Disappearing star ... for a while, actor Jonathan Taylor Thomas was one of the biggest names around. Then he seemingly disappeared. Source: News Corp Australia

Then they seemed to disappear from the limelight, leaving many fans wondering where they’d gone. We dug around and found out.

Some found notoriety wasn’t for them and quietly retreated to a more normal life. Others tried to land other roles but failed in the notoriously competitive industry.

Others chose vastly different paths, while a few remained in the industry but behind the scenes.

Child star ... Jeffrey Walker played Bronson in the hit children’s TV series Round The Twist. Source: Supplied

JEFFREY WALKER

Anyone who grew up in the 1990s might recognise Walker as the young Bronson in the hit children’s television seriesRound The Twist.

At the tender age of 10, with just one prior credit under his belt, he was cast in the main role during the show’s second season when the original actor left.

He went on to star in Ocean Girl, The Wayne Manifesto and Thunderstone.

While he didn’t act much after that, Walker didn’t leave TV all together — instead later shifting his focus to an extremely successful directing career.

Successful career ... Jeffrey Walker has gone on to direct a string of major television shows. Source: Supplied

He has since worked on soaps like Neighbours and Home And Away, as well as local dramas Rake and Jack Irish, plus the hit US sitcom Modern Family and most recently the BBC miniseries Banished.

Much loved ... Nicolle Dickson played the hugely popular Home And Away character Bobby. Source: News Corp Australia

NICOLLE DICKSON

It’s more than 20 years since Bobby Simpson was killed in a freak boating accident, but she remains one of Home And Away’s most loved characters.

Dickson, who played her from the soap’s very first episode in 1988 until 1993, had only a few minor roles after leaving the show.

Quiet life ... apart from the very occasional appearance, Dickson leads mostly a quiet life. Source: News Limited

Back in 2006, she emerged again for a few specials surrounding the soap and also appeared in the short-lived reality experiment Celebrity Survivor Australia.

Apparently she now lives in regional New South Wales and works for an accounting firm.

Colourful character ... Andrea Barber was a popular fixture in sitcom Full House, but quit acting when the show wrapped. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

ANDREA BARBER

Her character Kimmy in the iconic sitcom Full House was a memorable one, but fame didn’t appeal much to Barber.

When the mammoth show eventually wrapped, she quit acting and went on to study English at university. She had a few kids and hasn’t acted since.

Coming back ... Barber will reprise the role of Kimmy when Netflix reboots Full House next year. Picture: WireImage Source: Getty Images

Although Barber will soon be back on the small screen to reprise the role that made her famous, when Netflix reboots the show next year.

Brief career ... after winning the third season of Popstars, Scott Cain enjoyed a very quick period in the limelight. Picture: Supplied Source: News Limited

SCOTT CAIN

He was the bleached blonde singer who won the third series of Popstars and hit the top of the Australian charts with the single I’m Moving On.

That’s pretty much where Cain’s mainstream success began and finished, with a series of underwhelming musical releases to follow.

In 2003, he briefly hosted a show on the Disney Channel and released a children’s song, which saw him signed as the support act for Hilary Duff’s tour in 2005.

Delightful Drew ... Dan Paris was one of the most popular stars on soap Neighbours. Source: News Limited

DAN PARIS

For years, Drew and Libby were Ramsay Street’s darling couple and viewers of the long-running soap Neighbours followed their many ups and downs.

When Paris left the show in 2002, Drew was killed off — the popular character fell from a horse and suffered fatal internal injuries.

Happy snapper ... these days, Dan Paris is a successful photographer living in Western Australia. Source: News Limited

He had a few roles after that and fronted a handful of advertisements, including for baldness treatment brand Ashley Martin.

These days he’s a successful photographer and director in Western Australia.

Iconic role ... he was a memorable character, Kelvin, in a major series, Ship To Shore. Source: Supplied

CLINTON VOSS

Many will remember him for playing Kelvin Chump in the iconic kid’s show Ship To Shore — a series that aired in some 100 countries around the world.

After the show, Voss was tapped for the role of Snowy in the series Sweat — the part that made the late, great Australian actor Heath Ledger a star.

Funnily enough, Ledger had also initially been in the running to play Kelvin in Ship To Shore.

