Celebrities who were reduced to doing demeaning jobs to make money after failed Hollywood careers

Whether it’s because they were shunned from the industry due to a scandal or because their careers simply fizzled out, many of Hollywood’s once-great actors and musicians have been forced to make money in other ways.

Some of the world’s biggest stars have had to trade in their glamorous lives to instead work demeaning jobs like cashiers, salesman, and even waiters after their careers came crumbling down – certainly a very different lifestyle than they were used to.

Take former Sex and the City actor Chris Noth, for example. The once-beloved star – who played Mr. Big in the popular franchise – recently got mocked by trolls after he shared a video of himself promoting a card game app to Instagram, one year after he was hit with multiple sexual assault allegations.

Social media users banded the post as a ‘desperate’ move to make money after five women came forward in December 2021 to accuse him of assault, which he later denied.

Noth is just one of the many stars who have turned to other methods to make ends meet after a long fall from grace. 

After starring in the 2017 flick Call Me By Your Name, Armie Hammer was on the path to become Hollywood’s next golden boy – but his sudden popularity was ripped away when he was accused of rape and cannibalism by multiple women, resulting in him fleeing to the Cayman Islands where he started working as a timeshare salesman.

Other stars – like The Cosby Show’s Geoffrey Owens, who was spotted working at Trader Joe’s in 2018, and Boy Meets World alum Danielle Fishel, who had a brief stint wrapping presents at Bloomingdales after the show ended in 2000 – weren’t forced to step out of the limelight due to controversy, but instead, they struggled to land more roles after being propelled into the spotlight, ultimately leading to them having to make a living in other ways.

Some Hollywood legends – like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory alum Peter Ostrum, who now works as a vet, tending to cattle and horses, and Summerland actress Kay Panabaker, who is a Disney World employee – simply realized acting wasn’t for them, and left on their own accord to pursue other careers. 

As Noth comes under fire for his latest attempt to make money, FEMAIL has uncovered all the other celebrities who were reduced to working normal jobs following a successful career in the spotlight.

Sex and the City’s Chris Noth is promoting apps on Instagram following accusations that he sexually assaulted five different women

Aside from playing Mr. Big in Sex and the City, Noth, 68, also starred in Law & Order and The Good Wife.

But in 2021, his acting career came to a halt after multiple women accused him of sexual assault, which resulted in him losing numerous roles

Aside from playing Mr. Big in Sex and the City, Noth, 68, also starred in Law & Order and The Good Wife.

But in 2021, his acting career came to a halt after multiple women accused him of sexual assault.

At the time, two women made the accusations in a story published by THR, in regards to incidents which allegedly occurred in 2004 and 2015. 

Now, it seems as though he’s making money in other ways. He posted a self-recorded video promoting the app Gin Rummy Stars earlier this week

Three other women subsequently accused the actor of sexual assault in the wake of the initial story.

The Good Wife actor issued a statement denying any wrongdoing at the time, saying, ‘The accusations against me made by individuals I met years, even decades, ago are categorically false.

‘These stories could’ve been from 30 years ago or 30 days ago – no always means no – that is a line I did not cross. The encounters were consensual.’

In wake of the allegations, Noth’s scenes in the SATC reboot, And Just Like That…, were ‘cut by HBO’ and his viral ad for Peloton was pulled by the fitness giant.

Now, it seems as though he’s making money in other ways. He posted a self-recorded video to the Instagram account for Gin Rummy Stars earlier this week. 

It’s been speculated that Gin Rummy Stars may have purchased the advertisement through Cameo, which is a website that allows fans to request custom videos from their favorite stars. According to Noth’s official Cameo, he charges $850 for a ‘business video.’

‘Listen, we all need ways to escape the grind. For me, I like to kickback and play Gin Rummy Stars,’ Noth began in the ad.

He went on to describe it as a ‘unique card game’ that has various levels as well as mini games that are ‘easy enough to be relaxing but still challenging.

‘And it improves your noggin. It approves your brain skills. After just 10 minutes I already feel better and smarter.’

‘And the best part, it’s totally free. Chill out with Gin Rummy Stars. I’m not kidding, you’re gonna be a genius after you play this,’ he concluded.

Call Me By Your Name star Armie Hammer started working as a timeshare salesman in the Cayman Islands after he was accused of cannibalism and sexual assault

Armie Hammer, 36, shot to stardom after he starred in the popular coming-of-age romantic drama Call Me By Your Name in 2017

But Hammer’s newfound popularity was ripped away from him after he was accused of sexual assault and cannibalism by multiple women in 2021. Some of his alleged DMs are seen 

The once-beloved movie star was shunned from Hollywood, and he fled California to live a much-quieter life in the Cayman Islands. He is seen with one of his alleged victims

Hammer, 36, shot to stardom after he starred in the popular coming-of-age romantic drama Call Me By Your Name in 2017.

