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Would you leave Hollywood to become a contractor? Or to be a stay-at-home mom? Meet the stars who left Hollywood for regular jobs.

Jack Gleeson: Student


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Jack Gleeson: Student

Everyone’s least favorite king of Westeros told Entertainment Weekly that he’s quit acting for good. Why? He says it’s just not fun anymore.

“It was always something I did for recreation with my friends, or in the summer for some fun. I enjoyed it. When you make a living from something, it changes your relationship with it. It’s not like I hate it, it’s just not what I want to do.”

What’s he up to now? The Game of Thrones star says he’s going to finish his final year of school and then get his graduate degree (but we think he’ll be back).

Amanda Bynes


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Amanda Bynes: Fashion Designer

Before the driveway burning incident that landed her under a psychiatrist’s care, Amanda Bynes announced that she was quitting Hollywood to focus on fashion. We think it might be a good change of pace. That is, once Amanda’s feeling better.

Kel Mitchell


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Kel Mitchell: Family Man

After he fell out with his Keenan and Kel co-star, Kel Mitchell dropped off the map so suddenly that there were rumors that he was dead.

But Kel was very much alive and focusing on “his Christianity and raising a family.” But in the last few years he’s popped up doing voice over work and a few Christian films and we hope it’s a sign the funny man is slowly working his way back to the big screen.

Anne Hathaway


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Anne Hathaway: Housewife

Right at the peak of #hathahate, Anne quit acting to enjoy family life with her husband Adam Shulman because she says she felt people “needed a break” from her.

But now we’re glad to see that she’s back in Interstellar and we’re ready to vote from the Oscar winner again.

Sean Connery


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Sean Connery:Retiree

In 2003, the original James Bond announced that he was retiring from acting for good. It’s a timely end to a long career. We just wish he hadn’t finished it with 2003’s flop The League of Extraordinary Gentleman.

Kevin Jonas


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Kevin Jonas: Contractor

The oldest Jonas Brother quit the music biz to be a contractor and even appeared on an episode of The Real Housewives of New Jersey after he started his new gig.

Dave Chappelle


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Dave Chappelle: Expat

It’s been almost 10 years since Dave Chappelle quit The Chappelle Show before the last season and moved to Africa. Hollywood was abuzz with rumors that he’d gone crazy, but we were all happy to see he was still one of the sanest men in America when he finally made his comedy comeback.

Uzo Aduba


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Uzo Aduba: ???

The Orange Is The New Black actress quit acting and was contemplating her non-famous future just before she got the call that she was cast as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren on Orange is The New Black. We’re certainly glad she decided to come back!

Halle Berry


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Halle Berry: Stay At Home Mom

Halle scared everyone back in 2011 when she told reporters, “I love making movies but I would give it all up to be with my daughter if I had to because she’s the love of my life.”

It was a sweet motherly moment, but lucky for us Halle found a way to balance work and family and came back to the big screen.

Lark Voorhies


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Lark Voorhies: Painter

The Saved By The Bell Star shocked everyone when she popped back out of obscurity acting… odd. But Lark says that everything’s fine and she’s switched professions from acting to painting.

Where can you find her art? Lark says nowhere right now because she “keeps them all to [her]self.”

Karyn Parsons


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Karyn Parsons: Non-Profiteer

Why haven’t you heard much from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air star in roughly a decade? Because now she’s devoting her time to Sweet Blackberry, a non-profit dedicated to teaching children about unsung heroes in black history.

Gene Hackman


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Gene Hackman: Writer

Why haven’t you seen Gene Hackman on the big screen recently? Because the A-list actor has traded in his acting chops for writing credit.

Since his career switch in 2004 he’s written several historical fiction novels.

Geena Davis


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Geena Davis: Social Activist

Once upon a time, the Thelma & Louise and A League Of Their Own was A-list Hollywood gold. But Geena decided to let acting take a back seat to the big problem she saw in Hollywood: women’s portrayal in the media.

So she quit her full-time acting job to found the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. And you can find he there working for gender equality when she’s not snagging the occasional part in Grey’s Anatomy.

Jonathan Taylor Thomas


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Jonathan Taylor Thomas: Writer

Weren’t over our JTT crush when the Home Improvement Star chit acting in the early 2000s.

But since he spent that time finishing up degrees at Harvard and Columbia, we can’t be too mad. And since he’s turned his post-grad attention to acting at least we’ll get to see him behind the scenes.