Celebrities Who Worked Normal Jobs After Their Career in the Spotlight

Fame has been described by many as the American dream, a way to escape the humdrum of everyday work life by excelling in a glamorous field like film or sports. However, in most cases, fame is fleeting. And when this happens, celebrities are forced to reenter the workforce with the rest of us. Case in point: These 11 celebrities who worked normal jobs after their fame ran out. This list is made up of television actors, movie stars, and even an NBA Hall of Famer, all of whom slipped back into normal lives and normal jobs after they left the spotlight.

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Taran Smith - Then

Fans of 1990s television would immediately recognize Taran Noah Smith from his role as precocious youngest child Mark on the hit sitcom Home Improvement. Like many child stars, Smith literally grew up on the series, and was later quoted as saying, “I started Home Improvement when I was 7, and the show ended when I was 16. I never had the chance to decide what I wanted to do with my life. When I was 16, I knew that I didn’t want to act anymore.” Smith certainly decided to do something interesting…

Taran Smith - Now (Vegan Food Entrepreneur)

After famously suing his parents for control of his earnings, Smith formed a vegan dairy farm and catering service, Playfood, along with his then-wife, vegan chef Heidi Van Pelt, who was 15 years his senior. Unfortunately, neither the marriage nor the business lasted. These days, Smith lives on a sailboat in California and aids disaster relief charities.

Angelina Pivarnick - Then

MTV’s Jersey Shore introduced a slew of memorable personalities to American pop culture, including Snooki, The Situation, and Angelina Pivarnick, the so-called “Staten Island Dump.” Angelina became (in)famous during the show’s first episode for arriving with her personal belongings in garbage bags. From there, she fought with her fellow cast mates so much that she left both the first AND second seasons of the show early. Surely she’s not someone who would ever have other people’s lives in her hands, right?

Angelina Pivarnick - Now (EMT)

After exiting Jersey Shore a second time, Pivarnick appeared on the reality series Couple’s Therapy for two seasons, before eventually becoming an EMT. That’s right, an EMT. So for those of you in the New York area, it’s possible that Jersey Shore’s “dirty little hamster” could be answering your next call for help in a medical emergency. Or at least she might have before returning to television for the reunion series Jersey Shore- Family Vacation.

Jeff Cohen - Then

If one were looking for the acting equivalent of a musical “one-hit wonder,” Jeff Cohen definitely would fit the bill. In 1985, the actor played the iconic role of Chunk in The Goonies. His comedic performance, highlighted by the iconic “truffle shuffle” dance, became one of the best-remembered of the 1980s. Over three decades later, Cohen’s dance is still referenced throughout pop culture. However, despite the notoriety he gained as Chunk, Cohen went in a completely different direction in life.

Jeff Cohen - Now (Lawyer)

Though Jeff Cohen made a few television appearances after playing Chunk, he essentially left acting behind after The Goonies. Years later, Cohen would quip that puberty forced him into an “early retirement” from acting. After acting jobs dried up, Cohen lost a ton of weight playing high school football, and then decided to pursue a legal career while in college. A 2014 profile in the ABA (American Bar Association) Journal detailed how Cohen got involved in the law profession- Helping him figure it all out was legendary film director Richard Donner, who directed Cohen in The Goonies. Donner introduced Cohen to the business side of Hollywood, and Cohen parlayed that introduction into summer jobs at movie studios during college. “I grew up loving The Three Stooges and the Marx Brothers, but suddenly I had a new crop of heroes,” like David Geffen and Jeffrey Katzenberg. Cohen discovered that many of the most respected agents, studio executives, producers, and managers had law degrees, and he followed suit. After graduating from UCLA’s law school in 2000, Cohen worked at an entertainment law firm before starting his own firm in Beverly Hills. Cohen Gardner, his six-lawyer office, represents actors, media companies, directors, writers, producers, and production companies. “My concerns about my clients are not merely academic,” he explains. “I’ve been in front of the camera. I know how hard everyone works. I treat them carefully, with respect.” In addition to working as an entertainment attorney, Cohen contributes to CNBC and HuffPost.

