MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Why don't rich famous actors just retire...

Why don't rich famous actors just retire when they're 30?

posted 4 years ago by Adam60z (3774)
11 replies | jump to latest

I'm not talking about love of acting, I'm talking about why so many rich actors churn out schlock well into their 70s as they live high on the hog. If I were rich at 30 I'd retire and maybe pick roles I'm really interested in doing. That's one reason films are so bad now. The same old actors, directors, and writers, doing the same old junk because they need the money to keep up their 50 room mansions, private jets, and private golf courses.
Benny Hill is a good example of someone who did the opposite:
https://www.apost.com/en/blog/living-a-frugal-life-comedian-benny-hill-never-owned-property-or-bought-a-car-despite-his-riches/26356/#:~:text=Surprisingly%2C%20despite%20his%20incredible%20success,own%20home%20or%20a%20car.

[–] Stratego (30779) 4 years ago

"The same old actors, directors, and writers, doing the same old junk because they need the money to keep up their 50 room mansions, private jets, and private golf courses."

That's why, they want to mantain their lifestyles.

[–] Adam60z (3774) 4 years ago

That's my point. Why do they want to have all that. Most of them realize too late they don't even want all those toys for the rich, they just got them because it was expected, and now they are over their heads.

[–] Stratego (30779) 4 years ago

People who buy that stuff in the first place put high value on status. Once they lose it all, they're not part of the elite anymore.

[–] actionkamen (23176) 4 years ago

Many actors retire at their 30s. But then you don't hear about them anymore. The ones we keep hearing about are the ones that haven't retired.

Jason Scott Lee went back to Hawaii to become a farmer he always wanted to be. He bought farmlands from his Hollywood paychecks instead of partiying and buying supercars and mansions.

[–] Adam60z (3774) 4 years ago

Yes, he had the right idea. That's just what I'd do!

[–] Otter (24464) 4 years ago

A lot of actors do that, although it's not always their idea. Sometimes Hollywood just stops offering them work when they're no longer young and cute, and they have to find something else to do whether they like it or not.

Karen Allen of the Indiana Jones movies had left Hollywood and was running a knitting/yarn store when she came back for "Crystal Skull", I've heard quite a few actors do something similar. Running a small business like a shop or a vineyard gives them an investment, an income, and something to do, and they're their own boss so it's a nice way to live. Others get a real education, the girl from "Rushmore" is a cardiologist, 1960s actress France Nguyen became a lisenced family counselor, etc.

[–] Otter (24464) 4 years ago

They need to keep the money coming in to maintain their lifestyles, of course, but the fact is some famous adore being famous and don't think they can live without fame. So they refuse to back away, they keep trying and become as ridiculous as Madonna as a certain age, because no matter how much money they have they just can't life without the drug of fame.

Of course, that's not everyone in the entertainment industry, some are like any professional who likes their job - they know they're good at what they do and they want to keep doing it. I mean Meryl Streep can't possibly need money at this point, she's been earning big bucks for decades, but acting is her job and it's a job she can keep doing until she's as old as Gloria Stuart. It's what she does, what she's interested in it, and if people are still willing to pay her to do what she does, why should she retire?

[–] Matildawormwood (1545) 4 years ago

Becuase in this time period,
Hollywood portrays people in their 20s as the new teens, people in their 30s and the new 20s.

Besides, if stars enjoy doing what they love and fans still admire them, why should they quit? Plus who would they choose to play parents and other adults in family sitcoms (which are normally played people in their 30s and 40s).

[–] soapygirl (27) 4 years ago

idk maybe some of them just like working consistently and having a continuous engagement in something they just love doing regardless of the money? lol

[–] tcrum (31669) 4 years ago

Everyone's so jaded here. I assume most got into acting, not for the money, but because it's their passion.

[–] davodikum (6202) 4 years ago

That's pretty much the only way to become a great actor, you need the passion.