The 'Easy Rider' (1969) actor has never actually announced his retirement, so many fans aren't aware they may never see him in a movie again.
Jack Nicholson, now in his mid-eighties, had an acting career that spanned more than 50 years. No one would blame him for calling it a day.
You'd be forgiven for thinking that Portia de Rossi was still in the business–after all, she did appear in the second season of Netflix's 'Arrested Development' reboot.
In his nineties now, Academy Award-winning actor Gene Hackman made his last movie all the way back in 2004 when he starred in 'Welcome to Mooseport.' That doesn't stop fans from hoping, however.
Best known for his role as Horatio Caine on 'CSI: Miami,' former actor David Caruso has been retired from the business since 2012, although no formal announcement was made.
Irish actor Jack Gleeson found fame thanks to his role as perhaps the most despicable character in TV history: King Joffrey on 'Game of Thrones.'
It would seem that Caruso does his best to stay out of the limelight nowadays, although we do know that after retirement he opened an art gallery in California.
But he did make several movie appearances between 2012 and 2015, and in 2022 he returned to star in the miniseries 'Last Light.'
Lisa Bonet started in the industry as a child actor and made it big thanks to her role as Denise Huxtable on 'The Cosby Show.' She hasn't acted for years now though.
Admittedly, this one doesn't really count since actor Terrence Howard has already come out of retirement to work on a number of TV projects.
Bonet has not officially announced her retirement from acting, but she has not appeared in anything since a short in 2017, 'Jellywolf.'
He did announce in 2019, however, that he was "done with acting." This came after he found success with the film 'Hustle & Flow' (2005) and the TV drama 'Empire.'
Sources: (Best Life) (Variety) (WhatCulture)
See also: Stars who continued their careers after being 'canceled'
After his time on the show wrapped, Gleeson decided that acting wasn't for him, and he retired in 2014. Initially he went into academia, but then moved over to theater production, and he briefly returned to television in 2020 for two episodes of BBC's 'Out of Her Mind.'
She spoke in 'Introducing Selma Blair' about suffering with multiple sclerosis. She has since stated, however, that she would be open to acting again if the role were right.
The former actor is most definitely retired though. In January 2020, he gave an interview to Empire, in which he explained he had retired for health reasons.
Steve Martin has had a distinguished career spanning several decades and is experiencing renewed success as one of the stars of the hit series 'Only Murders in the Building.' However, he also revealed that he's considering hanging up his hat for good after this role. "When this television show is done, I’m not going to seek others. I’m not going to seek other movies. I don’t want to do cameos," he told the Hollywood Reporter. "This is, weirdly, it."
In March of 2022, the seasoned actor's family announced that he had been diagnosed with aphasia and would be retiring from acting as a result. Aphasia is a rare disorder that impairs the ability to process language, speak, and understand others. It was a devastating diagnosis and a huge shock to all those who have enjoyed Willis' work for decades.
Part of the statement read: "Daniel Day-Lewis will no longer be working as an actor. He is immensely grateful to all of his collaborators and audiences over the many years."
On Feb. 16, 2023, his family shared a further update about the actor's health. Willis had received a new diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia.
This isn't the first time Martin has made moves towards retirement. “My wife keeps saying, ‘You always say you’re going to retire and then you always come up with something,’” he revealed. While he feels ready to take a step back, the entertainment industry might not allow him to slip away! New projects and ideas keep popping up to delay his departure.
From Bruce Willis to Daniel Day-Lewis, many actors have made the decision to step away from their trade, whether for health reasons or due to a sense of satisfaction with what they've achieved.
While some actors went out with a bang and made a big retirement announcement, others slipped away quietly. Whatever the case, check out this gallery to discover some actors you didn't realize may never act again.
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Sadly, her return to acting was shortlived. In March 2023, before filming on 'Back in Action' had even wrapped, word spread that Diaz had decided to retire once again. Sources close to the star said she didn't enjoy the long days on set away from her family and would step back again after the movie was complete.
Cameron Diaz disappeared from the spotlight after her appearance in the 2014 movie 'Annie.' A few years later, she confirmed that she had retired from acting. However, in 2022, Diaz announced that she was returning to the big screen to star in the movie 'Back in Action' opposite Jamie Foxx.
Actors you didn't realize may never act again
Did you know that some of these stars are officially retired?
CELEBRITY Acting
From Bruce Willis to Daniel Day-Lewis, many actors have made the decision to step away from their trade, whether for health reasons or due to a sense of satisfaction with what they've achieved.
While some actors went out with a bang and made a big retirement announcement, others slipped away quietly. Whatever the case, check out this gallery to discover some actors you didn't realize may never act again.