Acting is a cruel beast. Even a legendary actor can grow tired of the scrutiny, auditioning process, unwanted media attention, and lack of privacy. The "stay looking good" motto of Hollywood actors is often easier said than done, and many actors find themselves aging out of the roles they would prefer the most. Others end up cherishing time with family over the many hours spent on location, in makeup chairs and trailers, rehearsing lines while plotting out their next film with agents who are often more concerned with lining their own pockets. One misstep in their personal life can lead to a sudden sidelining, and a series of flops can see an actor wind up in 'movie jail,' unable to get cast in the quality roles they are used to.
It's no wonder many actors retire earlier than we want them to, whether for the sake of family, their own personal health — or merely to quit while they're ahead. Some actors have had their hands forced, like Jack Nicholson's recent retirement due to health issues. Others, however, leave some potentially great performances on the table — even at a seriously advanced age. Let's get to the bottom of some of our favorite, now-retired actors and whether we can ever hope for a glorious return.
15 Leelee Sobieski
Leelee Sobieski retired from acting in 2010, after growing tired of a business that sexualized her even as a teenager. The Never Been Kissed star appeared to be well on her way to superstardom in the 2000s, but later expounded on her motivations for leaving Hollywood. "Ninety percent of acting roles involve so much sexual stuff with other people," the actress told Vogue in 2019, "and I don’t want to do that." One such role was in Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut, when she was forced to play a sex worker at only 14 years old.
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Sobieski Has Already Waffled on Retirement From Acting
Sobieski actually had a few more roles after declaring her retirement, though it has now been years since she appeared on-screen, preferring to instead pursue a career as a visual artist. Still, a 2016 appearance in the Dennis Hopper film The Last Film Festival was a reminder of Sobieski's natural talent. Less than a decade removed from that performance, it certainly wouldn't be a surprise to see her take up acting again.
14 Taylor Momsen
Sometimes actors give up their careers to focus on other interests. Such was the case for Taylor Momsen, who quit the business despite her early fame as a child actor then her huge role on Gossip Girl. She has described acting as an "alienating" experience, and it seems as though she was largely forced into her career at a very young age.
Momsen Still Has Major Acting Chops, Even if She'd Rather Not Admit It
On Penn Badgely's podcast Podcrushed, Momsen disclosed that she left Gossip Girl to further her music career. “Larger powers than me came down and went, ‘This is a great opportunity,’” Momsen said in the podcast. Still, when you see her in the music videos for her band The Pretty Reckless, she still shows her knack for performance and at only 31, it's easy to see her returning to acting if the right opportunity came along.
13 Evangeline Lilly
Evangeline Lilly has found a supremely rewarding life after acting, focusing on family, writing, and humanitarian work. The Canadian actress announced her retirement earlier this year on Instagram, sounding thankful for her many years in the spotlight on amazing shows like Lost.
Lilly Seems Poised to One Day Make a Comeback
Lilly seemed to allude to one day making a comeback when she wrote a statement in Variety, saying “I have actually been on a hiatus from acting for the past three years already. This time outside of the business has brought me a grounding sense of fulfillment and joy. I could return tomorrow, two years from now or never, but at the moment I am not actively pursuing any work in the industry and am not under any contractual obligations to anybody."
12 Phoebe Cates
Phoebe Catesremains one of Hollywood's biggest "what ifs" thanks to her incredible early career — becoming a sex symbol thanks to her roles in films like Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Many Hollywood pundits think her career was mismanaged, though greater success likely wouldn't have made a difference because she retired from acting in 1994 to focus on raising her children after her marriage to actor Kevin Kline. Still, her amazing roles in Fast Times, Drop Dead Fred, and Gremlins keep her at the top of mind for any '80s/'90s movie buffs.
Cates Could Be Coaxed Out of Retirement for the Right Role
Since her self-imposed retirement, Cates has been wooed back to the screen before. Her friend Jennifer Jason Leigh got her to appear in a small role in her film The Anniversary Party in 2001, and Cates did some voice over work for the Lego Dimensions video game in 2015, reprising her Gremlins role for the game. This leads us to believe that the right role could bring her back to the screen again... perhaps a Fast Times reunion?
11 Meghan Markle
Meghan Markle was well on her way to a bigger acting career before meeting Prince Harry and having her life turned upside-down. She became a series regular on Suits and even had some small movie roles in films like Horrible Bosses. Now, the Duchess of Sussex has a complicated relationship with fame, as she and Harry seem anxious to get out of the public spotlight, though that hilarious episode of South Park might suggest otherwise.
