In this article, we will look at the 30 celebrities who have normal jobs now. We have also discussed why some celebrities leave a life of glamor and pursue a regular life. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, head straight to the 10 Celebrities Who Have Normal Jobs Now.
Why Do Some Celebrities Stop Being Celebrities?
Despite celebrities’ stardom and glamorous life, the desire for personal fulfillment and a sense of purpose can drive many to switch careers. Sometimes, it’s the constant scrutiny and lack of privacy that comes with being a celebrity, or sometimes, it is relentless media attention, paparazzi intrusion, and public expectations that add to these individuals’ mental and emotional stress.
Moreover, the nature of the entertainment industry is such that it can be fickle, with highs and lows in a celebrity’s career. This uncertainty can lead people to explore more stable and predictable career options. They may transition into fields where success is independent of public opinion or trends.
For example, Christian Bale once commented about his early fame in “Empire of the Sun” and highlighted the challenges of being in the public eye. He spoke about how he enjoyed his anonymity before fame but found it slipping away as he became more recognized. This loss of privacy can be particularly tough for child actors, who miss out on the typical growth experiences during their formative years. Similarly, Margot Robbie faced similar issues after her role in “The Wolf of Wall Street.” She shared that the early stages of fame were tough, especially regarding privacy invasion. At one point, she even contemplated leaving the acting profession.
Celebrities with Successful Businesses
While there do exist some celebrities who are broke now and even some celebrities who are homeless today after they switched careers, some have been extremely successful at their jobs and endeavors outside of acting and showbiz in general. One such example is that of Jessica Alba.
Jessica Alba was the lead actress in the movie “Honey” from 2003 and also starred in blockbusters like Fantastic Four in 2005 and its sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer in 2007. She is one of the biggest examples of celebrities who own businesses.
Jessica Alba, driven by personal health challenges and an allergic reaction to traditional household products while pregnant, decided to start her own company in 2011. The idea behind the Honest Company Inc (NASDAQ:HNST) was to provide a safer and healthier alternative to traditional baby products that often contained harmful ingredients like petrochemicals and synthetic fragrances. This vision led to the company’s launch with an initial offering of 17 products. Over the years, The Honest Company Inc (NASDAQ:HNST) witnessed impressive growth, as their sales reached $50 million in 2013.
Subsequently, Honest Company Inc (NASDAQ:HNST) secured huge investments. In fact, in 2014, the company attracted $70 million from venture capitalists and achieved a valuation of $1 billion. By 2014, the company’s sales were dominated by a successful online monthly subscription service, which accounted for 80% of its $170 million in sales.
The Honest Company Inc (NASDAQ:HNST)’s journey to success continued with relocating its headquarters to Los Angeles and a significant round of funding in 2016, gaining an additional $100 million in venture capital and pushing its valuation to $1.7 billion. In 2021, The Honest Company Inc (NASDAQ:HNST) went public through an initial public offering (IPO) and raised $412.8 million.
The Honest Company Inc (NASDAQ:HNST) has recently hired former Amazon.com, Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN)’s executive Carla Vernón as part of its turnaround strategy. The company aims to boost revenue by expanding its presence in Walmart Inc (NYSE:WMT) stores. While the company already sells its diapers in about half of Walmart Inc (NYSE:WMT)’s stores, it plans to introduce its baby wipes, shampoos, and body washes to the retail giant’s shelves soon.
Another celebrity who is highly successful outside of their celebrity life is Oprah Winfrey. In October 2015, Oprah Winfrey acquired a 10% stake in WW International Inc (NASDAQ:WW) and became its spokesperson and board member.
In 2019, WW International Inc (NASDAQ:WW) announced extending their partnership with the media mogul until 2025. Winfrey originally purchased 6.4 million shares for $6.79 each, valued at $43.2 million. Although she sold some of her shares, Winfrey still holds approximately 5.4 million shares, equivalent to about 8% of the company.
WW International Inc (NASDAQ:WW) is also one of the 11 Best Weight Loss Stocks To Invest In.
A high powered financial executive in their sleek office, looking down from a skyscraper. Editorial photo for a financial news article. 8k. –ar 16:9
Methodology
To list the celebrities who have normal jobs now, we have included the list of celebrities who are no longer associated with showbiz on a full-time basis. Most the celebrities in our list have departed from the industry completely or have only done a cameo role once or twice in many years. All of these actors are currently employed and working full-time in the roles we have highlighted.
Please note that the list does not follow any order.
Here is a list of 30 celebrities who have normal jobs now.
30. Peter Ostrum
Peter Ostrum is an American veterinarian today who briefly ventured into acting during his childhood when he played the character of Charlie Bucket in the 1971 film “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.”
