Back in Time Today
The 1970s gave us unforgettable film and TV moments that still captivate audiences today. Behind these iconic scenes were actors who briefly shined in the spotlight before mysteriously fading away. Some chose to leave Hollywood behind, while others struggled to replicate their initial success. Let’s track down these one-hit wonders and discover what happened after their brief moment of fame.
1. Peter Ostrum – The Boy Who Gave Up Wonka’s Chocolate Factory
Charlie Bucket won the golden ticket to Willy Wonka’s magical factory, but Peter Ostrum won something different: a normal life. After charming audiences as the kind-hearted boy in the 1971 classic, Ostrum made a surprising career pivot.
He declined a three-film contract and never acted again. Instead, he followed his passion for animals and became a large-animal veterinarian in upstate New York. Now in his 60s, Ostrum spends his days caring for horses and cattle.
Occasionally, he speaks at schools about his unique journey from child star to veterinarian, embracing his brief brush with fame while cherishing his choice to pursue a different dream.
2. Danny Lloyd – The Shining’s Child Star Who Disappeared
Those haunting scenes of Danny Torrance riding his tricycle through the Overlook Hotel’s corridors remain etched in horror fans’ memories. Yet Danny Lloyd, the child actor who played him in Kubrick’s 1980 masterpiece, vanished from Hollywood immediately after.
Lloyd had no idea he was filming a horror movie—Kubrick shielded him from the disturbing elements. After his brush with fame, Lloyd chose a completely different path.
He became a biology professor in Kentucky, teaching college students instead of terrifying audiences. Lloyd has expressed no regrets about leaving acting behind, preferring his quiet academic life to the unpredictable world of child stardom.
3. Paul Hogan – The Crocodile Hunter Who Couldn’t Escape His Character
“That’s not a knife… THAT’S a knife!” With that iconic line, Paul Hogan created one of cinema’s most memorable characters in 1986’s “Crocodile Dundee.” The Australian comedian became an overnight international sensation, earning a Golden Globe and even an Oscar nomination for the screenplay.
Lightning struck once but refused to strike twice. Despite two sequels and other film attempts, Hogan remained forever typecast as the outback adventurer.
His later career fizzled as audiences couldn’t separate the man from the myth. Now in his 80s, Hogan lives quietly in Australia, occasionally appearing in commercials, forever linked to the character that made and ultimately limited his career.
4. Carrie Henn – The Space Survivor Who Returned to Earth
Few child performances are as memorable as Carrie Henn’s portrayal of Newt, the traumatized sole survivor of the alien attack in James Cameron’s “Aliens” (1986). Her haunting delivery of “They mostly come at night… mostly” sent shivers down viewers’ spines.
Despite universal praise and a Saturn Award for her performance, Henn never appeared in another film. She walked away from Hollywood entirely, choosing a normal childhood over potential stardom.
Henn pursued education instead, becoming an elementary school teacher in California. She occasionally appears at sci-fi conventions, where fans of the franchise still celebrate her unforgettable performance as the resilient space orphan who survived the ultimate nightmare.
5. Linda Blair – The Possessed Child Who Exorcised Hollywood
The head-spinning, pea soup-spewing Regan MacNeil from 1973’s “The Exorcist” terrified a generation and earned Linda Blair an Oscar nomination at just 14. Her performance remains one of horror’s most iconic, but it also created a typecasting nightmare.
Though Blair continued acting in B-movies and exploitation films throughout the ’70s and ’80s, nothing approached her demonic debut. Struggling to escape Regan’s shadow, she gradually shifted her focus to animal welfare.
Today, Blair runs the Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation, a non-profit animal rescue and advocacy organization. She’s transformed her fame into a platform for protecting abused and neglected animals, finding her true calling far from the Hollywood spotlight that once defined her.
6. James Iglehart – The Blaxploitation Hero Who Vanished
With his commanding presence and athletic build, James Iglehart embodied the confident, take-no-prisoners heroes of 1970s Blaxploitation cinema. His starring role in “Savage!” (1973) positioned him as a potential genre mainstay alongside icons like Richard Roundtree and Fred Williamson.