Why a Markle Comeback Seems Inevitable
If there is one reason, above all others, that a Meghan Markle return to the screen seems inevitable if not imminent, imagine the payday! The royals remain a tabloid fascination throughout the Western World, and Markle has undoubtedly already fielded enormous offers to act again. Given how much Harry and Meghan like to stick to their overbearing family, wouldn't a controversial role with some foul language be just what the doctor ordered?
10 David Caruso
While David Carusonever officially announced his retirement, his allegedly toxic behavior on set may have imposed that retirement on him. Caruso hasn't acted since playing Lieutenant Horatio Caine on CSI: Miami, and despite that show's decade-long run, Caruso is apparently such a pain in the tuckus to work with that nobody will hire him. It is hard to deny, however — the guy is undeniably talented.
Despite His Bad Reputation, Caruso Has Had Major Success
Caruso owns a clothing store in Miami called Steam on Sunset, and is said to be involved in the art business. Perhaps trying to get producers to bend to his will on TV sets became a pain for the actor, but even 14 years on from his last on-screen appearance, it's hard to completely rule out a return. He's still two years shy of a septuagenarian, and that unmistakable shock of red hair could certainly make it way back to the screen — if someone finally decides they can put up with him!
9 Lisa Bonet
Lisa Bonet was once the toast of sitcom television as a youngster, becoming the most popular sister on The Cosby Show thanks to some deft acting skills and her otherwordly good looks. Bonet went on to an acting career that left us wanting more, thanks to some great movie performances in High Fidelity and Biker Boyz and an even more impressive career on television. Bonet loves her privacy, which led her to change her non-stage name to Lilakoi Moon and stop auditioning for acting roles.
Why a Lisa Bonet Return Is Distinctly Possible
While Bonet hasn't been on television since a 2016 role on Ray Donovan, she never officially retired. Thanks to her very high-profile past romances with Lenny Kravitz and Jason Momoa, she may not want to call any more attention to her personal life, not to mention distract from her daughter Zoë Kravitz's already-enormous career. Still, at 56, Bonet still looks incredible, and her daughter's reign could inevitably coax Bonet back to the screen.
8 Ali MacGraw
Despite his still sterling reputation as one of the coolest cats ever in Hollywood, upon closer examination, Steve McQueen may not have been the greatest dude. One of the many reasons was his abusive relationship with actress Ali MacGraw. It's hard to remember how hugely famous MacGraw became after her roles in Love Story and opposite McQueen in The Getaway. One reason her career started to fizzle was McQueen wanting the actress to be a stay-at-home wife, and her career never truly recovered.
Why an Ali MacGraw Return Shouldn't Be Ruled Out
While Ali MacGraw hasn't appeared in a film since Glam in 1997, she often appears in documentaries. The actress clearly loves to be a talking head, and even at 85, hasn't shied away from the public eye. Could one last comeback acting appearance be in the stars? Hard to say, but we're keeping our fingers crossed, as MacGraw seemed to leave a ton of talent on the table.
7 Bridget Fonda
To all the body shaming buttheads who troll around comment sections looking to make themselves feel better by making our acting heroes feel worse — how dare you! This horrible phenomenon is precisely what's kept Bridget Fonda, one of our favorite '90s actresses, out of the public eye for years. After marrying movie musicman Danny Elfman, Fonda retired from acting to focus on family, but the reaction to recent photos of the actress in public likely aren't helping her to consider a return to screens.
Hopefully Bridget Keeps the Fonda Family Name Alive in Hollywood
With Bridget Fonda's father Peter's recent death, and her aunt Jane Fonda pushing 90 years old, we can only hope the last stalwart of the famous acting Fondas finds her way back to acting. Her roles in films llike Singles, Single White Female, and Jackie Brown make us long to see her back on screen, even if she's aged out of the roles that made her famous. While we won't hold our breath, hopefully Fonda faces her fears and makes a triumphant return.
6 Eva Mendes
Eva Mendes seemed like she was still at or near her apex when she decided to retire from acting. In an appearance on the Today show, Mendes opened up about her motivations. "It was like a no-brainer [to retire]," she proclaimed, adding, "I'm so lucky I could have this time with my children." Her partner, Ryan Gosling, has soldiered on with his acting career, and while Mendes is supportive of him, she doesn't make many red carpet appearances.
