Back in the 1980s, Rick Moranis was one of the most beloved and recognizable faces in comedy.
The popular actor, now 73, began his work in Hollywood in the 1970s, and by the end of the 1980s, he had become known and loved, for starring in classics like both Ghostbusters films, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Little Shop of Horrors, and The Flintstones.
© Getty ImagesBut while Rick became a firm favorite among Hollywood casting agents, his career took a turn after a personal tragedy led him to slowly step away from the industry.
Keep reading for everything you need to know about his career and where the 73-year-old actor has been since his 1980s heyday.
What happened to Rick Moranis?
Rick was going from strength to strength in his acting career but, in 1991, his costume designer wife of five years, Anne Moranis, tragically passed away from cancer, leaving Rick to care solely for his two children, Rachel and Mitchell.
Following the loss, Rick became more selective about the projects he took on in order to focus on raising his children in New York. He later appeared in two Honey, I Shrunk the Kids spin-offs and lent his voice to projects including Brother Bear and Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Kids in the early noughties.
© Getty ImagesReflecting on the shift in his career, Rick told USA Today in 2005: "I pulled out of making movies in about '96 or '97. I'm a single parent, and I just found that it was too difficult to manage raising my kids and doing the traveling involved in making movies. So I took a little bit of a break."
As the break stretched on, Rick realised he did not miss acting as much as he expected. "In the last few years, I've been offered a number of parts in movies, and I've just turned them down. I don't know whether I'll go back to it or not. I've been doing a lot of writing and a lot of parenting."
Life since then
Rick's last major onscreen role was in the 1990s, and though he continued to do some occasional voice work, he did not work from 2008 to 2018, when he lent his voice for one episode of The Goldbergs, and has not done any other work since then, aside from a 2020 Mint Mobile commercial.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter in 2015, Rick explained that stepping away from Hollywood had not been a formal decision.
© Getty Images"It began in an already busy year where I declined a film that was being shot out of town as the school year was beginning. But I was fortunate to be able to continue to make a living writing and doing voice work in Manhattan," he said.
Also in 2015, viewers were shocked to learn that Rick had turned down a cameo in the Ghostbusters reboot, in which he would have appeared alongside original cast members including Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Sigourney Weaver.
© Alamy Stock PhotoRick told The Hollywood Reporter at the time: "I hope it's terrific. But it just makes no sense to me. Why would I do just one day of shooting on something I did 30 years ago?"
Over the years, the actor has stressed that he is still working – but has simply refined his choices. "I'm happy with the things I said yes to, and I'm very happy with the many things I've said no to. Yes, I am picky, and I'll continue to be picky. Picky has worked for me."
Rick further maintained: "I have absolutely no regrets whatsoever. My life is wonderful."
© FilmMagicIn 2020, Rick was set to return to the spotlight to reprise his role as Wayne Szalinski in a Honey, I Shrunk the Kids sequel, but the project was halted due to the Covid pandemic and was later shelved indefinitely.
In the same year, Rick was back in the news, but for an unfortunate reason, when he was the victim of a random punch to the head while walking in his neighborhood. He was treated at the hospital for pain on his head, back and hip, and reported to incident to the NYPD's 20th precinct; a suspect was arrested one month later.
Where is Rick Moranis now?
Rick, now 73, now lives in a plush apartment on New York's Upper West Side and has a brand-new movie on the horizon.
© Getty ImagesThis time, Rick is reprising his role as Dark Helmet in Spaceballs: The New One, which is scheduled to land in cinemas in 2027. The actor made his first major public appearance to promote the film at CinemaCon 2026 in April, where the trailer was shown to fans.
