Losing weight while you’re a celebrity can be tough, with the unforgiving glare of the media on you. But these celebs did it, and they are showing off their results in these stunning photos. But which celebrity had the most drastic transformation?
Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Hudson first captured our hearts when she competed on American Idol season 3 in 2007. Despite placing seventh in the singing competition, she still rose to fame, and by the age of 30 had won the Golden Trinity – a Golden Globe, Grammy, and Academy Award were all under her belt. She put her efforts next on losing weight, dropping 80 pounds using Weight Watchers. Her real-life success story of using the program meant that she was the perfect spokeswoman for Weight Watchers.
Renee Zellweger
Renee Zellweger is a serious actress, and she’s not afraid to drastically alter her body in order to perfectly embody a character. For the movies in the Bridget Jones’ Diary trilogy, Renee committed to the part of the British journalist who struggled with her weight by putting on approximately 20 pounds. She followed that up with toning up and dropping the pounds again for her lead role in 2003’s Chicago. But whatever her weight may be, she always looks gorgeous!
Jerry Ferrara
You probably know him as Turtle from the HBO smash hit series Entourage, but there’s more to the actor than just being a funny guy. He got a reality check when a doctor told him his weight endangered his health. As the old saying goes, “Slow and steady wins the race” and Jerry took that to heart. He lost an impressive 60 pounds over the course of 10 months and has said in interviews that he feels like a new man.
Rosie O’Donnell
Love her or hate her, one thing everyone can agree on is that Rosie O’Donnell is an open book! She came out very publicly on her eponymous talk show Rosie back in 2002, in order to raise public awareness about challenges facing LGBT couples who wish to adopt. She has spoken about always struggling with her weight, but in 2013 took the drastic step of deciding to go under the knife for gastric bypass surgery. She lost 70 pounds in two years!
Tyra Banks
Tyra Banks became a professional runway model at the tender age of just fifteen and immediately went to work smashing barriers. Famous for her killer curves, she was the first African American model to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated and GQ. After some unflattering paparazzi shots on the beach in 2009, Tyra spoke out against pressure for women to be thin on her talk show Tyra. However, she’s been hitting the gym recently and is looking fit.
Christian Bale
Christian Bale is known for his work ethic – he began acting at the tender age of thirteen, playing the lead to perfection in Empire Of The Sun. Whatever the role he takes on, he researches the role and changes his physical appearance in order to perfectly portray the character. But one transformation was Christian’s most radical. The actor dropped a whopping 63 pounds and sported a shockingly thin frame to play Trevor Reznik in the indie Spanish film The Machinist.
Kirstie Alley
Kirstie Alley shot to Hollywood stardom after a breakthrough role in Star Trek 2: The Wrath Of Khan and a career-making part as Rebecca Howe on the iconic ’80s TV show Cheers. However, as Kirstie put on the pounds, her acting opportunities started to dry up. She decided to get serious about slimming down and joined Jenny Craig. The actress dropped an astonishing 50 pounds and made good on her promise to fans to appear in a bikini on Oprah!
Shonda Rhimes
Shonda Rhimes is a major Hollywood power player and the namesake behind the successful TV production company ShondaLand. The brilliant barrier-breaking woman is behind such smash hit shows as Private Practice, Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy, and How To Get Away With Murder. But her entertainment industry success was hampered by the fact that she felt uncomfortable in her own skin. She adopted a healthier diet and began working out consistently, which led to an absolutely jaw-dropping 117-pound weight loss!
Carrie Fisher
Carrie Fisher became many a school boy’s first crush when she played iconic Princess Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy. But as her Hollywood career came to a grinding halt, Carrie sought solace in food. She endured some mental health struggles over the years and stayed out of the spotlight. After a lot of coaxing, George Lucas convinced Carrie to reprise her role for the Star Wars reboot films, and Carrie lost 35 pounds to play the part!
Kevin Liles
He might not be a household name, but you’ve definitely heard Kevin Liles’ music before. He’s responsible for the song “Girl You Know It’s True,” which became the hit song that shot Milli Vanilli to international fame. He became the president of Def Jam Records in 1999, then subsequently moved on to become executive vice president of Warner Music Group. After a career that’s spanned more than 3 decades, he’s finally in the spotlight for his incredible weight loss transformation!
Jordin Sparks
Jordin Sparks rose to fame after winning season six of American Idol at just 17 years old. While the beauty is known for her impeccable voice, she also underwent a huge transformation back in 2012. The singer-songwriter lost 50 pounds in 18 months by prioritizing her health and not her “jeans size.” When asked about her journey with weight loss, Sparks was quoted saying “I never felt like I was suffering by eating less and exercising more.”
Perez Hilton
Perez Hilton shot to fame as a gossip columnist, with his eponymous website usually not having kind things to say about celebrities and other pop culture icons. Many sniped back at him by making fun of his weight. After a few online insults too many, Perez made the decision to slim down and prove the haters wrong. There was no magic pill – after eating right and exercising consistently for a year, he lost 70 pounds. Try making a fat joke about him now!
