Celebrities That Are Shockingly Working Regular Jobs Now
Celebrity is a funny thing, one day you're famous, the next day you're not. Some stars hit it big and remain in the limelight for the rest of their lives while others return to their regular pre-fame lives. Check out this list of celebrities who now work regular jobs!
The Sherminator Does Sushi
Chris Owen, best known as "The Sherminator" from the American Pie film series, has fallen from grace. He found it hard to escape his typecasted character and now works as a sushi waiter in Los Angeles.
In 2014, the New York Daily News covered his current work as a waiter. When asked about waiting tables, Chris responded, "life doesn’t always go the way you planned. I love acting, and this job lets me stay in the fight."
2 Legit To Quit After Bankruptcy
Mr. "Can't Touch This" has tried his hand in many different professions since his musical heyday. In the 1990s Hammer owned a stable full of very successful racehorses. By 1996, Hammer's world began to unravel when he filed for bankruptcy because of outlandish spending and legal issues.
Since then, M.C. Hammer turned his life to God and became a preacher. He may focus on god, but the once famous rapper still dabbles in reality TV. Hammer appeared in the VH1 show The Surreal Life, and even later had his show called Hammertime. He has also started several companies and currently owns a Mixed Martial Artist company.
From The NBA To Panhandling
Delonte West was destined for basketball greatness from the start of his high school days. He made it the NBA and was even a bonafide star before his fame began to dwindle. Throughout his career, he struggled with various legal problems and injuries. In more recent times, the former NBA star was spotted on the streets with no shoes on his feet.
After losing his NBA contract, he signed to some foreign leagues before eventually leaving basketball. After his basketball life, he took a furniture salesman job. Several people close to the former baller have said he suffered from bipolar disorder and other mental health issues.
Mental Illness Strikes Beloved Child Star
Amanda Bynes was a child star known for the sketch comedy show “All That!," a kid version of Saturday Night Live. Amanda was also a kid stand up comedian. Throughout her teen years and early adulthood, she appeared in some teen films including “What A Girl Wants” and “She’s The Man.”
Her last role was in 2011’s “Easy A,” a surprising comedy hit which garnered great reviews and starred Emma Stone. Sadly, not long after her last role, Amanda began to exhibit strange behavior while in public including multiple run-ins with the law which caused her to leave acting behind.
Hairspray Casting Foretold Future Job
Nikki Blonsky landed the role of Tracey Turnblad, the star of the hit play Hairspray while working at Coldstone Creamery in 2006. Soon she was living the high life and hobnobbing with stars like John Travolta and Christopher Walken.
The following year, Nikki was able to record an album with the musician Duncan Sheik. She would go on to take small roles in “Ugly Betty” and “Smash." As of 2011, Nikki Blonsky has been working part-time in a hair salon as a makeup artist. Although, she has said that she still pursues acting and in 2017 snagged a role in the film “Dog Years” which stars Burt Reynolds.
Danica McKellar: From Winnie to Math Wiz
Actress Danica McKellar played Winnie Cooper, Kevin Arnold's love interest in the hit TV series The Wonder Years. After leaving the show, McKellar attended UCLA and proved to be very talented at math. She graduated with a BS degree in Mathematics and went on to write several non-fiction books.
All of her books are angled to show the sexier side of math, in an attempt to peak the interest of middle and high school-aged girls. McKellar is the author of Kiss My Math, Hot X: Algebra Exposed, Girls Get Curves, Geometry Takes Shape, and Math Doesn't Suck.
Lucy Liu is an Intense Artist
Fans first heard of Lucy Liu when she played the part of Ling Woo in Ally McBeal. Since her TV debut, Liu has a long list of films she's appeared in, including Kill Bill and Charlie's Angels. With around 30 years of acting under her belt, it's understandable that Liu would want to pull back from the industry and see what else is out there.
Liu has taken her artistic ability and applied it elsewhere- art! The actress creates silk screens, sculptures, and abstract pieces that show there's more to Liu than we've yet to see.
Gary Dourdan is a DJ
Actor Gary Dourdan rose to fame after playing Warrick Brown on the hit TV series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Right as the TV show wrapped up filming, Dourdan found himself in trouble. In 2008, Dourdan was arrested for possession of controlled substances. Just a few years after, he was arrested again, this time for felony battery after roughing up his girlfriend at the time.
Now Dourdan has largely stepped out of the spotlight and is focusing on being a DJ and collecting classic cars. Working as a DJ doesn't sound bad at all!
