From fame to working a 9-to-5: The struggles of being a D-listed celebrity
Not every celebrity stays famous forever. We almost didn’t believe the things some D-listed celebs had to do after their fame… 21 celebrities who’ve taken on surprising career paths: remember ‘Ice Ice Baby’? Vanilla Ice and other celebs who’ve taken on regular jobs.
It’s not uncommon for celebrities to have to work regular jobs just like the rest of us, even if they were once famous. Whether they’re trying to make ends meet after their fame has dwindled or just looking for something to do in their downtime, many celebrities have taken on 9 to 5 jobs at some point in their lives.
For example, do you remember the popular child show ‘The Sweet Life of Zac and Cody’? Or the television show ‘Two And A Half Men’? Well, even if these actors seemed to have their career path all worked out, appearances can be deceiving… Even the once-famous rapper Vanilla Ice, known for his song ‘Ice Ice Baby’, has taken on a variety of jobs that will definitely leave you speechless. Some celebs even went from a thriving acting career, to working at starbucks or worse: committing crimes…
So quickly continue reading, because we have selected the 21 most well known celebrities who took a bizarre turn in their career path. We admit that it’s easy to forget that celebrities are just normal people who have to work hard to make a living, even if they’ve had their time in the spotlight. So next time you see a celebrity working a 9 to 5 job, don’t be surprised – they’re just like the rest of us!
Dylan Sprouse
Dylan Sprouse was once a teenage heartthrob, stealing hearts as one half of the dynamic duo in “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.” But these days, he’s traded in his acting career for a much more… interesting gig.
That’s right, Dylan Sprouse is now a professional mead-maker. But don’t let his celebrity status fool you – he had to start from the bottom, just like the rest of us. Sprouse worked his way up from the dingy dish pits of a New York City restaurant to finally opening his own meadery. So next time you’re sipping on a unique, artisanal mead, just remember – you have a former Disney star to thank for it.
Kevin Jonas
Kevin Jonas was once a member of the wildly successful pop rock band, the Jonas Brothers. Along with his brothers, Kevin traveled the world, performing for sold-out crowds and winning the hearts of fans everywhere. But after a few years of living the rockstar life, Kevin decided it was time for a change.
He chose to leave the band and pursue a more traditional 9 to 5 job, and it was during this time that he discovered his true passion: entrepreneurship. With his hard work and dedication, Kevin was able to turn his dream into a reality, founding his own successful company. He is the co-CEO of The Blu Market, an influencer marketing company. And while his days of performing on stage may be behind him, Kevin’s new career is no less impressive, proving that even former pop stars can make a successful transition to the world of business.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas
Who hasn’t seen The Lion King? This famous movie is well-known amongst pretty much everyone. But did you know who voiced young Simba? It’s Jonathan Taylor Thomas. In addition to voicing young Simba in Disney’s 1994 film The Lion King, he also portrayed Randy Taylor on Home Improvement and voiced Pinocchio in The Adventures of Pinocchio in 1996. One might think he was a rising star, but Jonathan thought otherwise. He chose to live a private life away from the spotlight.
So that’s what he did, living a normal life just like everyone else. But, if you look at what he’s achieved, it’s not exactly normal. He graduated with honors from Chaminade College Preparatory School, later studied philosophy at Harvard and graduated from Columbia University’s School of General Studies in 2010. So not only does he have great acting skills, he also has a good set of brains. The world is unfair
Meghan Markle
Nowadays, one might almost forget that Meghan Markle used to be a famous actress. Her role in the hit series Suits turned quite a few heads – that’s an understatement, practically everyone admired her good looks, beautiful smile, and great acting skills. But that’s not all – those scenes were spicy, and we’re not talking about the food. We’re referring to all the steamy scenes with her co-star Patrick J. Adams.
