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See Also
See Again
© Getty Images
0 / 29 Fotos
Cameron Diaz
- After her role in the film 'Annie' in 2014, Cameron Diaz stepped away from public view. Some time later, she officially announced her retirement from acting. Nevertheless, in 2022, she surprised fans by revealing her comeback in the film 'Back in Action,' where she stars alongside Jamie Foxx.
© Getty Images
1 / 29 Fotos
Cameron Diaz
- Regrettably, her comeback in the acting world was brief. In March 2023, even before the completion of 'Back in Action,' news circulated that Diaz had chosen to retire again. Sources close to the star said she didn't enjoy the long days on set away from her family and she chose to step back after wrapping up the movie.
© Getty Images
2 / 29 Fotos
Eva Mendes
- Eva Mendes has not appeared in any project after the film 'Lost River' (2014). However, in 2020, she disclosed the motive behind this unexpected hiatus.
© Reuters
3 / 29 Fotos
Eva Mendes
- On Hola, she told a fan, "as a mother now, there are many roles I won't do. There are many subject matters that I don't want to be involved with, so it limits my choices and I'm fine with that."
© Getty Images
4 / 29 Fotos
Jack Nicholson
- Jack Nicholson had a successful acting career that lasted over 50 years. It is understandable that he wants to retire.
© Getty Images
5 / 29 Fotos
Jack Nicholson
- Unlike his role as Warren Schmidt in the film 'About Schmidt' (2002), the actor has not officially announced his retirement. Most fans are unaware that they may never see him in a movie again.
© Getty Images
6 / 29 Fotos
Amanda Bynes
- Amanda Bynes, a former Nickelodeon star, announced her retirement at a very young age, but she had already had a successful career in TV and film by that time.
© Getty Images
7 / 29 Fotos
Amanda Bynes
- Bynes announced her retirement from the industry on Twitter after working with Emma Stone in 'Easy A' (2010). In 2018 she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and she has been struggling with mental health issues.
© Getty Images
8 / 29 Fotos
Daniel Day-Lewis
- Daniel Day-Lewis's performance in 'Phantom Thread' (2017) will likely be his last, or so his team told Variety that same year.
© NL Beeld
9 / 29 Fotos
Daniel Day-Lewis
- According to a statement, Daniel Day-Lewis decided to retire from acting. He expressed gratitude towards his collaborators and the public for their support over the years.
© Getty Images
10 / 29 Fotos
Bruce Willis
- In March 2022, the actor's family announced that Willis had been diagnosed with aphasia and would subsequently retire from acting. Aphasia is a rare condition that affects the ability to process language, speak, and understand others. This came as a huge shock to all those who have enjoyed Willis' work for decades.
© Getty Images
11 / 29 Fotos
Bruce Willis
- On February 16, 2023, the actor's family provided an additional update regarding his health, revealing that Willis had received a new diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia.
© Getty Images
12 / 29 Fotos
Robert Redford
- Despite some recent voice work, Robert Redford officially retired in 2018 after starring in 'The Old Man & the Gun.'
© NL Beeld
13 / 29 Fotos
Robert Redford
- At that time, Redford told Entertainment Weekly, "Never say never, but I pretty well concluded that this would be it for me in terms of acting, and [I'll] move towards retirement."
© NL Beeld
14 / 29 Fotos
Steve Martin
- Steve Martin has a career spanning decades and is enjoying new success as one of the stars of the hit series 'Only Murders in the Building.' However, he also revealed that he's thinking about 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.
© Getty Images
15 / 29 Fotos
Steve Martin
- Martin has expressed his will to retire several times, however, a certain someone has noticed a pattern. “My wife keeps saying, 'You always say you’re going to retire and then you always come up with something',”Will the industry allow him to slip away this time?
© Getty Images
16 / 29 Fotos
Gene Hackman
- Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman hasn't starred in a movie since his role in 'Welcome to Mooseport' (2004). But his fans still hope for a comeback.
© Getty Images
17 / 29 Fotos
Gene Hackman
- Sadly, the actor is undoubtedly retired. In January 2020, he granted an interview to Empire where he clarified his retirement was due to health issues.
© Getty Images
18 / 29 Fotos
David Caruso
- Best known for his role as Horatio Caine on 'CSI: Miami,' David Caruso has been out of the acting scene since 2012 without any official statement.
© Getty Images
19 / 29 Fotos
David Caruso
- Caruso appears to maintain a low profile these days, but it's known that he opened an art gallery in California after he retired from acting.
© Getty Images
20 / 29 Fotos
Lisa Bonet
- Lisa Bonet started her career as a child actor and made it big thanks to her role as Denise Huxtable on 'The Cosby Show.' However, it has been a while since she last appeared on screen.
© Getty Images
21 / 29 Fotos
Lisa Bonet
- Bonet has not made a formal announcement regarding her retirement from acting, yet she has been away from the screen since the short film 'Jellywolf' was released in 2017.
