Michael Richards is looking different these days.
After two years out of the public eye, former Seinfeld star was spotted on May 10th enjoying a relaxed shopping trip at Melrose Place in West Hollywood, California.
For the outing, Richards wore a dark jacket, jeans, and sturdy boots. He brushed back his famously thick hair and completed his look with clear-framed glasses.
Seeing him was unusual, considering Richards largely withdrew from public life after a racist outburst during a comedy show in 2006.
In a 2024 interview on Today, he explained that he needed to step away from performing to understand why he had acted so badly and hurt others. He said he needed to figure out what was going on internally to address his unacceptable behavior that night when he ‘lost his cool’.
And what Richards said he found was “anger.”
He explained that this issue has always been present, particularly in his own life, and that he’s since taken responsibility for his past mistakes and tried to make things right. He noted that the situation isn’t as severe now as it was eighteen years ago.
Richards experienced another wake-up call in 2018, when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Honestly, I remember him saying it like it was yesterday. He was finally at a point where he felt… ready. He told People magazine that he just thought, ‘This is it, my time.’ But then, and it broke my heart a little, he immediately thought of his son. He said he heard himself pleading, ‘I have a nine-year-old… I need to be there for him. Is there any way I can just… have a little more time?’ It was so raw and real, and it just proves what an amazing dad he is.
The comedian, who has an adult daughter named Sophia with his ex-wife Cathleen Lyons and a teenage son named Antonio with his current wife Beth Skipp, eventually chose to get help.
He explained that he needed a complete surgery to save his life. Without it, he likely would have only lived for another eight months.
Despite largely stepping back from show business in recent years, Richards published his memoir, Entrances and Exits, in 2024.
Now in his 70s and a cancer survivor, he wanted to reflect on his life and leave a written record for his family and fans, he shared with Jay Leno on Interview. Because he’s a private person who doesn’t go out much, he saw the book as a way to connect with people and say hello.
Richards explained that when he makes a mistake, he prefers to acknowledge it and focus on fixing the problem, instead of trying to cover it up.
For more stars who left Hollywood, read on.
Following a serious heart attack in 2019, the actor best known for The Mask of Zorro returned to his hometown of Málaga, Spain, to dedicate himself to performing on stage.
“It completely shifted my perspective on life,” Antonio shared with The Times in March 2026. “Facing my own mortality made me realize that, at my core, I’m a theater actor.”
The Tony Award nominee, who still acts in TV and movies sometimes, now owns a theater and actively participates in local events.
He went on to say he’d never felt happier. Staying connected to his hometown, the people he grew up with, and his community meant everything to him. Over time, that bond had actually grown stronger, not weaker.
After 19 seasons, The Ellen DeGeneres Show ended in 2022 following accusations of a negative and harmful workplace. These claims led to an internal investigation, the firing of several executives, and widespread public criticism.
Ellen made a comeback with her last stand-up comedy show, For Your Approval, which premiered on Netflix in September 2024. Before the show’s release, she announced her plans to retire from Hollywood.
During her Ellen’s Last Stand…Up tour, the comedian told the audience, according to SFGate, that she’s retiring after her upcoming Netflix special. She stated, “This is the last time you’re going to see me.”
Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, have settled in the Cotswolds. Ellen shared with Richard Bacon in July 2025, during a conversation at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham, that they decided to remain there after Donald Trump was reelected in November 2024.
She raved about the English countryside, telling the BBC it was “absolutely beautiful” and unlike anything she was used to. She especially loved the charming villages, towns, and architecture, noting it seemed to offer a more relaxed and simple way of life.
“It’s just a nicer place,” Ellen explained. “The animals are well cared for, and everyone is so friendly. We really love living here. We moved in November, which wasn’t the best timing, but I finally got to experience snow for the first time! Portia brought her horses with her, I have chickens, and we even had sheep for a couple of weeks.”
Tyra Banks, the host of America’s Next Top Model, decided to move to Australia partly to focus on her ice cream company, SMiZE and Dream. She explained on Today with Jenna & Friends that her business had been primarily supplying ice cream to places like airplanes and cruise ships, and she was frequently traveling to Australia to oversee production at a large facility there. She quickly fell in love with the country during her visits.
Banks also realized Australia was a promising market for her product, noting that the top three countries for ice cream consumption are the United States, New Zealand, and Australia.
She ultimately moved to Australia with her son, York (whose father is her ex, Erik Asla), and her boyfriend, Louis Bélanger-Martin, saying that Australia has been a wonderful experience for her and her family.
