Cary Grant did not make another film after Walk Don’t Run in 1966. He was still healthy and completely capable of acting. But he turned down numerous offers and enjoyed about 20 years of quiet retirement.
Most other entertainers seem to try to keep going until they are either too ill to work, or their careers have run their course. Are there any other people who have left show business in their prime, and are still young or in good health and not at all washed up - but willingly ‘retired’ and turning down all work?
Well he doesn’t count as ‘young’ any more but Ronnie Barker (British Comic Genius) retired to run an antique store, and last time I heard is still doing so.
Kate Bush seems to have retired, though I believe she has made a very small number of unanounced guest appearences with Peter Gabriel, so maybe she doesn’t count.
Bridget Bardot, I believe is working with animal wellfare these days, though she is not ‘young’ anymore.
Johnny Carson had a short humor piece published in the New Yorker a year or two back, and was interviewed in Esquire. Aside from the occasional writing, he says he is most definitely retired.
One of his few post-retirement TV appearances was on an episode of The Simpsons which involved Krusty’s retirement (featuring Bette Midler singing Wind Beneath My Wings to the Klown, just as she did for Johnny on his final show).
I always liked Chuck Berry’s version of retirement. A long time ago he decided he’d had enough, retired to his ranch (got arrested a couple of times) and announced that his life in ‘organized’ music was done. However, for $25,000 he’d come and play a set of his music for you.
There are tons of retired entertainers out there, but you can’t remember who they are. Because the reason they retired in the first place was that no one could remember who they are.
Garth Brooks is retired until his kids graduate high school at least. He is one of the best seeelling artists of all time. He’s still young, but he’s too busy being a dad.
James Cagney retired after One, Two, Three in 1961 because he felt his abilities were slipping since he couldn’t nail the complex dialogue and long intricate takes required for that film in one take anymore like he usually did when he was younger. Pretty tough standards, to set for oneself, I’d say. Most anyone would have trouble getting through some of the scenes in that film on the first try. And yet, he’s excellent in the film, and makes it worth watching to this day and still damn funny, even though the story is completely dated.
He left the Hollywood scene, which he always disliked anyway, and tended to the farm he owned near Stanfordville, NY. He returned to acting briefly in 1981 with a role in Ragtime and his final role in the 1984 TV movie [ITerrible Joe Moran*. The man was reportedly happy to leave acting in the early 1960s, but what a shame we didn’t get to see what kind of mature leading man roles and character roles he might have taken.
Not nearly in the same league, but after years of personal problems, substance abuse problems, and run-ins with the law, Ken Wahl retired from acting to escape what was happening to him. His career had faded somewhat by that time, but he was reportedly still in demand for action film roles and TV work.
Danial Day Lewis retired from movies so he could work as a cobbler in, IIRC, Italy. He came out of it briefly to make Gangs of New York, but re-retired after the movie was finished.
Celine Dion will be retiring soon, in all likelihood. I don’t have a source; I’m just guessing she enjoys retiring because of how freakin’ often she does it.
In your synchronicity moment of the day, lissener and I took in a double feature last night at a local arthouse cinema: One, Two, Three and Ace in the Hole. You’re right, Cagney is smashingly good in the movie, which is still fall-down funny all these years later. And Ace in the Hole (which isn’t available on video, incidentally) is a stunner.
ElvisL1ves Johnny Carson has been diagnosed with emphysema, not MS, but he issued a statement at the time saying that he was “in great shape” considering and still played tennis twice a week.
Joe Pesci seems retired to me. He seems to play golf all the time with his pal “Bob” DeNiro, Danny Glover, and others. he has not had a movie role since Lethal Weapon 4 in 98’.
Maybe that’s all Pesci could do, either play a gangster or a bumbler.
