Many of our favorite 80s stars have gone off the grid—but what exactly happened to them? They’re still as popular as ever thanks to reruns and streaming platforms that are exposing younger generations to these celebs, many of whom are leading quieter lives since the sitcoms stopped airing. Here are the most fascinating 1980s sitcom stars who stepped back from Hollywood for good.
Kristy McNichol disappeared at the height of her fame
McNichol rose to popularity in the 1976 sitcom “Family” and later on showed up in shows like the “Golden Girls” spin-off “Empty Nest.” But in 1988, McNichol left the show at the height of her popularity, all but for a couple of voice-over roles afterwards. She retired in 2001 and later opened up about how she was suffering from bipolar disorder and also dealing with being in the closet as a queer woman.
Josh Saviano stepped back to be a lawyer and an entrepreneur
This actor from “The Wonder Years” only made a couple of appearances on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” but decided to leave Hollywood to join a NYC-based firm, Morrison Cohen LLP, where he remained for 12 years. When he left the firm, he started a company called Act 3 Advisors, which helped entertainers brand themselves.
Kirk Cameron moved to Nashville
After skyrocketing to popularity on “Growing Pains,” Cameron moved his family to Nashville, Tennessee, in 2024. Today, he is more widely known for his faith and politics, working as an evangelism advocate starting in the early 2000s and surprising everyone when he founded a radio and TV ministry in 2002.
Felice Shacter was shunted by “Facts of Life”
Shacter played Nancy Olson on “The Facts of Life” for nine seasons. In Season 2, the show’s time slot changed, and Shacter was downgraded to a recurring character. By Season 8, she was just a guest. This led her to move to the production side of Hollywood, which she eventually left to become a special ed teacher in NYC.
Staci Keanen left Hollywood to become a deputy district attorney
This former teen idol reached success on the show “My Two Dads,” which ran from 1987 to 1990. She then appeared on the shows “Going Places” and “Step by Step,” which increased her popularity when she played eldest daughter Dana Foster. After attending Southwestern Law School, she became a practicing lawyer. Then, she moved on to become a deputy district attorney and law professor.
Tina Yothers dealt with a lack of success after “Family Ties”
“Family Ties” was America’s darling in the 80s, and while much of that is due to Michael J Fox, Mallory was another Keaton kid who made her mark as the athletic daughter. While her co-stars remained famous after the show, she was reduced to reality TV appearances and stopped landing acting gigs in the mid-1990s.
Sabrina Le Beauf’s acting career fizzled out after “The Cosby Show” ended
“The Cosby Show” may have a tainted legacy due to the main actor, but there’s no denying that the Huxtable kids achieved a high level of fame in the 1980s. Le Beauf, who played Sondra Huxtable Tibideaux, had a hard time replicating her success. While her co-stars still act, she gave up Hollywood and only appeared in a couple of projects, with her last screen credit being a small role in 2009.
Corky Pigeon disappeared from screens in 1987
This “Silver Spoons” actor played Freddy Lippincottleman on the show from 1983 to 1985. While he acted in a few projects, like the 1987 movie Party Camp, he then shifted gears in the entertainment industry, working in music for a decade and touring with musical groups like Reel Big Fish and MxPx. Since 2000, he’s been married to his wife, Bobbie Sunday Starr, with whom he shares a daughter.
Andrea Elson left the acting world when “ALF” ended
“ALF” was an extremely popular sitcom in the 80s, and Elson played the eldest family member in it. Previously, she starred in “Whiz Kids,” but it was “ALF” that brought her a high level of fame and transformed her into a teen idol. While “ALF” was on TV, she appeared in other shows and movies. When the show wrapped, she took on small guest roles on other sitcoms, but her last guest role was in 1997. Today, she’s a yoga instructor who is married to Scott Hopper, who worked as a production assistant and then a stage manager.
