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Cameron Diaz -

Cameron Diaz disappeared from the spotlight after her 2014 movie 'Annie,' which co-starred Jamie Foxx. The following year she married her husband Benji Madden, and in 2018, she confirmed that she was retiring from acting. Since then, Diaz had her first child and launched a wine brand called Avaline. Fans were shocked and delighted when she announced that she was coming out of retirement in 2022 to film another movie with Jamie Foxx. 'Back in Action' is a Netflix action-comedy directed by Seth Gordon, known for 'Horrible Bosses' (2011) and 'Baywatch' (2017).

Production has reportedly wrapped but it's apparently been too much for Diaz as news broke on March 21 that the actress has decided to re-retire after this movie. Sources said the 10-hour work days and time away from family have just been too much. 

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Law Roach -

Law Roach has been responsible for so many of the red carpet's most talked-about looks, including most of Zendaya's outfits, as well as Celine Dion's famed Couture Week in Paris, among other celebrities like Anya Taylor-Joy and Ariana Grande. He also starred as a permanent judge on the HBO Max show 'Legendary.' But at what seems like the ever-climbing peak of his career, he announced his retirement. Taking to Instagram on March 14, alongside a photo which read simply "retired," Roach wrote: "My Cup is empty….. thank you to everyone who’ve supported me and my career over the years. Every person that trusted me with their image, I’m so grateful for you all." Then came the part that has the fashion world abuzz: "If this business was just about the clothes I would do it for the rest of my life but unfortunately it’s not! The politics, the lies and false narratives finally got me! You win … I’m out." He later clarified that he wasn't retiring from fashion entirely, but would no longer be styling celebrities because it had become too draining and he wanted to focus on other areas of his career. He also reassured us that he and Zendaya are still like family! 

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Bruce Willis -

Bruce Willis has had an impeccable career spanning five decades. It wouldn't be unusual for an actor to retire at this stage, but sadly for Willis, retirement has been forced upon him due to poor health. An announcement from his family revealed that Willis has been diagnosed with a brain disorder called aphasia which led him to his decision: "with much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him." Aphasia is a disorder that stems from damage to the language side of the brain, resulting in difficulty comprehending language and communicating effectively. The statement shared that the condition was already "impacting his cognitive abilities." Sadly, his family provided an update in 2023 revealing that his condition had progressed to dementia. 

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Ashleigh Barty -

After winning three Grand Slam singles titles and spending more than two consecutive years at No. 1 in the women’s tennis rankings, Australian tennis star Ashleigh Barty announced her retirement - at just 25 years old! Barty made the shocking announcement on March 23, 2022, just two months after winning the Australian Open title, in a six-minute video with former doubles partner Casey Dellacqua posted on her Instagram account in which she explained, "I just know at the moment, in my heart, for me as a person, this is right." She said it was time to "chase after some other dreams," and while she's grateful for all that the sport has given her, she said she no longer feels compelled to do what she knows is required to be the best. “I don’t have the physical drive, the emotional want, and everything it takes to challenge yourself at the very top level any more ... I am spent." But, she added, "That, for me, is success. I've given everything I can to this beautiful sport."

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Daddy Yankee -

Daddy Yankee announced on March 20, 2022, that he is retiring, at just 45 years old. Of course, he's been in the music industry for over 30 successful years, and he's had a fruitful career spanning from hits like 'Gasolina' to being dubbed the "King of Reggaeton" by fans. "This race, which has been a marathon, finally sees the finish line. Now, I am going to enjoy what all of you have given me," the singer said in a video statement posted to YouTube. "People say that I made this genre worldwide, but it was you who gave me the key to open the doors to make it the biggest in the world." 

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Sergio Aguero -

Argentinian soccer star Sergio Aguero announced his early retirement from the sport a month after the Barcelona striker experienced chest pains during a game and was taken to hospital. He was diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia and told that continuing to play soccer would put his life at risk. Aguero ultimately made the decision to retire, stating that "life comes first." At 33, the player had already had a distinguished career with clubs like Atletico Madrid, Manchester City, and finally, Barcelona. In an emotional speech, Aguero said, "I will leave with my head held high. I don't know what awaits me in the next part of my life. But I know I have people who love me. I will always remember the amazing things."

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Neymar Jr. -

Brazilian professional soccer player Neymar Jr. is widely regarded as one of the best players in the world, but apparently his ride to the top has been much more difficult than it seems, as he announced that the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar would be his final appearance for Brazil. In an interview with DAZN, the Paris Saint-Germain forward explained that the mental strain has been too much. “I think it’s my last World Cup. I see it as my last because I don’t know if I have the strength of mind to deal with football anymore. So I’ll do everything to turn up well, do everything to win with my country, to realize my greatest dream since I was little. And I hope I can do it.”

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Yermín Mercedes -

Baseball rookie Yermín Mercedes shocked fans, and apparently his teammates, when he announced his early retirement from baseball in an emotional Instagram post. The catcher started out playing for the Chicago White Sox in 2020, his first season in Major League Baseball. His performance was mixed over the previous year, but according to his team manager, he definitely had a future in the Major Leagues. In his post, Mercedes wrote "To all the team's members where I was involved with, I'm sorry for failing as a human being and for not accepting some of their decisions. I'm stepping aside from baseball indefinitely."

