” as well as the adorable little heartbreaker in “My Girl.” However, Macaulay had a definite falling out/potential psychotic episode. He went off the rails in an almost comedic way, forming a new-age band, Pizza Underground, a podcast called Bunny Ears, and maintaining a hysterical Twitter presence. His new name is legally Macaulay Macaulay Culkin Culkin!
Jonah Hill
Is anyone checking in on Jonah Hill? For years he played the dorky sidekick roles, like buddy Seth Rogen’s Superbad and Knocked Up, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall. However, he really stepped up when he starred alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt in Wolf of Wall Street and Moneyball. Eventually, he started to fade out of the Hollywood scene, so I repeat, who’s checking up on him?
Nikki Blonksy
Better known as Tracy from the 2007 film version of “Hairspray,” Nikki hasn’t been back on the big screen since. She earned her cosmetology license in 2011 and rumors broke that Hollywood overlooked her career because they are prejudiced against overweight actors. Sad.
Allison Mack
Though she may have starred in everyone’s favorite family drama, “7th Heaven,” her career is totally discredited. She was arrested in April 2018 due to her involvement with a horrific sex cult, NXIVM.
Jesse Eisenberg
Jesse landed two awesome breakthrough roles in “Adventureland” and “Zombieland” in the mid 2000’s. The game changer was “The Social Network,” and his portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg got him several award nominations. He took a hiatus from acting for a few years, but is back at it now, with a role as Lex Luther in the next superhero flick.
Adrian Grenier
You loved him in “Entourage,” and you loved him in “The Devil Wears Prada,” so where is he now? After consistently landing “entitled bro” roles only, he decided to step back from the industry. He’s 42 after all, even though he can still put it off.
Rick Moranis
Rick Moranis was in EVERYTHING for a time. “Spaceballs,” “Ghostbusters,” “Honey, I Shrunk The Kids,” and “The Flinstones” were among his top tier works. His wife died due to complications from breast cancer in the early ’90’s, and he retired from acting in order to be with his children.
Mara Wilson
Our girl Matilda took a break from acting after that film in order to have a normal childhood. She published a memoir in 2016, “Where Am I Now? True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame.”
Karyn Parsons
Parsons starred alongside Will Smith on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” in the ’90’s, but has since spent her time focusing on various charities and even formed her own. Sweet Blackberry helps teach children the importance of unsung Black heroes.
Ariana Richards
Lex Murphy in “Jurassic Park” was her breakout role, which led to other opportunities on shows like “The Golden Girls” and “Boy Meets World.” She retired after acting before she even hit adulthood in order to focus on her painting.
Mia Sorvino
Harvey Weinstein is the reason for Sorvino’s undoing. He blacklisted her after she filed a harassment claim against him, ruining her career for a long time until news broke about what Weinstein had really done.
Ronda Rousey
UFC fighter Ronda Rousey seemed to have a promising future in acting after hosting SNL and starring in “Furious 7” and “The Expendables 3.” When she lost her UFC winning streak to Holly Holm in 2015, she retreated from stardom. Eventually, she was back on the big screen in 2018’s “Mile 22.”
Geena Davis
Best known for her role as Stuart Little’s mom, obviously. (Joke). But, she did have a slammed career for a time. “Thelma & Louise,” “A League of Their Own,” “Beetlejuice,” and “The Fly” are what she’s most recognized for. She’s been married for times and is now a big advocate for gender equality. You go, Geena.
Gene Hackman
The now 87-year-old, two time Oscar winner Gene Hackman said goodbye to acting back in 2004 with “Welcome to Mooseport.” He’s now enjoying life with his wife of 26 years and working on his writing career. He’s written five novels in the last two decades.
Billy Zane
Billy Zane is literally only known for his role as Cal in Titanic. And … that’s all that’s worth noting. He made a cameo in “Zoolander 2” where he played himself, so I guess maybe that’s cool?
Dave Chappelle
One of my favorite comedians, Dave Chappelle had a really impressive filmography stacked behind him. “Robin Hood: Men In Tights,” “The Nutty Professor,” “Con Air,” “You’ve Got Mail,” and “Blue Streak” were some prominent film roles. And who can forget his own, “The Chappelle Show”? He also recently appeared in Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga’s hit, “A Star Is Born.”
Patricia Arquette
Patricia Arquette won an Oscar for 2014’s “Boyhood,” and since then has only done made-for-tv projects. She’s also a major advocate for ending the wage gap in Hollywood. After a brief hiatus from acting, she wowed viewers with her portrayal of Tilly Mitchell in Showtime’s “Escape at Dannemora,” as well as “The Act.”
Alex Pettyfer
Pettyfer was everyone’s favorite pretty boy for a minute, starring in “Beastly” and “Magic Mike.” But, he singlehandedly ended his fame when it was reported that he’d gotten into a heated feud with costar Channing Tatum that angered the cast and crew of “Magic Mike.” Oops!
Kel Mitchell
The “All That” and “Kenan and Kel” alum would have surely risen to fame had Kenan not beat him out for a regular spot on SNL.
Ashley Judd
Harvey Weinstein is also behind Judd’s demise. He had Miramax blacklist Judd after she refused the advancements he made at her hotel room.
Eddie Murphy
If Eddie Murphy hasn’t been in the spotlight lately, it’s because he’s been understandably busy. He just welcomed his TENTH child earlier this year.