Mara Wilson - Then

Mara Wilson was one of the most successful child actresses of the 1990s. She first broke out playing the daughter of Robin Williams’ character in Mrs. Doubtfire in 1993, followed by a starring role in 1994’s remake of Miracle on 34th Street.  Wilson’s career-defining part came in 1996, when she played the title character in Matilda. The adaptation of Ronald Dahl’s beloved children’s book was a massive success, and became a defining film for a generation of children. Following the success of Matilda, many thought that Wilson was primed to become a massive Hollywood star. However, issues she had with the Hollywood machine combined with a diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder led Wilson to retreat from the spotlight.

Mara Wilson - Now (Writer)

After essentially retiring from acting, Wilson began pursuing a writing career, earning a degree from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. From there, Wilson has penned a one-woman show, a play, a memoir about her life, and written for several websites. While she’s appeared on a few podcasts and YouTube videos, a full-time return to Hollywood seems highly unlikely. Wilson said of acting, “Film acting is not very fun. Doing the same thing over and over again until, in the director’s eyes, you ‘get it right’ does not allow for very much creative freedom. The best times I had on film sets were the times when the director let me express myself, but those were rare.”

Lisa and Louise Burns - Then

Lisa and Louise Burns played the ghostly Grady twins in Stanley Kubrick’s horror masterpiece The Shining. The twins explained how they came to be cast in the film in a 2015 interview with the Daily Mail- “Stanley was the kind of person who didn’t know what he was looking for until he found it. We’d never been to stage school but we had done some TV work before, and so we had an agent and she called our mum and said, ‘Stanley Kubrick is looking for sisters.’ Stanley was never looking for twins, but we went along anyway. If we hadn’t auditioned then the roles would probably have gone to two girls of different ages, like the characters in the book. It certainly worked in our favor because Stanley decided twins were just spookier.” They went on to praise Kubrick and co-star Jack Nicholson in the interview.

Lisa and Louise Burns - Now (Lawyer and Microbiologist)

According to the Burns twins, their roles in The Shining actually inhibited their acting careers, as they became too associated with the film and the horror genre. After abandoning acting, Lisa became a lawyer while Louise went on to become a published microbiologist. Despite the movie not propelling them to long-running film careers, the twins look back fondly on their Shining roles.

John Cassisi - Then

Quite appropriately — considering what would happen later in his life — John Cassisi’s Hollywood career began under slightly nefarious circumstances. In the mid 1970s, director Alan Parker was looking for children to cast in his mobster film Bugsy Malone. Parker went to a Brooklyn school to scout, and asked students to nominate the “naughtiest” boy in class, who ended up being Cassisi. On that recommendation, Cassisi was cast as Fat Sam in the film, which he then parlayed into a part on the late 70s series Fish. Cassisi’s acting career ended there, but the rest of his life certainly played out like a movie.

John Cassisi - Now (Convicted Felon)

Following the end of his acting career, John Cassisi began working in the construction industry. By 2012, Cassisi had worked his way up to Director of Global Construction for Citigroup. A story with a happy ending, right? Wrong. In 2015, Cassisi was arrested and eventually pled guilty to his part in a bribery scheme. He was sentenced to 2-6 years in prison, and had to pay $500,000.

Austin St. John - Then

Pretty much from the day it premiered in August 1993, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers was a pop culture phenomenon, and no one associated with the show was more famous than Austin St. John. St. John portrayed Jason Lee Scott, the Red Power Ranger and team leader in the show’s first season and a half, becoming a massive celebrity in the process. St. John and two of his co-stars (Black Ranger Walter Emanuel Jones and Yellow Ranger Thuy Trang) left the series due to a pay dispute in the midst of the second season, with their characters being written out.

Austin St. John - Now (Paramedic)

After leaving Power Rangers, St. John bounced around several jobs, including one as a karate teacher. In the early 2000s, St. John transitioned from on-screen hero to off-screen hero when he became a paramedic in the Washington, D.C. area. St. John spent over a decade saving lives, including serving as a citizen healthcare worker with the U.S. military in the Middle East. In recent years, St. John has become a fixture on the comic book convention circuit.

Peter Ostrum - Then

Peter Ostrum only has one major acting credit on his resume, but it’s a big one. He portrayed Charlie Bucket in the 1971 film version of Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Ostrum was well-liked on the set of Wonka, particularly by co-star Gene Wilder and dialogue coach Frawley Becker. The latter would say of Ostrum years later, “Peter was a child who acted — he wasn’t a child actor. He had none of the obvious technique, tricks, or affectations of the kind that TV kid actors had, and continue to have. He was genuine, and his sincerity as a person shines through in his performance. He was an extremely intelligent kid, who was both self-aware and skilled at what he was doing.” The film went on to be a classic, with Ostrum’s performance being lauded by many. However, his heart pulled him in a different direction.

