‘Cobra Kai' actress quits Hollywood after 20 years of surviving 'off the crumbs'
"Cobra Kai" actress Courtney Henggeler is making a bold exit from Hollywood.
With more than two decades of acting experience in the cutthroat industry, Henggeler, 46, admitted that she's "tapping out."
"After 20 plus years of fighting the good fight in the acting business, I hung up my gloves," she recently wrote in a Substack blog post.
"I called my agents and told them I was tapping out. I no longer wanted to be a cog in the wheel of the machine."
She pointed out her desire to "be the machine" herself, with more control over her career and life.
Henggeler, who's best known for her role as Amanda LaRusso in Netflix's "Cobra Kai," starred alongside "The Karate Kid" alums Ralph Macchio, 63, and William Zabka, 59. Her character is Macchio's on-screen wife in the series.
WATCH: RALPH MACCHIO ON THE 'LEGACY CAST' OF 'KARATE KID,' FINAL SEASON OF 'COBRA KAI'
She was a rising star in her 20s, landing small roles on popular shows, including "House," "NCIS" and "The Big Bang Theory."
Despite these appearances, Henggeler recalled only truly knowing "the hustle" of Hollywood instead of the "art or craft of acting."
"We survived off the crumbs. We filled our cup with the possibility; our mugs with delusion. Our plates were empty, but a golden goose hung over our heads. Today might be the day. Today might be the day I reach the golden goose," she remarked.
"20 plus years of this. I'm hungry."
"We survived off the crumbs. We filled our cup with the possibility; our mugs with delusion. Our plates were empty, but a golden goose hung over our heads."
While Henggeler considered herself "one of the lucky ones," as she reflected on being on billboards and being directed by George Clooney, she described those experiences as the definition of "golden goose."
Henggeler worked with Clooney for his 2023 film, "The Boys in the Boat."
"For years I silenced the voice in my head, begging me to walk away," she wrote. "The voice, the constant gnawing. Not because of the acting itself. But because of the gauntlet I had to run to reach the acting. What once felt necessary, something I willingly participated, even celebrated, became stifling."
WATCH: 'COBRA KAI' STAR RALPH MACCHIO SHARES KEY TO HIS SUCCESSFUL 38-YEAR MARRIAGE
Henggeler's decision to step away from Hollywood comes after "Cobra Kai" wrapped its sixth and final season in February.
During the "Cobra Kai" season 6 part 3 red-carpet finale premiere event, Macchio told Fox News Digital staying "out of Hollywood" is the secret to his successful marriage to his wife of 38 years.
"I've always kept one foot in and one foot out," Macchio remarked.
He credited his wife, Phyllis Fierro, 64, who "grounds and elevates" him and their kids.
Macchio met his wife when he was 15 years old. The couple tied the knot in August 1987. Several years later, they welcomed their daughter, Julia, in 1992 and son, Daniel, in 1995.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
17 minutes ago
- New York Post
Meghan Markle's pal, who previously blasted the royal family, slams social media ‘harassment campaign' against duchess
Meghan Markle's pal has spoken out against the persistent negative narrative surrounding the Duchess of Sussex, saying she has endured 'ridiculous lies' about her for years. Christopher Bouzy, a longtime ally of the Sussexes, said the 'Suits' alum, 43, constantly faces 'destructive' trolling on social media. Bouzy, head of the social media analysis firm Bot Sentinel, revealed that his company's investigation into the hate-fueled comments targeting the former working royal uncovered a concentrated group of social media accounts responsible for the attacks. Advertisement 'It would be easy to laugh at such absurdity if it weren't so destructive,' the tech entrepreneur told Newsweek. 'Over the years, these ridiculous lies have cascaded into a full-blown harassment campaign against Meghan and her family.' 5 Meghan Markle's pal has spoken out against the persistent negative narrative surrounding the Duchess of Sussex, saying she has endured 'ridiculous lies' about her for years. AP Advertisement Bouzy appeared on the couple's 2022 Netflix series, 'Harry & Meghan,' where he discussed his findings about the harassment campaign against the As Ever founder. 'We cannot ignore the real-world impact that this kind of sustained conspiracy harassment has,' he added. The duchess was widely mocked last week after she shared a rare video of her and Prince Harry dancing in the hospital while awaiting the birth of their daughter Lilibet in 2021. 5 Christopher Bouzy, a longtime ally of the Sussexes, said the 'Suits' alum, 43, constantly faces 'destructive' trolling on social media. Netflix Advertisement The video, which Markle uploaded on June 4 in honor of Lilibet's fourth birthday, showed the former actress 'drop it low' while dancing to Starrkeisha's then-viral song, 'The Baby Momma Dance,' while cradling her baby bump. 'Imagine, for a moment, what it would feel like to have some of the happiest and most vulnerable moments of your life turned into ammunition for hate,' Bouzy went on. 'Every maternity dress and every baby video becomes 'evidence' for strangers obsessively trying to prove your pregnancies were a sham. It is sickening and cruel.' 