Brendan Fraser is an Amateur Photographer
Brendan Fraser is a household name, known for his roles in George of the Jungle, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and Crash. Fraser then went on a hiatus from acting and discovered other things that he's passionate about.
One of those things is photography. Fraser now serves on the board of directors for FilmAid International and enjoys working with Polaroids. He's an accomplished amateur photographer and spends a great deal of time behind a lens.
Tomboy Tori Goes Behind The Scenes
Leanna Creel was the actress who played tomboy Tori on Saved by the Bell. After the popular TV series ended, she went on to act in bit roles until 1997. After that, she took her place behind the camera. Leanna completed her Master’s degree from UCLA in film and TV and now has some producer and executive producer credits under her belt.
She also co-founded a production company called Ignite Entertainment. She married in 2008 after California legalized gay marriage. Along with her wife Rinat, they share two children together.
Rick Moranis’s Tragic Loss
"Who you gonna call?" You probably best remember Rick Moranis from the hit films Ghostbusters and Honey I Shrunk the Kids. Rick’s last roles came in 1994’s The Flinstones and 1996’s Big Bully. The following year, his beloved wife passed away from breast cancer.
Rick has said about his departure from the acting world, "I'm a single parent, and I just found that it was too difficult to manage to raise my kids and to do the traveling involved in making movies. So I took a little bit of a break. And the little bit of a break turned into a longer break, and then I found that I really didn't miss it." In 2004 Moranis released an album called "Agoraphobic Cowboy" which was in the running for a Grammy.
NBA Star Loses Fortune
Another NBA star and one-time champion made our list. Antoine Walker had a successful career in the NBA and is considered one of the greats He played for over a decade and earned some big paychecks. Like many athletes, he mismanaged his money and went broke.
He now plays one-on-one games and spends time on development league teams in a late-ditch effort to make some money playing the game he loves. He was also involved in a decade-long relationship with Evelyn Lozada of Basketball Wives. She left him after the well had gone dry on their finances.
Darla The Barista
The 1990s brought us many golden nuggets of popular culture, and one of them was a remake of the classic TV show Little Rascals. One of the cutest little Rascals around was the character of Darla who was played by the child actress Brittany Ashton Holmes.
Brittany did a stellar job for a five-year-old in her role and was often said to be the “closest” portrayal out of all the kids. Since then, Brittany has not been active in Hollywood or the acting scene in general. At one point, she was an employee at Starbucks. Now she is working on getting her degree while living with her husband in LA.
Wu-Tang Collaborator Is Homeless?
Cappadonna was a rapper who worked with the Wu-Tang Clan in their very early days of formation. He also later had two solo albums while appearing on various Wu-Tang albums. However, Cappadonna claims he has only gotten one royalty check throughout his career.
He has also never been referred by Wu as an official member of the group although many fans consider him to be integral to their success. He is now homeless and chooses to live on the streets as a way to rebel against materialism. He also drives a taxi cab to support his family.
The Golden Ticket = Veterinary Medicine
You might not recognize Peter Ostrum by his name, but you would undoubtedly recall him from his childhood photographs. His character from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Charlie, gave hope to those down on their luck when he found he had obtained a golden ticket.
In real life, Peter Ostrum is a real one-hit wonder, partly because he did not pursue acting any further after his iconic work with Gene Wilder. He is now entirely out of the spotlight and has received an education in veterinary medicine. He currently works as a vet living in New York with a specialty in large animals.
Multi-Talented Athlete Passes It On
Charlie Ward is one of those athletes that could play every sport. Ward won the Heisman Trophy in college and became drafted to both the NBA and MLB. He was also a talented tennis player.
Charlie was able to escape professional sports without any major scandals, which is a significant feat in this day and age. After he retired from his professional career, he found a new job that didn't make him stray far from his love of athletics. Charlie now works as a high school football coach in Florida.
Charlie Turns To Law
Charlie Korsmo acted as a child and throughout his young adulthood in movies like “Hook” and “Can't Hardly Wait.” However, as his adolescence came to a close so did his time on the silver screen, and he decided to embark on a new career path. He attended the very impressive MIT and received a degree in Physics.
He continued to the Yale School of Law with a JD earned in 2006. He then went on to work for the Environmental Protection Agency and the Republican party. He currently works as a professor at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, Ohio.
From The Shining To Biology
Redrum, anyone? Danny Lloyd was chosen for one of the scariest roles ever at the ripe old age of six. Danny appeared in Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece horror film “The Shining" after he proved that he was able to concentrate better than most children his age.