Eva Longoria, known for her role on Desperate Housewives, has moved from Los Angeles and now splits her time between Mexico and Spain with her husband, José Bastón, and their son, Santiago. She explained to Marie Claire that while she lived in Los Angeles her entire adult life, the city had changed, and the pandemic pushed her to leave. She cited issues like homelessness and taxes, but emphasized she doesn’t want to criticize California, she simply feels this chapter of her life is over.
Longoria clarified in an interview on The View: Behind the Table podcast that her move wasn’t due to politics, despite speculation following the presidential election. She explained that work commitments – including filming Land of Women in Catalonia and Searching for Mexico – led to extended stays abroad, and she’s been living there for years. She feels fortunate to be able to leave the US when many others can’t, expressing anxiety and sadness for those who are stuck. Despite the move, Longoria remains active in her career, with recent roles in Only Murders in the Building and Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip.
Actor Richard Gere has relocated from Chicago to Spain with his family. He shared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in November 2024 that his wife, Alejandra Silva, who is from Galicia, encouraged the move, and they plan to live in Madrid for several years. Gere is enthusiastic about the opportunity for their young sons, Alexander and James, to thrive in a bilingual environment. He also has an adult son, Homer, with his former partner, Carey Lowell.
In an interview with Elle España in January 2025, Gere stated that the family is happier than ever and is currently enjoying a positive chapter in their lives.
Singer Christina Milian and her family have officially made Paris their home. Married to French singer Matt Pokora for over seven years, the couple previously spent six months of each year commuting between the U.S. and France. They decided to move permanently so their children – Violet (from a previous marriage to The-Dream), and sons Isaiah and Kenna (with Pokora) – could attend school in France. Milian feels it’s a wonderful opportunity for them. The family seems to be thriving in their new life. Milian shared with TopMob that her kids are happy and fluent in French, she enjoys an active lifestyle, and she’s able to balance her work with family time due to the time difference.
Lindsay Lohan is frustrated by the ongoing speculation surrounding her departure from Los Angeles. She recently explained that her busy career and social life in the early 2000s were often overshadowed by constant paparazzi attention, which she found irritating. In a March 2024 interview with Bustle, she expressed a desire for her work to speak for itself, and felt the relentless media coverage created a narrative that overshadowed her career. This was a major reason she chose to move abroad, first to London and then to Dubai, where she also started opening beach clubs in Greece, seeking a life away from the constant spotlight.
Lindsay Lohan wondered if she would ever find love, questioning if it would ever happen for her. She realized that taking time to focus on herself was the key to opening up new possibilities and allowing her to embrace opportunities she truly wanted.
Eventually, she found love with Bader Shammas, marrying him in 2022 and welcoming their son, Luai, in 2023.
Although they currently live in Dubai, Lindsay hasn’t left acting behind. She continues to appear in films like Our Little Secret, Irish Wish, and Freakier Friday.
Josh decided to leave Hollywood after some careful thought. He explained to People magazine in July 2024 that Hollywood isn’t just a location, but a way of life. He wanted to avoid being surrounded by people constantly focused on the movie industry, fearing it would narrow his perspective. He longed for a more diverse environment where he could grow personally.
“I’ve always wanted to be around people doing lots of other things that would take my mind off work and help me develop in different ways,” he said. “That’s what makes life interesting.”
So, Josh, along with his wife Tamsin Egerton and their four children, moved to the countryside of Hampshire, England. He told The Guardian in July 2024 that time flies with a large family, and while life might seem simpler, it’s filled with what truly matters. Despite the move, Josh has remained active in his career, appearing in films like Verity, Fight or Flight, and Trap.
If you don’t follow Jesse on social media, you might be surprised to learn he no longer lives in Los Angeles. In a February 2025 interview with CBS News Sunday Morning, the A Real Pain star revealed he’s lived in Indiana for the past ten years, finding it a more comfortable and stable environment. Despite being an Oscar nominee, Jesse lives a surprisingly normal life with his wife, Anna Strout, and son, Banner. He explained that he avoids social media and doesn’t spend much time networking within the industry. With a teacher for a wife and a son who isn’t particularly interested in movies, Jesse feels removed from the constant pressures of Hollywood and doesn’t worry about his standing in the industry.
Eliza Dushku, known for her roles in shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the movie Bring It On, announced in September 2024 that she’s now a certified psychedelic-assisted therapist and is continuing her education in the field of mental health.
She told Boston Magazine that she was able to change her life’s path to prioritize her own well-being, with the goal of then helping others. She felt it was important to share the positive changes she’d experienced – the peace and renewed energy she found – because she now clearly understood her true calling and purpose.