Community work ... these days Voss, pictured left, works in youth mental health. Source: News Limited

Voss had a couple of small parts in the years to follow, including an ad for potatoes, but left acting behind to study psychology.

He now lives in Sydney and works in youth mental health.

Major star ... thanks to his role in Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Nate Richert was a much-loved performer. Source: News Corp Australia

NATE RICHERT

He was Harvey, the love interest of Sabrina, played by Melissa Joan Hart, in the teen comedy series Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

Despite earning a legion of young fans, Richert quit acting when the show finished to pursue his interest in music.

Hipster ... Nate Richert pursued his love of music and for a time sported this very snappy beard. Source: Supplied

For a while, he sported a very distinct beard and hipster look — a world away from the clean cut jock he played on the small screen.

While he independently released a few songs and toured around the US for a while, he doesn’t seem to be too active in that area these days.

TV hunk ... Nic Testoni starred alongside Belinda Emmett in Home And Away. Source: News Limited

NIC TESTONI

For a generation of Home And Away fans, he was the ultimate pin-up with a hunky bod, flowing hair and piercing eyes.

His character Travis Nash was much loved and wed the equally popular Rebecca Fisher, played by the late Belinda Emmett.

Other side ... Nic has done some work behind the camera in production. Source: News Corp Australia

After leaving Summer Bay, Testoni moved on to film producing and scored an award for a documentary he made.

These days he has a few kids and apparently produces corporate videos through his own business.

Soap star ... Zac Drayson has had several stints on Home And Away. Source: Supplied

ZAC DRAYSON

Another much-loved Home And Away star, Drayson played the rebellious but loveable Will Smith, the older brother of Hayley, played by Bec Hewitt.

He quit the show and came back a few times, before eventually leaving for good. He made an appearance in All Saints but that was about it.

Recent return ... after a few jobs as a TV set crew member, Drayson made his return to acting in Winter this year. Source: Supplied

For a long while, Drayson disappeared from TV but worked behind the scenes as a crew member on various productions.

Earlier this year, he made his small screen return in crime miniseries Winter, starring alongside Rebecca Gibney.

Teen series ... Sean O'Neal starred in Clarissa Explains It All playing the loveable Sam. Source: Supplied

SEAN O’NEAL

Here’s another of Melissa Joan Hart’s former co-stars who disappeared from the limelight after working with her.

When the hit Nickelodeon series Clarissa Explains It All came to an end, O’Neal didn’t enjoy many other roles.

There were reports he was approached to front a boy band, but declined. For a while, it seemed he was happy to live a normal life.

Another crack ... Sean O'Neal is apparently keen to get back into acting again. Source: Supplied

More recent reports indicate O’Neal is back and determined to work in acting again, starring in a TV pilot and a few short films.

There’s a listing on his IMDB profile for a new feature film, in which he plays ‘party guest’.

Brief career ... despite a major role in one of the biggest TV shows ever, Jack Gleeson decided fame wasn’t for him. Source: Supplied

JACK GLEESON

He was part of one of the biggest television shows ever, Game Of Thrones, but found that acting and fame weren’t for him.

So the young actor, who played the unlikeable Joffrey, quit show business and went to university to study philosophy.

Gleeson has teamed up with a humanitarian organisation to work in disaster-hit and underprivileged nations.

Heart throb ... his posters lined the walls of teenage girls’ bedrooms around the world, then Jonathan Taylor Thomas seemed to disappear. Source: News Corp Australia

JONATHAN TAYLOR THOMAS

For millions of teens around the world, the young Home Improvement star was a pin-up for the several years he was on the small and big screens.

As well as starring in the long-running Tim Allen series, he also voiced the young Simba in the revered animated film The Lion King.

Quiet life ... apart from the odd cameo, most recently in Tim Allen’s new show Last Man Standing, JTT has shunned the limelight. Source: Supplied

There were various other movie roles to follow. JTT continued on Home Improvement throughout his teen years until the show ended.

By that time, he was finished high school and put his career on hold in 1998 so he could go to university.

He attended both Harvard and Colombia University to study philosophy and history. Apart from very occasional TV guest roles in the years since, he has mostly stayed away from acting.