Queen Latifah
Talk about a Jack Of All Trades – Queen Latifah has done everything from rapping to singing, to modeling and acting. However, she wasn’t happy with her figure and decided to slim down a bit by working out with a personal trainer 5 days a week and eating more vegetables and fresh fruits than she had been previously. She hasn’t gone 100% Hollywood though, don’t worry – she’s still got some meat on her bones, and we’re grateful for that, she still looks stunning!
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey defines the word Diva – known as much for her incredible vocal range as her outrageous demands for her dressing room, she’s captivated America for nearly two decades. After marrying Nick Cannon, Mariah became pregnant with twins. Many mothers have a problem shedding the pregnancy weight, and Mariah was no exception to the common issue. Like Kirstie Alley previously on this list, Mariah decided to slim down by partnering up with Jenny Craig and now looks totally fit and healthy.
Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi
Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi shot to fame for her hard-partying antics on MTV’s reality show Jersey Shore. Even though she had a well-deserved reputation as a wild child, she settled down after marrying Jionnie LaValle and having kids with him. After putting on some baby weight from her two pregnancies, Snooki decided to focus on living a more healthy lifestyle, complete with a balanced diet and less drinking. She lost an incredible 42 pounds and looks better than ever!
Anna Nicole Smith
You may have forgotten this, but being declared 1993 Playmate Of The Year is how Anna Nicole Smith’s career began. However, as her entertainment career dried up, Anna turned to food for comfort. But she never forgot about the amazing figure she used to have, which brought her into the spotlight. After using dietary supplement Trimspa, Anna Nicole shed an astonishing 69 pounds. Tragically, the beauty is no longer with us, but will always be remembered for her good looks and killer body.
Kevin Federline
Kevin Federline rose to fame as the backup dancer who abandoned his pregnant wife in order to pursue a career with superstar Britney Spears. After having two sons together, the couple underwent a grueling divorce, which meant Kevin packed on the pounds because of stress eating to deal with the chaos. But Kevin accessed his dancer’s discipline and began waking up before 6 a.m. every day to do military-style exercise drills. He lost a whopping 50 pounds and looks years younger!
Khloe Kardashian
Khloe Kardashian was originally the “ugly duckling” of the Kardashian sisters. Overshadowed by her petite sisters Kourtney and Kim, Khloe towered above them at a height of 5’9 and always felt awkward about her body. She married NBA player Lamar Odom in 2008, but after their marriage broke down and Lamar was unfaithful, she decided to put her best foot forward by getting the ultimate “revenge body.” Khloe worked out with a personal trainer daily and lost a whopping 40 pounds!
Rob Kardashian
Rob Kardashian is mostly known for three things. One, being the sole brother in the Kardashian clan of sisters. Two, having his own designer sock label called Arthur George. Three, unfortunately, for being obese, especially when compared to the rest of his fitness fanatic family. However, falling in love did Rob good – he lost somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 pounds after Blac Chyna came into his life. She reportedly encouraged him to pursue working out and eating healthier.
Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera grew up in front of our eyes, in the harsh glare of the spotlight the whole time. She was known for her fit physique, but after a pregnancy and a dramatic divorce, she put on some weight. Christina explained that she got back into fighting shape by dropping her booze habit and sticking to a strictly regimented healthy diet plan. Of course, she also enlisted the help of one of the top personal trainers in Hollywood.
Anne Hegerty
Better known as The Governess through her trivia mastermind credentials, Anne Hegerty has been defeating members of the public, week in, week out, on the British trivia show, ITV’s The Chase. What fans might not realize though is that Anne has been working hard and has lost a lot of weight over the last couple of years – 13 pounds, to be precise. “I lost weight, replaced my glasses with contact lenses and felt a lot more confident,” she said after her appearance on reality show I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!
Kelly Osbourne
Kelly Osbourne is literally unrecognizable from the time when she was first introduced to us on her family’s reality show, The Osbournes. Rockstar Ozzy Osbourne’s daughter Kelly became one of the most beloved family members by the show’s fans but faced a lot of flak for being overweight. After the show ended, she committed to getting fit and lost over 70 pounds. She’s looking happier and healthier than ever today and is now the host of E!’s Fashion Police.
Seth Rogen
Seth Rogen is yet another lovable everyman. Like his contemporaries Jonah Hill and Chris Pratt previously on the list, he made his name as a schlubby Joe Schmo type with the body to match. After being cast in the superhero flick The Green Hornet, however, he decided to buckle down and get the ripped body that a superhero deserves. The film wasn’t a box office smash, to say the least, but he did shed an incredible amount of weight.