Unlike his contemporaries, Iglehart’s career mysteriously stalled. After appearing in a handful of films including “Amityville II: The Possession,” he completely disappeared from Hollywood after 1978, leaving fans wondering what happened.
Information about his post-acting life remains scarce, making him one of the most enigmatic disappearances from the era. While other Blaxploitation stars transitioned to mainstream roles or producing, Iglehart simply walked away, leaving behind a small but impactful legacy in a groundbreaking film movement.
7. Hervé Villechaize – The Man Behind Fantasy Island’s Famous Phrase
“The plane! The plane!” Those iconic words made Hervé Villechaize instantly recognizable as Tattoo on “Fantasy Island.” Standing at just 3’11” due to a growth disorder, the French actor became one of television’s most beloved characters during the show’s 1977-1984 run.
Behind the scenes, however, Villechaize struggled. Demanding salary increases and clashing with producers led to his firing from the show. His distinctive appearance limited his roles, and he battled depression and health problems.
Unlike others who simply faded away, Villechaize’s story ended tragically. Unable to escape pain from his medical conditions and facing career decline, he died by suicide in 1993 at age 50, leaving behind a complicated legacy as a pioneering actor with dwarfism who fought for recognition beyond his physical stature.
8. Fred Berry – What’s Happening!! to Rerun Now?
The red beret, suspenders, and unforgettable dance moves made Fred “Rerun” Berry a cultural phenomenon on the sitcom “What’s Happening!!” (1976-1979). His physical comedy and catchphrases turned him into one of TV’s most recognizable characters during the disco era.
After the show ended, Berry struggled with the double-edged sword of fame. Typecasting limited his opportunities while substance abuse and financial mismanagement depleted his fortune. He briefly reprised Rerun for the sequel series but couldn’t recapture his earlier success.
In his later years, Berry found stability as an ordained minister and motivational speaker, using his experiences to help others. His journey ended in 2003 when he died from a stroke at just 52, leaving behind a legacy of laughter and the cautionary tale of a star who couldn’t escape his character.
9. Bobby Sherman – The Heartthrob Who Traded Fame for Saving Lives
Teen girls screamed for Bobby Sherman, the triple-threat actor/singer who starred in shows like “Here Come the Brides” and “Getting Together” while churning out hit songs in the late ’60s and early ’70s. His boyish good looks and gentle demeanor made him a fixture in teen magazines nationwide.
At the height of his fame, Sherman made a stunning career pivot. After witnessing a medical emergency on set, he trained as an EMT and eventually left entertainment to become a paramedic and later a Los Angeles deputy sheriff.
For decades, Sherman dedicated himself to emergency medicine and police work, finding greater fulfillment in saving lives than in signing autographs. He passed away in June 2023 at age 80, remembered not just as a former teen idol but as someone who used his fame to transition to meaningful public service.
10. Ricardo Montalbán – The Fantasy Island Host Who Never Truly Disappeared
With his smooth accent and charismatic presence, Ricardo Montalbán brought mysterious charm to Mr. Roarke, the white-suited host of “Fantasy Island.” Unlike many on this list, Montalbán never truly vanished—he simply transformed his career across decades in entertainment.
Born in Mexico, Montalbán fought Hollywood stereotyping throughout his career while becoming one of the first Latin American actors to achieve crossover success. Before and after “Fantasy Island,” he created memorable characters, most notably as the villainous Khan in “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.”
His distinctive voice kept him working in commercials and animation well into his 80s. Montalbán continued acting until shortly before his death in 2009 at age 88, leaving behind a pioneering legacy that helped open doors for Latino actors in American entertainment.
11. Lionel Stander – The Gravel-Voiced Character Actor’s European Exile
That unmistakable gravelly voice made Lionel Stander instantly recognizable in classics like “Once Upon a Time in the West” (1968). His career spanned from the 1930s to the 1990s, yet many Americans lost track of him during a crucial period in the 1970s.