Apparently, Danny was not quite aware of what he was filming and was under the impression it was a drama film, not a horror film. Danny only appeared in one other film, a TV movie, and did not continue to pursue acting roles. The word around town says that today, he is a biology professor in Kentucky.
Alicia Silverstone Ventured Into Writing
Known for her roles in Clueless and Batman & Robin, Alicia Silverstone has a pretty solid career as an actress throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. She even landed some smaller roles later in her career.
However, she ventured out from in front of the camera and, by the late 2000s, went into writing. She released The Kind Diet in 2009 and a subsequent website, The Kind Life. The former title went on to top the New York Times bestseller list for the "Hardcover Advice & Misc." category.
Deuce Goes Restauranteur
Here is yet another football player on the list, Deuce McAllister was a great NFL'er for the New Orleans Saints. He played all of his eight seasons with the team and could have continued if it had not been for his injuries, which caused him to make other plans.
Deuce opened a restaurant in New Orleans called Deuce McAllister's Ole Saint Kitchen + Tap. Since 2016, he is also the color commentator for his old football team, the Saints, on AM radio station WWL.
Frankie Feels The Need For Speed
Remember Malcolm in the Middle? Frankie Muniz was the star of the long-running and well-acclaimed family sitcom. However, after it’s long tenure on TV, Frankie walked away from it all in 2008.
He decided to leave acting behind for good and pursue race car driving. Frankie also later attempted to make his foray into music some, it never led to a long-term gig. He recently got married and he and his wife have opened their own olive oil business in Arizona.
Join Freddie In The Kitchen
Freddie Prinze Jr. is the son of comedian Freddie Prinze, who sadly committed suicide at a very young age. Freddie later followed in his famous dad’s footsteps with a Hollywood career, and he was very successful in his younger years. Prinze Jr. was in a vast majority of teen movies back in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
He appeared in such smash hits as “She's All That” and “I Know What You Did Last Summer.” While on the set of the latter, he met his future wife and “Buffy” star Sarah Michelle Gellar. These days he remains mostly off-camera although he briefly worked as a director and producer for the WWE. Most recently, he used his culinary schooling and authored his very own cookbook.
Gary Coleman’s Tragic Life
Gary Coleman was a loveable child actor who was living an incredibly tumultuous life behind his famous smile. The Diff'rent Strokes star captured the hearts of many fans during the span of the show, but couldn't find much work after it ended. He also famously sued his parents for misappropriating the money he made from acting.
Although his case was successful, Gary was still forced to declare bankruptcy ten years later. Ultimately, he struggled much for work and appeared on reality television and even picked up a job as a security guard. While working, he was alleged to have assaulted a woman after she repeatedly questioned him about his former fame. Gary died after struggling with a multitude of health problems at the young age of 42.
Hank Aaron’s Smart Investments
Hank Aaron remains a well-known name today as is considered to be legendary within sports and mainly his sport of baseball. As all former ballplayers must do, he had to find something new once he retired. Aaron remained in Atlanta and decided to lend himself to entrepreneurship.
He eventually became the owner of around 20 Krispy Kremes and multiple car dealerships. He ultimately became the vice president of community relations for TBS. Hank is indeed an excellent example of a former professional athlete spending their funds in a responsible way that will keep him funded for the rest of his days.
Joffrey Turns His Back On Acting
Game of Thrones has become one of the most watched current shows on TV. We couldn't stop viewing during the spoiled antics of King Joffrey Baratheon played by actor Jack Gleeson. Viewers around the world were full of delight when his character was killed off in Season Three. Unfortunately for the audience so was Jack’s career.
He had been acting since he was eight-years-old but has now had a change of heart when it comes to his craft. He has stated that not even a big paycheck can make him want to act again. He is considering going back to school.
Hilary Is Typecast
Hilary was the cousin of Will in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and played by actress Karyn Parsons. On the show, the character was a spoiled princess, but underneath it all, she still had a good heart. She never got too spoiled in real life, however.
After The Fresh Prince of Bel Air end, Karyn Parsons had a problematic time getting any roles. Her iconic typecasted character appears to have made it hard for casting directors to see her like any other character. She now runs a non-profit called Sweet Blackberry.
The Goonies Goes Lawyer
Jeff Cohen was the loveable chubby star of the Steven Spielberg hit film “The Goonies.” Like many other child stars who ultimately grow up, he went through puberty and gained a different look. His new look made him look different from his childhood days, leaving him to find it to be difficult to land any new roles.
Instead, Jeff went to school and graduated with his JD from UCLA Law school. He realized the best place to be might be behind the camera, and that many people with careers behind the scenes had legal degrees, He is now a founding partner of Cohen and Gardner LLP.