America Ferrara
America Ferrera captured America’s attention playing the lead Betty Suarez in the sitcom Ugly Betty, but in reality, America is a head turner. She’s always been bigger than your average Hollywood starlet since her debut as Carmen in The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants. Now that she’s a leading lady on Superstore, America has committed to leading a healthier lifestyle. America has said she uses running as a form of stress relief, and that’s clear from her fabulous figure!
Kim Kardashian West
Kim Kardashian is known for her famous curves and hourglass figure but after giving birth to two children (North and Saint), she embarked on a dedicated journey to get her body back. She revealed to People magazine that she lost a whopping 70 pounds. She focused more on what she ate this time around and followed the Atkins 40 plan to keep her on track. Kim also incorporated intensive workouts into her daily routine.
Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell is renowned for being the toughest judge on television but in addition to being this TV personality and record executive, he underwent a big dieting change in 2019. One year later, the now vegan Cowell has lost over 60 pounds. Simon revealed that a health scare is what prompted the celeb to begin his journey with plant-based foods. He was quoted about his weight loss journey saying that “The most dramatic period was the first month where most of the weight comes off and you look at yourself and think ‘wow’.”
50 Cent
50 Cent has always been known for his killer physique, which he showed off in the iconic music video for his breakthrough song In Da Club. He’s a big fan of lifting up his undershirt and showing off his 6 pack, but he stunned fans back in 2013 when he appeared to have lost a ton of weight. Not to worry, though – it was just for his role as a football player stricken with cancer in Things Fall Apart and he’s back to his old self now.
Boy George
Boy George rose to fame as the leading made-up face of the ’80s group Culture Club. However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for him – he explained that he went on a self-destructive streak which led to substance abuse. After getting sober, he switched his addiction to food. But in 2013, Boy made serious changes and began working with a nutritionist and personal trainer. With their help, he’s gotten to the healthiest point in his life at the age of 50.
Adam Richman
Adam Richman is the only celebrity on this list to get famous because of his eating habits. He made a name for himself in local eating competitions, which eventually attracted the attention of the Travel Channel. His show on the network was called Man vs. Food, and predictably he packed on the pounds. Recently, he decided to do a 180 and lose weight. The transformation from a glutton to a committed vegan has been a hard pill for his fans to swallow.
Amber Riley
Amber Riley is best known for her singing and dancing on the hit teen show Glee. She went on to compete on ABC’s Dancing With The Stars, which led to an increased interest in working out and pushing her body to its fullest potential. After her time as the lead role in the stage production of Dreamgirls came to a close, Amber shifted her priorities and went down a stunning two whole dress sizes. She looks amazing now!
Susan Boyle
Susan Boyle when she took the world by storm with her beautiful voice. Now, it seems like the Scottish singer has been stealing the headlines for different reasons. Boyle has managed to lose 50 pounds after readjusting her lifestyle and working out. She got her wake up call when she was diagnosed with diabetes.
Rachael Ray
At 50 years old, Rachael Ray has proven that age is nothing more than a number! The world-known chef and TV personality dropped a whopping 40 lbs and completely transformed herself. Being around food all day made her weight loss journey all the more challenging, but nothing was going to get in the way of Rachael Ray’s goal to live and eat healthier. Today, she wows in a much slimmer figure.
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Sara Rue
Sara Rue began her Hollywood career at the tender age of nine, making her debut as Kevin Costner’s daughter in the 1986 movie Rocket Gibraltar and as a young version of Roseanne on the sitcom Roseanne. But the actress was always uncomfortable in her own skin. Like Kirstie Alley and Mariah Carey previously on this list, Sara enlisted the help of Jenny Craig to get her on the right track. She shed a whopping 50 pounds and looks better than ever!
Alec Baldwin
After a Hollywood career that spanned several decades, Alec Baldwin was on top of the world, enjoying his fame as an A-List celebrity. However, things quickly changed for the star when, after a routine physical, his doctor diagnosed him as being pre-diabetic. Alec stuck to a strict no carb, no sugar diet and lost 30 pounds within a few weeks, bringing his blood sugar down back into normal range. Alec credits the episode with making him realize that he’s “mortal.”
Josh Peck
Josh Peck’s claim to fame was when he starred opposite Drake Bell as Josh Nichols on the Nickelodeon original program Drake & Josh. Josh was previously featured on The Amanda Show as well. As his Hollywood career stalled, he decided the solution would be losing weight for more opportunities. The young thespian dropped an absolutely incredible 110 pounds, all by using the classic formula of cutting out junk food, adopting a healthy diet, and working out on a regular basis.
Bradley Cooper
You know him as one of the funniest men in Hollywood. From the 2000s classic Wet Hot American Summer to his hilarious performance as Phil Wenneck in The Hangover, Bradley Cooper always ends up stealing the scene. Nevertheless, his ultimate transformation came when he portrayed Iraq War sniper Chris Kyle in American Sniper. To play the macho man, Bradley had to stuff a whopping 5,000 calories down his throat every day and put on an incredible 40 pounds of muscle.