29. Nikky Blonsky
Nikki Blonsky is known for her role in “Hairspray’’ movie. She has transitioned into a more conventional job now. She has reportedly worked as a hairstylist and a makeup artist and has launched a jewelry line.
28. Jeffrey Bertan Cohen
Jeffrey Bertan Cohen is an American attorney and a retired actor, mostly famous for his role as Chunk in the 1985 Steven Spielberg film “The Goonies.” In addition to his acting career, he co-founded the law firm Cohen & Gardner. He is one of the actors who have regular jobs after being famous.
27. Carrie Hen
Carrie Henn is a former child actor known for her role as Newt in “Aliens,”. She is now a 45-year-old teacher and mother. She is one of the celebrities who worked normal jobs after becoming famous.
26. Danny Lloyd
Daniel Lloyd is also a former child actor known for “The Shining,”. Today, he is an associate professor at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, working in the biology department.
25. Jennifer Stone
Jennifer Stone is a former Disney actress who transitioned to a nursing career in 2019. She completed her nursing school amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and as of August 2022, she is working as an ER nurse in Burbank, California. She is one of the female celebrities who have regular jobs now.
24. Anu Aggarwal
Anu Aggarwal transitioned from her acting career in Bollywood to becoming a yoga practitioner and monk after a life-altering car accident in 1999, which left her in a coma for 29 days and without memory of her earlier life. She now works to uplift society through her foundation and motivational speaking.
23. Phoebe Cates
Phoebe Cates Kline transitioned from acting to pursuing her dream of owning a retail store. In 2005, she opened the Blue Tree store in New York, specializing in women’s clothing, jewelry, and other items.
22. Stephanie Kay Panabaker
After her role as Rosa in Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3 in 2012, Panabaker retired from acting. She pursued zoology at UCLA and has worked as a zookeeper at Disney’s Animal Kingdom since 2016.
21. Gene Hackman
After a 2008 confirmation of his retirement from acting, Hackman briefly returned to narrate two documentaries but then transitioned to a career as a novelist, co-authoring historical fiction novels with Daniel Lenihan.
20. Erik Estrada
Erik Estrada is known for his role as “Ponch” in CHiPs. He transitioned to law enforcement, serving as a reserve police officer and an Internet Crimes Against Children investigator before relocating to Idaho for a similar role. Speaking of law enforcement, check our article about Best Ex-Cop Jobs for Former Police Officers.
19. Jon Gosselin
Gosselin switched from reality TV to a series of regular jobs, including working as a solar panel installer, waiter, and prep cook, eventually landing a position as an IT director in healthcare.
18. Charlie Korsmo
Charles Korsmo decided to switch from acting to pursue higher education, earning degrees in physics and law. He worked for the Environmental Protection Agency and the Republican Party before becoming a professor of corporate law and corporate finance at Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
17. Taran Noah Smith
Taran Noah Smith gained fame for his role as Mark Taylor in “Home Improvement” and won Young Artist Awards. He engaged in a vegan and organic food business in 2005, volunteered for disaster relief in 2015, and, as of July 2022, worked as an integration technician at SpaceX.
16. Michael Schoeffling
Schoeffling progressed from acting to owning a woodworking shop, crafting handcrafted furniture. He is famous for his films like “Sixteen Candles” and “Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken.” He is one of the celebrities who have normal jobs now.
15. Michael Anthony Vitar
Michael Anthony Vitar began acting in his youth, notably in “The Sandlot” and “The Mighty Ducks” films. However, he left his acting career in 1997 and pursued a job as an EMT and later became a firefighter for the Los Angeles Fire Department, where he currently works.
14. Andrew Shue
Andrew Shue, known for his role in “Melrose Place,” later co-founded the non-profit Do Something and the social networking site CafeMom. She is one of the celebrities who quit acting to have a regular job.
13. Jamie Walters
Once a celebrity with a successful acting and music career, Jamie Walters transitioned to a normal job as a firefighter and paramedic in 2002, leaving the entertainment industry behind to serve the community in a vital role. It is worth highlighting that firefighters have one of the most underpaid jobs in America.
12. Staci Keanan
Staci Keanan left her acting career to become a lawyer and law professor. She’s renowned for roles in “My Two Dads” and “Step by Step.” She is one of the celebrities who have normal jobs now.
11. Willa Ford
Willa Ford is known for the “I Wanna Be Bad” song, who switched from her career in music to becoming an interior designer at her own firm. She is one of the celebrities who quit showbiz for regular jobs.
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Disclosure: None. 30 Celebrities Who Have Normal Jobs Now is originally published on Insider Monkey.