As we get further and further away from the'90s, the more it seems like a fever dream. Boybands, teen heartthrobs, and blockbusters were everywhere. Pop culture from the ’90s was so impactful that it’s still relevant today. There has been a resurgence in ’90s nostalgia in the last five or so years, causing movies, music, and trends from 30 years ago to still be inescapable.
The influence that the ’90s has had over media since the decade ended is undisputed. Fashion is heavily influenced by both the grunge and pop styles of the decade, TV shows consistently make references to the ’90s, and musicians attempt to emulate the aesthetic of the era’s most famous pop stars.
Of course, as we do get further and further away from the ’90s, it leaves a lot of us to ponder on such an influential yetpeculiar decade of pop culture. Many of us have asked ourselves “what happened to that actor from that one movie back in the ’90s?” Unfortunately, while the decade was full of pop culture phenomena, it was also a decade full of stars whose celebrity faded away with the end of the decade. Here are fifteen actors from the ’90s who disappeared from the spotlight.
Updated July 2023: If you are interested in actors from the ’90s, you’re in luck. This article has been updated with additional content and entries byRachel Johnson.
15Alicia Silverstone
Alicia Silverstonewas a staple of ’90s teen media. Her most iconic roles are as Cher Horowitz inCluelessand as Batgirl inBatman and Robin, and many kids idolized her. She was a core part of many ’90s kids' childhoods. Silverstone hasn’t stopped acting since then, but she hasn’t quite been in the spotlight since then either.
Related:15 Most Memorable ’90s TV Show Theme Songs
Some may remember that Silverstone appeared in a supporting role in Yorgos Lanthimos’The Killing of a Sacred Deerback in 2017, where she plays Martin’s (Barry Keoghan) mother. She’s also had a few appearances on the small screen in shows such asAmerican Womanand Netflix’sThe Babysitter’s Club, but nothing to really keep her in the mainstream.
14Meg Ryan
Meg Ryanwas thequeen of romantic comediesin the late ’80s and throughout the ’90s. After small appearances in ’80s films such asTop GunandThe Presidio, Ryan hit the big time starring opposite Billy Crystal in 1989’sWhen Harry Met Sally. After that, Ryan was seen everywhere in Hollywood. She went on to follow her success into the ’90s withSleepless in Seattle,You’ve Got Mail,The Doors, andFrench Kiss. Nothing could get in Meg Ryan’s way in the ’90s.
However, there was a steady decline in the quality of work that Ryan took in the 2000s. The 2000s were a decade of forgettable or downright bad movies that basically left her with nothing leading into the 2010s. With just a handful of TV stints in the last twelve years, Meg Ryan has essentially retired from acting.
13Christian Slater
Christian Slaterfirst showed off his dynamic acting chops when he iconically appeared as sociopathic high school teenager Jason “J.D.” Dean opposite Winona Ryder in the teen black comedyHeathers,before going on to remain a hot commodity in Hollywood in the ’90s. With major roles in movies likeRobin Hood: Prince of Thieves,Interview with the Vampire,True Romance, andBroken Arrow, Slater seemed to be one of the industry’s most buzzed about actors who could truly do it all.
Though he has kept himself quite busy and remains a presence in both film and television, Slater’s star power isn’t as bright as it used to be, and he is often remembered for his extensive work in the 1990s. Since his initial Tinseltown takeover, he has appeared in3000 Miles to Graceland,Bobby,Nymphomaniac,andWe Can Be Heroes, as well as in shows includingArcher,Dirty John,Dr. Death, and most notablyMr. Robot. Slater portrayed Archer Sylvan inFleishman Is in Troubleand will appear in the upcoming seriesThe Spiderwick Chronicles.
12Rick Moranis
By the time the 1990s rolled around,Rick Moraniswas one of the most famous comedic actors working. He starred in some pretty memorable comedies, such asSpaceballs,Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, andGhostbusters. In the ’90s he continued with theHoneyfranchise and did a few shorts for the franchise with Disney.
However, Moranis' reasons for disappearing from Hollywood were unlike other actors' reasons. In the late ’90s, Moranis lost his partner to cancer and was forced to give up acting, so he could raise their two kids. While people would have loved to see Moranis in more movies, it’s completely understandable why he left the business, and admirable that he put his family first.
