1. Richard Simmons
Richard Simmons was once America’s most energetic fitness guru, known for his glittery tank tops, bouffant hair, and infectious positivity. His Sweatin’ to the Oldies workout tapes were massive hits in the ‘80s and ‘90s, and he became a beloved daytime TV fixture. He had a unique ability to motivate people without shaming them—he really just wanted folks to feel good. For years, he was one of the most instantly recognizable figures in pop culture.
Then, in 2014, Simmons withdrew completely from public life, prompting concern and speculation—including the launch of a popular podcast, Missing Richard Simmons. Despite countless rumors, he insisted (through reps) that he was fine, just choosing privacy. He passed away in 2024, closing the door on one of pop culture’s more curious disappearances, Kyle Norris of NPR says. His legacy endures with fans, but the cultural attention around him faded long before his death.
2. Amanda Bynes
Amanda Bynes was once a Nickelodeon queen and teen movie staple, beloved for her comedic timing and charm. Films like She’s the Man and What a Girl Wants made her a bankable star. But behind the scenes, Bynes was battling mental health issues and substance abuse. She retired from acting in 2010 and entered a long period of turmoil, Lynsey Eidell of PEOPLE explains.
There have been hopeful signs—enrollment in fashion school, brief returns to social media—but stability has remained elusive. Her public appearances are rare, and she hasn’t returned to acting in any substantial way. For someone who was once considered the next Lucille Ball, it’s been a painful fall from grace. Most people stopped following her story long ago.
3. Jaleel White
For a stretch of the ’90s, Jaleel White was Steve Urkel, the ultra-nerdy neighbor from Family Matters, Ingrid Vasquez of PEOPLE explains. His catchphrases, suspenders, and oversized glasses made him one of the most recognizable faces on TV. But once the show ended in 1998, White struggled to break free from the Urkel persona. Hollywood just didn’t seem to know what to do with him beyond the high-pitched voice and awkward gait.
He’s done some voice acting and popped up in a few indie projects, but none of it recaptured his mainstream appeal. In interviews, White has been candid about how hard it was to outgrow the character that made him famous. He was once a household name—now he’s more of a trivia answer. It’s not that he vanished; it’s just that pop culture moved on without him.
4. Tonya Harding
Tonya Harding was one of the most talked-about athletes in America during the early ’90s—but for all the wrong reasons. After her ex-husband was involved in the infamous attack on rival skater Nancy Kerrigan in 1994, she became a media obsession. For a time, she was on every tabloid cover, portrayed as both villain and victim, according to Taffy Brodesser-Akner of The New York Times. She was banned from professional skating, and that was the end of her career in the rink.
Since then, she’s popped up in celebrity boxing matches and reality shows, but the spotlight has dimmed. The 2017 film I, Tonya brought her back into public conversation, but even that was short-lived. People no longer debate whether she was complicit—they’ve mostly just stopped talking about her. Once a media frenzy, she’s now largely a footnote.
5. Mischa Barton
Mischa Barton shot to fame as Marissa Cooper on The O.C., a teen drama that defined early 2000s pop culture. At the height of her popularity, she was on magazine covers, red carpets, and everybody’s TV screen. But after leaving the show in 2006, her career unraveled fast. Mischa couldn’t shake off the “troubled teen” typecast or land another breakout role.
She also had highly publicized personal struggles, including a DUI and mental health issues. Barton tried to make a comeback on The Hills: New Beginnings, but it didn’t stick. Once hailed as Hollywood’s next big thing, she’s now mostly remembered for what could’ve been. Fame faded fast, and the industry moved on.
6. Frankie Muniz
Frankie Muniz was the smart-aleck middle kid in Malcolm in the Middle, a role that made him a household name before he was old enough to vote. He even starred in a few films like Agent Cody Banks, and everyone assumed he’d have a long, steady career. But after the show ended, Muniz pivoted to race car driving—seriously. And while that’s impressive, it meant walking away from Hollywood at his peak.
He’s since returned in small ways, appearing on Dancing with the Stars and doing occasional guest roles. But he’s not the fixture he once was in American pop culture. People still remember the name, but they don’t really follow him anymore. From TV star to racer to “whatever happened to?”, Muniz quietly faded into a different lane.