He then got a new job as a timeshare salesman for a resort – certainly a vast difference from the once-glamorous life he lead as Hollywood’s golden boy 

His other acting credits included Billy: The Early Years, The Social Network, J. Edgar, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and the Broadway show Straight White Men.  

But Hammer’s newfound popularity was ripped away from him after he was accused of sexual assault and cannibalism by multiple women in 2021.

The once-beloved movie star was quickly shunned from Hollywood – he was kicked out of the movies and shows that he had been cast in and was even dropped by his own publicist – forcing him to ultimately flee California to live a much-quieter life in the Cayman Islands.

He then got a new job as a timeshare salesman for a resort – certainly a vast difference from the once-glamorous life he lead as Hollywood’s golden boy.

In July 2022, however, news hit the web that Hammer had left the Cayman Islands and returned to LA for the first time since the scandal broke a year earlier. He is seen in July 2022 

Weeks later, Alison Boshoff told DailyMail.com that there was talk in Hollywood that Hammer was considering a comeback to acting ‘when the time is right.’ He is pictured in 2018 

A source told Variety at the time that he was spending most of his days working in a ‘cubicle,’ with the insider adding, ‘The reality is he’s totally broke, and is trying to fill the days and earn money to support his family.’

In July 2022, however, news hit the web that Hammer had left the Cayman Islands and returned to LA for the first time since the scandal broke a year earlier.

Weeks later, Alison Boshoff told DailyMail.com that there was talk in Hollywood that Hammer was considering a comeback to acting ‘when the time is right.’

Sources close to Hammer told her that he never considered giving up his movie career permanently – and that there was already rumors of film producers seeking him for roles in small-budget films.

Eight years after leaving the band, former One Direction singer Zayn Malik now makes most of his money through sponsorship deals and promoting various products on Instagram

Zayn Malik, 30, rose to fame after he was put in the band One Direction alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Liam Payne on the UK show The X Factor

However, during the heigh of their success, Malik shocked the world when he announced in 2015 that he was leaving the band. He went on to release three albums on his own

Zayn lives a relatively quiet life now, and he mostly earns money by sponsorship deals and promoting various products on Instagram

At one point, Zayn Malik’s face was plastered practically everywhere – on billboards, commercials, posters, T-shirts, and more merchandise.

In 2020, he teamed up with the mobile game Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells and started posting about it a lot on his social media accounts 

The now-30-year-old rose to fame after he was put in the band One Direction alongside Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Liam Payne on the UK show The X Factor.

The group became one of the biggest boybands in the world – selling 70 million records as of 2020, embarking on numerous sold-out world tours, and winning almost 200 awards.

However, during the heigh of their success, Malik shocked the world when he announced in 2015 that he was leaving the band.

He went on to release three albums on his own, and while the first one was successful, the latter two didn’t do as well.

He has also stepped into the world of fashion, releasing a line of merchandize that he created from his own artwork called PAYNT BY ZAYN last year

Zayn lives a relatively quiet life now, and he mostly earns money by sponsorship deals and promoting various products on Instagram.

In 2020, he teamed up with the mobile game Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells and started posting about it a lot on his social media accounts. 

He has also stepped into the world of fashion, releasing a line of merchandize that he created from his own artwork called PAYNT BY ZAYN last year.

The Cosby Show’s Geoffrey Owens was spotted working the register at a Trader Joe’s supermarket in 2018 – 30 years after the beloved sitcom went off the air

The web went wild in 2018, when The Cosby Show star Geoffrey Owens, 61, was spotted working the register at a Trade Joe’s supermarket in Clifton, New Jersey

During the height of his fame, Owens was best known for his role as Elvin Tibideaux in the NBC sitcom (seen top row, second from right)

The web went wild in 2018, when The Cosby Show star Owens, 61, was spotted working the register at a Trade Joe’s supermarket in Clifton, New Jersey.

But by 2018, it was revealed that he was also making ends meet by working as a cashier when a series of photos of him at his new job emerged on the web. But the former actor was not ashamed of his career change, explaining, ‘You gotta do what you gotta do’

During the height of his fame, Owens was best known for his role as Elvin Tibideaux in the NBC sitcom, but he also appeared on Elementary, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, That’s So Raven, Play the Game, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and Lucifer.

