01of 18Shelley DuvallShelley Duvall.Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via GettyIn 2002, following a prolific career in Hollywood including roles in Woody Allen’sAnnie Hall, Robert Altman’sPopeyeand Stanley Kubrick’sThe Shining,Duvall decided to step away from it alland retired to her native Texas.“It’s the longest sabbatical I ever took,” she told PEOPLE of the move, which occurred when her brother was diagnosed with spinal cancer, “but it was for really important reasons — to get in touch with my family again.“Now, 20 years later, the 73-year-old actress is returning to the screen in an indie horror film,The Forest Hills,which premiered on March 11 at Smodcastle Cinemas in New Jersey.“Acting again — it’s so much fun. It enriches your life,” Duvall told PEOPLE. “[Jessica Tandy] won an Oscar when she was 80. I can still win,” she added with a wink and a laugh.
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Shelley Duvall
Shelley Duvall.Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty
In 2002, following a prolific career in Hollywood including roles in Woody Allen’sAnnie Hall, Robert Altman’sPopeyeand Stanley Kubrick’sThe Shining,Duvall decided to step away from it alland retired to her native Texas.
“It’s the longest sabbatical I ever took,” she told PEOPLE of the move, which occurred when her brother was diagnosed with spinal cancer, “but it was for really important reasons — to get in touch with my family again.”
Now, 20 years later, the 73-year-old actress is returning to the screen in an indie horror film,The Forest Hills,which premiered on March 11 at Smodcastle Cinemas in New Jersey.
“Acting again — it’s so much fun. It enriches your life,” Duvall told PEOPLE. “[Jessica Tandy] won an Oscar when she was 80. I can still win,” she added with a wink and a laugh.
02of 18Ke Huy QuanFrazer Harrison/WireImageTwenty years after making the"very difficult decision” to step away from acting, Quan returned to the screen in a major way withhis Oscar-winning performanceas Waymond Wang inEverything Everywhere All At Once.Quan’s career on screen began once his family arrived in Los Angeles after fleeing Vietnam after the Vietnam War. The actor’s older brother was headed to an open audition forIndiana Jones and the Temple of Doomand 12-year-old Quan decided to tag along.Quan landed the role in the 1984 film and the following year booked a role in another fan favorite,Goonies.He then made the decision to step away from Hollywood, as offers were coming less and less frequently. After graduating from film school at USC, he became a successful assistant director and stunt coordinator. It wasn’t until he watched 2018’sCrazy Rich Asians, that Quan decided it might be time to revisit acting.“I was happy working behind the camera but I had serious FOMO,” he said with a laugh. “I wanted to be up there with my fellow Asian actors!”
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Ke Huy Quan
Frazer Harrison/WireImage
Twenty years after making the"very difficult decision” to step away from acting, Quan returned to the screen in a major way withhis Oscar-winning performanceas Waymond Wang inEverything Everywhere All At Once.
Quan’s career on screen began once his family arrived in Los Angeles after fleeing Vietnam after the Vietnam War. The actor’s older brother was headed to an open audition forIndiana Jones and the Temple of Doomand 12-year-old Quan decided to tag along.
Quan landed the role in the 1984 film and the following year booked a role in another fan favorite,Goonies.
He then made the decision to step away from Hollywood, as offers were coming less and less frequently. After graduating from film school at USC, he became a successful assistant director and stunt coordinator. It wasn’t until he watched 2018’sCrazy Rich Asians, that Quan decided it might be time to revisit acting.
“I was happy working behind the camera but I had serious FOMO,” he said with a laugh. “I wanted to be up there with my fellow Asian actors!”
03of 18Brendan FraserTaylor Hill/WireImageAudiences were on their feet — literally — when Fraser delivereda comeback performancein 2022’sThe Whale, 13 years after his last major role.In the film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival and earned a six-minute standing ovation, Fraser plays a reclusive writing professor, Charlie, attempting to reconnect with his estranged daughter. The actor underwent a dramatic physical transformation to play the 600-lb. man, and ultimately won anOscar for his performance.After first rising to fame in the early ’90s for roles in films likeGeorge and the Jungle,Fraser’s career took off when he landed his role in theMummyfranchise. He continued to act into the late ’90s and 2000s but stepped out of the spotlight due to a variety of personal issues including multiple surgeries and the death of his mother.In an interview withGQin 2018, Fraser also recounted an alleged sexual assault he experienced at the hands of the former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (the non-profit organization that votes for the Golden Globe awards), Philip Berk, in 2003. Berk has denied the allegations, but Fraser said he felt as if the HFPA had blacklisted him following the incident.