We can say with full conviction that Meghan Markle’s career switch has been the biggest yet. From being a leading actress in a hit series, she went on to become a Duchess when she married Prince Harry. It’s quite a big difference, don’t you think? I think we all know how that went…
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger is a true rags-to-riches story. He immigrated to America with nothing but his massive muscles and thick, Austrian accent. But that didn’t stop him from chasing his dreams. First, he became a world-famous bodybuilder, flexing his way to the top of the industry. But he wasn’t satisfied with just being a beefcake – Arnold wanted more. So, he turned to acting and became a Hollywood superstar, starring in blockbuster hits like The Terminator and Kindergarten Cop.
But even that wasn’t enough for the ambitious Arnold. He had his sights set on an even bigger prize: the governorship of California. And let’s just say, he didn’t “terminate” his political career lightly. After completing two successful terms as the head honcho of the Golden State, Arnold proved that with hard work, dedication, and a little bit of “Hasta la vista, baby,” anyone can achieve their wildest dreams.
Grace Kelly
This story is just as remarkable as ones like Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. It’s almost like Grace Kelly set the example for the former royal couple – only with less drama, or at least that’s what we think.
In just six years, Grace Kelly made a massive impact in the acting world. She earned several Golden Globes, a New York Film Critics Circle Award, a BAFTA nomination, an Academy Award and starred in three classic Hitchcock films. The most impressive part? All of this happened before she was just 26 years old.
Then everything changed, all because of love. The famous actress fell in love with Rainier III, Prince of Monaco (Rainier Louis Henri Maxence Bertrand Grimaldi). She then quit acting and married her real-life prince. The couple had three children, and Grace began her duties as Princess of Monaco.
Amanda Bynes
Amanda Bynes used to be a well-known actress. Whenever she starred in a typical chick flick, she made it ten times better. Have you seen the movie She’s the Man? If not, turn on your television, because you’ve apparently been living under a rock and missed one of the most classic chick flicks of all time. (Okay, we admit it might have been better at the age of 15, but still.) Even if you’ve been avoiding these kinds of movies like the plague, we guarantee you won’t regret watching this one. And if anyone asks, just say your friend, sister, mother, or as far as we’re concerned, your dog wants to watch it. Anyway, we digress…
The reason we’re probably so crazy about the movie She’s the Man is because Amanda Bynes stars in it, and she doesn’t just have a small role, she has the leading role, and she kills it. Practically every movie with Amanda Bynes in it is guaranteed to be a success, think of Easy A, All That, and What a Girl Wants, and many more. That’s why it’s even more sad that Amanda decided to quit acting in 2010. After going through a difficult period in life, when she allegedly set a driveway on fire and was hospitalized on an involuntary psychiatric hold, she made a fresh new start. Amanda began studying Fashion Design at California’s Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising.
Angus T. Jones
In 2010, Angus T. Jones was probably the highest-paid child on television. With his role as Jake in the show Two and a Half Men, he was definitely one of the most popular child stars on television. Being on a show for 10 years guaranteed that he was the center of attention everywhere. But that’s not all, with a payment check of $410,000 per episode, he was the highest-paid child star on television in 2010. He had a better career at that age than probably most of us will ever have. That’s why it came as a shock to many people when he announced that he didn’t want to be part of the show anymore and walked away from it in 2013. He described the show as ‘filth.’
Jones decided to live a normal life because he felt like the show was making light of topics in our world that are really problems for a lot of people. He started studying environmental studies at the University of Colorado at Boulder and later switched to Jewish studies. He enjoyed his life outside the spotlight and not being the center of everyone’s attention for once. After that, he gained a management position at a live events company called Tonite.
Jack Gleeson
If you’ve seen the hit series ‘Game of Thrones’, you’ll know exactly who this is: Jack Gleeson, the guy who played the evil child-king Joffrey. Did you hate him just as much as we did? Because this role certainly was very easy to hate. It turns out, this collective hatred of him was a big part of the reason why Jack Gleeson decided to quit acting and start living a more ordinary life.
Jack began acting when he was seven and had several minor roles. But when he got to play the most hated character on television in Game of Thrones, it certainly took its toll. So, when his character was killed off, Jack decided to quit his acting career. Instead, he went back to school and began studying theology in college. However, later on, he decided to return to television.
