Greta Garbo, Two-Faced Woman
After Two-Faced Woman received poor reviews, Greta Garbo abruptly left Hollywood at only 36 years old. Despite decades of speculation and massive offers, she never returned to acting again.
Cary Grant, Walk, Don’t Run
Cary Grant retired after Walk, Don’t Run to focus on family life and business interests. Rather than continue aging onscreen, he chose to leave Hollywood while still closely associated with classic leading-man charm.
Rick Moranis, Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves
Rick Moranis largely stepped away from live-action acting after Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves to raise his children following his wife’s death. The beloved comedy actor became one of Hollywood’s most famously private retirees.
Jack Nicholson, How Do You Know
Although he never formally announced retirement, Jack Nicholson has not acted since How Do You Know. Years of retirement rumors and comments from friends effectively turned the romantic comedy into his farewell film.
Phoebe Cates, The Anniversary Party
Phoebe Cates stepped away from acting after The Anniversary Party to focus on raising her family. Despite her cult popularity from the 1980s, she has remained almost completely absent from Hollywood ever since.
Mara Wilson, Thomas and the Magic Railroad
Former child star Mara Wilson retired from onscreen acting after Thomas and the Magic Railroad, later explaining she no longer enjoyed the pressures of the industry and preferred writing and voice work instead.