11Lara Flynn Boyle
Celebrated for both her sensational acting skills and eye-catching beauty,Lara Flynn Boyleskyrocketed to stardom when she portrayed Donna Hayward in the lauded David Lynch mystery seriesTwin Peaks, a role that kicked off an impressive career for the actress. She would subsequently appear opposite Mike Myers and Dana Carvey inWayne’s Worldin addition toWhere the Day Takes You,Equinox,Cafe Society, andHappiness, before transitioning back to television with a lead role in the legal drama programThe Practice,for which she would star from 1997 to 2004.
After starring as the shapeshifting alien Serleena inMen in Black II, Boyle began to slow and her Hollywood career seemingly took a hiatus, as she would only appear in a handful of films likeLand of the Blind,Baby Onboard, andHansel & Gretel Get Baked.Her most recent screen credit was in the 2020 action flickDeath in Texas, marking a return to the entertainment world following afive-year break.
10Phoebe Cates
Throughout the ’80s and early ’90s,Phoebe Cateswas known all over America. She came to fame in the 1981 teen comedy classic,Fast Times at Ridgemont High, as Jennifer Jason Leigh’s older, wiser best friend. In the ’90s she has roles in movies such asGremlins 2: The New Batch,Drop Dead Fred, andPrincess Caraboo.Princess Caraboowas her last film credit, aside from a role in the ensemble cast ofThe Anniversary Partyin 2001, and she hasn’t acted since.
Cates has been married to Kevin Kline since 1989, who is 16 years older than her, and has two children with him. Unlike her husband, Cates has completely disappeared from Hollywood and abandoned acting with no sign of returning.
9Macaulay Culkin
In the ’90s,Macaulay Culkinwas theposter boy for child actors. He instantly became famous after starring as Kevin McCallister in the hit Christmas movie,Home Alone, and its sequel,Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Other notable movies includeMy Girl,The Good Son, andGetting Even with Dad. Culkin even hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live in 1991 where he did a spoof ofHome Alonewith Lorne Michaels when he was only 11 years old.
Related:The Absolute Worst Movies of the ’90s, Ranked by How Many Razzies They Won
Since the 2000s, Culkin has not acted much. He has some appearances on a few TV shows such asWill & GraceandAmerican Horror Story, but more or less abandoned the profession. While he remains a figure in pop culture because of his time spent as Kevin McCallister, he largely remains out of the Hollywood spotlight.
8Geena Davis
Geena Daviswas a household name in the ’80s and ’90s. In the ’80s she starred in films such asBeetlejuiceopposite Michael Keaton and Alec Baldwin,The Flyopposite Jeff Goldblum, andEarth Girls Are Easy(once again with Jeff Goldblum). She continued her run in the Hollywood spotlight into the ’90s with the classicsThelma & LouiseandA League of Their Own. She was even nominated for an Oscar for her performance inThelma & Louisein 1992.
Into the 2000s, she starred in the sequel toStuart Little, guest starred in an episode ofWill & Grace, and was in a TV movie calledExit 19.She has acted here and there since then but has dedicated most of her time trying to change the film industry for the better. She founded her own research institute in 2004, The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, where she analyzes data depicting the disparities between roles for men and roles for women.
7Fairuza Balk
Famous for her edgy goth girl persona,Fairuza Balkcrafted a phenomenal acting resume during the nostalgic decade, first rising to prominence as wannabe witch Nancy Downs in the cult classicThe Craft, a role that earned her a Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. During this period, Balk starred opposite Edward Norton inAmerican History Xand demonstrated her comedic side in the Adam Sandler stapleThe Waterboy, with both films only adding to her impressive star power.
By the time the 2000s rolled around, Balk landed a part in the star-studded Cameron Crowe dramedyAlmost Famousbefore seemingly fading from the limelight and taking on lesser-known projects. In recent years, she has appeared inBad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans,Beyond Clueless, andHell Is Where the Home Is, and she currently stars in the musical drama seriesParadise City.
6Ryan Phillippe
Ryan Phillippeis most well known for his character Sebastian Valmont in 1999’sCruel Intentions. Though he caught his big break in 1997 in the slasher movieI Know What You Did Last Summer. He was a heartthrob of the late ’90s and evenmarried his co-star Reese Witherspoon(although they later divorced in 2006). With his good looks and natural charm, Phillippe seemed like he was on his way to earning leading man status.
However, in the 2000s he had a string of box office flops with films such asThe Way of The Gunthat negatively impacted his stardom. His only real success was being part of the ensemble cast of the Oscar-winningCrashin 2004. He didn’t stop acting though, he just transitioned to the small screen where he has found success with shows likeShooterandSecrets and Lies. Despite his transition to TV, he still does not remain a prolific figure in the public eye.