Stander’s disappearance from American screens wasn’t voluntary—it was the result of Hollywood blacklisting during the McCarthy era. After testifying before the House Un-American Activities Committee and refusing to name names, he found himself exiled to Europe.
There, he rebuilt his career in spaghetti westerns and international productions before eventually returning to American screens in the 1980s as Max on the TV series “Hart to Hart.” Stander continued working until his death in 1994, embodying the resilience of actors who survived political persecution while maintaining their principles.
12. Joe Don Baker – The Walking Tall Sheriff Who Kept Walking
Six-foot-three and built like a brick wall, Joe Don Baker became an unlikely action hero as Sheriff Buford Pusser in 1973’s “Walking Tall.” The based-on-a-true-story revenge film turned the imposing Texan into a symbol of no-nonsense justice and launched him to brief stardom.
While Baker never disappeared completely, his leading-man status quickly faded. He transitioned to memorable character roles, including the villain Brad Wesley in “Road House” and CIA agent Jack Wade in two James Bond films.
Baker maintained a steady career as a character actor until retiring in 2012. Though he never again reached the heights of his “Walking Tall” fame, he carved out a respectable five-decade career playing tough guys and authority figures. Baker passed away on May 7, 2023, at age 86, leaving behind a legacy of authentic grit in an era of manufactured action heroes.
13. Michael Ontkean – Twin Peaks’ Sheriff Who Vanished Into Canada
As the decent, steady Sheriff Harry S. Truman in David Lynch’s cult phenomenon “Twin Peaks,” Michael Ontkean provided the perfect straight-man counterbalance to Kyle MacLachlan’s eccentric FBI agent. His performance helped ground the show’s surreal elements in emotional reality.
Despite the show’s massive cultural impact and revival decades later, Ontkean chose not to return for the 2017 continuation. In fact, he had gradually retreated from Hollywood altogether, appearing in diminishing roles through the 1990s before essentially disappearing.
Today, Ontkean lives quietly in Canada, having chosen a private life over continued fame. When “Twin Peaks” returned, he reportedly declined to reprise his role, preferring to let his earlier work stand on its own—a rare example of an actor who walked away from cult stardom entirely on his own terms.
14. Christy McNichol – The Teen Star Who Stepped Away for Mental Health
Few young actresses dominated 1970s television like Christy McNichol. Her role as Buddy Lawrence on “Family” earned her two Emmys before age 16, and she successfully transitioned to film with hits like “Little Darlings” and “Only When I Laugh.”
By the late 1980s, however, McNichol began struggling with bipolar disorder during her role on “Empty Nest.” After multiple production disruptions, she left the show in 1992 and, aside from voice work, essentially retired from acting at just 30 years old.
McNichol later explained she needed to focus on her mental health and find peace away from Hollywood pressures. Now in her 60s, she lives quietly in California, occasionally teaching acting but primarily enjoying a private life—a pioneering example of choosing wellbeing over fame decades before mental health became an open conversation in Hollywood.
15. Jacqueline Bisset – The Underwater Bombshell Who Surfaced Occasionally
That unforgettable wet T-shirt scene in “The Deep” (1977) turned British actress Jacqueline Bisset into an instant sex symbol and one of Hollywood’s most sought-after leading ladies of the 1970s. Her striking beauty often overshadowed her considerable acting talents in films like “Bullitt” and “Murder on the Orient Express.”
Unlike others who completely vanished, Bisset simply became more selective, gradually transitioning to European productions and smaller American films. Her career never ended—it just became less visible to mainstream American audiences.
Bisset enjoyed a minor renaissance in the early 2000s with a recurring role on “Nip/Tuck” and continues to act in her 70s and 80s. She represents the European approach to aging in Hollywood: gracefully stepping back from leading roles while maintaining a dignified presence in carefully chosen projects.
16. Peggy Lipton – The Mod Squad Beauty Who Chose Family Over Fame
With her long blonde hair and cool demeanor, Peggy Lipton embodied the counterculture spirit as Julie Barnes on “The Mod Squad” (1968-1973). The groundbreaking series featured television’s first hippie undercover cops and made Lipton a fashion icon and youth culture symbol.
