1. Dolores Hart Became a Nun
Dolores Hart was a rising starlet in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, best known for starring opposite Elvis Presley in Loving You. With her natural beauty and charm, she seemed destined for a long Hollywood career. But in a surprising twist, Hart gave it all up in 1963 at just 24 years old. She walked away from film entirely and joined a Benedictine abbey in Connecticut, trading red carpets for religious robes.
Her decision stunned fans and colleagues alike, especially since she was engaged at the time. But Hart felt a deep calling to serve God, and she never looked back. Today, she’s known as Mother Dolores and still lives at the Abbey of Regina Laudis. She even attended the Oscars in 2012 for the documentary God Is the Bigger Elvis, which told her story. It’s one of the most remarkable pivots in Hollywood history.
2. Bobby Driscoll’s Tragic Fall from Disney Darling
Bobby Driscoll was the voice of Peter Pan and one of Disney’s first child stars, winning a Juvenile Oscar in 1950. He was charming, talented, and had a long career ahead of him—or so it seemed. As he grew older, the roles dried up and Disney let him go. He struggled to adapt to adult acting, and things took a dark turn.
Driscoll ended up battling addiction and ran into trouble with the law. In a heartbreaking twist, he died at just 31 in an abandoned building in New York, buried in an unmarked grave. His identity wasn’t even known until a year later. His story didn’t have a happy ending, but it’s a sobering reminder of how fame doesn’t always guarantee security. Today, he’s remembered more tenderly for the boy he once was.
3. Peter Tork Worked as a High School Teacher
Peter Tork found instant fame as the lovable goofball in The Monkees, but the band’s success was fast and fleeting. After the show ended and the music faded, Tork tried to make it as a solo artist but struggled to gain traction. He stepped away from the spotlight entirely and took on a surprisingly normal job—teaching high school.
He worked in California schools, teaching music, math, and even social studies. His students were often unaware they were being taught by a former teen idol. Tork later returned to music and reunited with the Monkees for tours in the ‘80s and ‘90s. But for a time, he embraced the quiet life, chalkboard and all. It’s not the future fans imagined for him, but it clearly brought him peace.
4. Donna Douglas Sold Real Estate
Best known as Elly May Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies, Donna Douglas played the ultimate backwoods beauty queen. When the show ended in 1971, she found herself typecast and had trouble finding serious roles. Instead of fighting it, Douglas chose a completely different path. She got her real estate license and started flipping houses in California.
She later became a motivational speaker and even recorded gospel albums. She leaned into her Christian faith and spent her later years traveling for church events and giving uplifting talks. Though she never quite escaped the shadow of Elly May, she found fulfillment in helping others. And in her own words, she never regretted walking away from Hollywood.
5. George Lazenby Sold Cars
George Lazenby is the only actor to play James Bond just once, starring in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service in 1969. At the time, he was a model with zero acting experience, but somehow landed one of the biggest roles in film. Then he shocked everyone by turning down a multi-film contract and walking away from 007 altogether.
After his brief stint in the spotlight, Lazenby returned to more modest work, including selling cars and investing in real estate. He later did some acting here and there, mostly in smaller films or TV guest spots. But he never chased the fame again. Instead, he lived a relatively quiet life, comfortable with the path he’d chosen. It’s one of the boldest one-and-done moves in movie history.
6. Jay North Worked in Corrections
Jay North became a household name as the mischievous title character in Dennis the Menace. But growing up on TV took a toll on him, especially after the show ended and he struggled to transition into adult roles. After trying to stay in the business for a few years, North left Hollywood altogether. His new path? He went to work for the Florida Department of Corrections.
He worked as a guard and later as a counselor for troubled youth, using his own experiences as a child star to help others. It was a tough, no-frills job, but North found meaning in it. Over the years, he’s opened up about the dark side of child stardom and how it shaped him. While his career didn’t follow the usual Hollywood arc, he found a way to turn his pain into purpose.
7. Barbara Feldon Became a Self-Help Author
Barbara Feldon was effortlessly cool as Agent 99 on Get Smart, holding her own in a male-dominated spy spoof with style and smarts. But after the show ended, she slowly stepped away from acting. Rather than chasing roles, Feldon decided to focus on writing and introspection. She began studying psychology and eventually wrote a book called Living Alone and Loving It.
The book was all about thriving as a single woman and finding peace in solitude. It resonated with readers and showed a very different side of Feldon, one that wasn’t defined by fame or glamour. These days, she enjoys a quiet life in New York and continues to advocate for self-sufficiency and mindfulness. Agent 99 may be frozen in time on screen, but Feldon has evolved beautifully.