Hillary Swank
Hillary Swank is known for being one of the most chameleon-like actresses to ever grace Hollywood. She was unrecognizable as Brandon Teena in her breakout role as Boys Don’t Cry. But there’s one physical transformation that stands out in her career. She perfectly embodied boxer Maggie Fitzgerald in Million Dollar Baby, right down to her ripped physique. For the role, Hillary consumed a minimum of 210 grams of protein every day and worked out intensely six times a week.
Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron began her career as a professional ballerina in South Africa before becoming an international model. Once she started acting in films like The Italian Job, she was well known for her drop dead gorgeous looks. But when she decided to play serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the biopic Monster, she had to undergo a stunning physical transformation. Charlize gained 30 pounds in order to play Aileen, and was totally unrecognizable to fans when she appeared in the movie.
Raven-Symone
Raven-Symone grew up in front of the cameras. Her first role came at three years old on the hit series The Cosby Show. Going through puberty is tough enough, but Raven-Symone had to do it in front of all America as she was starring on her own show That’s So Raven. She faced tons of flak and media scrutiny for being overweight, which led to her having a mental breakdown. Eventually, she began working with a trainer and lost 35 pounds.
Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson was in the spotlight from a very young age as a member of the Jackson family. She’s known for her weight ups-and-downs, and the self-admitted yo-yo dieter took a turn for the worst back in 2006. Tabloids crowed that the superstar had ballooned to a weight somewhere north of 200 pounds! Now, the actress is in her 50s and more health-focused than ever and has been keeping to a strict diet and exercise routine to maintain a toned physique.
Melissa Joan Hart
Actress Melissa Joan Hart partnered with weight loss program NutriSystem to lose an incredible 40 pounds. After giving birth to three children, Melissa was unhappy with her weight and was initially inspired by her sister to start shifting the pounds. Taking to social media at the age of 40, the Sabrina the Teenage Witch star could not be more confident in her body. Although a busy mom, Melissa has made a point that it is important to keep active and train well.
Lena Dunham
Girls star, Lena Dunham, shocked fans in 2017 when she revealed her dramatic weight loss to the world. With the help of trainer Tracey Anderson, Lena lost a lot of weight. However, despite being “complimented all day and propositioned by men and on the cover of a tabloid about diets that work,” it was not Lena’s initial intention to lose weight. She suffered from significant health issues, such as OCD and endometriosis, which were taking a toll on her life. She has revealed her best treatment was through exercise.
Austin “Chumlee” Russell
Austin Russell, better known as Chumlee, rose to fame as the charismatic star of the Las Vegas-based reality show Pawn Stars. The show focuses on the pawn shop where he works. Chumlee finally reached his breaking point after a lifetime of struggling with his weight and decided to get serious about shaping up. He began working out religiously and cut red meat and all junk food out of his diet. The result was a staggering 100-pound weight loss!
Dr. Dre
You probably don’t recognize his birth name – Andre Romelle Young – but you definitely know who Dr. Dre is. The hitmaker and creative genius behind the careers of artists such as Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg, and a founding member of the iconic rap group N.W.A., Dr. Dre is one of the most successful moguls in hip-hop. However, as he aged, he decided to prioritize his health and staying in shape. At 49 years old, he boasts a stunning physique!
Mama June
June “Mama June” Shannon stole the country’s heart on her reality show with her daughter, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, but it’s her drastic weight loss that’s captured our attention. Mama June dropped an absolutely staggering 150 pounds – that’s basically an entire human being! She went from a size 28 down to a sleek size 16. She’s still working with a nutritionist and personal trainer on an ongoing basis to make sure that she keeps her svelte figure for the future.
Chris Pratt
For most of his career, Chris Pratt has been known as the lovable schlub, a Joe Schmo every-man with a regular dude’s body to match his roles. He rose to fame in films like Zero Dark Thirty and Moneyball and on the TV show Parks and Recreation. But after his role on the show ended, Chris decided to expand his horizons and take on a more leading man role. He shed an astonishing 60 pounds in 6 months and got cast in Guardians Of The Galaxy.
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is the ultimate rags to riches tale. She perfectly embodies the American Dream – rising from an impoverished childhood where she faced racial discrimination in the South, she’s now a billionaire media mogul and one of the most successful women on the planet. But she’s always struggled with her weight and decided to join Weight Watchers in order to slim down. Since starting the program, she shed 30 pounds and says that she feels better than ever.
Jessica Simpson
Ever since she captured America’s heart on the show Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, Jessica Simpson has been considered a blonde bombshell. She showed off her killer curves when she sported iconic Daisy Dukes for her role in The Dukes Of Hazzard reboot movie. But like most women, after two pregnancies, she gained a little bit of baby weight. With the help of Weight Watchers (and a trainer), Jess dropped 80 pounds and got back into fighting shape.