Andie MacDowell
Hugh Grant’s “right place, wrong time” love interest in the ’90’s classic “Four Weddings And A Funeral” star has strayed from the spotlight in recent years to focus on her children and social activism. That’s okay, Andie!
Lark Voorhies
Better known as Lisa Turtle from “Saved By The Bell,” Lark fell off the face of the Earth when the show ended. She reinvented herself as an artist and focuses much of her life on painting rather than filmmaking.
Randy Quaid
The older brother of Dennis Quaid, Randy has lived quite a bizarre life. Recognized for his roles in the National Lampoon Vacation movies, the success seems to have ended there. He and his wife got into quite a bit of legal trouble, including credit fraud and failing to show up to a court hearing. They moved to Canada to claim “asylum,” but it was unsuccessful.
Sean Connery
One word: Legend. The first actor to play James Bond, and then portray him in SEVEN films deserves nothing less than a legendary status. After 2003’s “League of Extraordinary Gentleman,” he announced his retirement. He received the AFI’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.
Jonathan Bennett
“Mean Girls” heartthrob Jonathan Bennett disappeared from acting for several films following the success of the classic chick flick. At one point, he apparently worked as a spin instructor in LA. Now he hosts Food Network’s “Halloween Wars.”
Debra Winger
You loved her in “Terms of Endearment,” “An Officer and a Gentleman,” and “Shadowlands.” She left Hollywood in the mid ’90’s simply because she didn’t want to make movies anymore.
Freddie Prinze Jr.
Apparently, Prinze’s experiences with Kiefer Sutherland on the set of “24” made him want to quit acting for good because it was such a negative period in his life. Even though he isn’t acting much lately, he’s happily married to his onscreen love, Sarah Michelle Gellar.
Wesley Snipes
Wesley Snipes was everywhere in the ’90’s. “Jungle Fever,” “White Men Can’t Jump,” and “Blade” are high up on his repertoire. However, he was imprisoned for three years on counts of tax evasion. Since his release, he’s only had one film gig: 2015’s “Chi-Raq” directed by Spike Lee.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas
Everyone, and I repeat, everyone loved JTT. From “The Lion King” to “Home Improvement,” this boy could do no wrong. He took a long hiatus from acting to travel and attend college (Harvard man!).
Dylan and Cole Sprouse
Baby child stars, the Sprouse twins, were on everything from “Friends” to their own sitcom, “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody” and its many iterations. Now, Cole is a star on “Riverdale,” and Dylan is a photographer. Good work guys!
Leelee Sobieski
Sobieski’s claim to fame was her portrayal of Joan of Arc in the TV movie of the same name. She retired from acting early in 2012, claiming that she wanted to focus on her family and wasn’t interested in the sexual aspects that came with filmmaking.
Carey Mulligan
Though nominated for an Oscar for 2009’s “An Education,” she hasn’t held a high-profile role since starring as Daisy in “The Great Gatsby.” She recently starred opposite Jake Gyllenhaal in “Wildlife,” though that’s about it.
Paz de la Huerta
Featured on “Boardwalk Empire” for two seasons, her career quickly faded once her role ended. She has also accused Harvey Weinstein of two counts of rape, and has been labeled as an alcoholic numerous times.
Jack Gleeson
Joffrey has bee Gleeson’s truly only substantial role. He’s said that once “Game of Thrones” ended, he would take a break from acting to focus on his education. Currently, he’s busy running his own theater company.
Martin Lawrence
Martin Lawrence was a hit in the ’90’s. He had a popular TV show, “Martin,” and had big roles in “Do The Right Thing” and “House Party.” He eventually found himself in some legal trouble, discrediting much of his reputation. He was arrested several times for violent, erratic behavior through the 2000’s.
Emilio Estevez
“Breakfast Club” alum Emilio Estevez is the son of Martin Sheen and brother of Charlie Sheen. He’s found his place among the directorial crowd, and his directing debut came with 1986’s “Wisdom,” in which he was the youngest person to ever write, direct, and star in a single major motion picture.
Robert Blake
Blake held one of the longest-running acting careers, spanning from 1939 to the early 2000’s. However, he quickly retired after allegations surfaced that he may have murdered his wife… He’s maintained a low profile ever since.
Taylor Momsen
Taylor Momsen was everyone’s favorite bad girl in “Gossip Girl,” but she quit acting after the show to focus on her rock band, The Pretty Reckless.
Elizabeth Hurley
Hurley’s claim to fame was actually her ’90’s boyfriend, Hugh Grant. She attended the “Four Weddings and a Funeral” premiere and wore a risqué Versace dress, which got her lots of media attention.
David Schwimmer
If I ever have to hear the words, “We were on a break!” ever again I will personally see to it that David Schwimmer’s career remains in obscurity forever. He’s done next to nothing since the Madagascar franchise, and he’s definitely still riding out his fame as Ross from Friends.
Shannon Doherty
Shannon Doherty was the most problematic cast member of 90210, confirmed. I was never a fan of Brenda to begin with, and for whatever reason she’s decided to reprise the role in the new reboot of the series. Either way, I couldn’t name a single movie she’s done if I tried.
David Spade
I recognize David Spade as the voice of Kuzco from The Emperor’s New Groove only. He’s done a few comedies here and there and had a standing role on Saturday Night Live, but for the most part, he’s a pretty irrelevant B-lister.