An Acting Return by Mendes Is Definitely Worth Betting On
With her two daughters approaching 'tween age, and plenty of demand to see her back on screen one day, it's a sure bet that Eva Mendes will be back on-screen in the near future. While she once spoke of growing tired of battling for the good roles, hopefully her time away from Hollywood has reinvigorated her love of acting. Perhaps Ryan Gosling would be kind enough to take over parenting duties full-time, and let his preturnaturally-talented partner get back to work wowing audiences.
5 Debra Winger
Believe it or not, there was a time when Debra Winger was arguably the biggest actress in Hollywood, after roles in An Officer and a Gentleman, Terms of Endearment, and Shadowlands all earned her Best Actress nominations. Winger has been in and out of Hollywood since her apex, first retiring at 40 years old when she felt she was already being phased out due to her age. She did make a few comebacks over the years, the last of which was on the show Mr. Corman, which reminded us what a talent she is.
Winger Hasn't Acted Since the Pandemic, But That Could Change
Winger has many interests outside of acting, including as a teaching fellow. Winger hasn't acted since the pandemic, deciding to focus more on her work at Hand in Hand Schools (institutions that foster reconciliation between Arabs and Jews). While she clearly has broader interests than acting, she is only three years removed from her last role, and therefore a good bet to one day return to the screen.
4 Gene Hackman
File this one under "long shot," but even at the ripe old age of 94, it's hard not to root for one more acting performance from Gene Hackman. The actor can still be spotted around his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, fit as a fiddle and often tending to daily activities at his ranch. In a rare interview with Larry King in 2004, Hackman announced his retirement — and truly hasn't looked back, working as a novelist and focusing on family.
Hackman Likely Won't Return for One More Role, But Crazier Comebacks Have Happened
Before you cross Gene Hackman off the list for future acting roles, just remember some of the names of actors still working in their '90s: Carol Burnett, Dick Van Dyke, and Rosemary Harris. Did we mention Eva Marie Saint, who is still acting at 99 years old? Never say never.
3 Rick Moranis
After his wife's tragic death in the early-'90s, Rick Moranis devoted himself to life as a single parent, effectively saying goodbye to his very profitable comedy acting career. After becoming a star for films like Ghostbusters and Little Shop of Horrors, Moranis has resisted the many voices trying to coax him out of retirement, save for Ryan Reynolds, who got Moranis to do a Super Bowl commercial (probably for a lot of dough). Still, some recent developments suggest Moranis could make a big return to the screen.
Spaceballs and Honey I Shrunk Remakes Could Bring Moranis Back
Moranis had already made a deal to star alongside Josh Gad in Shrunk, a remake of his famous Honey, I Shrunk the Kids films from the '90s. Although the pandemic appears to have shelved that project, it shows that Moranis is again ready to act. With a Spaceballs reboot on the horizon as well, we expect it's only a matter of time before the Canadian funnyman finds his way back to the Silver Screen.
2 Robert Redford
Robert Redford's credentials need no introduction, and considering how great some of his late career roles were in films like Avengers: Endgame he clearly still has plenty left in the tank. Redford seems to disagree, stating in a speech at the Telluride Film Festival that "I’ve been doing this since I was 21. I’ve put my soul and heart into it over the years. I thought, ‘That’s enough. Why don’t you quit while you’re a little bit ahead? Don’t wait for the bell to toll. Just get out.’" Respectfully, Bob... we disagree.
Redford Will Certainly Have Offers, But a Return Would Require the Right Project
It's hard to imagine that Redford is content with his final film being an MCU project. He has continued working as a producer since, and his proximity to Hollywood means that fans of the actor are still hopeful for one last great acting performance. With Clint Eastwood acting past Redford's current age of 88, and Redford still looking quite spry at his advanced age, we'd love to see him go out on a high note.
1 Daniel Day-Lewis
There can be no doubt that Daniel Day-Lewis left us wanting more. The three-time Oscar winner is considered to be the acting GOAT by many in the film industry, and he certainly went out on a high note with his stirring performance in Phantom Thread. Still, Day-Lewis never worked with some of the biggest directors, like Quentin Tarantino and Christopher Nolan.
While His Fans Salivate For a Return, Day-Lewis Has Played His Cards Close to the Vest
Day-Lewis seems very content in his post-acting life, and the actor has always done things his own way, taking long hiatuses between projects and leading a very private life. His friend and collaborator, Irish director Jim Sheridan, feels that Day-Lewis is disillusioned by the streaming era, but at only 67 years old, the actor's reps will likely be fielding calls for many years to come. Could the right offer (like Tarantino's rumored overtures to bait Day-Lewis onto the cast of his now-scuttled The Movie Critic) be enough to bring him back? We'll have to wait and see.
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