Mean Girls Spin Class
Jonathan Bennett has a very recognizable face, especially for his role in the now cult classic movie Mean Girls alongside Lindsay Lohan. While his role did gain him recognition in Hollywood, he found it difficult to find more parts.
He did take on a role, for a while, as host of the TV show Cupcake Wars. After years of no work, he was forced to change industries. He now apparently works as a spin class instructor.
Kirk’s Preaching Adulthood
Kirk Cameron was a child star, and a lead on the fan favorite TV hit Growing Pains. Throughout his adolescence, Cameron was also considered a teen heartthrob. Today, Kirk is part of a Christian church that he heads.
Cameron has strongly denounced homosexuality and other issues that have become hot topics in recent years. He also ended up marrying his girlfriend from the show, Chelsea Noble, and the two have six children together.
Liam Loves Fashion
Liam Gallagher was a part of the massively successful band Oasis alongside his brother Noel. The two are famously at odds and often combat each other in interviews, in private, and even on stage in front of their hordes of fans. Ultimately their seemingly endless fighting caused the band to split up.
At first, Liam tried to assemble a new group that released two albums which didn't see much success. The brothers have also continued to trade barbs in various media interviews about one another. Liam now heads up a fashion label.
Punk Turns Corporate
Lyle Preslar was the guitarist for the hardcore punk band Minor Threat. After the band dissolved, he attempted to play for a few other bands which had minor success. Eventually, he went on to study law. Still wanting to be involved in the music industry, Preslar became a record executive for Caroline Records.
Soon after he signed a few artists to the label, he went on to graduate from Rutgers School of Law. He is also married to a fellow music executive, Sandy Alouete, who works for VH1. The couple shares a child together. It’s not every day a punk musician turns corporate!
Matilda Writes
Mara Wilson was a child star best known for the mega-hit films “Mrs. Doubtfire” alongside Robin Williams and “Maltida” alongside Danny Devito. She was a critical darling and a prodigy for her age. The public were huge fans of her work as well. Unfortunately, she lost interest and decided to take a new route in her career.
She attended NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, graduating in 2009. Mara is still in a creative space, but she has decided to remain off-screen and has said that her acting days are behind her. She is now a writer and is vocal about a variety of issues on social media.
Metalhead Turned Real Estate Agent
Mercedes Lander was in the hardcore rock band named Kittie. Kittie was first formed back in 1996 after Mercedes and guitarist Fallon Bowman met in gym class. They were known primarily as an all-girl band but never really achieved massive notoriety.
They did have a minor hit that garnered some radio play with a song called "Brackish." However, their fame never really went anywhere. They later tried to change up their musical style to attract more listeners. Their efforts seemed to be in vain, and nowadays the former Kittie drummer is a real estate agent in Canada.
Pete Couldn’t Catch A Break
If you are a kid who grew up in the 1990s, you likely remember Nickelodeon's hit series “The Adventures of Pete and Pete.” Michael Maronna played the show's older brother, “Big Pete." After his claim to fame ended, he found it quite challenging to find work and had to transition into a different field.
Although, he didn’t stray too far from his original career, only this time he was behind the camera instead of in front of it. Michael is now said to be working as an electrician on film sets, and he also hosts a podcast.
Phoebe Left It Behind For Kevin?
Actress Phoebe Cates was one of the “It” girls of the 1980s. You might remember her from films that included “Gremlins” or “Drop Dead Fred.” Of course, you probably most remember her famous red bikini scene from “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.”
The dark-haired beauty seemed like she was in nearly every hit of the 1980s before she dropped out of sight. It turns out that Phoebe eventually married fellow actor Kevin Kline and disappeared from the limelight. Instead, she has opted to spend more time raising her family. In 2005 she also opened a boutique called the "Blue Tree" which is located on the Upper East Side of New York.
Al Franken: Challenging Republicans
If you have been paying attention to politics as of late, you have seen this Senator make his presence known. Al was one of the original writers on Saturday Night Live, working until 1980 and then returning for another decade stint from 1985 to 1995.
He remained involved in a few other film-related projects before jumping head-first into an entirely new venture. Al Franken ran for the Senate and was elected to be a face for the American people. He started serving in 2008 but resigned in 2018, after allegations of misconduct were made against him.
Shawn Supports Seven Kids
Shawn Kemp is a former NBA star who terrorized opponents by making backboard shattering slam dunks. However, off the court, he had some severe baby-mama drama after having seven kids by six different women.