Peter Ostrum - Now (Veterinarian)

Despite the success of Willie Wonka, Peter Ostrum turned down a three-film contract following its release. He eschewed acting from that point on, instead focusing on being a veterinarian. Ostrum earned a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1984, and works as a professional veterinarian in Upstate New York to this day. While Ostrum has avoided most interview and publicity requests, he has appeared at a few Wonka anniversary events in recent years.

Angus T. Jones - Then

Angus T. Jones is the half of the hit CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men. He starred alongside Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer (and Ashton Kutcher) for the series’ entire run from 2003 to 2015. Outside of the show, Jones never really pursued other roles. He landed numerous parts as a child actor, but once Two ended, Jones only took a small part in TV series Horace and Pete. So where did he go?

Angus T. Jones - Now (Event Planner)

Your eyes do not deceive you. That is Angus T. Jones all grown up. Viewers watched him age before their eyes on Two and a Half Men, but once the show was over, Jones could let his “hair down” so to speak. Having been the highest paid child actor on TV, Jones likely has plenty of dough and seems to have gotten tired of the acting stuff for the time being. He’s reportedly now partnered with Puff Daddy’s son Justin in an event planning business. Will we see him on the screen again? Maybe, but it seems for now he’s enjoying putting the spotlight on others for a change.

Cameron Diaz - Then

Cameron Diaz was one of the biggest movie starlets of the 1990s and 2000s. After breaking out into the mainstream as Jim Carrey’s love interest in 1994’s The Mask, Diaz became one of Hollywood’s most bankable commodities. She appeared in countless hit films, including My Best Friend’s Wedding, There’s Something About Mary, the Charlie’s Angels films, Being John Malkovich, and voicing Princess Fiona in the Shrek franchise. However, she disappeared from films in the mid-2010s.

Cameron Diaz - Now (Author)

After last appearing in 2014’s ‘Annie’, Cameron Diaz confirmed she was formally retiring from her acting career. She took up writing and is now the author of two health books, ‘The Body Book’ and ‘The Longevity Book’. She had been living in the spotlight for so much of her life that she wanted to spend time with some semblance of privacy.

Charlie Korsmo - Then

In the early 1990s, Charlie Korsmo became well-known for playing the supporting child character in two major Hollywood fantasy films- The Kid in 1990’s Dick Tracy and Peter Pan’s son, Jack Banning, in 1991’s Hook. However, this career peak would be short-lived, as Korso would only have one more acting role – a supporting part in 1998’s Can’t Hardly Wait – before leaving the profession for good.

Charlie Korsmo - Now (Law Professor)

Korsmo gave up acting to pursue a career in law. After earning a physics degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2000, Korsmo went on to earn his Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School in 2006. He passed the New York State Bar Exam in 2007 and worked at the law firm of Sillivan and Cromwell. He also served as a professor at Brooklyn Law School. Korsmo currently teaches law at Cleveland’s Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

Shawn Kemp - Then

Basketball fans certainly remember Shawn Kemp from his playing days with the Seattle Supersonics. Kemp made headlines by declaring for the NBA draft right out of high school, and his youth led to a quiet start in the league. But Kemp soon found his footing in the league, and became a high-flying forward known as the “Reign Man.” Kemp was one of the pillars of a Seattle team that was a Western Conference powerhouse from the early to late 90s. Kemp’s later career was mired in controversy as he began to deal with extreme weight problems, often showing up to training camp massively out of shape. Kemp’s final years he would become a journeyman, landing in Cleveland for three years, then Portland for two, and finally the Orlando Magic for the 2002-2003 season before retiring. So where did the once-superstar go after retiring?

Shawn Kemp - Now (Restaurant Owner)

Shawn Kemp’s first years out of the National Basketball Association were not kind. He attempted a comeback into the league for several years, and was said to be in similar shape to his All-Star days. However, Kemp was twice arrested for possession of narcotics, once in 2005 for cocaine possession, and a second time in 2006 for a misdemeanor marijuana charge. Kemp has now turned his focus back to his beloved Seattle, where he advocates for the NBA to bring a team back (the Supersonics moved to Oklahoma City in 2008). Reportedly, Kemp has entered into the restaurant business, where he owns and/or operates several businesses in the Seattle area.