In addition to acting, Owens founded The Brooklyn Shakespeare Company, through which he teaches acting classes to aspiring stars, and has also taught at Columbia University, Yale and the Adult School of Montclair and Pace University.

But by 2018, it was revealed that he was also making ends meet by working as a cashier when a series of photos of him at his new job emerged on the web – which resulted in him receiving a lot of backlash online.

But the former actor was not ashamed of his career change. He spoke about it the backlash he received over it to Good Morning America after, explaining, ‘I’ve been teaching, acting, directing for 30-plus years, but got to a point where it just didn’t add up enough and you gotta do what you gotta do.

‘There’s no job better than another … every job is worthwhile.’

Peter Ostrum, the boy who played Charlie Bucket in Willy Wonky & The Chocolate Factor, turned down a movie contract to take care of animals instead, and he now works on a farm tending to cattle and horses

Peter Ostrum was skyrocketed into the spotlight after he played Charlie Bucket in the 1971 movie Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory

The now-65-year-old actor was only 12 when he was cast in the movie – making it his first (and last) role

Despite the immense attention he received from the flick, he opted not to pursue a career in acting after that, and instead, focus on following his other passion – helping animals

He then returned to school, and received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1984. He is seen in 2022

Ostrum was skyrocketed into the spotlight after he played Charlie Bucket in the 1971 movie Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory.

The now-65-year-old actor was only 12 when he was cast in the movie – making it his first (and last) role.

Ostrum, who now lives in Lowville, New York, has been practicing veterinary for 37 years, and mostly works on farms tending to cattle and horses, and serves as a managing partner with Dairy Health & Management Services 

Despite the immense attention he received from the flick, he opted not to pursue a career in acting after that, and instead, focus on following his other passion – helping animals.

He was offered a three-film contract with TV and movie producer David L. Wolper, which he ultimately turned down.

He then returned to school, while spending time taking care of his family’s horse. He received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1984.

‘I had a great experience, but it was just something I didn’t think that I wanted to do the rest of my life,’ he said in a 2022 interview while reflecting on his short-lived movie career.

Ostrum, who now lives in Lowville, New York, has been practicing veterinary for 37 years, and mostly works on farms tending to cattle and horses.

He also serves as a managing partner with Dairy Health & Management Services.

Boy Meets World alum Danielle Fishel landed a job as a gift-wrapper at Bloomingdales after the popular Disney show came to an end

Danielle Fishel, 41, is best known for playing Topanga Lawrence-Matthews on the beloved series Boy Meets World

But when that came to an end in 2000, she struggled to find roles and had to look elsewhere for income – resulting in her briefly working as a gift-wrapper at a Bloomingdales

Over the years, Fisher has landed a few acting roles here and there – and she now focuses most of her time raising her two sons with husband Jensen Karp

Fishel, 41, is best known for playing Topanga Lawrence-Matthews on the beloved series Boy Meets World.

But when that came to an end in 2000, she struggled to find roles and had to look elsewhere for income.

She once revealed that she spent time working as a gift-wrapper at a Bloomingdales in Newport Beach, California, during the late 2000s.

She explained on an episode of her podcast Pod Meets World that she visited the department store to get a gift for a friend. She asked an employee to wrap it, but was told it wouldn’t be ready until the next day due to a shortage of staff.

She then decided to wrap it herself right there and then – which caught the attention of one of the managers. 

She also makes extra money by promoting various products to her Instagram followers

‘He looks at me and he goes, “That’s actually really good,”‘ she recalled. ‘I said, “Thanks, I love to wrap presents.”‘

He then offered her a job, which she happily accepted. And while she didn’t reveal how long she worked there for, she confirmed that it didn’t last too long.

Over the years, Fisher has landed a few acting roles here and there – including the 2015 drama Boiling Pot and the Boy Meets World spinoff, Girl Meets World.

She now focuses most of her time raising her two sons with husband Jensen Karp, as well as making extra money by promoting various products to her Instagram followers.

Summerland actress Kay Panabaker said goodbye to acting in 2016, and she now works at Disney World, where she helps tend to the animals

Former Disney star Kay Panabaker, 32, traded in her acting career to work at Disney World instead, where she helps tend to the theme park’s animals. She is seen in 2008

Panabaker rose to fame in the early 2000s when she starred in The WB’s Summerland. She also starred in Nancy Drew, Phil of the Future, Life is Ruff, and Read It and Weep

But in 2012, she retired from acting and enrolled at UCLA where she studied zoology. She then landed a job at Disney World’s Animal Kingdom

Former Disney star Panabaker, 32, traded in her acting career to work at Disney World instead, where she helps tend to the theme park’s animals.