© Getty Images
22 / 29 Fotos
Selma Blair
- The actress, who became known for such films as 'Cruel Intentions' (1999) and 'Legally Blonde' (2001), expressed her decision to retire from acting in her 2021 documentary 'Introducing, Selma Blair.'
© Getty Images
23 / 29 Fotos
Selma Blair
- In 'Introducing Selma Blair,' she talked about her experience with multiple sclerosis. Nevertheless, she also mentioned that she would consider returning to acting if a suitable opportunity arose.
© Getty Images
24 / 29 Fotos
Matthew Fox
- The actor, who became famous for his roles on the popular TV shows 'Party of Five' and 'Lost,' has been retired since 'Lost' ended in 2010. He moved to Oregon to enjoy time flying his personal plane.
© Getty Images
25 / 29 Fotos
Matthew Fox
- However, he did appear in a few movies from 2012 to 2015, and in 2022 he made a comeback to star in the miniseries 'Last Light.'
© Getty Images
26 / 29 Fotos
Michael Caine
- The 90-year-old knight of cinema has decided to call it a wrap, and announced his retirement on BBC Radio 4’s 'Best of Today' podcast on October 14, 2023. It seems he’s hung up his acting boots for good this time.
© Getty Images
27 / 29 Fotos
Michael Caine
- The original 'Alfie' (1966) has cried wolf about retirement quite a few times, but he assures fans that this time it is not a rehearsal. The final act is indeed here for the nonagenarian. Sources: (Best Life) (Variety) (WhatCulture) See also: Stars who continued their careers after being 'canceled'
© Getty Images
28 / 29 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 29 Fotos
Cameron Diaz
- After her role in the film 'Annie' in 2014, Cameron Diaz stepped away from public view. Some time later, she officially announced her retirement from acting. Nevertheless, in 2022, she surprised fans by revealing her comeback in the film 'Back in Action,' where she stars alongside Jamie Foxx.
© Getty Images
1 / 29 Fotos
Cameron Diaz
- Regrettably, her comeback in the acting world was brief. In March 2023, even before the completion of 'Back in Action,' news circulated that Diaz had chosen to retire again. Sources close to the star said she didn't enjoy the long days on set away from her family and she chose to step back after wrapping up the movie.
© Getty Images
2 / 29 Fotos
Eva Mendes
- Eva Mendes has not appeared in any project after the film 'Lost River' (2014). However, in 2020, she disclosed the motive behind this unexpected hiatus.
© Reuters
3 / 29 Fotos
Eva Mendes
- On Hola, she told a fan, "as a mother now, there are many roles I won't do. There are many subject matters that I don't want to be involved with, so it limits my choices and I'm fine with that."
© Getty Images
4 / 29 Fotos
Jack Nicholson
- Jack Nicholson had a successful acting career that lasted over 50 years. It is understandable that he wants to retire.
© Getty Images
5 / 29 Fotos
Jack Nicholson
- Unlike his role as Warren Schmidt in the film 'About Schmidt' (2002), the actor has not officially announced his retirement. Most fans are unaware that they may never see him in a movie again.
© Getty Images
6 / 29 Fotos
Amanda Bynes
- Amanda Bynes, a former Nickelodeon star, announced her retirement at a very young age, but she had already had a successful career in TV and film by that time.
© Getty Images
7 / 29 Fotos
Amanda Bynes
- Bynes announced her retirement from the industry on Twitter after working with Emma Stone in 'Easy A' (2010). In 2018 she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and she has been struggling with mental health issues.
© Getty Images
8 / 29 Fotos
Daniel Day-Lewis
- Daniel Day-Lewis's performance in 'Phantom Thread' (2017) will likely be his last, or so his team told Variety that same year.
© NL Beeld
9 / 29 Fotos
Daniel Day-Lewis
- According to a statement, Daniel Day-Lewis decided to retire from acting. He expressed gratitude towards his collaborators and the public for their support over the years.
© Getty Images
10 / 29 Fotos
Bruce Willis
- In March 2022, the actor's family announced that Willis had been diagnosed with aphasia and would subsequently retire from acting. Aphasia is a rare condition that affects the ability to process language, speak, and understand others. This came as a huge shock to all those who have enjoyed Willis' work for decades.
© Getty Images
11 / 29 Fotos
Bruce Willis
- On February 16, 2023, the actor's family provided an additional update regarding his health, revealing that Willis had received a new diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia.
© Getty Images
12 / 29 Fotos
Robert Redford
- Despite some recent voice work, Robert Redford officially retired in 2018 after starring in 'The Old Man & the Gun.'
© NL Beeld
13 / 29 Fotos
Robert Redford
- At that time, Redford told Entertainment Weekly, "Never say never, but I pretty well concluded that this would be it for me in terms of acting, and [I'll] move towards retirement."
