18 Celebrities Who Were Huge in the ’90s But Vanished
These 18 celebrities ruled the ’90s, then disappeared faster than dial-up internet.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 6 min read
The ’90s made them superstars, but fame can be fickle. Some left Hollywood by choice, while others faded away due to scandals, career flops, or personal struggles. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and see where these once-huge stars went.
1. Jonathan Taylor Thomas
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JTT was the ultimate ’90s heartthrob, stealing hearts on Home Improvement and voicing young Simba in The Lion King. At the height of his fame, he walked away to focus on school, attending Harvard and Columbia. Despite briefly returning to acting, he’s mostly stayed out of the spotlight. These days, fans still wonder if he’ll ever make a real comeback.
2. Bridget Fonda
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Bridget Fonda was everywhere in the ’90s, starring in Single White Female and Jackie Brown. Then, in 2002, she got into a bad car accident and stepped away from acting entirely. She chose a quiet life with her husband, composer Danny Elfman, and never looked back. Paparazzi occasionally catch glimpses of her, but Hollywood is ancient history for her.
3. Freddie Prinze Jr.
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He was the king of teen movies with hits like She’s All That and I Know What You Did Last Summer. But after marrying Sarah Michelle Gellar, he traded Hollywood for family life and voice acting. His last big on-screen role was in the early 2000s, and he’s been happy staying behind the scenes. These days, he dabbles in wrestling commentary and cooking.
4. Andrew Keegan
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Andrew Keegan was a ’90s icon thanks to 10 Things I Hate About You and countless TV guest roles. Then, he made headlines for founding a “spiritual community” in Venice Beach, which some people called a cult. His acting career fizzled out, but he still pops up in small projects now and then. Mostly, he seems content living a low-key, unconventional life.
5. Fairuza Balk
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She was the queen of edgy ’90s films, from The Craft to American History X, but after the early 2000s, she stepped away from mainstream Hollywood. She now focuses on music, art, and independent films, keeping her life delightfully weird. Fans still adore her, but she’s in no rush to return to blockbuster movies.
6. Rick Moranis
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Rick Moranis was a comedy legend in movies like Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and Ghostbusters, but after his wife passed away in 1991, he left acting to raise his kids. He’s only made rare appearances since, turning down big roles to stay true to his priorities. Fans were thrilled when he recently did a commercial with Ryan Reynolds, but he remains semi-retired.
7. Mara Wilson
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As the star of Matilda and Mrs. Doubtfire, Mara Wilson was a beloved child actress, but she walked away from Hollywood as a teen, later saying she didn’t enjoy acting. Instead, she became a writer and advocate for mental health. She still embraces her ’90s fame but has no interest in returning to the big screen.
8. Josh Hartnett
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He was set to be the next big thing after Pearl Harbor and Black Hawk Down, but Josh Hartnett didn’t want the Hollywood machine controlling his life. He stepped back from the industry, turning down major roles like Batman. After years of indie films and low-key living, he’s recently started making a comeback. He might have disappeared for a while, but he never truly left.
9. Lori Petty
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She was unforgettable in Tank Girl and A League of Their Own, but her career slowed down after the ’90s. Hollywood didn’t seem to know what to do with her quirky energy. She eventually resurfaced in Orange Is the New Black, reminding everyone why they loved her. These days, she still acts but keeps things on her own terms.
10. Vincent Kartheiser
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Before Mad Men, he was a rising teen star in movies like Alaska and Masterminds, but instead of chasing fame, he took a step back and pursued theater and smaller roles. Even after Mad Men, he stayed away from the A-list lifestyle. He’s still acting, but you won’t find him chasing Hollywood trends.
11. Jennifer Grey
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She was the ’80s and early ’90s icon thanks to Dirty Dancing, but a nose job drastically changed her look and career. Hollywood didn’t seem to recognize her anymore, and her roles dried up. She’s since made peace with it and even appeared on Dancing with the Stars, where she won. She still works occasionally, but she’ll always be Baby in fans’ hearts.
12. Chris O’Donnell
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He was Robin in the Batman & Robin era and had leading man potential, but after a few box office flops, he shifted gears and took on steadier TV roles, like on NCIS: Los Angeles. He traded the spotlight for stability, which worked out fine for him. He might not be a movie star anymore, but he’s still doing just fine.
13. Shannon Elizabeth
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She became a household name after American Pie, but after a few more movies, her career lost steam. Instead of chasing Hollywood success, she focused on poker and animal activism. She’s had some TV appearances but hasn’t returned to full-time acting. She seems pretty happy saving animals and playing high-stakes poker.
14. Mike Vitar
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Every ’90s kid remembers him as Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez from The Sandlot, but after a few more roles, he walked away from acting entirely. He became a firefighter in Los Angeles, trading Hollywood fame for real-life heroism. Fans still recognize him, but he’s not interested in returning to movies.
15. Phoebe Cates
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After Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Gremlins, Phoebe Cates was a major star, but she left acting in the mid-’90s to focus on her family and never looked back. She now runs a boutique in New York, living a completely different life. Her fans still adore her, but she’s perfectly happy outside Hollywood.
16. Tia and Tamera Mowry
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These twins were sitcom royalty thanks to Sister, Sister. While they’ve done some acting and hosting since, they left their childhood fame behind. Tia focuses on lifestyle branding, while Tamera has worked in talk shows and family life. They still pop up now and then, but their days as TV stars are mostly over.
17. Haley Joel Osment
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He saw dead people in The Sixth Sense and seemed destined for a massive career, but growing up in Hollywood wasn’t easy. He struggled to transition into adult roles. He took a break, went to college, and eventually returned to smaller, quirkier roles. He’s still around but nothing like the child star people remember.
18. Taylor Momsen
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She was Cindy Lou Who in How the Grinch Stole Christmas and later starred in Gossip Girl. However, by her late teens, she ditched acting entirely to focus on her rock band, The Pretty Reckless. She reinvented herself as a grunge-rock queen and never looked back. Hollywood lost her, but the music world gained her.