At the height of her fame, Lipton made a surprising choice: she married music producer Quincy Jones and largely stepped away from acting to raise their daughters, future actresses Rashida and Kidada Jones. This deliberate hiatus lasted nearly 15 years.
Lipton returned to television in the early 1990s as Norma Jennings in “Twin Peaks,” proving her acting abilities remained intact. She worked occasionally until her death from cancer in 2019, remembered both for her pioneering television role and for prioritizing family over fame during Hollywood’s most image-obsessed era.
17. Bill Bixby – The Gentle Giant of 1970s Television
Before becoming the mild-mannered Dr. David Banner (who you wouldn’t like when angry) in “The Incredible Hulk,” Bill Bixby won America’s hearts as the widowed father in “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father.” His gentle presence and natural rapport with child actor Brandon Cruz created one of television’s most believable father-son relationships.
Though Bixby never disappeared from television—working steadily through the ’70s and ’80s—he never achieved the film stardom many expected. Instead, he became a television fixture both in front of and behind the camera as a respected director.
Tragically, Bixby’s later years were marked by personal tragedy and health struggles. After losing his only son and ex-wife, he battled prostate cancer while continuing to direct “Blossom” until shortly before his death in 1993 at just 59, leaving behind a legacy of understated excellence in television.
18. Andy Griffith – Mayberry’s Sheriff Who Became a Country Lawyer
Few television stars were as beloved as Andy Griffith, whose portrayal of Sheriff Andy Taylor on “The Andy Griffith Show” created television’s quintessential small-town America in Mayberry. The show’s 1968 conclusion and its follow-up “Mayberry R.F.D.” marked the end of an era.
After unsuccessfully attempting to break his typecasting with short-lived series in the 1970s, Griffith largely retreated from Hollywood. Many assumed his career was essentially over as he focused on his North Carolina farm.
Then came the career resurrection nobody expected: in 1986, Griffith returned triumphantly as country lawyer Ben Matlock, creating another iconic character that ran for nine seasons. Until his death in 2012, Griffith remained America’s television father figure, proving that sometimes the stars who step away can come back stronger than ever.
19. Bambi Woods – The Adult Film Star Who Truly Disappeared
In 1978, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader named Bambi Woods starred in the adult film “Debbie Does Dallas,” creating what would become one of the most infamous adult movies of all time. The film’s massive success made Woods briefly notorious during the “porno chic” era when adult films were achieving mainstream attention.
Unlike other performers who transitioned to conventional entertainment or continued in the adult industry, Woods completely vanished after making just two sequels. No verified photos of her exist beyond her brief film career.
Rumors about her fate have circulated for decades—from death by drug overdose to a quiet life under a new identity. Despite numerous investigations by journalists and film historians, her true whereabouts remain one of adult cinema’s greatest mysteries, making her perhaps the most completely “vanished” performer on this list.
20. Pam Dawber – Mork’s Earthling Partner Who Chose Earth Over Stardom
As Mindy McConnell on “Mork & Mindy,” Pam Dawber had the challenging task of playing straight woman to Robin Williams’ manic alien Mork from Ork. Her grounded performance helped make the bizarre premise work and turned the show into a massive hit from 1978-1982.
Despite offers to capitalize on her fame, Dawber became increasingly selective about roles after the show ended. She starred in the CBS sitcom “My Sister Sam” but gradually stepped away from Hollywood to focus on raising her children with husband Mark Harmon.
Unlike many who left acting due to lack of opportunities, Dawber made a conscious choice to prioritize family life. She has occasionally returned for guest roles, most notably appearing alongside Harmon on “NCIS” and reuniting with Williams on “The Crazy Ones” shortly before his death, demonstrating that some stars leave Hollywood on their own terms.
21. Jill Clayburgh – The Feminist Film Icon Who Faded Too Soon
“An Unmarried Woman” (1978) turned Jill Clayburgh into cinema’s face of feminine independence and earned her an Oscar nomination. Her naturalistic acting style perfectly captured the complexity of 1970s women navigating changing social roles in films like “Starting Over” and “Silver Streak.”