Honey Boo Boo
Honey Boo Boo is yet another girl on this list who’s growing up in the spotlight. She was such a fan favorite on the show Toddlers And Tiaras that the TLC network decided to give her and her southern fried family their very own reality show called, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. While the child beauty pageant star is still far too young to officially start a diet, her mom June says she’s been playing outside more lately.
Gabourey Sidibe
Gabourey Sidibe captured audiences’ attention after her harrowing depiction of a 16-year-old pregnant teenager in Precious. In fact, her performance was so amazing that she was nominated for an Academy Award, and it was her first professional acting job ever! However, it wasn’t smooth sailing from there – Gabourey was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, which was caused by her weight. The event meant that she chose to have bariatric surgery. She’s already dropped an amazing 50 pounds and looks great!
Jonah Hill
Jonah Hill rose to fame in Superbad. He reminded us all of that chubby class clown in high school. The funnyman, however, turned heads after his appearance at the Toronto International Film Festival, where he strutted down the red carpet looking sleek and trim in a fitted black suit! Though everyone agrees that women are more heavily scrutinized than men for their appearance, Jonah said he was shocked how many more roles he was offered after the weight loss.
Delta Burke
There was a time when Delta Burke was one of the most recognizable faces in the country. When people thought of Designing Women, they thought of Delta Burke. Since then though, the actress has gone through some radical changes. When the show was over, Burke weighed 215 pounds. After struggling with depression and excessive eating, Burke made some changes to her life and has since lost a staggering 65 pounds. With loving support from her husband and grit and determination, Burke has bounced back.
Keely Shaye Smith
Keely Shaye Smith always seems to have lived in the shadow of her much more famous husband, Pierce Brosnan. Over the years though, fans have noticed that her weight has fluctuated a tremendous amount. In recent times, the loyal wife of the former Bond man changed her lifestyle and diet drastically and lost a whopping 120 pounds in the process. She was dedicated to exercise and eating well. Brosnan has always stuck by his wife’s side, through thick and thin.
Jorge Garcia
Most people remember Jorge Garcia from his role on the hit series, “Lost”. Although he’s in the spotlight for his acting career, it’s his dramatic weight loss that has been making headlines. The 47-year-old Hollywood actor decided to become a real role model for health and success when he changed his eating and exercise habits. The actor slimmed down and now looks better than ever – proving that there really is nothing more important than being healthy.
John Goodman
No, you’re not going crazy. That really is John Goodman – he’s just undergone a crazy transformation! He rose to fame as Roseanne’s husband Dan on Roseanne then went on to a movie career. After wrapping up filming the movie 10 Cloverfield Lane, John decided it was time for a major lifestyle change. Slow and steady wins the race, and it took John several years, but he lost a whopping 100 pounds by skipping unhealthy food and working out consistently.
Wendy Williams
Wendy Williams was originally known for her career as a popular radio host, which led to her smash hit daytime talk show The Wendy Williams show. However, she’s always struggled with her weight. It might sound too simple, but Wendy explained in an interview with Us Magazine that she lost weight by telling herself: “Just push back, fatso. Just stop eating so much.” Her tough self-love worked, and she dropped an amazing 50 pounds within just a few months!
Melissa McCarthy
We all fell in love with funny lady Melissa McCarthy after her breakthrough roles in Bridesmaids and Tammy. She’s always been positive about her body, but as she’s gotten older she’s shed some pounds in order to protect her health. Melissa credits her massive 75-pound weight loss with making a few simple changes for a healthier life – she now makes sure to go to bed early and get enough sleep! She also exercises regularly. Seems obvious, but these small changes really made a difference!
Zach Galifianakis
Zach Galifianakis is everyone’s favorite funny man, oftentimes playing awkward, quirky, and zany characters in films like The Hangover and Dinner For Schmucks. But after making it big on the silver screen, Zach’s body has undergone its very own Hollywood transformation. In the last few years, Zach has dropped an estimated fifty pounds of fat! Zach credits his amazing transformation with a few simple changes – he cut out alcohol completely from his life and started walking more often.
Adele
Adele made a name for herself as a confident, plus size singer, but after having a baby she decided to slim down. It’s not uncommon, however, for many new mothers to decide to make a change after having children, if only to know that they’ll be around for longer.
35 Celebs Who Have Distanced Themselves From Hollywood
Macaulay Culkin
First on our list of top celebrities who (more or less) disappeared from the spotlight is well-beloved child star, Macaulay Culkin. Once in the center of attention and probably one of the highest-paid child stars ever, the Home Alone actor basically disappeared after the blockbusters’ release. Despite several major wins and even a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy, the young and promising actor felt constantly overwhelmed and under the media’s radar. This led to substance abuse issues and frequent anxiety attacks. After 28 years, though, Macaulay recently recreated several Home Alone scenes as Kevin McCallister in advertisements for Google. We were not surprised to find out that the video quickly became viral!
