Drew Barrymore, Kate Gosselin & More Stars Who’ve Had Normal Jobs

Kate Gosselin, who became famous through her reality show with ex Jon Gosselin, had to return to nursing work to support her eight children’s college funds about two decades later.

Hannah, the mother of Cady (24), Mara (24), Alexis (21), Leah, Aaden, Collin, and Joel, was asked about the reason for her return to the demanding 12-hour shifts in pediatric home health care. To find an answer, she calculated the financial implications.

In her August 11 TikTok post comment, the “Jon & Kate Plus 8” celebrity candidly admitted, “Indeed, supporting eight children is a challenge, but I’m happy to share that not only did we cover all their college expenses, I can boast about surpassing those funds and paying for lawyers as well.

The 50-year-old mentioned that her ex-spouse frequently brought her to court, and she lamented, “That adds up significantly. It’s unfortunate because my children could have had more savings, and I could have been preparing for retirement if not for the legal fees.

Still, the evidence would suggest her new role has been a welcome change. 

As a registered nurse, I specialize in pediatric home healthcare, based out of North Carolina. I’m currently caring for one family, and they are well-acquainted with me. Before my visits to their home, they already recognize me and have some knowledge about me. I assume they are familiar with me as well.

Kate stated that by removing the TV cameras and adding a meaningful position, she found it to be “an extremely gratifying and enjoyable job.” Essentially, she said that coming in to help care for a family’s medically challenged child enables them to focus on their other children and enjoy other activities.

Furthermore, the former contestant from “Dancing With the Stars” is not the first high-profile individual to take action, following in the footsteps of Kim Kardashian who famously said, “rise and grind.

After starring in the original series “That’s So Raven” up until its end in 2007, Anneliese van der Pol shifted her focus to the culinary world and worked at various restaurants in New York City, before returning to TV screens with the spinoff “Raven’s Home” in 2017.

During a 2023 episode of Big Name B*tches, she openly confessed that although she took pride in her multitasking skills, dealing with fans and witnessing their disappointment was an incredibly painful experience for her.

She explained, “It felt as if I could say, ‘I’m fine, honestly, I’m quite content not having to audition and doing something I excel at.’ You see, when I tidy a table or serve a meal, I know I can handle it without errors. There’s no fear of judgment.

If you’re wondering about other stars who work the typical 9-5 schedule, we’ve got some interesting information for you.

Kate Gosselin, formerly of “Jon & Kate Plus 8,” expressed regret over how much of her savings were used for legal fees during her disputes with her ex-husband Jon Gosselin. However, it appears that she has found joy in revisiting her nursing career once more.

In a TikTok post from August 2025, Kate shared that she’s a Registered Nurse (RN) specializing in Pediatric Home Health Care. She currently works with one family and their children are familiar with her. Before she visits their home, they already recognize her.

What she knows, though, is that helping others is quite fulfilling.

Kate went on to say, ‘I must admit, this position has turned out to be both enjoyable and fulfilling.’ She explained that her role allows the parents of a special needs child to take a break, enabling them to focus on their other children and other activities.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase that as follows: In my profession, I can relate to Drew Barrymore‘s unwavering commitment to her work. While these days she’s busy with her own talk show, “The Drew Barrymore Show,” it wasn’t always like this for her. At just 14, when she gained independence from her mother, Jaid Barrymore, the young child star had to hustle to make ends meet and cover her bills.

In her book “Wildflower,” published in 2015, the actress mentioned that since her friend was employed at a coffee shop located within the Valley, it was necessary for her to search for a place to live that was more convenient due to not having a driver’s license.

In the early 1990s, coffeehouses served as popular gathering spots, as she recounted her experience working at L.A.’s trendy venue, The Living Room. “Every night, people would spill out onto the street,” she said. Unfortunately, she admitted that she struggled with her role there and lacked proficiency in many areas. Her resume only listed two accomplishments: acting and living an adventurous life.

She served up the tea on one tense experience in her book. 

She penned that her boss, who had given her a chance based on his unique idea of having an ex-child actor work at the counter, was understanding as I navigated my learning phases, but he also grew frustrated with me. This became evident when he entered the kitchen while I was washing dishes and snapped, “Be careful! You’re using the abrasive side of the brush, which is causing scratches and fog on all the pastry cases. You can’t see what’s inside!” This showed his annoyance and concern for the quality of their products.

Absolutely, former contestant Leah Kateb now holds down an office role. Interestingly, by July 2025, she had ascended to the position of Chief Creative Officer at Skylar Fragrances, referring to herself as essentially a ‘re-founder’ of the brand.

Lifeguard on duty!

When Noah Schnapp, known for his role in Stranger Things, isn’t fighting supernatural creatures from the Upside Down, he devotes his time to helping others in a different capacity. In a 2022 interview with Flaunt magazine, the actor shared that he worked part-time as a lifeguard at his local pool during the summer months.

He clarified that it’s more like a casual pastime for him. Despite his involvement in Stranger Things, he’s led a regular life with ordinary friends, which helps keep him humble and connected to reality outside the show.