Kemp also has been in the mix of a lot of legal issues including some relatively minor drug charges. He played in the NBA for fourteen seasons before retiring. For a time, the b-baller owned a sports bar in Seattle, which closed in 2015. He is now working as a basketball coach.
The Legendary Boxer’s Demise
Sonny Liston was a fantastic boxer who fought throughout the 1950s and the 1960s. Sonny’s name became synonymous with toughness, and he was known for knocking out his opponents. He was at one point even considered to be unbeatable. That was until he faced the legendary Muhammed Ali whom he lost his title to in 1965.
Not long after, Sonny Liston became a nightclub bouncer to pay the bills. Sadly, Sonny was never again able to rise to greatness, and he became a heroin addict. Eventually, his addiction took his life, and his wife found his body several days after he died back in 1970.
The Vegan Cheese Tycoon
You might remember actor Taran Noah Smith as the youngest son on the show Home Improvement. Because he was a child actor, his parents put the money he earned from the show into a trust fund. There was an alleged $1.5 million in the fund. However, Taran later claimed that his parents squandered his fortune by purchasing themselves a mansion.
In more recent years, Taran has said that he realized his parents did not take his fortune but were instead attempting to help out with his teenage spending habits. He later married a much older woman and started a non-dairy based cheese manufacturer in California.
T.O. Is Into Fashion
Terrell Owens (better known as T.O.) is one of the most excellent receivers in NFL history. He is also well-remembered for his showmanship and for being particularly flamboyant but on and off the field. Owens later faced a number of controversies, which included financial struggles and even a possible suicide attempt when he was said to overdose on hydrocodone.
Ultimately, he left football behind him and then fell into massive debt. Soon he began appearing on reality TV, including the Vh1 show “The T.O. Show”. He now claims to be a philanthropist, a model, and has also founded his own fashion line called The Prototype.
Tiffany’s Boutique
Tiffany Darwish is better known by the singular moniker – Tiffany. Back in the 1980s, she was a young woman who appealed to the teenage crowd with an array of pop hits. Darwish also appeared in various TV programs and films of the era, both in appearance and to lend her vocal talents. She attempted to continue her music career throughout the 1990s but was unable to reproduce the magic of her earlier career.
Tiffany eventually returned to the average life of a non-famous person. In the 2000s, she had a bit of career rebirth when she posed for Playboy and also appeared on a variety of reality television including Vh1’s “Celebrity Fit Club”. These days she runs a boutique shop in Tennessee.
Tony Loves To Teach
Tony Danza was a professional boxer before becoming a television star and a household name. In fact, he was spotted in the ring and was later offered a role on the hit show Taxi. He later starred in “Who's the Boss?” and a variety of other programs over the years, including the film “Angels In The Outfield.” Danza later briefly left acting to pursue another career that he dreamed about while in his youth – teaching.
In 2009, he spent a year teaching in a Philadelphia classroom and even wrote a book on the experience, which was mostly a public apology to the teachers he had throughout his life. He has since returned to acting and announced that he would be starring in a new Netflix series called The Good Cop.
Real Estate With Vanilla Ice
Vanilla Ice was a one-hit wonder back in the day with his smash hit “Ice Ice Baby.” However, the song was so popular that it entered the pop culture lexicon and gave him cult icon status. For some years, Ice was frequently appearing in various reality television shows like “The Surreal Life.” The one-time rapper now makes a living renovating and selling homes.
On top of that, he teaches classes on real estate investing and has a show on the DIY Network titled Vanilla Ice Project. Vanilla Ice also has a book called "Get Rich Flipping Houses."
School Is Back In Session
Vince Young was once considered to be a fantastic football player and was one of the first players drafted in 2006. He had forgone his senior year at The University of Texas at Austin to enter the draft.
Young played for the Tennessee Titans for less than a decade. After retiring, he went back to The University of Texas to work with the Division of Diversity Community Engagement. He is now 37-years-old and has been married to Candice Johnson for eight years.
Working For The Lord
Demond Wilson is best known for playing Lamont Sanford in the hit 1970s NBC sitcom Sanford and Son. He played Redd Foxx’s son, Lamont, in the series. After the show ended, Wilson continued acting in various before deciding that showbusiness was not for him. Instead, he left behind the Hollywood lifestyle and became an ordained minister.
Nowadays he spends his time preaching to those in need, especially former prison inmates. He’s also written children's books and a "behind the scenes" book about Sanford and Son. He has done some TV work. However, it has mostly been for the Trinity Broadcasting Network, a Christian television station.
