Celebrities gained widespread popularity during the 1990s; some of them had become household names overnight. These artists were fighting for a spot at the top of the tree, with an audience comprising majorly of young fans.
These stars catered to a huge audience via famous television shows, iconic movies, and multiple chart-topping songs. Their faces appeared on every cover of famous magazines back in the day. However, over time, most of these celebrities faded away as a new era of the entertainment industry ushered in.
Trending
Whether it was their personal choice, a change of career, or the altering nature of entertainment, their early glory eventually faded. They are now mostly remembered through nostalgia by the fans.
Here's a look at 20 celebrities from the 90s who are now forgotten.
1) Tia Carrere
Tia Carrere is an unforgettable star of '90s cinema. She brought charm to her roles, like Cassandra Wong in Wayne's World, and sophistication to True Lies. As Tia was at the peak of her career, she was lacing every facet of her personality with charm and strength that defined a generation of film actresses. But, she stepped out of Hollywood's fast lane in order to center her life on family and nurture Hawaiian roots through music. She may be less active in front of the camera, but she continues to be actively involved in the industry through some impressive roles and voiceover work.
2) Richard Grieco
Richard Grieco embodied the charm and grace of an '80s and '90s television action hero. Grieco became famous as Detective Dennis Booker in the 21 Jump Street television series and the spinoff Booker. He drew attention with sultry stares and bad boy allure and became an overnight sensation. In recent years, he has also dabbled in art and music and is notably a producer of abstract paintings. As an actor and in his other artistic pursuits, his standout quality continues to be pleasing to fans of that era who can credit him with influencing television and film.
3) Sarah Polley
Perhaps no actress was more recognizable in her early career than Sarah Polley, with roles in Road to Avonlea and Go. However, Polley has evolved into a highly respected director and screenwriter. Polley has been behind the camera for years, bringing a unique voice to socially conscious storytelling. Her 2012 documentary, Stories We Tell, was critically acclaimed for its reflective and innovative work on family, memory, and identity, proving her to be a director not afraid of complicated narratives.
4) Billy Baldwin
A one-time Hollywood heavy-hitter and sometimes sibling rival to Alec, Billy Baldwin has instead established a steady, if less noisy, career. Once heralded as a star to watch in the '90s who was seen starring in Backdraft and Sliver, his high profile has waned in recent years. Still, Billy remains busy with work, popping up frequently on television and in independent films. His most significant recent appearance is in the Netflix television series Northern Rescue, where he takes on the role of a father struggling to keep his family intact in the face of personal and external forces tearing them apart.
5) Christian Slater
Iconic roles in pop culture, such as Heathers and Pump Up the Volume, have sustained Christian Slater's career even if his overall fame has subsided. He kept a low profile before he resurfaced with some force, working on Mr. Robot, and appealing to a whole new generation and winning a Golden Globe as the enigmatic Mr. Robot. Besides reflecting on how well he plunged into dark, complex characters, this role was the perfect catalyst to reignite his career. Slater has also lent his signature voice to animated shows, including Netflix's Inside Job, in which his performance further adds to his range and versatility.
6) Campbell Scott
Once the golden face of '90s romance in Dying Young and Singles, Campbell Scott has long been centering himself on the stage and giving his time to more minor appearances in shows like House of Cards. But not long ago, he was part of the Spider-Man franchise, playing Peter Parker's father in The Amazing Spider-Man. His relatively quieter career path has always characterized a deep commitment to storytelling in all of its forms.
7) Lara Flynn Boyle
Lara Flynn Boyle was well known for her striking roles and beauty. She stepped away from acting after her last outing in 2020. Public interest has waxed and waned, and Boyle has kept herself out of the limelight, unwilling to be a part of the Hollywood glamour that defined her work during the heyday of the '90s. After Boyle stepped out of the scene, there is no doubt that she was out of the limelight and kept away from the sensationalism of Hollywood glamour. In many ways, she was leaving, but it only enlarged her mystique because fans continued to look back at her work and reflect on what might have been. We still remember her as the iconic villainous shapeshifting alien Serleena in Men in Black II.
8) Shane West
Best known for A Walk to Remember and Once and Again, Shane West has continued to act, but mostly in smaller, independent films, apart from a few television guest appearances. He recently guest-starred on Batwoman, thus bringing back the nostalgia among fans. Although his career has been relatively quiet as compared to others, those who enjoy coming-of-age tales will forever cherish his roles in the '90s and early 2000s. Recently, though, he brought back waves of nostalgia as part of the cast of Batwoman, reminding fans of that charm that defined his '90s and early 2000s. His career may have been less boisterous than some others at his level, but it remains dear to fans who harbor warm feelings for the work he did back then.