Josh Radnor
American actor and filmmaker Josh Radnor is currently number 2 on our list. From 2005 to 2015, he played Ted Mosby, an architect living in New York who told his kids the story of events that led him to meet their mother throughout the nine seasons of How I Met Your Mother. Afterward, Radnor continued to be cast in other TV series, such as Mercy Street (2016 – 2017), Rise (2018), and Hunters (2020), but no other role has surpassed the ever-optimistic and funny guy, Ted. But he keeps his private life to himself, and tries to stay out of the media’s spotlight.
Daniel Radcliffe
This cute English boy received the lead role of the first Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. This happened in 2000, and he was only 11 at the time. He continued to play Harry Potter in the next seven movies that were released. The beloved series ended in 2011, with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. What has Daniel been doing ever since, though? No other roles as young boys hunted by Dark Lords became available, so Radcliffe has been focusing his attention mainly on theater. Much to many critics’ pleasant surprise, he took on many roles in both Broadway and off-Broadway plays and delivered great performances.
Hugh Laurie
One of the most sarcastic characters on screen, Dr. Gregory House, was brought to life by the English actor, singer, and musician Hugh Laurie. The highest point of his career so far was reached during the medical drama series, House (2004 – 2012). This was a role for which he received countless awards and nominations, including two Golden Globes. God poured out a great deal of talent when creating Laurie, because he also plays the piano, guitar, drums, harmonica, and saxophone. Ever since the phenomenal success of House, the brilliant actor has had several other roles, such as his role in the American comedy TV series, Veep, but his appearances were sporadic.
Jessica Simpson
Jessica Simpson is an American singer whose first album was released in 1999. It was intended to be an album focused on anti-sex appeal, which was in contrast to other pop albums released at the time like those by Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Even though her album sold over four million copies, the numbers were not good enough for her record company. Jessica turned her attention towards fashion pursuits, and, in 2005, she launched a fashion line called The Jessica Simpson Collection. The brand is considered to be one of the most successful brands founded by celebrities.
Amanda Bynes
The 34-year-old American former actress is considered to be another celebrity who is no longer in the spotlight. She was well-known and loved throughout the 1990s and 2000s for the roles that she had in All That (1996 – 2000), The Amanda Show (1999-2002), Big Fat Liar (2002), What A Girl Wants (2003) and She’s The Man (2006). All these were commercial successes. After Easy A (2010), however, she announced on Twitter that she did not, in fact, love acting and that she would pursue a fashion career instead.
Halle Berry
Our list continues with Halle Berry, the 53-year-old American actress. For her performance in the romantic drama, Monster’s Ball (2001), she won the Best Actress Academy Award. This quickly made her the highest-paid actress in the early 2000s. Her role as Storm in the X-Men franchise and as Catwoman also made her popular among young people. Ever since, though, her roles in movies have been sporadic. The most recent ones are in Things We Lost in the Fire (2007), Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017) and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019).
Avril Lavigne
Our next celebrity is the Canadian-French singer and songwriter, Avril Lavigne. She is known not only for her tomboyish style and skate punk persona but also for her highly successful hit, “Complicated”. Avril’s first three albums sold millions of copies worldwide. Her punk career, though, slowly began to fall apart after several unsuccessful romantic relationships. The songs that were recorded in the meantime, unfortunately, did not become great hits, either. Oh, life, why’d you have to go and make things so complicated?
Dave Chappelle
The American stand-up comedian who is best known for his comedy sketch series, Chappelle’s Show (2003 – 2006), is the next celebrity who disappeared for a while from the spotlight. He enjoyed massive success and was considered the comic genius of America. However, Chappelle decided in 2006 to quit his own show and temporarily step away from his stand-up comedy career. He publicly declared that he thought of some of his comedy material as socially irresponsible and even reinforcing race stereotypes. This made him question the purpose and direction of his career. After quitting the show, however, Chappelle continued to perform stand-up comedy but not on a regular basis.
Geena Davis
Geena Davis, the American actress famous for numerous roles of strong and authentic female characters in both film and television, is our next celeb who disappeared from the spotlight. She has had several great successes in productions such as Thelma and Louise (1991), A League of Their Own (1992), The Exorcist (2016), and Grey’s Anatomy (2005 – present). However, she has recently focused her attention and energy as a women’s advocate for gender equality. In 2009, the non-profit organization, The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, was founded.
Patrick Dempsey
Another Grey’s Anatomy star present on our list is the 54-year-old American actor, Patrick Dempsey. He became successful quite early in his acting career due to several roles that he had in the 1980s and 1990s. His best-known role, though, is from the medical drama, Grey’s Anatomy, where he plays the charming neurosurgeon, Derek Shepherd. McDreamy, however, decided to follow a different career path after his character was killed in a car accident, and he focused on racing and motorsports for a while.
