Being famous is a lot of hard work and pressure to be constantly perfect, or as near to it as possible. Actors and singers face scrutiny daily, through their fans, critics, and media outlets. It can be very hard to have any privacy when you’re in the spotlight, promoting movies or albums.
All of those stresses are just a few of the reasons why a celebrity would decide to leave the glamour of Hollywood living. Here’s a list of celebrities who quietly work regular 9-5 jobs.
Vanilla Ice
Born Robert Van Winkle, Vanilla Ice is the talent behind the 1989 hit Ice Ice Baby. His 1990 album To The Extreme spent 16 weeks at the number one spot on the Billboard 200 list. He enjoyed the success that he achieved but regretted signing the deal with SKB records because they wanted him to be something that he wasn’t. After changing labels a few times and not getting the level of fame he was hoping to achieve, he decided to make music for his enjoyment, and not for others.
These days, Vanilla Ice is a published author. His book “Vanilla Ice Project- Real Estate Guide” is an extension of the Vanilla Ice Project television series from the DIY Network. The series focuses on the houses that he buys, renovates, and then sells. He occasionally performs with the hip hop duo Insane Clown Posse.
Nikki Blonsky
Nikki Blonsky is an actress, singer, and dancer. She’s known for her roles as Tracy Turnblad
in Hairspray, and Maggie Baker in Queen Sized. Nikki was working at an ice cream store when she found out that she got the part in Hairspray, in which she earned nominations for the Golden Globe for Best Lead Actress – Comedy or Musical, and won the MTV movie award for Best Breakthrough Performance, among more.
Since then, she graduated from a cosmetology course and worked in a salon in New York. She’s still auditioning, but according to her Instagram posts, she’s loving life as a cosmetologist.
Dylan Sprouse
Dylan and his twin brother Cole started their acting careers by portraying Ben on Friends. Once they got older, the twins were able to separate themselves and take individual roles. The first roles in which they played separate characters were on the Disney channel’s The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.
Dylan graduated from New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study after completing his degree in Video Game Design in 2015. Although instead of video games, he revealed that he had developed a love for the art of mead brewing. Dylan co-founded the first full production meadery, All Wise Meadery, in 2018, and uses recipes that he came up with himself through trial and error.
Jon Gosselin
Jon Gosselin first made his appearance on television in 2007, when he became a star in the reality series Jon & Kate Plus 8. The series focused on him and his then-wife Kate, as they adjusted to life raising two young daughters and newborn sextuplets. Jon left the show in 2009, divorced Kate, and moved away. Jon has full custody of 2 of their children.
Since leaving the show, he’s worked a slew of interesting jobs. Proving to be somewhat of a jack-of-all-trades, he has held positions in a variety of fields. Jon worked for Green Pointe Energy installing solar panels, he was an IT administrator, and at one point he worked as a cook at TGI.Fridays.
Lark Voorhies
Lark Voorhies began acting in 1989, with an appearance on the television show Small Wonder. Shortly after that, she portrayed Lisa Turtle in Good Morning, Miss Bliss, which eventually became known as Saved By The Bell. When that show ended, she picked up a couple of roles in soap operas, working on The Bold And The Beautiful and Days Of Our Lives.
Lark spends her time writing now, having written three books named Reciprocity, True Light, and Trek of the Cheshire. She experiences issues with her mental health and recently spoke out about those issues. She’s also publicly expressed her hurt about being left out of the Saved By The Bell reboot.
George Foreman
George Foreman was a professional Boxer from 1969 to 1997. He’s an Olympic gold medalist, and a two-time heavyweight champion. George’s final record was 76 wins and five losses. He retired a couple of times, coming back to the ring years later so that he could fight against Mohammad Ali.
George pushed himself too hard and suffered what he claims to be a ‘near-death experience’ that made him seek God. He became an ordained minister shortly after, and when he noticed a need in the community, he opened a Children’s and Youth Center for kids that needed a place to play sports and seek mentorship. The risk of losing the Center became apparent due to lack of funding, and that was when George decided to step back into the boxing ring with Mohammad Ali.
Kirk Cameron
Kirk became famous in 1985 while starring on the television series Growing Pains. Kirk appeared in many television series, like Full House, Kirk, and Touched By An Angel; he became a teen heartthrob in the late ’80s. He won awards for Favorite TV Actor at the Kids Choice Awards, and Exceptional Performance by a Young Actor Starring in a Television Comedy or Drama Series from the Young Artist’s Awards.
Kirk became a born-again Christian during the filming of Growing Pains. His new-found religion caused some rifts between the cast at the time when he insisted his character not have any adult themes, and began to separate himself from them. He’s the co-founder of Way of The Master, an evangelical Christian organization based in California.
Hank Aaron
Hank Aaron played for the Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves from 1954 to 1976. He held the record for most career home runs for over thirty years, beating the record set by Babe Ruth by 40 runs. To this day, Hank still holds records that haven’t been beaten by any other player. His career was long, and with that came a long line of fans, and an even longer line of nay-sayers. At one point, the Braves needed to hire a secretary just to help him sort through his mail.
Hank did not allow his retirement from baseball to slow him down. He’s the Senior Vice President of the Atlanta Braves, the corporate Vice President of Turner Broadcasting, and a sitting member of the TBS Board of Directors. Hank also owns a BMW dealership and multiple restaurant franchises. Along with his wife, Billye, he founded the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation, which provides funding for disadvantaged youth to help them achieve their goals.