She rose to fame in the early 2000s when she landed the role as Nikki Westerly in The WB’s Summerland.

She also starred in Nancy Drew, Phil of the Future, Life is Ruff, Read It and Weep, The Prince and the Pauper, and No Ordinary Family.

But in 2012, she retired from acting and enrolled at UCLA where she studied zoology. She then landed a job at Disney World’s Animal Kingdom.

In a 2016 interview with Naperville Magazine, she explained that she decided to leave Hollywood after a producer told her she needed to lose weight for a role. 

‘Looking back, finding my true passion was worth all of the extra time’ she added of her career change. 

‘I love it when I leave work and have felt like I was able to inspire and make a difference, even if it was just one person that day. I don’t earn a fraction of what I used to, and yet, I couldn’t be happier.’

Mega hip-hop star Vanilla Ice stopped making music in 2011, and now focuses his time on house flipping and promoting his energy drink collaboration instead

Vanilla Ice (seen in 1990), 55, was once one of the biggest rappers on the globe. His 1990 album To the Extreme was the fastest-selling hip hop album of all time

However, in 2009, the artist moved his focus from music to house flipping – and launched his own reality series called The Vanilla Ice Project which went on for nine seasons

In 2022, he also teamed up with Canadian energy drink brand Joyburst to release his own spiked energy drink, which he often promotes on Instagram

Vanilla Ice, 55, was once one of the biggest rappers on the globe. His 1990 album To the Extreme was the fastest-selling hip hop album of all time and contained mega hits Ice Ice Baby and Play That Funky Music.

However, in 2009, the artist moved his focus from music to house flipping – and launched his own reality series called The Vanilla Ice Project which focused on him renovating a home in Miami, Florida.

The show was a major success, and went on for nine seasons before it concluded in 2019.

His last album came out in 2011, and now, Vanilla Ice spends most of his time focused on his real estate business.

He even wrote a book about it, called Vanilla Ice Project – Real Estate Guide.

In 2022, he also teamed up with Canadian energy drink brand Joyburst to release his own spiked energy drink, which he often promotes on Instagram.

Jon & Kate Plus 8 star Jon Gosselin worked a series of odd jobs like a DJ, waiter, and solar panel installer after he was booted from the show, before he ultimately landed a job in IT support for Amazon

Jon Gosselin, 45, and his wife, Kate Gosselin, rose to fame in 2007 thanks to their reality series Jon & Kate Plus 8, which documented their struggles to raise their eight children

The show was wildly popular, but after Jon and Kate split in 2009 – the series was rebranded as Kate Plus 8. That version went on for six more seasons, before coming to an end in July 2017

But as Kate’s career as reality star continued to flourish, Jon struggled to make ends meet and worked a series of odd jobs

Jon Gosselin, 45, and his wife, Kate Gosselin, rose to fame in 2007 thanks to their reality series Jon & Kate Plus 8, which documented their struggles to raise their eight children.

The show was wildly popular, but after Jon and Kate split in 2009 – the series was rebranded as Kate Plus 8. That version went on for six more seasons, before coming to an end in July 2017. 

But as Kate’s career as reality star continued to flourish, Jon struggled to make ends meet and worked a series of odd jobs.

In 2013, it was revealed that he had begun working as a waiter at the restaurant The Black Sheep in Pennsylvania, which he was ultimately fired from. 

In 2013, it was revealed that he had begun working as a waiter at the restaurant The Black Sheep in Pennsylvania, which he was ultimately fired from 

He also worked as a DJ, a solar panel installer for a renewable energy firm, and at TGI Fridays. According to his LinkedIn profile, he now works as an IT Support Associate at Amazon

‘He had no work ethic and felt he could come and go as he pleased,’ a source close to the situation told Radar Online at the time.

He also worked as a DJ and a solar panel installer for a renewable energy firm, before he landed a job at TGI Fridays. But all of those were also short-lived.

According to his LinkedIn profile, he now works as an IT Support Associate at Amazon.

Two and a Half Men alum Angus T. Jones left the show because he said it went against his religious beliefs, and he now serves as the president of an event planning company started by Diddy’s son

Angus T. Jones, 29, stole everyone’s hearts when he starred as Jake Harper in Two and a Half Men for nearly a decade

In 2010, he even became the highest paid child star in television at the age of 17 when he was paid $7.8 million for two seasons of the CBS series

Angus T. Jones, 29, stole everyone’s hearts when he starred as Jake Harper in Two and a Half Men for nearly a decade.

