10 2010's Celebrities Who Disappeared and Why
10 2010s Celebrities Who Disappeared and Why
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at actors and musicians whose popularity peaked in the 2010s, then declined so sharply that they basically vanished from the public stage.
Ansel Elgort
From the “Divergent” series to the acclaimed “The Fault in Our Stars,” Ansel Elgort was an elevated teen idol before “Baby Driver” announced him as a true leading man. He was also on the come-up as a musician under the name Ansølo. As Elgort brought all his talent to the lead role in Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story,” the 2020s looked promising. But the decade began with multiple women accusing him of grooming them while they were underage. Some offered unsettling text messages as evidence. Just when it seemed Elgort would survive, he vanished following the cancellation of his TV drama “Tokyo Vice.” A comeback may be on the horizon, but the demand for Elgort isn’t what it once was.
Gotye
Belgian-Australian indie rocker Wally De Backer got his international break as Gotye with the 2011 single “Somebody That I Used to Know.” The subsequent album “Making Mirrors” won critical acclaim and went Platinum in several countries. But Gotye struggled to follow that monster single, announcing in 2014 that he’d be pursuing other projects. He wound up mostly being a featured artist in other people’s music through the rest of the decade. Following the birth of his daughter in 2018, De Backer snuck off into his private life without any word on new work. One could say that now Gotye is just somebody that we used to know, but he’d rather you explore the rest of his diverse catalogue.
Hayden Panettiere
A prolific child star in the 2000s, Hayden Panettiere broke into the following decade with the likes of “Scream 4” and the video game “Until Dawn.” The leading role of Juliette Barnes on ABC’s hit show “Nashville” showcased his musical talent and earned her many accolades. Despite this successful transition into mature roles, however, Panettiere openly struggled with postpartum depression and substance use disorder. “Nashville’s” cancellation and a volatile separation from Wladimir Klitschko prompted her to go on hiatus for four years. Panettiere has since struggled to mount a comeback and continues to endure tragedy. Maintaining sobriety has been difficult, but the actress occasionally speaks to the public about these and other important issues. Fans eagerly await Panettiere’s return while respecting her privacy.
Jack Gleeson
Irish teen actor Jack Gleeson got his big break on HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” Unfortunately, the boy king Joffrey Baratheon was one of the most hated characters on TV. The Internet notably contrasted such extreme evil with the Saturn Award-nominated actor’s extensive humanitarian work. When he announced his retirement in 2014, there was speculation that he was overwhelmed by his toxic claim-to-fame. It would be another decade before he revealed that he enjoyed the backlash, and merely wanted to focus on his education and renewing his love of acting through the stage. Even in that medium, Gleeson fell into obscurity. But after a long break from the spotlight, he’s managed to make a spectacular return to the screen.
Silentó
The Whip and the Nae Nae were among the defining dances of the late 2010s. Ricky “Silentó” Hawk was just 17 years old when he blew up the charts and the Internet with the single “Watch Me.” The whole world was watching his next move, but the viral sensation proved to in fact be a one-hit wonder. Silentó became better-known for legal troubles stemming from hostile behavior. Finally, in 2021, he was charged with the murder of his cousin Frederick Rooks. He admitted to the shooting, then spent the next four years hidden from the public. Hawk was next seen pleading guilty to manslaughter in 2025. Whatever this once-prodigious rapper will do after three decades in prison, it's not likely to go viral.
Susan Boyle
The runner-up of “Britain's Got Talent” Series 3 caught the world’s attention with her incredible mezzo-soprano vocals. 2009’s “I Dreamed a Dream” became the best-selling debut album by a British artist ever. Susan Boyle continued to captivate audiences over the next ten years with six albums and several massive tours. Along the way, she gradually became more reserved in her personal life. But fans were devastated when, in 2022, Boyle suffered a stroke that affected her speech and singing. Her absence in the following years may be one of the most shocking contemporary instances of a major star disappearing. In 2025, Boyle came out of hiding to announce that she's ready to get back in the studio.
James Franco
Undoubtedly an accomplished character actor and budding filmmaker throughout the 2000s, James Franco exploded after his Oscar-nominated performance in Danny Boyle’s “127 Hours.” He quietly mounted one of the decade’s most prolific screen careers with bold indies and Hollywood projects across all genres. This run was virtually unfazed by 2014 revelations of inappropriate interactions with a teenager. But starting in 2018, Franco was hit with a string of misconduct allegations from former students that culminated in a lawsuit. He admitted to sexual encounters with women in his acting workshop, but said he believed they were consensual. Though the lawsuits were settled in 2021, Franco’s career was destroyed. He has been hiding out in low-profile European productions ever since.
Taylor Lautner
“The Twilight Saga” and a high-profile romance with Taylor Swift set up a promising decade for actor Taylor Lautner. He was all grown-up and recognized as a major heartthrob. Unfortunately, he fumbled his leading man debut in John Singleton’s Razzie-nominated “Abduction.” “Tracers” and “Run the Tides” may have been even worse, but not nearly as many people saw them. Lautner likely turned more heads in supporting roles in Adam Sandler vehicles and the BBC sitcom “Cuckoo.” His outspokenness about the pressures of stardom has led some to believe that his exile was partly self-imposed. Lautner can still be found once in a blue moon, but seems fairly content with a more obscure lifestyle.
Armie Hammer
Despite a family fortune, Armie Hammer distinguished his acting career with the dual role of the Winklevoss twins in David Fincher’s “The Social Network.” He spent the following decade leading blockbusters like “The Lone Ranger” and the masterpiece “Call Me by Your Name.” It didn't look like his career would be slowing down in the 2020s. Then, in 2021, multiple women accused Hammer of sexual and emotional abuse, with text messages exposing disturbing fetishes. The actor’s representation promptly dropped him as his whole family's problematic history came under scrutiny. Hammer was next seen selling timeshares in the Cayman Islands. Starting in 2024, he reentered entertainment with a podcast and roles in low-end projects. Whether this comeback will stick, Hammer’s mainstream reputation is effectively buried.
Iggy Azalea
Amethyst Amelia Kelly had one of the hottest stage names in hip-hop by the time she dropped her debut album “The New Classic” in 2014. Iggy Azalea’s career practically defined the 2010s, but would itself be defined by controversy. Her feud with Azealia Banks particularly sparked accusations that Kelly appropriated Black American culture after failing to break into pop music. Homophobic and, at best, racially tone-deaf comments landed her deeper in hot water. Public attention faded as Kelly spent the first half of the 2020s developing an album that ultimately went unreleased. When she retired in 2024 over medical issues, hardly anyone noticed. It goes to show how even the brightest stars of one decade can burn out by the next.
Who are some other 2010s stars you haven’t seen around lately? Serve some nostalgia in the comments.