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Larry Rudolph -

In the wake of the #FreeBritney movement, Spears' longtime manager Larry Rudolph announced that he was stepping down, but in his letter of resignation he revealed that it was only because the pop star herself was ready to retire. These days, however, it doesn't seem clear that this is the case, as Spears released the chart-topping remixed duet 'Hold Me Closer' with Elton John.

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Jennette McCurdy -

Jennette McCurdy, who gained fame on Nickelodeon's 'iCarly,' spoke on her 'Empty Inside' podcast on February 24 2021 about her experience as a child star, explaining that she never really wanted to act but her mother put her in it from a young age because her family "didn't have a lot of money, and this was the way out." After her mom died, however, she decided to quit acting "because with her death kind of died a lot of her ideas for my life," she said. McCurdy's retirement explains why he was not included in Paramount+'s revival of 'iCarly,' but she added that she also wasn't happy with her old characters. “I resent my career in a lot of ways. I feel so unfulfilled by the roles that I played and felt like it was the most just cheesy, embarrassing [experience],” she said. She does, however, plan on directing and writing instead. 

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Teyana Taylor - At the age of 29, singer-songwriter Teyana Taylor announced her retirement from music. She took to Instagram Live on December 5, 2020, to inform her fans that she no longer wanted to work in the industry because of ongoing frustration with her label G.O.O.D Music/Def Jam. But it seems likely this will not be the last we see of the talented young musician, and we look forward to seeing what she sets her sights on next.

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Daniel Day-Lewis -

Three-time Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis, known for his work on such films as 'Last of the Mohicans,' announced his retirement in 2017 when he was 60 years old.

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Daniel Day-Lewis -

He issued a statement via his agent thanking his collaborators and audiences and saying that he'd made a "private decision" no longer to work as an actor.

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Jack Gleeson -

'Game of Thrones' actor Jack Gleeson retired from acting in 2014. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he said he just wasn't enjoying it as much as he used to.

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Jack Gleeson -

Clearly Gleeson could not stay away, however, since the actor returned to our screens in 2020 to appear in the BBC Two comedy 'Out of Her Mind.'

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Rick Moranis -

'Honey, I Shrunk The Kids' lead Rick Moranis originally stepped away from acting in 1997, after he became a single parent. He wanted to focus more on raising his children.

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Rick Moranis -

The actor never meant to retire permanently from acting, as is evidenced by the fact that in February 2020 his comeback for a new 'Honey, I Shrunk The Kids' sequel was announced.

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Macaulay Culkin -

In 2016, 'Home Alone' star Macaulay Culkin said that he considered himself "essentially retired" from acting. He spoke in an interview about going "where the wind takes him."

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Macaulay Culkin -

The interview was given, however, during the run-up to the release of independent film 'Adam Green's Aladdin,' which starred Macaulay Culkin. Clearly it wasn't a permanent retirement.

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Freddie Prinze Jr. -

The 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' actor told CBS News in 2017 that he had stepped away from acting and wasn't really doing it any more.

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Freddie Prinze Jr. -

The teenage heartthrob was everywhere in the 1990s, but took a step back later to focus on his other passions, including spending time with his family.

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DJ Avicii -

Swedish artist Avicii retired from touring at age 26. In a statement on his website, he explained the reasons for his decision, among which were his desire to do other things with his life.

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DJ Avicii -

The much-loved DJ unfortunately did not have long to explore other paths after he retired in 2016, since he tragically took his own life in April 2018.

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Mara Wilson -

Most famous for her iconic role as Matilda, whom she played as a child actress, Mara Wilson retired from acting in 2000 at the ripe old age of 13.

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Mara Wilson -

Wilson studied film at NYU and is now primarily a journalist, although she has done some sporadic voiceover work and appeared in an episode of 'Broad City' in 2016.

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Josh Saviano -

Josh Saviano quit acting in 1993 to pursue another passion of his: law. He was admitted to the bar in New York and became partner at the law firm Morrison Cohen LLP in 2013.

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Josh Saviano -

In 2020 Saviano is still a lawyer, although he did return to acting from 2014-2015 to (somewhat ironically) play a lawyer in 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.'

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Shirley Temple -

Another former child actor who retired early was Shirley Temple, best known for the roles she played in the 1930s. She stepped away from films in 1950 at the age of 22.

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Shirley Temple -

She packed a lot into her life post-retirement, including a stint as a diplomat. She was US Ambassador to Ghana from 1974 to 1976 and to Czechoslovakia from 1989 to 1992.

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Greta Garbo -

In 1941, at the age of 36, actress Greta Garbo announced her retirement. She had a prolific career prior to stepping back; she made 28 feature films in 16 years.

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Greta Garbo -

Garbo was offered a number of roles during the 1940s and throughout her retirement years. She even accepted a few of them, but in those cases ended up dropping out over the smallest issue.

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Karyn Parsons -

Actress Karyn Parsons, who is best-known for her role on the NBC sitcom 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,' quit acting because she struggled to find success when the show ended in 1996.

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Karyn Parsons -

Since quitting acting, Parsons has focused on philanthropic endeavours. She runs the Sweet Blackberry Foundation, which shares the stories of unsung African-American heroes with kids.

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Magic Johnson -

Former professional basketball player Magic Johnson shocked the world in 1991 when he announced that he was immediately retiring after testing positive for the HIV virus.

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Magic Johnson -

He stated that although his wife and their unborn child had not contracted the virus, he would dedicate his life to "battling the deadly disease."

Sources: (BBC) (NME) (Insider)

See also: Celebrities who are HIV positive

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