7. Tila Tequila
Tila Tequila was one of the first big reality TV stars, gaining fame on MySpace and later MTV’s A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila. In the mid-2000s, she was everywhere—part influencer, part chaos magnet. But fame based on shock value is often short-lived, and hers was no exception. Her career nosedived following bizarre public behavior and extreme political rants.
Tila made headlines for promoting conspiracy theories and expressing sympathy for Hitler, which effectively destroyed her mainstream viability. She’s now banned from several platforms and mostly exists on the internet’s fringe. Whatever fame she once had has been eclipsed by controversy and irrelevance. People stopped watching—and caring—a long time ago.
8. Bobby Brown
As the bad boy of R&B and former husband to Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown was a huge name in the late ’80s and early ’90s. His album Don’t Be Cruel sold millions, and hits like “My Prerogative” were cultural touchstones. But substance abuse, legal issues, and a toxic public relationship with Houston eventually overshadowed his music. His reality show Being Bobby Brown was more infamous than beloved.
After Houston’s death, Brown largely disappeared from the spotlight. He’s made a few attempts at comebacks, but none have stuck. His music legacy remains, but his celebrity status has faded considerably. These days, people mention him more in the context of Houston’s tragedy than for his own accomplishments.
9. Spencer Pratt
During the heyday of The Hills, Spencer Pratt was reality TV’s ultimate villain. With his crystal obsessions, constant scheming, and tabloid stunts, he and wife Heidi Montag were impossible to ignore. But when the show ended, the curtain fell on his entire celebrity persona. Attempts to stay relevant, including appearing on UK reality TV, didn’t resonate with American audiences.
Spencer now runs a hummingbird-themed Instagram account and occasionally goes viral for his oddball energy. But the fame, the deals, and the paparazzi moments are long gone. He’s self-aware about his downfall, but that doesn’t change the fact that the world moved on. In 2008, he was everywhere; in 2025, he’s just another ex-reality star.
10. Fred Durst
Fred Durst was the frontman of Limp Bizkit, a band that defined the nu-metal scene of the late ’90s and early 2000s. With hits like “Nookie” and “Break Stuff,” he was the angry voice of a generation—or at least of every teenage boy in cargo pants. But music trends changed, and Limp Bizkit quickly became a punchline. Durst’s backward red cap and frat-boy attitude aged badly in the public eye.
He’s actually directed a few indie films, including one starring John Travolta, but they were critically panned. Limp Bizkit still tours, but it’s more nostalgia act than cultural force. He’s no longer the edgy icon he once seemed to be. For many, Fred Durst is little more than a cringe memory from their youth.
11. Tara Reid
Tara Reid was once a rising star, thanks to roles in American Pie and Van Wilder. Her girl-next-door vibe made her a staple in teen comedies, and she seemed poised for a big career. But constant partying and a string of box office bombs derailed her momentum. Public attention shifted from her acting to her personal problems and plastic surgery mishaps.
She found a bizarre second wind with the Sharknado movies, but even those were more meme than moment. Today, she pops up in tabloids more than actual productions. It’s a long way down from red carpets to reality shows and direct-to-video horror flicks. Once a starlet, now largely forgotten.
12. Perez Hilton
Before Twitter and TikTok, Perez Hilton was the king of online gossip, infamous for his crude doodles on paparazzi photos. His blog shaped early 2000s celebrity culture, making (and breaking) stars with every post. But the internet evolved, and Perez didn’t. As social media gave celebrities their own platforms, his snarky commentary became less influential—and more outdated.
He’s since tried rebranding as more positive and reflective, but the damage to his reputation stuck. Younger audiences have no idea who he is, and older ones mostly remember him with a wince. His cultural power has evaporated, and he’s no longer driving the narrative. Fame, as it turns out, doesn’t last forever—even online.
13. Pauly Shore
Pauly Shore was the goofy voice of ’90s MTV and a comedic staple in offbeat films like Encino Man and Son in Law. His stoner-surf-bro persona was once so popular that he headlined multiple movies. But critics panned his performances, and audiences quickly got tired of the schtick. By the late ’90s, his star had fallen hard.
Shore has leaned into self-deprecating humor and has done stand-up and indie films in the years since. He’s embraced his has-been status, but it doesn’t change the fact that most people forgot he ever mattered. For a moment, he was everywhere; now he’s more likely to be recognized by Gen Xers with a very specific sense of humor. Time moved on—and Pauly didn’t.