The actress best known for playing Wilma Flintstone shared that she relocated to Ireland in January 2025 with her son, Clay, and is working to become an Irish citizen because of her family’s heritage. While she mentioned current events as a factor in her decision to move, she hasn’t closed the door on possibly returning to her home country in the future.
In a TikTok video, she shared that she misses her children, her friends, and many aspects of her life back home. She’s currently working on building a new life in her new country, and she said her family will think about returning to America when it’s safe and everyone there has equal rights.
Actress Evangeline Lilly, known for her role in Ant-Man and the Wasp, has said she’s stepping away from acting for an unspecified period of time after two decades in the film industry.
In a June 2024 Instagram post, Evangeline shared how happy and at peace she feels while pursuing her life’s purpose. She expressed gratitude for her good fortune, explaining that while choosing a path less traveled – one that doesn’t necessarily mean wealth and fame – can be daunting, embracing what you’re truly meant to do brings a deep sense of satisfaction instead of fear.
However, she’s not ruling out a return to Hollywood completely, saying, “I could see myself going back someday, but right now, I’m happy where I am.”
Since appearing in the 2019 Netflix series V-Wars, actor Paul Wesley hasn’t taken on another acting role. Instead, he’s been focusing on a personal mission: fighting climate change by working to improve soil health around the world.
Ian Somerhalder took a break from acting about four years ago to focus on his family, develop his businesses, and get his documentaries released. He told TopMob News in November 2023 that these films – Kiss the Ground (released in 2020) and its sequel, Common Ground – highlight the importance of regenerative farming. He shares two children with his wife, Nikki Reed.
Looking ahead, the actor shared his plans to become a rancher and focus on building lasting brands – including his bourbon and health company. He’s deeply committed to sustainable farming and healthy soil practices, values he and his family embrace. He explained, ‘That’s always been my path, and that’s why these things matter so much to me. It’s about who I am and who I’m becoming.’
In a February 2021 episode of her podcast, Empty Inside, former iCarly star Jennette McCurdy shared with guest Anna Faris that she had stepped away from acting a few years prior. She’s now pursuing writing and directing opportunities, alongside hosting the podcast.
As someone who’s spent a lot of time observing how careers can shape us, I really connected with Jennette’s honesty in her memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died. She shared that looking back on her acting work, she feels a lot of regret and even resentment. She started on those shows as a young teenager, around 13, and by 15, she was already cringing at the roles she was playing. It wasn’t something her friends were impressed by – and honestly, who could blame her? It’s a powerful reminder that what looks glamorous from the outside doesn’t always feel fulfilling on the inside, especially when you’re navigating those formative teenage years.
She hasn’t ruled out returning to acting completely. In an October 2022 interview with TopMob News, she explained that writing her book has helped her consider acting in a new light, free from past pressures. She believes the only way she might consider it again would be if she wrote a role specifically for herself.
It seemed like a pretty easy decision. The chance to marry Prince Harry, devote ourselves to meaningful charitable work, and even wear the Queen’s tiaras would make leaving Hollywood completely worthwhile.
Similar to Grace Kelly’s transition from Hollywood to Monaco, Meghan Markle left her life and acting career in Toronto—including her popular role on the show Suits—to join the British Royal Family. Now that she and Prince Harry have stepped down as senior royals and live in California, Meghan is returning to professional life. This includes a multi-year deal with Netflix, where she released the 2022 docuseries Harry & Meghan and will launch a lifestyle show, With Love, Meghan, in 2025. She has also started a podcast and her brand, As Ever.
After starring in over 40 films since she began her career with 1994’s The Mask, the actress really needed a rest when she finished filming Annie in 2014.
She told Gwyneth Paltrow that she realized she wanted a different lifestyle. After years of intense work and filmmaking, she felt burnt out. Making movies, she explained, is incredibly demanding – it requires long hours and complete dedication, leaving no room for anything else in your life.
Cameron Diaz had many interests she wanted to pursue, including writing – she followed up her popular 2013 book, The Body Book, with The Longevity Book in 2016 – and starting a family with her husband, Benji Madden. Although she told InStyle in 2019 that she didn’t miss acting and was focused on wellness, it seems she might be open to returning to performing at least one more time.
Jamie Foxx explained that they really had to convince Cameron Diaz to star in the 2025 Netflix movie Back in Action, saying they ‘begged and pleaded’ with her. He shared that they’ve been eager to work with her again and are confident the film will be great.
The actor stated he wouldn’t return to acting after completing his five years on Empire. When asked by Extra about his plans before the show’s sixth and final season in 2019, Terrence Howard said, “I’m finished with acting. I’m done with pretending.”
