Former Child Stars of the '70s and '80s Who Left Hollywood for Ordinary Work

Although many actors who rose to fame in hit television shows and blockbusters of the 1970s and 1980s became household names, several later stepped away from the spotlight and built very different lives.

Kristy McNichol

Kristy McNichol was regarded as a remarkable young talent when she debuted as Letitia "Buddy" Lawrence in Family in 1976. The role brought multiple Primetime Emmy nominations for Best Supporting Actress, and she won twice.

She went on to make a name for herself in the 1980 film Little Darlings with Tatum O'Neal, then appeared in Dream Lover, You Can't Hurry Love and The Forgotten One. While starring in Empty Nest, she suddenly left the series in 1992 and walked away from Hollywood, a move that puzzled many fans.

"Many people have asked me why I left the show," she said in a statement released in 2001. "It was because I was suffering from manic depression [bipolar disorder], but I didn’t want to talk about it at the time. It was very private. Now I want to tell people the truth."

In the same statement, she said she had decided to retire from acting and leave behind her career in the spotlight. "A lot of people have wondered what I've been up to. I retired from my career after 24 years. My feeling was that it was time to play my biggest part – myself!" she said.

"I must say that it has been the best thing that ever happened to me. So many fans are disappointed that I'm not currently acting; however, some may not realise that the process I'm in at this time is necessary and vital for my personal happiness and well-being."

McNichol later stepped away from fame and became an acting teacher at a private school in Los Angeles. She also embraced charity work, especially with United Way, and joined the choir at Los Angeles Valley Community College. "This phase of my life is so good," she told People. "My home life is happy and serene. I love singing. I also enjoy travelling and seeing the world. One of my favourite stops is Hawai'i."