During the late ’90s and early ’00s, Erik von Detten became a beloved figure among teenagers due to his performances in movies like “Escape to Witch Mountain”, “Brink!”, and “The Princess Diaries”. However, after 2010, which marked his final acting role (a voiceover in “Toy Story 3”), Erik’s career path shifted towards the financial sector.

In a 2021 interview with TopMob, von Detten shared that as his acting career began to slow down in his early twenties, he found another opportunity with a financial company which he joined at age 25. Since then, he has remained with this company and progressed into a management role in sales. This arrangement has turned out very favorably for him.

After appearing in the 2007 movie version of “Hairspray,” Nikki Blonsky, who had been nominated for a Golden Globe, gained attention once more when news broke that she was employed as a makeup artist at a salon on Long Island.

In simpler and more natural language, the statement could be rephrased as: “Back in 2011, Blonsky posted on X (previously known as Twitter) that he was working at Superstar Salon as a makeup artist, and he was proud to contribute towards his expenses. However, he made it clear that he would never lose sight of his dreams.

Following his role as California Highway Patrol officer Ponch on the TV series “CHiPs,” which aired from 1977 to 1983, Erik Estrada transitioned into being a reserve police officer for the Muncie Police Department in Indiana. Later, he relocated to Virginia, where he served as an investigator for the I.C.A.C. (Internet Crimes Against Children). In 2016, he returned to law enforcement as a reserve police officer in St. Anthony, Idaho.

Ethan Craft serving as your real estate agent? That’s what dreams are made of!

Clayton Snyder, who was popular for his role as Lizzie McGuire’s crush, decided against continuing an acting career once the Disney Channel show concluded. Instead, he opted to concentrate on his passion for water polo and later represented California’s Pepperdine University in the sport.

In an interview with TopMob News in 2022, Snyder expressed relief when the show ended, stating, “Whew! Now that it’s over, I’m ready for a fresh start at high school. Let’s see what new adventures this next chapter brings!

Currently, Snyder is employed in the real estate sector in Los Angeles. Occasionally, his past as a former child actor resurfaces.

He expressed, “I’m genuinely thrilled about the prospect of us collaborating together since I excel in my work, and if being known as ‘that guy’ adds to the trivia, then that’s delightful. In the past, I’ve had clients who, midway through home tours, exclaim, ‘We didn’t realize you were the one we’d heard about, and we can’t believe it!’ But this recognition makes me happy because I understand they’re not choosing to work with me for that reason.

Did you realize that during the eight-year break of The Jonas Brothers, the eldest brother, Kevin Jonas, ran his own construction business in New Jersey? What’s more, he also assumed the role of co-CEO at The Blu Market, a company specializing in influencer marketing.

Originally known as Charlie Korsmo for his roles in films like “Hook” and “Can’t Hardly Wait”, this child actor departed Hollywood to pursue a career in law. Now, apart from being a lawyer, he is also a professor at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, specializing in corporate law and finance.

In 2011, Barack Obama, who was then President, appointed Korsmo to serve on the Board of Directors for the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation.

Yep, Charlie gave up the chocolate factory.

Peter Ostrum initially stepped into acting as Charlie Bucket in the 1971 movie “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.” Interestingly, this turned out to be his single acting appearance. Following his graduation from Cornell University’s Veterinary Medicine school in 1984, Ostrum chose to pursue a career as a veterinarian instead.

Jennifer Stone, who was known for playing the fashionable Harper Finkle in Wizards of Waverly Place, swapped out her character’s unique style for a set of nursing scrubs when she qualified as a nurse in 2019. After that, the ex-Disney Channel star joined the ranks of healthcare workers battling the coronavirus on the front lines.

In 2020, Stone posted on Instagram that a dear friend (@maiarawalsh ) reminded him it was World Health Day. This day also marked his journey from being a volunteer, then a student nurse, and now an RN resident. He expressed his hope to measure up to the exceptional healthcare providers currently on the front lines as he prepares to join them.

Ross Bagley, the former child actor famous for portraying Buckwheat in ‘The Little Rascals’ and Nicky Banks on ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’, has transitioned into a career as a real estate agent in Los Angeles.

So long, Truffle Shuffle, hello, habeus corpus.

Jeff Cohen, who played the character Chunk in the iconic ’80s film The Goonies, decided to hang up his acting hat and instead pursued a career as a lawyer, specializing in entertainment law in Los Angeles.

Following his brief portrayal of the intense character Duncan Kane in Veronica Mars, Teddy Dunn transitioned into the legal field, where he now holds the position of Assistant United States Attorney within the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

Phoebe Cates, famously recognized for her debut role and departure from a pool in “The Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” as well as her parts in “Gremlins” and “Drop Dead Fred,” stepped away from acting in the 90s following the birth of two children with her husband, actor Kevin Kline.

Cates went on to open Blue Tree, a gift boutique on New York City’s Madison Avenue, in 2005.

After spending time playing the character Nevel on the hit Nickelodeon show “iCarly“, Reed Alexander subsequently pursued a career in journalism, working for media platforms like Business Insider and the “Wall Street Journal“.

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2025-08-30 10:17