Orlando Bloom
Our list continues with Orlando Bloom, the English actor whose golden age was during The Lord of the Rings franchise. He played Legolas, the brave and light-haired Elf and one of the nine members of the Fellowship. Other performances worth mentioning are Will Turner in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and Prince Paris in Troy. However, no other significant roles have been taken since then. After his engagement to American singer Katy Perry in February 2019, it was recently announced that they are expecting their first child together.
Cameron Diaz
Cameron Diaz is one of the most attractive females alive, and she has an incredible career in acting. Diaz stated in 2019 that she had given more than half of her life to the public. She said it is time for her to take a little bit of time for herself. She also said that she is more focused on friendships and her marriage than being in movies. One thing is for sure… We enjoyed seeing her in all her movies and we can only hope she’ll decide to get back to her fans!
Wentworth Miller
47-year-old British-American actor Wentworth Miller is our next choice. He saw amazing success with his role as Michael Scofield in the TV series, Prison Break, for which he was nominated in 2005 for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor (Television Series Drama). Wentworth continued to be cast in other TV series, such as Legends of Tomorrow (2016-2018) and The Flash (2014-2019). He publicly talked about LGBTQ rights and discrimination and his struggles with depression and coming out of the closet.
Freddie Prinze, Jr.
Freddie Prinze, Jr., is next in line. The 44-year-old American actor played in movies such as I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), where he met his wife, Sarah Michelle Gellar. He also starred in She’s All That (1999) and the Scooby-Doo movies. We can’t forget the sweet and sensitive male nanny Sandy that he played in Friends either. Voice acting was also an important part of Freddie’s career, and he voiced different characters in several video games, such as Lego Indiana Jones, Mass Effect 3, and Dragon Age: Inquisition.
Mara Wilson
We all love and remember the lovely little girl who starred in Mrs. Doubtfire and Matilda, but where is she now, you may wonder? Mara Wilson, one of the most beloved child stars of the 1990s, has become a writer. She published Where Am I Now? True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame in 2016, a book about her success at such an early age. Even though her acting career is now a thing of the past, she did lend her voice in 2016 for a few episodes of the animated series BoJack Horseman and Big Hero 6: The Series.
Meg Ryan
Our next mention is 58-year-old American actress and producer Meg Ryan. We all remember her wonderful romantic movies, such as When Harry Met Sally (1989), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), You’ve Got Mail (1998), and City of Angels (1998). These films made us dream about our own love stories, and these are the roles that made her one of the most successful actresses in the 1990s. However, after her divorce from Dennis Quaid in 2001 became too prevalent in the media, the blue-eyed actress decided to take a step back from Hollywood.
Danny Lloyd
Next on our list is Danny Lloyd, the child actor who played Danny Torrance in the horror film The Shining (1980). The movie was produced by Stanley Kubrick and was based on Stephen King’s 1977 well-acclaimed novel. Even though it brought Danny quite a lot of success, he decided not to pursue his acting career. In fact, he is currently working in Elizabeth, Kentucky, as a biology professor and is probably trying to stay away from any remote hotels in the Rocky Mountains.
Jack Gleeson
This next actor is best known for his amazing interpretation of probably the most hated Game of Thrones character, King Joffrey Baratheon. Jack Gleeson stepped away from the spotlight at the age of 21 after his character was killed. Instead of acting, the Irish actor chose to focus his attention on his studies in theology and philosophy at the Trinity College Dublin. Despite the fact that he regularly attended drama classes since childhood and acting was one of his hobbies, much to everyone’s disappointment and regret, he remains in the background.
Kevin Spacey
There’s no doubt that 60-year-old actor Kevin Spacey should be mentioned at some point. After a series of unfortunate events unfolded in 2018, the House of Cards star’s career and reputation suffered a great downfall. Everything started when actor Anthony Rapp publicly announced that, when he was 14 years old, Spacey (26 at that time) tried to seduce him at a party they both attended. To make matters even worse, several other accusations followed soon after from other men who decided to speak up. Despite his role of paramount importance in House of Cards, Netflix decided to cut the actor from the final season.
Elizabeth Hurley
Elizabeth Hurley is a known actress who landed on television with her first role in the movie, Aria, in 1987. She was in her late twenties at the time. Liz was also a main character in the Austin Powers comedies in the 2000s. She was one of the most beautiful actresses in the early 2000s.
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Sarah Michelle Geller was a promising actress in Hollywood when she was a teenager, starring in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and many other teenager’s roles. However, after being in Buffy the Vampire Slayer for more than 6 years and running 144 episodes, she had a hard time finding other roles that would suit her personality. Liz was also a main character in the Austin Powers comedies in the 2000s. She was one of the most beautiful actresses in the early 2000s.
David Schwimmer
He was one of the main characters in the beloved sitcom, Friends, for more than 10 years. He and his co-stars earned a lot of money shooting Friends, so they were financially very stable, earning $1 million per episode in the last season. David Schwimmer is also known for various voices in renowned cartoons, such as Madagascar. Apart from small roles, he hasn’t been in the spotlight for many years.
