Celebrities Who Were Huge in the 2000s and Then Disappeared From Hollywood Completely

Fame is fleeting, and these 20 celebrities defined the pop culture landscape of the 2000s. Here’s a look at where some of the biggest names of that era are now.

Lauren Conrad

Few teenagers were more popular in the 2000s than Lauren Conrad. After rising to fame on Laguna Beach and maintaining her star power through The Hills, Conrad effectively stepped away from Hollywood. She still works as a businesswoman — she just prefers life out of the limelight.

Andy Milonakis

Whether you wanted to know about him or not, everybody was aware of Andy Milonakis in the 2000s. His MTV sketch comedy show, The Andy Milonakis Show, was a cultural moment for a few years. His mainstream popularity, however, was short-lived.

Frankie Muniz

Frankie Muniz couldn’t have been bigger in the 2000s if he’d tried. But it seems that acting wasn’t the path he wanted to follow forever. He stepped away from the entertainment industry to pursue a career in racing.

Josh Hartnett

Josh Hartnett was a heartthrob of the early ’00s, but as the decade ended, his profile faded considerably. It wasn’t that he stopped acting — he didn’t. His level of fame simply didn’t sustain the same heights.

Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz was the It Girl of the late ’90s and early ’00s, but she stepped back from acting in 2014 and relocated from California. She has since returned in a limited capacity, but her presence in Hollywood is far more low-key than before.

Shane West

Shane West rose to prominence in the early 2000s after starring in A Walk to Remember alongside Mandy Moore. He continued acting and found roles in successful TV projects, but his star power gradually faded.

Ian Somerhalder

Ian Somerhalder became a household name thanks to his work on the hit series The Vampire Diaries. Once that chapter closed, he shifted focus toward family life and his business ventures.

Xzibit

Rapper Xzibit was best known in the 2000s for hosting the MTV makeover series Pimp My Ride, in which people’s cars were transformed with increasingly elaborate — and sometimes impractical — customizations. Since the show’s cancellation, Xzibit has largely stayed out of the mainstream spotlight.

Angus T. Jones

Angus T. Jones was a child star in the 2000s thanks to his role in the hit sitcom Two and a Half Men. After the show ended, Jones largely stepped away from acting and from public life.

Adam Richman Adam Richman made competitive eating look like an art form throughout the ’00s. Since Man v. Food wrapped, the most prominent name in that world has become Joey Chestnut.

Teddy Dunn

Teddy Dunn was a recognizable character actor in the 2000s, best known for his work on Veronica Mars. After his final professional credit, he transitioned from entertainment to law and now works as an attorney.

Brooke Hogan

If Hogan Knows Best had aired in the 2020s, Brooke Hogan might well have become a major influencer. She remains active on social media and continues releasing music, though her public profile is smaller than it once was.

Amanda Bynes

Amanda Bynes defined teen comedy in the 2000s. The pressures of early fame took a significant personal toll, and she stepped back from the entertainment industry in the early 2010s to focus on her wellbeing. Many fans have expressed hope for her return.

Paula DeAnda

Paula DeAnda released standout hits in the ’00s, with “Walk Away (Remember Me)” being her signature song. She’s less prominent today, but still finds an audience on streaming platforms.

Dido

Dido was a beloved singer-songwriter in the early 2000s, propelled by her acclaimed album No Angel. She continues to write and record music, though she no longer commands the same commercial audience.

Ryan Sheckler

Tony Hawk demonstrated that there’s space for only one truly iconic professional skateboarder in the mainstream. Ryan Sheckler had the talent and the moment, but ultimately didn’t achieve the same lasting recognition.

Akon Akon seemed to appear on every major track in the mid- to late-2000s, his distinctive voice adding something to nearly every collaboration. His music career has quieted since, and he has become better known in recent years for his cryptocurrency ventures.

Stacie Orrico

Stacie Orrico scored memorable hits in the early ’00s, most notably “Stuck.” Today she lives more in the realm of millennial nostalgia than active celebrity — though it’s a fondly remembered one.

Willa Ford Willa Ford was a fixture of the early ’00s, releasing music and appearing in both film and television. She has since left entertainment entirely and now works as an interior designer.

Ryan Cabrera

Ryan Cabrera may have been as well known for his high-profile relationships with fellow ’00s figures Ashlee Simpson and Audrina Patridge as for his music, but he was genuinely famous nonetheless. He still performs today, albeit to smaller audiences than before.