In 2012, Jones (seen in 2022) left the show after he ‘rediscovered’ his faith and said it went against his religious beliefs. He is now the president of entertainment for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ son Justin’s new events company, called Tonite

In 2010, he even became the highest paid child star in television at the age of 17 when he was paid $7.8 million for two seasons of the CBS series.

But despite his massive success at a young age – everything changed in 2012, when the devout Christian announced that he no longer wanted to appear in the show after he ‘rediscovered’ his faith and realized it went against his religious beliefs.

‘You cannot be a true God-fearing person and be on a television show like [Two and a Half Men]. I know I can’t,’ he announced in a YouTube video at the time.

‘I’m not OK with what I’m learning, what the Bible says, and being on that television show.’

He stopped acting completely afterwards, and stepped out of the spotlight to go to school, attending the University of Colorado. 

In 2016, it was announced that he had landed a job as the president of entertainment for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ son Justin’s new events company, called Tonite.

‘The goal for Tonite is to create an experience for our generation and to create the ultimate happy feeling, a high feeling, an ecstatic feeling, something they’ve never felt before when they come to one of our events,’ Justin told Billboard. 

Melrose Place’s Andrew Shue stopped acting in 2006 and attempted to launch a failed social media app, before founding his own ad management company

Andrew Shue, 55, instantly became a Hollywood heartthrob after he starred as Billy Campbell in Melrose Place for all seven seasons

But after that, he left the world of acting to instead pursue a career in the tech space. He launched his own social network website called CafeMom in 2006, which ultimately failed

Andrew Shue, 55, instantly became a Hollywood heartthrob after he starred as Billy Campbell in Melrose Place for all seven seasons.

He now runs an ad management service called CafeMedia, which ‘provides the technology and services that help the highest quality publishers grow their businesses and maximize success,’ according to its website

His other acting credits include The Rainmaker (alongside Matt Damon and Claire Danes) and the sports drama Gracie (which he also co-produced). 

But after that, he left the world of acting to instead pursue a career in the tech space.

He launched his own social network website called CafeMom in 2006, which was dedicated to helping mothers connect with one another.

However, the social media site was ultimately shut down in 2018 due to low funds. 

He now runs an ad management service called CafeMedia, which ‘provides the technology and services that help the highest quality publishers grow their businesses and maximize success,’ according to its website. 

Sixteen Candles heartthrob Michael Schoeffling completely disappeared from the public eye following his success in the movie to become a furniture maker

When Michael Schoeffling, 62, starred as Jake Ryan in the cult classic Sixteen Candles, it seemed like it was just the beginning for him

However, after starring in a few more roles, he completely disappeared from the public eye. It’s now been reported that he started his own furniture-making business

When Michael Schoeffling, 62, starred as Jake Ryan in the cult classic Sixteen Candles, it seemed like it was just the beginning for him. 

However, after starring in a few more roles – including Vision Quest, Mermaids, Let’s Get Harry, and Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken – he completely disappeared from the public eye.

It’s now been reported that he started his own furniture-making business in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. 

‘Actors spend most of their time out of work, so I actually spend more time making furniture,’ he once said. 

‘The thing about furniture that’s much better than acting is that it’s just me. There’s no director, no script – the concept is me, unless a client wants something.’

He married a woman named Valerie C. Robinson, and together, they welcomed two children – a daughter, named Scarlett, who works as a model, and a son, named Zane, who is an aspiring musician.

The once-beloved star hasn’t been pictured since the ’90s, and seems to be enjoying his quiet life away from the public eye.

Home Improvement star Taran Noah Smith attempted to launch a vegan cheese company, and after that failed, he moved onto a sailboat where he now makes a living teaching people how to pilot submarines

Taran Noah Smith, 38, was best known for playing Mark Taylor in the sitcom Home Improvement as a child

He starred in the series from age seven to 16, but by the time it ended, he said he ‘knew he didn’t want to act anymore’

Taran Noah Smith, 38, was best known for playing Mark Taylor in the sitcom Home Improvement as a child.

He starred in the series from age seven to 16, but by the time it ended, he said he ‘knew he didn’t want to act anymore.’

He married someone 16 years his senior soon after the show came to an end, a woman named Heidi van Pelt, and together, they launched a line of vegan cheese called Playfood.

It ultimately failed, as did his marriage, and they divorced in 2007. He now reportedly lives on a sailboat in Sausalito, California, and works as a submarine pilot instructor and a technician for Elon Musk’s SpaceX.