Chris Owen - Then

Do you remember “The Sherminator” from the raunchy 1999 comedy American Pie? He was played by actor Chris Owen, who was having his breakout moment in Hollywood, starring in Pie, along with Can’t Hardly Wait, October Sky, and She’s All That in less than a year. The problem was that after American Pie, Owen was basically typecast for every role as the nerdy guy. When Owen began to turn down those roles, the offers seemed to dry up…

Chris Owen - Now (Photographer)

After his short flirtation with stardom in the early 2000s, Chris Owen found himself landing fewer and fewer jobs. Basically out of work in Hollywood, Owen turned back up in 2014 when the New York Daily News discovered he was working as a waiter at a sushi restaurant. Luckily, that wasn’t the end of Owen’s dreams of acting. He’s since started a secondary career as a photographer and film roles have started to roll back in, in both TV (Criminal Minds) and filming numerous movie projects set for release in 2020.

Steven Anthony Lawrence - Then

Steven Anthony Lawrence became a popular child actor back in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He landed roles in TV shows like ER, Frasier, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but he’s best known as Bernard ‘Beans’ Aranguren in the Disney Channel show Even Stevens. Like many child actors, Lawrence struggled to find work as he grew older and after Even Stevens ended in 2003, Lawrence only secured a handful of TV or movie parts up until 2010. So what direction did he go in?

Steven Anthony Lawrence - Now (Acting Coach)

Turns out Steven Anthony Lawrence didn’t give up on acting completely, but he has worked several “normal” jobs in his days. According to Lawrence’s IMDb page, since 2015 he’s had just three film projects to his name. To help pay the bills, Lawrence actually offers acting classes to young students. “Anybody that’s hungry,” Lawrence told Business Insider. Evidently, he also likes to make public appearances during the holidays. The above picture is from Lawrence’s Instagram, where he was a Santa Clause helper at Sun Valley Mall in California.

Lisa Whelchel - Then

Lisa Whelchel (pictured bottom left) was one of the main stars of the hit sitcom, The Facts of Life, playing the wealthy preppy girl Blair Warner. Whelchel pretty much gave up acting once the show went off the air in 1988, as she had found another calling in life. Whelchel had become a born-again Christian at age 10 and married the pastor of her church in 1988. She stepped away from acting to pursue the life of the pious. So what did she do for work after acting?

Lisa Whelchel - Now (Author)

Lisa Whelchel gave up the spotlight in order to spend more time in God’s light. After she quit acting, she helped raise her three kids and began writing about her experiences. Whelchel eventually published 10 books, which range in subject matter on motherhood, child discipline, adult friendships, homeschooling, and how holiday traditions can help one’s religious faith. Whelchel and her husband unfortunately divorced in 2012, the same year she once again stepped into the Hollywood spotlight when she became a contestant on reality TV show Survivor- Philippines.

Erik Estrada - Then

Many would immediately recognize Erik Estrada as Officer Frank Poncherello of the California Highway Patrol in CHiPs. The show was immensely popular for NBC and aired for six seasons from 1977 through 1983, with 139 total episodes. The show helped make Estrada a household name and helped him break out in Hollywood from all the small, one-time roles he had mostly been getting before that. Unlike some of the actors on this list, Estrada managed to springboard that fame into numerous other roles and continues to work in screen and voice acting today. However, his time on the motorcycle must have left a lasting impression on him, as Estrada undertook a surprising additional career in 2009.

Erik Estrada - Now (Police Officer)

Erik Estrada became wildly popular thanks to his motorcycle patrolling in CHiPs. Even though Estrada continues to act to this day, he did something out of the ordinary in 2009 that made headlines worldwide. That year, Estrada began to train and study to become a real-life police officer. He became a full-time deputy sheriff in Bedford County, Virginia. In 2016, he began serving as a reserve police officer in St. Anthony, Idaho. Now he splits his time between acting and enforcing the law.