Jennie Garth
Jennie Garth emerged onto the Hollywood scene while starring in Beverly Hills 90210 for ten years. She directed two of those episodes and earned a Young Artist Award for her dedication to the show. She also starred alongside Amanda Bynes in What I Like About You, a television series following the lives of two sisters. Jennie and her children appeared on their reality show, Jennie Garth: A Little Bit Country, which documented their fresh start after her divorce from Peter Facinelli.
Currently, Jennie is the owner of an online subscription box called Mom Gift Box that she started in 2017. The box subscription features items designed to help women relax and feel rejuvenated, and is sourced mostly through American companies. She has also been a contestant on Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader, where she won $100,000 for the American Heart Association.
Geena Davis
After making her debut in the cult classic, Tootsie, in 1982, Geena Davis quickly became one of America’s sweethearts. Her lead role in Beetlejuice garnered international attention and won an Academy Award for her role in The Accidental Tourist for Best Supporting Actress. She’s appeared in many films over the years and won two Academy Awards and a Golden Globe, among others.
Geena founded the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media in 2004 after noticing the massive discrepancy between the representation of males and females in the media. The Institute aims to increase the female presence in Media dramatically. She received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts Degree from Bates College in 2009, and more recently, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy in 2019.
Cameron Diaz
Cameron got her start in Hollywood by modeling with Elite Model Management at the age of 16. When she was 21, she made her film debut alongside Jim Carey in The Mask. Cameron has appeared in many movies over the years and worked with influential actors such as Jennifer Aniston, Keanu Reeves, Tom Cruise, and many more. She also lent her voice to the role of Fiona in the film series Shrek.
Since she retired from acting in 2013, Cameron has remained very private about her personal life. She says that after being in the public eye for so long that she deserves this time to be herself and not worry about promoting anything. She has authored a few wellness books, and before she gave birth to daughter Raddix in 2020, there were rumors that she might release another book.
Nick Offerman
Nick Offerman began his career in the theatre, working with groups such as Steppenwolf and Wisdom Bridge, and Goodman Theatre. He has had many roles over the years but is most prominently known for his work on Parks & Recreation. He’s extremely versatile, having worked on the psychological thriller November, as well as quite a few comedic roles, and even lent his voice to a few animated films and television series.
When Nick is not acting, he’s continuing his business as a wood craftsman and professional boat builder. He released an instructional DVD about how to build a boat, as well as three books, one of those being an autobiography. Offerman owns a workshop in Los Angeles that creates custom wooden pieces.
James Franco
While James Franco might be more known these days for his roles alongside Seth Rogen, his first television performance was in the cult classic Freaks And Geeks. His 2017 role in The Disaster Artist earned him a Golden Globe Award.
Off-screen, James has directed several documentaries, music videos, and theatre productions. He taught film courses at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, as well as related classes at the University of Southern California and the University of California Los Angeles.
Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu’s first album Baduizm was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry of Association of America. That album debuted at #2 on the Billboard charts and #1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. She also acts in films, playing characters in Blues Brothers 2000, with Dan Akroyd and John Goodman.
When Erykah isn’t performing, she works with the charity she founded in 1997 named Beautiful Love Incorporated Non-Profit Development. Her charity helps support inner-city youth through the use of arts, music, and theatre. She developed a website in 2020 as a way to continue to make money and pay her employees during this period of economic uncertainty.
MC Hammer
MC Hammer released his hit record U Can’t Touch This in 1990. The song quickly became #1 on the Billboard charts and won Best R&B Song and Best Rap Solo Performance. It was the first rap record nominated for the Record of the Year at the Grammy Awards.
Nowadays, MC Hammer spends his time behind the screen, instead of on it. He’s an avid pursuer of technology and calls himself a Geek. He’s involved with multiple tech startups and helps design mobile applications. He also lectures at schools like Harvard, Stanford, and Oxford, on the uses of social media and how he uses it to capitalize on his brand.
Ali MacGraw
Ali MacGraw started her acting career in 1969 with the film Goodbye, Columbus, which earned her the Golden Globe for Most Promising Actor. Her next movie, Love Story, propelled her into the international limelight. By 1972, she became the top female box office star worldwide. Ali was a versatile actress, starring in movies about love and comedy, as well as a historical television mini-series.
Ali had always been interested in Yoga, and in 1994 she produced and appeared in an instructional VHS about Hatha Yoga. She travels frequently and works with PETA and various other animal rights charities to keep animals safe.
Danielle Fishel
Danielle Fishel is mostly known for her role as the quirky Topanga Lawrence in Boy Meets World and its revival, Girl Meets World. She started acting in theatres as a young child before making the jump to the television screen. Since the finale of Boy Meets World, Danielle has made a few television appearances, hosting The Dish on Fuse TV, and becoming a spokesperson for the NutriSystem Diet for a short while in 2007.
After deciding to step back from the spotlight, Danielle attended the California State University Fullerton and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She hopes to become a marriage and family therapist in the future. She created Be Free, which is a line of cruelty-free and vegan hair care products in 2019.
Happiness is Essential
These celebrities bring one glaring fact to life; fame is not all it’s cracked up to be. Many of these celebs are still performing in some capacity, but all of them have expressed at one time or another that star status and fame are not the only things that create happy, healthy lifestyles. A fair amount of these celebs have found happiness through charitable endeavors, and that’s why there are so many celebrities who quietly work regular jobs.