9) Andrea Barber
Famous for her cute, dorky character of Kimmy Gibbler in Full House, Andrea Barber took herself away from acting after that show originally ended, opting for a quiet life, focusing on family and work outside of Hollywood. However, she made a return on Netflix's Fuller House with a much-loved character. The show ran for five seasons, until 2020. With Barber's return, nostalgia of her side-splitting humor captivated the audience.
10) Jason Behr
The popular sci-fi series Roswell saw Jason Behr play Max Evans, who kept fans glued to this supernatural drama series. When the show ended, all the visibility and glamour of his career faded into nothingness, but at least he re-appeared in Roswell, New Mexico, as a tribute to the series that made him a cult hero. He is now married to actress KaDee Strickland. His life is pretty much removed from the public eye, as he leads a quieter life centered on family.
11) Barry Watson
Barry Watson, known for his role on 7th Heaven as Matt Camden, continued acting, though mostly in bit-part roles. He was recently featured in the holiday film A Very Nutty Christmas, and in 2022, he played the recurring character of Naomi. Though he eventually faded out of showbiz, he is well-loved till date for his work in multiple 1990s family dramas.
12) Jenna von Oy
Six LeMeure on Blossom made A.J. Langer a quirky and offbeat character that people liked during the '90s because of her unique charm and relatability. As for her career, Langer started writing books on motherhood and runs a personal blog that allows her to pour all of her experiences and insights into words. She leads a quiet life as a mother, though she never thoroughly flees the Hollywood scene. Langer holds engagement through personal exposure as a mother throughout her platforms, on which she posts content continuously.
13) Erik von Detten
Brink! and The Princess Diaries star von Detten was the Disney Channel darling. He left acting for a career in finance and hasn't done much besides taking care of his children. He recently revealed in an interview that being a father is unique to him, and he prefers that quieter life as compared to the glamorous flashing cameras of his acting days.
14) Marla Sokoloff
Viewers will recall Marla Sokoloff on Full House and as the wise-cracking teenager in Dude, Where's My Car? Since the 1990s, Sokoloff has worked sporadically. Today, she is busy raising her children and takes up small parts here and there in TV shows. Recently, she starred in a holiday film The Road Home for Christmas, proving that nostalgic roles endure the test of time.
15) Moira Kelly
Moira Kelly is best known for her roles in The Cutting Edge and One Tree Hill. Eventually, Kelly just faded away into obscurity. She and her family are her number one priority, and she is rarely seen outside an independent film or two, primarily out of the public eye. As of 2020, she was still very active, mostly behind the cameras.
16) Skeet Ulrich
Skeet Ulrich is mainly recognized for his dark roles in Scream and The Craft. His career revived when he played Jughead's dad, FP Jones, on Riverdale, gaining him a new, younger fanbase. Even though he still acts, his work is much more subtle today than at his '90s peak; however, horror and teen drama fans still appreciate the work he did back then.
17) Tatyana Ali
Tatyana Ali, known primarily as Ashley Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, went into music and advocacy after that show. She now speaks on political issues, particularly around education and racial equality. A while back, she occasionally acted, but, now her focus is more on her personal and political interests, which she usually shares over social media.
18) Rachael Leigh Cook
Rachael Leigh Cook was a teen staple in the '90s thanks to her roles in She's All That and Josie and the Pussycats. Recently, she has returned to romantic comedies through movies like Love and Guaranteed for Netflix. Cook has also turned to becoming a producer and has concentrated on work that focuses on women and creativity.
19) Rider Strong
Rider Strong is more popularly known for his role as Shawn Hunter from the television show Boy Meets World. After that, he decided to leave his acting career for good in order to concentrate on creating endeavors behind the scenes. Writer, director, and host of the Literary Disco podcast since retiring from acting, Rider Strong has been strictly devoted to books and writing, which reflects his massive admiration for literature and storytelling.
20) Andrew Keegan
Remember him from 10 Things I Hate About You and Camp Nowhere? Keegan launched a spiritual community called Full Circle, which broke apart, but Keegan was found working increasingly in wellness and community-based projects. His transition from Hollywood to spirituality kept tabloids discussing his improbable post-stardom trajectory.
Reply