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Brendan Fraser
Taylor Hill/WireImage
Audiences were on their feet — literally — when Fraser delivereda comeback performancein 2022’sThe Whale, 13 years after his last major role.
In the film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival and earned a six-minute standing ovation, Fraser plays a reclusive writing professor, Charlie, attempting to reconnect with his estranged daughter. The actor underwent a dramatic physical transformation to play the 600-lb. man, and ultimately won anOscar for his performance.
After first rising to fame in the early ’90s for roles in films likeGeorge and the Jungle,Fraser’s career took off when he landed his role in theMummyfranchise. He continued to act into the late ’90s and 2000s but stepped out of the spotlight due to a variety of personal issues including multiple surgeries and the death of his mother.
In an interview withGQin 2018, Fraser also recounted an alleged sexual assault he experienced at the hands of the former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (the non-profit organization that votes for the Golden Globe awards), Philip Berk, in 2003. Berk has denied the allegations, but Fraser said he felt as if the HFPA had blacklisted him following the incident.
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Jane Fonda
Vivien Killilea/Getty for Palm Springs International Film Society
After a decades-long career in the business starting with her first feature film role in 1960’sTall Story,Fondadecided to retire from acting in 1991 after marrying Ted Turner.
“I left for 15 years, when I married Ted Turner, andI did not think I was gonna come back, ‘cause when I married him, I thought it’d be forever,” Fonda toldEntertainment Tonightwhile promoting her most recent film80 for Brady.
“But I came back, and frankly, if anybody told me that at 85, I’d be doing this kind of movie, I would have not believed them,” she continued. “So I feel very lucky.”
From 2015 to 2022, she starred alongside Lily Tomlin on Netflix’sGrace and Frankie.
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Cameron Diaz
Cameron Diaz.Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
Diazis returning to the screen for the first time since 2014 in theaptly named Netflix flick,Back in Action, alongsideJamie Foxx.
In 2021, theCharlie’s Angelsactressopened up about her decision to take a step back from actingfollowing her 2014 roles inThe Other Woman,Sex TapeandAnnie.
“When you do something at a really high level for a long period of time,” other parts of you have “to sort of be handed off to other people,” she explained toKevin Harton his talk showHart to Heart.
She continued explaining that at around the age 40, she realized that there were “so many parts of my life … that I wasn’t touching and that I wasn’t managing.”
The decision, she said, left her feeling “whole.”
Since then, she met her husbandBenji Maddenand the two welcomed daughter,Raddix, in December 2019.
The two were spotted on set for the film in February 2023 in London.
06of 18Lindsay LohanJames Gourley/GettyAfter years of ups and downs, audiences welcomedLohanback to their screens Netflix’s 2022 filmFalling for Christmas.The film marked Lohan’sfirst leading rolein a film since 2013’sThe Canyons,though she had a supporting role in 2019’sAmong the Shadows.Lohan toldThe Hollywood Reporterthat returning to acting “is like riding a bicycle.“She added, “It’s just in me. It’s a part of me. Doing films, playing a character, it brings me so much joy to be able to share a story with people. To take people on that journey with me is such a blessing.“TheParent Trapactress is also set to star in another Netflix rom-com,Irish Wish, as a love-struck bridesmaid at her best friend’s wedding. However, she has an even more exciting project in the works:she’s expecting her first child!Ahead of her return to film, in 2022, Lohan starred in aSuper Bowlad for Planet Fitness,“What’s Gotten Into Lindsay,” which playfully poked fun at her past.
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Lindsay Lohan
James Gourley/Getty
After years of ups and downs, audiences welcomedLohanback to their screens Netflix’s 2022 filmFalling for Christmas.
The film marked Lohan’sfirst leading rolein a film since 2013’sThe Canyons,though she had a supporting role in 2019’sAmong the Shadows.
Lohan toldThe Hollywood Reporterthat returning to acting “is like riding a bicycle.”
She added, “It’s just in me. It’s a part of me. Doing films, playing a character, it brings me so much joy to be able to share a story with people. To take people on that journey with me is such a blessing.”
TheParent Trapactress is also set to star in another Netflix rom-com,Irish Wish, as a love-struck bridesmaid at her best friend’s wedding. However, she has an even more exciting project in the works:she’s expecting her first child!
Ahead of her return to film, in 2022, Lohan starred in aSuper Bowlad for Planet Fitness,“What’s Gotten Into Lindsay,” which playfully poked fun at her past.