Despite appearing in a few projects since then, the Academy Award nominee announced his intention to retire from acting again in 2022 while promoting his Peacock series, The Best Man: The Final Chapters. He explained to ET that he felt he’d given everything he had to offer as an actor and now wanted to focus on watching and supporting new talent, rather than simply repeating performances he’d done before.
Even with those past issues, Howard has continued to act, appearing in shows like Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist and the Netflix film Shirley. He also has several new projects planned.
After his character, King Joffrey, died on the show in 2014, the 21-year-old actor told EW he was leaving acting. He explained that he’d been acting since he was eight years old and simply wasn’t enjoying it as much anymore.
Jack isn’t a child star anymore, and some of the excitement has faded. He explained that turning a hobby into a job changes things. “Before, it was just something fun to do with friends or during the summer,” he said. “I still like it, but making a living from it alters how you feel about it. It’s not that I dislike it, it’s just not my career goal.”
After a six-year hiatus, Jack returned to acting in 2020 with a role in the BBC series Out of Her Mind. Since then, he’s also been in films such as Rebecca’s Boyfriend and In the Land of Saints and Sinners, and TV shows like Safe Harbor and The Famous Five.
When Jennifer Aniston, known for her role in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, married actor Kevin Kline in 1989, they decided to share childcare duties for their children, Owen and Greta, by taking turns with work. This ensured they were never both working at the same time. Greta is now a singer who performs as Frankie Cosmos.
He added that Phoebe consistently prioritizes staying home with her children when it’s her turn to work. While she made a brief appearance in her friend Jennifer Jason Leigh’s 2001 film, The Anniversary Party, Cates mainly focuses on running her boutique, Blue Tree, in New York City.
When he was most famous for films like Ghostbusters and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, the actor took a break from making movies after his wife sadly died from breast cancer in 1991. He wanted to concentrate on raising his children, Rachel and Mitchell.
Despite not appearing in a live-action movie since 1997 – he even turned down a small role in the 2016 Ghostbusters remake – Rick remains a beloved figure, as shown by the strong reaction to news of an assault he experienced while walking in New York City in 2020.
Good news for fans: he’s returning to the screen with Josh Gad in the upcoming Disney reboot, Shrunk.
After marrying fashion designer Adam Kimmel in 2010, actress Drew Barrymore suggested she was considering stepping back from acting. She told Vogue that most acting roles require a lot of intimate scenes, and she wasn’t interested in that. She explained that while she and her husband had a solid relationship, she needed a truly exceptional role to justify taking on potentially difficult or compromising material. She felt any challenging work needed to be worth the emotional risk.
After her son, Martin, joined his sister, Louisanna, in 2014, she firmly decided to step away from acting. She told Us Weekly in 2016 that she was happy being a mom and focusing on family. She explained she now supports her husband, Kimmel, with his work and enjoys painting as a hobby, stating, “I think that’s mainly why I stopped [acting].” She felt like an outsider in the movie world and was content with her new life.
She’d starred in popular shows like Ally McBeal, Nip/Tuck, Arrested Development, and Scandal. After those roles, the Australian actress started to feel like it was time for a change.
I was turning 45 and really starting to think about what I hadn’t tried yet – something truly challenging and new. I’d been acting for a while and had a good idea of what the next decade or two would look like in my career, so I made the big decision to step away from acting and try my hand at building a business instead. It felt like the right time for a change!
Her company, General Public, which creates art for everyone, was almost complete – she just needed to finish one final piece.
As a huge Arrested Development fan, I was pretty upfront with Mitch Hurwitz, the show’s creator. I’d actually decided to step away from acting, so I called him and let him know that if they did a fifth season, I wouldn’t be participating. He was incredibly cool about it – totally understood where I was coming from, and we had a really good talk. I was so surprised and grateful that he ended up writing me into five episodes anyway!
It’s understandable why, after winning three Oscars, an actor might consider retiring. Following his sixth Oscar nomination for his 2017 film, Phantom Thread, the actor announced through his representative that he was retiring from acting. The statement expressed his gratitude to those he’d worked with and his audiences over the years, and clarified that this was a personal decision, with no further comments to be made.
Just as Daniel Day-Lewis had announced his retirement from acting, a new project drew him back in. In October 2024, Focus Features revealed he would star in Anemone, a film he co-wrote with his son, Ronan Day-Lewis, who is also directing.
After finding fame on Good Luck Charlie, she decided to focus on her education in 2018. She went on to earn both a master’s degree and a PhD from MIT, and later attended Harvard Law School.
On top of everything else, Bridgit founded Northwood Space, a company building ground stations for sending and receiving data from satellites. She became the CEO of Northwood Space in February 2023.
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2026-05-12 05:50