The massive Y2K heartthrobs who walked away from Hollywood fame at the absolute peak of their careers

Jonathan Taylor Thomas' teen heartthrob status stretched throughout the '90s and '00s. Best known as 'JTT', he starred in projects like Home Improvement and voiced Simba in The Lion King. But instead of building on his already-impressive portfolio, JTT decided to prioritise time in the classroom and went on to study at Harvard and Columbia University.

Apart from a few appearances on Tim Allen's Last Man Standing, JTT is still enjoying life away from the screen. Though, according to his Home Improvement sitcom mum Patricia Richardson, he's interested in pursuing a career in writing and directing instead.

Josh Hartnett is synonymous with Y2K heartthrob fame, starring in projects like Pearl Harbor and Black Hawk Down, which certified the actor as a star on the rise. Rather than giving into the pull of fame, Josh returned home to Minnesota and turned down huge superhero star roles for a quieter life.

For early fans, this might have been a devastating move, but time away from the camera has seemingly built back Josh's passion for acting. He's returned to blockbuster projects like Oppenheimer for a major career resurgence after a two-decade break.

Frankie Muniz was, for many teens, a relatable teen crush thanks to star roles in Malcolm in the Middle and Agent Cody Banks. But it wasn't where his long-term interests lay and Frankie opted to step back from the industry instead of pursuing more mature roles.

The former teen star has since built an impressive career in race car driving. Even while returning to set for the reunion series Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair, production made way for his racing passion by adjusting their filming schedule around his days on the track.

Freddie Prinze Jr. brought the 2D supernatural detective Fred to life in Scooby-Doo and followed it up with star rom-com roles in Head Over Heels, Summer Catch and Down to You.

The She's All That star left Hollywood behind to focus on family life with his Scooby-Doo co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar and instead took on voice acting roles as well as working as a writer for WWE. He's occasionally returned to the screen, including an appearance in the 2022 Netflix feature Christmas With You.

Erik von Detten didn't just find fame as a teen heartthrob: he became the face of blonde curtain bangs. With star roles in Brink!, The Princess Diaries and a voice-over role as Sid in Toy Story, he seemed set for stardom.

But Erik left the industry behind in the mid-2000s, choosing to pursue a quieter life away from the spotlight. Up until recently, he worked for Rosland Capital, a firm selling precious metals.

There's nothing better than a sing-song to win over the leading lady in Y2K's endless selection of teen rom-coms, as Oliver James well knows. He became a heartthrob thanks to star roles in What a Girl Wants and serenaded Hilary Duff in Raise Your Voice, but didn't decide to further pursue a career in Hollywood.

Since leaving the spotlight behind, Oliver has followed his career calling as a psychotherapist and owns a practice south of London.