Rick Moranis, a major comedy star of the ’80s and ’90s, left Hollywood to focus on raising his children after his wife passed away.

His decision to step away from fame has been widely discussed, marking a rare choice in an industry where few walk away at their peak.

Image: Erik Mclean

Macaulay Culkin rose to global fame as a child, but the pressure and family troubles made it a heavy burden. Since the ’90s, he has acted occasionally but has largely stayed out of the spotlight.

These days, he plays with a pizza-themed Velvet Underground cover band.

Image: Kira Cherkavskaya

While his brother Charlie Sheen has been in the limelight quite a bit, for better or worse, Estevez has largely disappeared. He was a member of The Brat Pack for a while, and became most known for portraying Billy the Kid in "Young Guns".

Image: Taylor Brandon

Lou Ferrigno rose to fame in the late ’70s and ’80s as the Hulk, bringing the comic book character to life with his massive frame.

Despite his TV success, he never matched the film career of rival Arnold Schwarzenegger. His hearing loss, around 80% deaf, made acting and studio investment more difficult.

Image: Limor Zellermayer

Mara Wilson, known for ’90s hits like Matilda and Mrs. Doubtfire, was a familiar face in her childhood. In 2012, she explained her decision to leave acting, calling it unfun, the fame "ridiculous," and auditions "brutal and dehumanizing."

Image: Lia Den

Sarah Michelle Gellar rose to fame in ’90s teen hits and earned a loyal fan base with Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But, after starring in Scooby-Doo and marrying co-star Freddie Prinze Jr., she gradually stepped back from acting, taking on fewer roles.

Image: Igam Ogam

Neve Campbell was a major star in the ’90s and early 2000s with Party of Five and the Scream films. Her face became instantly recognizable.

Despite her success, she chose a different path. After four Scream movies, she stepped away from the franchise due to a salary dispute.

Image: Jakob Owens

Mike Myers hasn’t officially retired but has slowed his Hollywood career. He starred in Wayne’s World and played multiple roles in the Austin Powers films. But, since The Love Guru, he has kept a lower profile, making the occasional appearance in films like Inglourious Basterds and Bohemian Rhapsody.

Image: Илья Мельниченко

Meg Ryan ruled ’90s rom-coms with hits like When Harry Met Sally and You’ve Got Mail before gradually stepping back. Media scrutiny of her personal life played a role in her retreat.

She hasn’t left the industry entirely, shifting to directing and choosing only select roles. Ryan now keeps a distance from mainstream Hollywood, focusing on indie projects that interest her.

Image: The Paris Photographer

Matt LeBlanc will always be known as Joey, a role that's been hard to shake despite his efforts. He earned praise for his later work in Episodes, but hasn’t reached the same level of post-Friends success as co-star Jennifer Aniston.

These days, he stays far away from the limelight and has decided to take it easy for as long as he wants to.

Image: Mahrous Houses

Liv Tyler shone as Arwen in The Lord of the Rings, showing she was more than just Steven Tyler’s daughter. And, while she didn’t reach the critical acclaim of some co-stars, she maintained a steady career, including a role in the Emmy-nominated The Leftovers.

Image: D A V I D S O N L U N A

Bridget Fonda, part of the famous Fonda family, began acting young and appeared in Easy Rider at age five.

After graduating from NYU, she quickly built a film career, seemingly destined for acting. But in 2002, she retired unexpectedly and has stayed off-screen since.

Image: René Ranisch