Al Green - Then

Albert Leornes Greene became known as a popular soul singer in the 1970s going by Al Green. He recorded such hits as “Take Me to the River,” “Tired of Being Alone,” “I’m Still in Love With You,” “Love and Happiness,” and his most popular song, “Let’s Stay Together.” Green was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and is referred to as “one of the most gifted purveyors of soul music.” Green must have become in touch deeply with his soul, because his profession after music explored much of the afterlife.

Al Green - Now (Pastor)

While Al Green was known for his soul hits throughout much of his career, he was busy recording numerous gospel albums, of which The Lord Will Make a Way won Green his first Grammy Award. But it was personal trauma that ultimately set Green on his path toward becoming a pastor. In 1974, Green was involved with a married woman, who wanted to marry Green, but he refused. The woman became irate and shot and killed herself with Green’s .38 handgun. The incident Green claims was a “wake-up call” and he pursued becoming an ordained pastor of the Full Gospel Tabernacle. Most people know Green today simply as Reverend Al Green.

Geoffrey Owens - Then

Geoffrey Owens got his first big break in Hollywood in 1985 and boy was it a good one. Owens was cast as Dr. Elvin Tibideaux on the popular The Cosby Show series on NBC. Owens would end up starring in 44 episodes over seven seasons. The role led to numerous other opportunities. Owens never had another huge hit, but the royalties from the show kept him afloat for a while… until Bill Cosby’s fall from grace.

Geoffrey Owens - Now (Bagging Groceries...Temporarily)

Geoffrey Owens continued to act after The Cosby Show, but after the show was pulled from the air due to dozens of sexual misconduct allegations against Bill Cosby, Owens’ royalties dried up. In 2018, Owens was spotted and “job shamed” for working as a cashier at a Trader Joe’s in New Jersey. However, this story has a happy ending. Hundreds of actors came out in support of Owens finding honest work to make ends meet, and then the job offers began to roll back in. Owens has found more high-profile gigs since his social media job shaming incident.

Phoebe Cates - Then

Anybody growing up in the 1970s or 80s will surely have known the name Phoebe Cates. Cates skyrocketed to stardom thanks to the above pool scene in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. She became a sex symbol, with roles in other raucous teen comedies, as well as plenty of small budget films. But when Cates met her husband, she was happy to shun the bright lights of Hollywood for a more traditional lifestyle.

Phoebe Cates - Now (Boutique Owner)

Phoebe Cates initially met actor Kevin Kline in 1983 and they would eventually marry in 1989. Cates and Kline began their family together very quickly and once motherhood became a big enough responsibility, Cates stopped acting altogether. Cates owns and operates the New York City, Upper West Side boutique store Blue Tree, which sells women’s clothing, jewelry, and other accessories.

Gene Hackman - Then

As part of the Pasadena Playhouse acting group in California, Gene Hackman was (along with fellow actor whom he befriended, Dustin Hoffman (yes, that one)) voted “least likely to succeed” by the acting group. After years of struggling with small time roles on TV and Broadway productions, Hackman eventually landed a role in the movie Lilith. That opened the doors to numerous other roles, including an Oscar-nominated role in Bonnie and Clyde. In 1972, Hackman would win the Best Actor Academy Award for The French Connection and would eventually star in 100 films before retiring from acting in 2004. But Hackman still worked after retirement…

Gene Hackman - Now (Author)

Gene Hackman had a storied Hollywood career, earning two Oscars (The French Connection and Unforgiven) and garnering three more Academy Award nominations over a more than 50-year career. But late into his acting career, Hackman discovered a new passion- writing. Hackman published his first book in 1999, and has since published four more, all in the historical fiction genre.

Adrian Dantley - Then

Adrian Dantley was one of the most accomplished NBA players of the 1980s. Over the course of a 15-year career, Dantley was a six-time All-Star, two-time NBA scoring champion, and the 1977 Rookie of the Year. Dantley was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008. Following his playing career, Dantley coached high school and college ball. He served as an assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets in the mid-2000s, and was the team’s interim head coach for numerous games in the 2010 season while George Karl battled cancer.

Adrian Dantley - Now (Crossing Guard)

After his coaching career ended, Adrian Dantley became a crossing guard in Maryland. While it may surprise some to hear that an NBA Hall of Famer is working as a crossing guard, Dantley defended his job in a 2013 interview. “First of all, it’s not beneath me to be a crossing guard,” he said. “I think that’s what the big hoopla is about. Like, ‘Holy cow, what is he doing being a crossing guard? He must be broke or having hard times.'” That’s not the case at all. I just like what I’m doing.” In the same interview, Dantley brought up health insurance as one of the job’s major perks.