07of 18Terrence HowardTerrence Howard.FOX/Getty ImagesIn September 2019, theEmpireactor announced that he was"done” with acting. When the final season of the hit show ended, so would his time in Hollywood, Howard toldExtra’s Cheslie Kryst.Kryst asked Howard about his plans once the show is over. “What do you think will happen with your career? What do you see yourself doing going forward?” Terrence responded, “Oh, I’m done with acting. I’m done pretending.“Kryst then asked Howard if he would be making a pivot to philanthropy, to which he replied, “No, not philanthropy; I’m just focusing on bringing truth to the world.“Despite his statement, Howard ultimately appeared in numerous roles between 2020 and 2022 including 2022’sTheBest Man: The Final Chaptersminiseries.While promoting the series, he said he was ready to retire — again.“This is the end for me. This is the end for me,” he said before adding of hisBest Manco-stars, “I don’t know if it’s the end for the rest of them.” He continued, “I retired two years ago, for the most part. I was done.”
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Terrence Howard
Terrence Howard.FOX/Getty Images
In September 2019, theEmpireactor announced that he was"done” with acting. When the final season of the hit show ended, so would his time in Hollywood, Howard toldExtra’s Cheslie Kryst.
Kryst asked Howard about his plans once the show is over. “What do you think will happen with your career? What do you see yourself doing going forward?” Terrence responded, “Oh, I’m done with acting. I’m done pretending.”
Kryst then asked Howard if he would be making a pivot to philanthropy, to which he replied, “No, not philanthropy; I’m just focusing on bringing truth to the world.”
Despite his statement, Howard ultimately appeared in numerous roles between 2020 and 2022 including 2022’sTheBest Man: The Final Chaptersminiseries.
While promoting the series, he said he was ready to retire — again.
“This is the end for me. This is the end for me,” he said before adding of hisBest Manco-stars, “I don’t know if it’s the end for the rest of them.” He continued, “I retired two years ago, for the most part. I was done.”
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Robert Redford
Paul Bruinooge/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
After an illustrious 60-year career,Robert Redfordshared that he would beretiring from actingafter 2018’sThe Old Man & the Gun.
“Never say never, but I pretty well concluded that this would be it for me in terms of acting, and [I’ll] move towards retirement after this ‘cause I’ve been doing it since I was 21,” Redford explained toEntertainment Weeklyat the time of his 2016 announcement. “I thought, ‘Well, that’s enough.’ And why not go out with something that’s very upbeat and positive?”
But Redford may not leave Hollywood entirely. WhenEWasked him if he would still direct films, he said, “We’ll see about that.”
While promoting the 2018 film, though, Redford expressed regret for making the big announcement.
“I think it was a mistake to say that I was retiring because you never know,” the actor PEOPLE. “It did feel like it was time maybe, to concentrate on another category.”
While he has racked up producing credits, per IMDB, Redford was also featured in 2019’sAvengers: End Game.
09of 18Portia de RossiPortia de Rossi.Bob DAmico/ABC via GettyDespite having successful (and long-running) acting stints onArrested DevelopmentandScandal,de Rossi made the decision to leave the industryahead of her 45th birthday in 2018.“I was approaching 45 and I just kind of … was wondering is there something that I could tackle now that I’ve never done before that would be really challenging and different,” de Rossi explained to wifeEllen DeGenereson her talk show. “I kind of knew what acting would look like for me for the next 10, 20 years, so I decided to quit and start a business.“But that all changed following a conversation the actress had withADcreator Mitch Hurwitz.“I called Mitch Hurwitz, who’s the creator ofArrested Developmentand I said, ‘If there is aseason 5, I won’t be doing it because I quit acting. And he seemed really understanding and he totally got it. We had a great conversation, and then he wrote me into five episodes,” she said. “Don’t know how it happened, but yes, I am on season 5.“Though since then, she has not made any more returns to the screen.
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Portia de Rossi
Portia de Rossi.Bob DAmico/ABC via Getty
Despite having successful (and long-running) acting stints onArrested DevelopmentandScandal,de Rossi made the decision to leave the industryahead of her 45th birthday in 2018.
“I was approaching 45 and I just kind of … was wondering is there something that I could tackle now that I’ve never done before that would be really challenging and different,” de Rossi explained to wifeEllen DeGenereson her talk show. “I kind of knew what acting would look like for me for the next 10, 20 years, so I decided to quit and start a business.”
But that all changed following a conversation the actress had withADcreator Mitch Hurwitz.
“I called Mitch Hurwitz, who’s the creator ofArrested Developmentand I said, ‘If there is aseason 5, I won’t be doing it because I quit acting. And he seemed really understanding and he totally got it. We had a great conversation, and then he wrote me into five episodes,” she said. “Don’t know how it happened, but yes, I am on season 5.”