As the 1980s progressed, however, Hollywood’s interest in complex women’s stories waned. Clayburgh found herself offered fewer meaningful roles as the industry shifted toward action blockbusters and youth-oriented comedies.
Rather than accept diminishing parts, Clayburgh focused on theater and selective television appearances while raising her children, including future actress Lily Rabe. She experienced a welcome career resurgence in the 2000s with roles in “Running with Scissors” and “Bridesmaids” before her death from leukemia in 2010, leaving behind a legacy of performances that helped define 1970s feminist cinema.
22. Charo – The “Cuchi-Cuchi” Queen’s Surprising Second Act
“Cuchi-cuchi!” That signature phrase and hip-shaking move made Spanish entertainer Charo a variety show staple throughout the 1970s. Her flamboyant personality, heavy accent, and suggestive humor masked something surprising: she was actually a classically trained flamenco guitarist of exceptional talent.
As variety shows faded and her bombshell image became dated, Charo’s television appearances dwindled. Many assumed her career had ended with the variety show era that made her famous.
In reality, Charo reinvented herself as a respected musician, releasing critically acclaimed Latin music albums and performing in venues worldwide. Now in her 70s (though her exact age remains disputed), she continues to perform while managing restaurants and hotels in Hawaii, proving that sometimes the “one-hit wonders” simply find success in unexpected new directions.
23. Vincent Van Patten – The Child Star Who Found a Royal Flush
As the son of actor Dick Van Patten, young Vincent seemed destined for Hollywood stardom. Throughout the 1970s, he appeared in shows like “Bonanza,” “Wonder Woman,” and “Apple’s Way,” positioning himself as one of television’s promising teen heartthrobs.
Van Patten’s acting career never quite reached the expected heights, but he found success in a completely different arena. A talented tennis player who competed professionally, he later became a tennis commentator and entrepreneur.
His most surprising reinvention came at the poker table. Van Patten became a world-class poker player and commentator, hosting “World Poker Tour” for years. Now married to former “The Young and the Restless” star Eileen Davidson, he’s found lasting success away from traditional acting, proving that sometimes Hollywood’s “disappeared” stars simply find more fulfilling paths in unexpected places.
24. Rex Smith – The Pop Star Actor Who Faded from View
With his feathered hair and teen idol looks, Rex Smith embodied the crossover singer-actor dream of the late 1970s. After scoring a hit with “You Take My Breath Away,” he landed the co-hosting gig on “Solid Gold” and starred in TV’s “Street Hawk,” positioning himself as a multi-threat entertainer.
Despite these promising beginnings and a successful Broadway turn in “The Pirates of Penzance,” Smith’s mainstream career cooled by the mid-1980s. The teen idol image that initially helped him became limiting as he aged and musical tastes changed.
Smith never completely stopped performing—he continued recording music and appearing in regional theater. However, his visibility to mainstream audiences dramatically decreased. Now in his 60s, he occasionally performs concerts featuring his hits, a reminder of the brief moment when he seemed poised to become a multimedia superstar.
25. Cheryl Ladd – The Angel Who Landed Softly
Replacing Farrah Fawcett on “Charlie’s Angels” seemed impossible, but Cheryl Ladd managed it beautifully as Kris Munroe from 1977-1981. The sunny blonde not only kept the show successful but also launched a singing career with her 1978 hit “Think It Over.”
When “Angels” ended, many expected Ladd to soar to film stardom like co-star Jaclyn Smith continued in television. Instead, her career followed a quieter trajectory with TV movies and occasional guest roles.
Unlike others who completely vanished, Ladd maintained a steady if less visible career. She appeared in films like “Poison Ivy” and shows including “Las Vegas” while developing business ventures in fitness and children’s books. Now in her 70s, Ladd occasionally still acts while enjoying family life with her husband of over 40 years, proving not all Hollywood stories end in tragedy or obscurity.