© NL Beeld
14 / 29 Fotos
Steve Martin
- Steve Martin has a career spanning decades and is enjoying new success as one of the stars of the hit series 'Only Murders in the Building.' However, he also revealed that he's thinking about 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.
© Getty Images
15 / 29 Fotos
Steve Martin
- Martin has expressed his will to retire several times, however, a certain someone has noticed a pattern. “My wife keeps saying, 'You always say you’re going to retire and then you always come up with something',”Will the industry allow him to slip away this time?
© Getty Images
16 / 29 Fotos
Gene Hackman
- Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman hasn't starred in a movie since his role in 'Welcome to Mooseport' (2004). But his fans still hope for a comeback.
© Getty Images
17 / 29 Fotos
Gene Hackman
- Sadly, the actor is undoubtedly retired. In January 2020, he granted an interview to Empire where he clarified his retirement was due to health issues.
© Getty Images
18 / 29 Fotos
David Caruso
- Best known for his role as Horatio Caine on 'CSI: Miami,' David Caruso has been out of the acting scene since 2012 without any official statement.
© Getty Images
19 / 29 Fotos
David Caruso
- Caruso appears to maintain a low profile these days, but it's known that he opened an art gallery in California after he retired from acting.
© Getty Images
20 / 29 Fotos
Lisa Bonet
- Lisa Bonet started her career as a child actor and made it big thanks to her role as Denise Huxtable on 'The Cosby Show.' However, it has been a while since she last appeared on screen.
© Getty Images
21 / 29 Fotos
Lisa Bonet
- Bonet has not made a formal announcement regarding her retirement from acting, yet she has been away from the screen since the short film 'Jellywolf' was released in 2017.
© Getty Images
22 / 29 Fotos
Selma Blair
- The actress, who became known for such films as 'Cruel Intentions' (1999) and 'Legally Blonde' (2001), expressed her decision to retire from acting in her 2021 documentary 'Introducing, Selma Blair.'
© Getty Images
23 / 29 Fotos
Selma Blair
- In 'Introducing Selma Blair,' she talked about her experience with multiple sclerosis. Nevertheless, she also mentioned that she would consider returning to acting if a suitable opportunity arose.
© Getty Images
24 / 29 Fotos
Matthew Fox
- The actor, who became famous for his roles on the popular TV shows 'Party of Five' and 'Lost,' has been retired since 'Lost' ended in 2010. He moved to Oregon to enjoy time flying his personal plane.
© Getty Images
25 / 29 Fotos
Matthew Fox
- However, he did appear in a few movies from 2012 to 2015, and in 2022 he made a comeback to star in the miniseries 'Last Light.'
© Getty Images
26 / 29 Fotos
Michael Caine
- The 90-year-old knight of cinema has decided to call it a wrap, and announced his retirement on BBC Radio 4’s 'Best of Today' podcast on October 14, 2023. It seems he’s hung up his acting boots for good this time.
© Getty Images
27 / 29 Fotos
Michael Caine
- The original 'Alfie' (1966) has cried wolf about retirement quite a few times, but he assures fans that this time it is not a rehearsal. The final act is indeed here for the nonagenarian. Sources: (Best Life) (Variety) (WhatCulture) See also: Stars who continued their careers after being 'canceled'
© Getty Images
28 / 29 Fotos
Stars you didn't realize may never act again
Evangeline Lilly announces her retirement from acting at age 44
© Getty Images
Evangeline Lilly is the most recent actress to announce that she's saying goodbye to the spotlight. The 'Lost' star revealed her decision in an emotional Instagram post on June 5, writing, "Stepping away from what seems like the obvious choice (wealth and fame) can feel scary at times, but stepping into your dharma replaces the fear with fulfillment. I might return to Hollywood one day, but, for now, this is where I belong. A new season has arrived, and I AM READY...and I AM HAPPY." The post was accompanied by a behind-the-scenes video from the set of 'Lost' taken more than a decade earlier. Lilly is asked where she sees herself in 10 years, and she answers, "I’d like to be a retired actress and I would like to have a family… and potentially… influencing people’s lives in a more humanitarian way.” Lilly has ticked all those boxes, and wrote, “I am so filled with joy and contentment today as I live out my vision.” Lilly has been with her partner Norman Kali since 2010 and they share two children. She's the author of a series of children's books and works with multiple NGOs and charities.
From Bruce Willis to Daniel Day-Lewis, many actors have chosen to take a bow and exit stage left. Whether it’s their health ringing the final curtain call or the satisfaction of seeing their last performance receive a standing ovation, they’ve chosen to retire.
Some love the grand finale and make headlines with their farewell speech, others prefer an unscripted exit where they quietly retire. But whether it’s a blockbuster goodbye or a quiet final scene, their cinematic masterpieces continue to earn rave reviews from the global audience.
Either way, check out this gallery of actors who may never act again.
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