Though since then, she has not made any more returns to the screen.
10of 18Daniel Day-LewisDaniel Day Lewis.Kevin Winter/GettyIn 2017, Day-Lewis announced he’d be stepping away from acting —but it wasn’t the first time.The famously selective actor quit acting onstage during a 1989 performance ofHamletin London. And after filmingThe Boxerin the mid-’90s, he retreated from the business, instead apprenticing in the arts of woodworking and shoemaking. He’s taken five-year breaks before, too.He said these hiatuses were necessary for him to pursue his craft: “I never went away,” he said. “I never left myself. I simply need the time I spend not working in films, the time away, to do the work that I love to do in the way that I love to do it.“But this is the first official announcement of actuallyquittingthe industry, and we’ll just have to wait and see if it sticks. His last role was in 2017’sPhantom Thread.
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Daniel Day-Lewis
Daniel Day Lewis.Kevin Winter/Getty
In 2017, Day-Lewis announced he’d be stepping away from acting —but it wasn’t the first time.
The famously selective actor quit acting onstage during a 1989 performance ofHamletin London. And after filmingThe Boxerin the mid-’90s, he retreated from the business, instead apprenticing in the arts of woodworking and shoemaking. He’s taken five-year breaks before, too.
He said these hiatuses were necessary for him to pursue his craft: “I never went away,” he said. “I never left myself. I simply need the time I spend not working in films, the time away, to do the work that I love to do in the way that I love to do it.”
But this is the first official announcement of actuallyquittingthe industry, and we’ll just have to wait and see if it sticks. His last role was in 2017’sPhantom Thread.
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Doris Day
Doris Day.Photoshot/Getty
“Que Sera, Sera” (which translates to “what will be, will be”) was Day’s biggest hit — and it seems, her motto for her career!
But after the show’s fifth season, a 50-year-old Day retired from the spotlight to her estate in Carmel, California. “It wasn’t the city I knew anymore,“she told PEOPLE of Hollywood in 2017, when she celebrated her 95th birthday. “If I had stayed, I might be playing a grandmother — who knows! But I love living in a small town. I have my pets around me, and I like to answer my fan mail.” The actress died in May 2019.
12of 18Gene HackmanGene Hackman.Vera Anderson/WireImageTheRoyal Tenenbaumsstar said sayonara to show biz on July 7, 2004, when hetold Larry Kingthat his career was “probably all over,” and he had no new scripts in front of him.That made 2004’sWelcome to Mooseporthis last movie (and his 100th overall credit). He confirmed his retirement in 2008.
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Gene Hackman
Gene Hackman.Vera Anderson/WireImage
TheRoyal Tenenbaumsstar said sayonara to show biz on July 7, 2004, when hetold Larry Kingthat his career was “probably all over,” and he had no new scripts in front of him.
That made 2004’sWelcome to Mooseporthis last movie (and his 100th overall credit). He confirmed his retirement in 2008.
13of 18Audrey HepburnAudrey Hepburn.Archive Photos/Getty ImagesHepburn, of course, went from actress to icon thanks to her work in films likeBreakfast at Tiffany’s, Roman HolidayandMy Fair Lady.But following the late 1960s, she gave it all up to focus on charity work. Well, almost — Hepburn appeared in a few more films before her death in 1993.She became a huge force for good through her work with UNICEF, traveling to countries like Honduras, Vietnam and Somalia to work on humanitarian causes. President George H.W. Bush eventually honored her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
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Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn.Archive Photos/Getty Images
Hepburn, of course, went from actress to icon thanks to her work in films likeBreakfast at Tiffany’s, Roman HolidayandMy Fair Lady.
But following the late 1960s, she gave it all up to focus on charity work. Well, almost — Hepburn appeared in a few more films before her death in 1993.
She became a huge force for good through her work with UNICEF, traveling to countries like Honduras, Vietnam and Somalia to work on humanitarian causes. President George H.W. Bush eventually honored her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
14of 18Sean ConnerySean Connery.SplashNewsHe became a legend as James Bond, but at the age of 75, Connery decided to retire in 2006. (As most 75 year oldsoutsideof the business would do!) His final film wasLeague of Extraordinary Gentleman,though there were rumors that he’d come out of retirement in the years after to reprise his role inIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.Although he admitted it was an enticing offer, Connery declined. “If anything could have pulled me out of retirement, it would have been anIndiana Jonesfilm,“he said. “But in the end, retirement is just too damned much fun.“Connerydied in 2020at the age of 90.
