Those heady ’70s days held grooviest nights where we all sat down for a bit of quality television (now in widely available colour!) or got our flares out and hit the town. Whether you were screaming up at a pop idol on stage or sat at home in your cosiest turtleneck jumper, you’ll likely recognise at least seven of our 12 Seventies celebs who left Hollywood behind.
Keep reading to see how many once-famous faces ring a bell and which have you scratching your head – for bonus points, do you remember what hit film or track was their most famous?
Bobby Sherman opted to serve the public rather than pursue further fame
Bobby Sherman
Bobby Sherman’s hit tracks ‘Little Woman’ and ‘Julie, Do Ya Love Me’ had teens squealing and begging to see the ’70s teen idol firsthand.
But Bobby left this pop star fame behind, in favour of a career as a paramedic and LAPD medical training officer, after building a remarkable reputation as a talented singer and actor. He sadly passed away in 2025.
Michael Sarrazin faded out of mainstream fame in the ’80s
Michael Sarrazin
Through the ’60s and ’70s, Michael Sarrazin was a leading man of choice. With his deep, expressive eyes and edgy screen presence, he was a natural fit for action dramas like Sometimes a Great Notion.
By the ’80s he had faded out of mainstream fame, taking smaller roles in TV and film. His last role had him posthumously starring alongside Kristen Stewart and Sam Riley in Jack Kerouac adaptation On the Road. He sadly passed in 2011.
Susan left acting behind after finding fame as a TV star
Susan Dey
Susan Dey rose to fame at just 17 years old on hit TV show The Partridge Family. When her run on the show ended in 1974, she moved over to Hollywood with the star role as Jo March in 1978 miniseries Little Women.
Later, she had another hit casting in LA Law between 1986 and 1992, earning several Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe for Best Actress. Susan struggled with mental health issues during her early fame and left acting behind in 2004. Now, she’s focussing on life with her husband Bernard Sofronski and their daughter, whom she shares with her first husband.
You may also like
Robert Conrad was the typical television tough-guy that won hearts around the world
Robert Conrad
Resident television tough-guy Robert Conrad reached the height of his fame with The Wild Wild West and Baa Baa Black Sheep.
But being a tough-guy comes at a cost, and the physical toll of his action-heavy roles meant that Robert built a history of injuries. Paired with a craving for more privacy in his life, he fell out of the public eye. Robert sadly died in 2020 at 84 years old.
Michael York stepped back from acting due to his illness
Michael York
Michael York defined what it meant to be a ’70s heartthrob with his easy demeanour and natural charm, winning a devoted fanbase with his roles as Logan in Logan’s Run and d’Artagnan in The Three Musketeers.
He revealed he was battling amyloidosis, a rare disease, in 2013 and has been receiving treatment from the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota ever since.
Mark Lester stepped away from fame and qualified as an osteopath
Mark Lester
After getting his start in the ’60s with hits like Fahrenheit 451 and Oliver!, Mark Lester starred in ’70s classics like Black Beauty, Melody and Whoever Slew Auntie Roo?.
He still appears occasionally on-screen, largely in interviews connected to his friendship with Michael Jackson, but day-to-day works as an osteopath and acupuncturist in Cheltenham.
Ali MacGraw is now quietly enjoying her retirement
Ali MacGraw
Ali MacGraw started the ’70s in a decade-defining role as working-class music student Jenny Cavilleri opposite Ryan O’Neal’s Harvard heir Oliver Barrett.
Since her days of movie star fame, Ali has been living quietly in New Mexico, focussing her energy on her community, animal welfare and yoga.
Mike Lookinland launched a company specialising in concrete countertops
Mike Lookinland
The Brady Bunch’s youngest brother Bobby was brought to life by Mike Lookinland. The actor struggled to find his feet after the franchise wrapped but has since become a successful businessman.
Mike worked as a production assistant for a while before pursuing architectural craftsmanship in Salt Lake City. He launched decorative concrete company Just Add Water while there, which specialised in custom, hand-pressed concrete countertops.
Rick Moranis (left) retired to focus on caring for his children
Rick Moranis
Before he was starring in Spaceballs or Little Shop of Horrors, Rick Moranis appeared on sketch comedy show Second City Television between 1980 to 1984.
When his wife, talented costume designer Ann Belsky, passed away from breast cancer in 1991, Rick retired in order to work as a full-time father.
You may also like
Kate Jackson adopted son Charlie in 1995 and has put her duties as mother first ever since
Kate Jackson
Charlie’s Angels star Kate Jackson starred in the hit ’70s series as one of three secret agents and their manager Charlie. But while she found success on screen Kate always kept her family as the top priority.
She adopted her son Charlies in 1995, and explained: “I realized that I really couldn’t be a good director and a good mom at the same time, and I thought, ‘If I’m not a good mom, it really doesn’t matter what else I do well.'”
Robby Benson starred in ‘Ice Castles’ but has left his teen heartthrob fame largely behind
Robby Benson
Robby Benson starred in touching drama Ice Castles as the love interest of Lynn-Holly Johnson, where he helps a partially blind ice-skater regain her skills on the rink, as well as voicing Disney’s Beast.
He’s largely moved away from the camera, transitioning into directing and academics. He recently appeared in Severance and deployed his Disney voice skills for Once Upon a Studio but, according to his IMDb, doesn’t appear to have any new projects in the works.
Rick Springfield also found huge fame on screen
Rick Springfield
Rick Springfield might be better known for his singing career with hits like his breakout track 1972’s ‘Speak to the Sky’ and ’80s favourite ‘Jessie’s Girl’, but he’s also found fame on screen.
The singer acted in Saturday cartoon Mission: Magic! which premiered in 1973. Playing an animated version of himself, Rick wrote and performed a new song for each episode’s end. Although his time on the screen is more sporadic, he hasn’t left acting behind, recently appearing in the series All’s Fair in 2025, and is still releasing music, as well as touring.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com ’
