It’s not hard to imagine that the spotlight gets a little grating after a while – and it’s no surprise, then, that plenty of Hollywood stars have turned their backs on fame.
For former Disney star Bridgit Mendler, who made her name in Good Luck Charlie before going on to release music, it turns out her true calling was in business. After starring in everything from Alvin and the Chipmunks to Undateable, Bridgit has been declared the CEO of new start-up Northwood Space.
The company recently received $6.3million in seed funding, and focuses on “building a data highway between earth and space”. Bridgit joined the graduate programme at MIT with a focus on improving social media, pursuing a Ph.D and later enrolling at Harvard Law School.
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She’s not the only one to ditch music, acting or both to pursue a more traditional path. Even one of the Jonas Brothers decided he was better suited to ‘working with his hands’!
Freddie Prinze Jr.
(Image: Getty Images)
I Know What You Did Last Summer and Scooby Doo star Freddie Prinze Jr. might be continuing to act, but he’s also doing a very different job nowadays. While his co-star wife Sarah Michelle Gellar continues to polish her acting chops, Freddie only had one role last year.
Instead, the actor has become a cook – refusing to call himself a chef because he isn’t fully qualified. He initially dropped out of culinary school as he was making more money acting, but retained his love of cooking and has even produced his own recipe book.
Freddie says he’s received numerous offers to open his own restaurant, but confessed: “I don’t feel like I’ve earned it. Of course, I’d be excited to do it, but I would have to put in a lot more training before doing something like that.
“Restaurants are a tough game, as you’d have to open it knowing you’re not making money and opening it for the locals in hopes they enjoy the food you make. It’s a ton of work and sacrifice – and I would want to work there if I opened it – but I just don’t have the time.”
Kevin Jonas
(Image: Getty Images for iHeartRadio)
One third of the Jonas Brothers, Disney star Kevin Jonas racked up an estimated net worth of $40million. But the band decided to go on hiatus in 2013, and Kevin turned his hand to… contracting.
The star launched his very own construction company, named Jonas Werner Homes, and has managed the firm since 2014. It’s described as “a luxury home construction company for the most discerning clients”, and has even featured on The Real Housewives of New Jersey.
Housewife Kathy Wakile said of the experience: “Rich and I were introduced to Kevin Jonas and his partner Bill Werner through our mutual friend and realtor.
“There were a few very good qualities in their building style that we were drawn to, in particular the fact that they were practical in their construction approach and goals. And Kevin has an extensive knowledge of home automation and electronic features for the home.”
Kevin is also the chief executive of The Blu Market, a communications firm which created food app Yood in 2015.
Peter Ostrum
(Image: Getty Images)
Best known for playing Charlie Bucket in the classic 1971 musical Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, former child actor Peter Ostrum decided to ditch the spotlight straight after starring alongside Gene Wilder in the movie.
Instead, he pursued a career as a vet, attending Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and practicing at a New York clinic. The actor kept his acting work largely on the down-low, confessing to the Express: “I wanted people to judge me on who I was, not what I’d done.”
Jeff Cohen
(Image: Warner Bros/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)
Jeff Cohen shot to fame in 1985 release The Goonies, playing Chunk – but now he’s totally unrecognisable. Though the star continued to act until 1991, appearing in everything from Scooby Doo to Family Ties, he ultimately decided to go after a career in law.
Jeff told Chambers Associate: “I wasn’t sure that I wanted to be a lawyer but I was sure that I wanted a legal education. I was always fascinated by the entertainment industry and as an undergrad at Berkeley, I developed interests in politics and business as well.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Speaking of the acting world, he admitted: “Puberty forced me into early retirement from my first [career] as a child actor.” The star co-founded his own law firm, Cohen Gardner LLP, in 2002 and represents clients in entertainment, media and technology after graduating from UCLA Law School and UC Berkeley.
Reed Alexander
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iCarly star Reed Alexander played Nevel in the Nickelodeon series from 2007 until 2012… but later ditched his role as an antagonist alongside Miranda Cosgrove to become a journalist.
The young actor became a financial news reporter for Insider after studying at both NYU and Columbia University, and even works as a lecturer at the University of Miami. He told Miami New Times: “I finally felt [acting] wasn’t enjoyable anymore when I was more interested in journalism.
“Even at 17 or 18, my decision to walk away from it made me question, ‘Well, who am I if not an actor?’ I think just having the courage to leave situations is something a lot of people don’t have.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