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Sean Connery
Sean Connery.SplashNews
He became a legend as James Bond, but at the age of 75, Connery decided to retire in 2006. (As most 75 year oldsoutsideof the business would do!) His final film wasLeague of Extraordinary Gentleman,though there were rumors that he’d come out of retirement in the years after to reprise his role inIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Although he admitted it was an enticing offer, Connery declined. “If anything could have pulled me out of retirement, it would have been anIndiana Jonesfilm,“he said. “But in the end, retirement is just too damned much fun.”
Connerydied in 2020at the age of 90.
15of 18Debra WingerDebra Winger.Roger Karnbad-Michelson/Globe Photos Inc.The three-time Oscar nominee didn’t retire, but she did take a hiatus — 1995 to 2001 — from the business.“It was an organic thing,” shetoldThe Boston Globeof her break. “I think with anything you’re choosing or finding your way with, if it’s not pulling you forward a little bit, you’re going to feel like you’ve come to a dead end eventually.“But she came back after the break, first, in the filmBig Bad Love.She starred on the Netflix original seriesThe Ranchfrom 2016-2020 and most recently appeared in the 2021 seriesMr. CormanandUltra City Smiths.
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Debra Winger
Debra Winger.Roger Karnbad-Michelson/Globe Photos Inc.
The three-time Oscar nominee didn’t retire, but she did take a hiatus — 1995 to 2001 — from the business.
“It was an organic thing,” shetoldThe Boston Globeof her break. “I think with anything you’re choosing or finding your way with, if it’s not pulling you forward a little bit, you’re going to feel like you’ve come to a dead end eventually.”
But she came back after the break, first, in the filmBig Bad Love.She starred on the Netflix original seriesThe Ranchfrom 2016-2020 and most recently appeared in the 2021 seriesMr. CormanandUltra City Smiths.
16of 18Greta GarboGreta Garbo.Donaldson Collection/Getty ImagesBad reviews are part of the business — but for the Swedish star, it was enough to push her into early retirement. When her film,Two-Faced Woman,tanked, the 35-year-old star was embarrassed and decided to wait for World War II to come to an end before pursuing any other films. A few opportunities came about, but nothing ever materalized, makingTwo-Faced Womanher last film.Garbo always preferred to be alone or with loved ones. “As early as I can remember, I have wanted to be alone,” she said. “I detest crowds, don’t like many people.” She spent the rest of her life doing just that, living in a Manhattan apartment and taking long walks through the city.
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Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo.Donaldson Collection/Getty Images
Bad reviews are part of the business — but for the Swedish star, it was enough to push her into early retirement. When her film,Two-Faced Woman,tanked, the 35-year-old star was embarrassed and decided to wait for World War II to come to an end before pursuing any other films. A few opportunities came about, but nothing ever materalized, makingTwo-Faced Womanher last film.
Garbo always preferred to be alone or with loved ones. “As early as I can remember, I have wanted to be alone,” she said. “I detest crowds, don’t like many people.” She spent the rest of her life doing just that, living in a Manhattan apartment and taking long walks through the city.
17of 18Cary GrantCary Grant.Silver Screen Collection/Getty ImagesFor Grant, fatherhood came first. He retired from the business in 1966 at the age of 62 in order to raise his daughter, Jennifer, who was born that year. He said that focusing on her upbringing was more “important” than acting. “I could have gone on acting and playing a grandfather or a bum,” he said. “But I discovered more important things in life.”
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Cary Grant
Cary Grant.Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images
For Grant, fatherhood came first. He retired from the business in 1966 at the age of 62 in order to raise his daughter, Jennifer, who was born that year. He said that focusing on her upbringing was more “important” than acting. “I could have gone on acting and playing a grandfather or a bum,” he said. “But I discovered more important things in life.”
18of 18Shirley TempleShirley Temple.Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesShe remains the most successful child star of all time, but Temple just couldn’t capture the same sort of popularity as an adult.She left show business for the first time at age 12 to go to school full-time. After attempting a comeback in her early 20s, she formally retired in 1950. But this was hardly the end of Temple’s professional life. She went on to have a successful career as a diplomat, serving as the Ambassador to Ghana and later to Czechoslovakia.
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Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple.Hulton Archive/Getty Images
She remains the most successful child star of all time, but Temple just couldn’t capture the same sort of popularity as an adult.
She left show business for the first time at age 12 to go to school full-time. After attempting a comeback in her early 20s, she formally retired in 1950. But this was hardly the end of Temple’s professional life. She went on to have a successful career as a diplomat, serving as the Ambassador to Ghana and later to Czechoslovakia.
source: people.com
