Glenda Jackson took a major break from acting from 1992 to 2015. The British actress and former Labour Party politician is one of few actors to receive the Triple Crown of Acting. The two-time Academy Award winner is famous for films like “Women in Love” and “A Touch of Class.” After a 23-year hiatus, she appeared in the play “Blood, Sex and Money.”
In 2016, she once again returned to the stage, playing the title role in Shakespeare’s “King Lear” in London. This past year, she returned to Broadway, acting in “Three Tall Women,” and won a Tony Award for her performance.
Rene Russo
While she only had a few acting credits to her name, Rene Russo was cast in some quintessential 90s movies. In the first decade of the 2000s, she disappeared from the limelight after she finished filming 2005's "Yours, Mine, and Ours." She then took a 6-year-long hiatus until appearing in 2011's "Thor," where she played Chris Hemsworth's Viking goddess mom Frigga.
During her disappearance, rumors spread that she went AWOL because of her bipolar disorder, but the star shared with Showbiz in 2014 that her mental illness was not the cause of the break she took from acting. Quite authentically, she said that she needed a break from acting since she had been doing so since age 9.
Joe Pesci
If you are a kid of the 90s, then there's a good chance you recognize Joe Pesci for playing one of the main villains in the Christmas classic "Home Alone." However, Pesci was a veritable acting force who worked with the iconic director Martin Scorsese on classic films like "Raging Bull," "Goodfellas", and "Casino."
In 1999, he walked away from it all. According to Complex, it was unclear why Pesci retired early. Over the last two decades, he has made appearances here and there (think, a Snickers commercial) but it doesn't look like he's about to relive his days as an actor.
Doris Day
The legendary Doris Day was the biggest female actress to grace the big screen in the early 60s. The iconic actress has been in far too many films to list them all here and she was ranked sixth among the box office performers by 2012. Besides her acting career, she was also one of the most celebrated singers of the 21st century and recorded more than 650 songs.
The now 96-year-old retired from acting after her sitcom “The Doris Day Show” went off the air in 1973. She currently lives in Carmel-by-the-sea, California, and is an animal welfare activist.
Chuck Norris
After Norris served in the United States Air Force, he competed as a martial artist, winning many championships. He is most known for films like Way of the Dragon and Missing in Action 1, 2, & 3. The martial artist gone actor hasn’t had a big role since 2005. The actor, most recognized for “Walker, Texas Ranger” has taken time off in order to support his wife and her health issues.
While Norris has not acted in quite some time, his reputation as a tough-guy definitely lives on through things like the viral Chuck Norris Facts meme which made him an internet sensation. Norris also continues to make appearances in ads and commercials.