Chris Tucker
Chris Tucker was one of the most beloved comedians in the industry due to his appearance in Rush Hour alongside his fellow actor, Jackie Chan. After the big success of the first movie, Tucker demanded a salary increase of up to $20 million for the second film and $25 million for the third installment of Rush Hour. In the 9-year gap between the movies, Chris Tucker didn’t appear in any other films. Maybe this is the reason why. Regardless, fans can agree that he had plenty of talent when it came to making people laugh.
Shaggy
Shaggy was one of the aspiring musicians in the early 2000s, and his album, Hot Shot, went 6x Platinum in America. Two years later, he released another album called Lucky Day. It wasn’t as popular as the previous one, but it still went gold. Shaggy took his music internationally after this, but apparently, his fans forgot about him. He was nominated for a Grammy a few years back, but the fans apparently cannot go back in time.
Josh Hartnett
Josh Hartnett was a very promising actor in the 1990s and a very handsome man who was appreciated by his fans. He appeared in Pearl Harbor and Black Hawk Down. How can you be such a good-looking actor and vanish overnight, though? Josh Hartnett wanted to evolve, so he began appearing in romantic movies to avoid being just another pretty face. His last movie was called 30 Days of Night, and it was released more than 10 years ago. He had quite some promising skills, so it’s such a pity that we do not see him anymore.
Mischa Barton
Mischa Barton appeared in many TV roles. But the role that brought her fame was her part in The O.C., which ran from 2003 to 2007. After The O.C. ended, she had problems with the police, and she was caught driving under the influence in 2007. Despite problems with law enforcement, she also had a lawsuit against her landlord and her mother back in 2010 for theft. According to her psychiatrist, she also has some emotional instability.
Raven Simone
Raven Simone is an American actress and singer who began her career back in 1989. She appeared as Raven Baxter in her sitcom, That’s So Raven, which lasted 100 episodes. Raven has a very controversial opinion about sexuality. But she declared herself lesbian. She also finds that she cannot identify herself as an African-American. She was not cast in big roles, and she only appeared in small films.
Brendan Fraser
He was a good-looking guy on TV. And that is why he landed roles in the late 90s and early 2000s. Everyone wanted him for his looks, appearing in movies, such as The Mummy franchise and Journey to the Center of the Earth. Raven has a very controversial opinion about sexuality. But she declared herself lesbian. She also finds that she cannot identify herself as an African-American. She was not cast in big roles, and she only appeared in small films.
Phoebe Cates
Phoebe Cates is a former American actress who was very popular in the 80s. She played the main role in Fast Times at Ridgemont High and in other movies. In 1989, she married actor Kevin Kline, who is 16 years older than Cates. Apparently, she left Hollywood because she couldn’t find any roles, but she didn’t completely retire. Another reason stated by Cates for leaving was that she was going to take care of her family.
Jonathan Thomas Taylor
He was one of the starring characters in Home Improvement in the 90s, and he built a huge fan base back in the 90s. He is also known as J.T.T., and he played the voice of Simba in the classic film, The Lion King. A piece of sad news for his fan base was his retirement from the industry. Apparently, this was a personal decision to keep his personal life private. That’s what he decided would be the best for him.
Karyn Parsons
Karyn Parson landed a huge role in her youth in the famous sitcom, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, alongside her fellow actor, Will Smith. Apparently, after the sitcom ended in 1996, Karyn couldn’t land big roles, and she disappeared from the spotlight. She played in minor roles, but nothing big. She is now a wife and a mother who is focusing on her family. This is surely a thing to appreciate, but her fans wouldn’t mind a great comeback!
Kat von D
Kat von D is the former LA ink star who tattooed a lot of people during her TV series. She welcomed her baby into the world in November 2018 alongside her husband, Rafael Reyes, whom she married in 2018. She began working out more after her baby’s birth and enjoying time with her newborn baby. In 2020, she stated on Instagram that she sold her part in the vegan line to her partner. She is a great model for a lot of women and a great source of inspiration to get back to our former self.
Matt Lauer
Matt Lauer was an anchorman and a producer for NBC in the United States of America. His career ended after he was accused by his former colleague, Brooke Nevils, of sexually assaulting her in Sochi, Russia, during the Olympics. After Nevils spoke about this incident, other women had the courage to speak up for themselves. He admits to all the sexual misconduct and acknowledged that he behaved inappropriately with these women. Unfortunately, that is a quick way to end a career.
Ricky Martin
For a few years in a row, Ricky Martin was voted the most handsome man alive. But it came as a surprise for women that he is gay. Today, Ricky Martin is spending quality time with his husband, Yosef, and their 4 children together. He changed his “vida loca” to the family vida, and he couldn’t be any happier. In 2020, he wanted to go on a tour with his husband and his kids to show the world their family. This is one example of a big, happy family, even though the girls might all be heartbroken.