Ali MacGraw - Then

In 1968, actress Ali MacGraw had a small role in the film, A Lovely Way to Die, but the following year she took everyone by surprise in the critically-acclaimed Goodbye, Columbus. MacGraw won the Most Promising Newcomer Golden Globe and was nominated for a similar BAFTA Award. MacGraw would go on to land acclaimed roles in Love Story, where she won the Golden Globe for Best Actress and was nominated for the Best Actress Academy Award. It seemed like MacGraw would go on to a long and fruitful Hollywood career, but something else was calling her name…

Ali MacGraw - Now (Yoga Teacher)

Ali MacGraw was already 30 years old when she landed her first Hollywood role (on the older side by Hollywood’s standards), but it didn’t stop her whirlwind beginning as an actor. Through the 1980s, she starred in several more movies and TV series, but tragedy changed her life forever. Her home burned down in a wildfire and she moved to New Mexico where she began to utilize yoga more into her workout routines. That turned into a passionate endeavor and MacGraw featured in the 1994 video with yoga master Erich Schiffmann, Ali MacGraw- Yoga Mind and Body. MacGraw would go on to become a full-time yoga instructor and her video is widely credited for popularizing yoga in America today.

Mike Vitar - Then

Most know Mike Vitar as Benjamin “Benny the Jet” Rodriguez from The Sandlot. The coming-of-age baseball film was a huge hit at the box office and helped Vitar become a successful childhood actor. Vitar would go on to have recurring roles in D2 and D3, The Mighty Ducks sequels, as well as roles in both popular TV series, NYPD Blue and Chicago Hope. But the rat race of acting grew to be too much for Vitar…

Mike Vitar - Now (Firefighter)

After playing the hero in the movie The Sandlot, Mike Vitar went on to become a hero in real life. Vitar trained and was accepted into the Los Angeles Fire Department. Things haven’t been super smooth for Vitar though. In 2015, Vitar was charged with assault for attacking a man on Halloween. Vitar pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor battery charge and was sentenced to a year of anger management courses and 90 days community service.

Vanilla Ice - Then

From baby boomers to millennials, pretty much everybody knows the name Vanilla Ice. Thanks to his Billboard chart-topping “Ice Ice Baby,” which was the first hip hop single to top Billboard, Vanilla Ice became a household name – as well as a cautionary tale in the entertainment business. Ice (real name Robert Matthew Van Winkle) later revealed his big contract with record producer SKB nearly caused him to take his own life. Luckily Ice was able to turn things around, though his career would never be the same…

Vanilla Ice - Now (House Flipper)

Robert Matthew Van Winkle, a.k.a. Vanilla Ice, faulted his management company SKB with the over-commercialized look and style of his music that ultimately made Ice a one-hit wonder in the music business. However, the royalties from his hit song were enough for Ice to venture into new areas. He now primarily flips houses (buying rundown or foreclosed homes, fixing them, then reselling for higher value) on the Discovery Channel show The Vanilla Ice Project.

David Lee Roth - Then

David Lee Roth was the lead singer of Van Halen during the metal pioneers early 1980s heyday, becoming one of the biggest stars of the early years of MTV. After ego clashes with guitarist Eddie Van Halen led to him leaving the band at the zenith of their popularity in 1985, Roth had on and on success with a solo career. In addition, he reunited with Van Halen briefly in 1996, and on a more permanent basis in 2007. Over the next nine years, the band would go on three tours, and release a studio album and live concert recording. However, in between musical endeavors, Diamond Dave took on a much different occupation…

David Lee Roth - Now-ish (EMT)

In 2004, David Lee Roth went on on numerous calls with New York City first responders with the intention of becoming an EMT. Roth said at the time- “I want to be working in the outer boroughs,” Roth told the Daily News. “This city promises great color and insight in each and every neighborhood. On the Upper East Side, it’s gonna be heart attacks and stomachaches. But in other areas, it’s all trauma. I used to be a surgical orderly in South Central, L.A. I started that when I got out of junior college in the early ’70s, and that led to a variety of things in the outdoor medical fire force and training with the Green Berets.”