Mara Wilson
Watching the movie Matilda almost feels like a part of everyone’s childhood. With a great script, beautiful storytelling, and an incredible cast, it makes it one of the best kids movies of all time. Therefore, the younger Mara Wilson (aka Matilda) would immediately be recognized, but would you also recognize her now? Despite her moments of fame in her childhood, with her roles in Mrs. Doubtfire and Matilda, she has chosen a life outside the spotlight now.
After appearing in more films and briefly appearing in a series, Mara explained that she didn’t get much joy out of acting anymore, “because having to do the same thing over and over again until, in the director’s eyes, you ‘get it right,’ does not allow for very much creative freedom.” So, what do you do when you want to fully express your creative freedom? Exactly, you go writing. Because in the world of words, anything is possible, and Mara definitely fits well here. She can be found with her nose in journalistic pieces as she is a writer now. Other than writing multiple journalistic pieces, she also wrote a play and even a book. Well done, Mara, definitely a good career switch!
Vanilla Ice
Vanilla Ice was the king of the hip-hop world in the late ’80s and early ’90s, thanks to his hit song “Ice Ice Baby.” But despite his initial success, the rapper knew that fame and fortune in the music industry can be fleeting. So, in the mid ’90s, he decided to hedge his bets and start studying real estate.
Yes, you read that right – Vanilla Ice, master of the mic, was also a master of the housing market. And he was so good at it that he even wrote a book on the subject. Now, we know what you’re thinking – how could anyone possibly make real estate sound cool? But leave it to Vanilla Ice to find a way. We have a feeling his book was filled with all sorts of funky real estate lingo, like “Yo, this duplex is da bomb,” and “This townhouse is off the hook, yo.” And who knows, maybe he even rapped his way through a few open houses. Vanilla Ice may not be topping the charts anymore, but we have a feeling he’s still making moves in the real estate world.
Chris Owen
After playing successfully in the movie sequels of American Pie as Chuck Sherman, also known as “The Sherminator,” Chris Owen found it hard to secure further acting roles and had to take a step back from his acting career. Just like the rest of us, he had to make money, so he got a more regular job instead.
He started working as a waiter at a sushi restaurant. While it may not have been the glamorous life he was used to, Owen approached his new job with the same dedication and hard work that had brought him success in the entertainment industry. Luckily, his career began to look a little bit brighter as he landed several more roles in recent years. No matter what he does, we have a feeling Chris Owen will always bring his best effort to the table.
Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey starred in timeless classics like Ace Ventura and The Mask, as well as dramatic roles in films like The Truman Show and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. After years of making us laugh on the big screen, Jim Carrey decided to switch things up and embark on a new career path that was a little less… well, funny.
He traded in his acting career for a more traditional 9-to-5 job, directing theater and documentaries and creating art in a small studio in New York. But don’t worry, just because he’s not making us laugh with his movies anymore doesn’t mean he’s lost his sense of humor. In fact, we have a feeling that his art studio is probably filled with hilarious sculptures and paintings that are guaranteed to make us chuckle. And who knows, maybe one day he’ll make a comeback and star in a comedy so uproarious, it’ll make all of his previous films look like drama by comparison. After all, Jim Carrey is the master of making us laugh, no matter what he’s doing.
Karyn Parsons
Karyn Parson may be best known for her role as Hilary Banks, alongside Will Smith on the hit TV show, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, but she’s proven that she’s so much more than just an actress. After her time on the show came to an end, Parson decided to pursue her passion for storytelling and she founded her own animated film production company, Sweet Blackberry.
Through Sweet Blackberry, Parson has brought important historical figures and stories to life through beautifully animated films. The mission of Sweet Blackberry is to bring little-known stories of African American achievement to children everywhere. It’s clear that Parson’s talent and dedication extends far beyond the world of acting, and she’s made a successful transition to the world of film production. It just goes to show that with hard work and a willingness to try something new, anyone can achieve their dreams.
Source: https://www.tips-and-tricks.co/celebs/working-celebs/