5 The duchess was widely mocked last week after she shared a rare video of her and Prince Harry dancing in the hospital while awaiting the birth of their daughter Lilibet in 2021. meghan/Instagram Advertisement The social media analyst mentioned the 'suicidal thoughts' Markle had faced at 'the height of the abuse,' saying 'one doesn't have to stretch to see a link between that despair and the ceaseless torrent of vilification she endured.' 'Beyond the personal toll on Meghan and Harry, there's a broader societal damage to consider. When conspiracy theories like these flourish, they corrode our collective grasp on reality and decency,' he added. Markle had previously said on the 'Teenage Therapy' podcast in 2020 that social media abuse against her had been 'almost unsurvivable.' 5 The video showed Markle 'drop it low' while dancing to Starrkeisha's then-viral song, 'The Baby Momma Dance.' meghan/Instagram Appearing alongside her husband on the podcast, the mom of two said she was told that 'in 2019, I was the most trolled person in the entire world – male or female.' '[For] eight months of that, I wasn't even visible, I was on maternity leave with the baby — but what was able to be manufactured and churned out, it's almost unsurvivable, it's so big you can't even think what that feels like,' she went on. 'I don't care if you're 15 or 25, if people are saying things about you that aren't true, what that does to your mental and emotional health is so damaging.' Start your day with all you need to know Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters Advertisement Bouzy's contradicting comments may raise eyebrows among those who remember his own personal attacks against senior members of the royal family, including Kate Middleton, Prince William, King Charles and Queen Camilla. Bouzy once took aim at William's appearance, saying that the future king 'looks like a balding Muppet' in a post on X. In October 2021, he wrote on X, 'I'm sorry, but William and Kate look like Harry's aunt and uncle.' 5 Markle had previously said on the 'Teenage Therapy' podcast in 2020 that social media abuse against her had been 'almost unsurvivable.' Archewell Foundation via Getty Images Advertisement On another occasion, he said that the Prince and Princess of Wales are aging quickly, writing on X, 'I don't understand why, since they have a team of people who wait on them hand and foot 24/7.' Last year, Bouzy shockingly claimed that the royal family had 'lied' about Princess Catherine's cancer diagnosis — and likened the heartbreaking video announcement to 'North Korean propaganda.'
Washington Post
21 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Live updates: House set to vote on DOGE-inspired cuts to foreign aid, PBS, NPR
The House is set to vote Thursday on a package of funding cuts inspired by the U.S. DOGE Service that until recently was overseen by Elon Musk. The clawbacks, totaling $9.4 billion, take aim at foreign aid and funding for PBS and NPR, among other things. It could be the first in a series of so-called recession packages. At the White House, President Donald Trump is expected to sign a measure Thursday that blocks California's first-in-the-nation rule banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035. He is also scheduled to sign executive orders and host a congressional picnic. Elon Musk is out of Washington, but House Republicans could make his legacy law. The House is scheduled to vote Thursday on a package of federal funding cuts inspired by the U.S. DOGE Service's slashing of the federal government. Those cuts include an effective elimination of U.S. foreign aid and funding for PBS and NPR. The total cost of the clawbacks is $9.4 billion. President Donald Trump ousted the leadership of the Kennedy Center and installed his own loyalists. He has said he wants to remake its show offerings and renovate its building. And on Wednesday night, he came to hear the people sing. Trump arrived in a box to watch one of his favorite musicals, in the venue that he has long avoided but is now trying to embrace after taking control. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) said the Trump administration has excluded him and his family from a congressional picnic at the White House in what he believes to be an act of retribution, politicizing an annual celebration of bipartisanship over Paul's refusal to support the president's signature legislation. HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, widely considered a possible Democratic contender for the presidency, vowed Wednesday to protect the right of protesters if President Donald Trump sends troops into Philadelphia as he has done with the National Guard and Marines in Los Angeles, and to work with local law enforcement to keep the city safe.
Tom's Guide
37 minutes ago
- Tom's Guide
Netflix just dropped a trailer for its new star-studded romantic comedy series — and it looks like a hilarious watch
If you're a Netflix subscriber and a romantic comedy fan, you might be primed to fall in love with the streamer's upcoming series, "Too Much." That's based on the trailer, which the streaming giant just dropped for Lena Dunham's star-studded new Netflix rom-com this week, and promises to show the messy realities of falling in love. Check it out below: The trailer tees up the connection between our two leads — workaholic and New York expat Jessica (Megan Stalter) and Felix (Will Sharpe), a singer and so-called "walking series of red flags" — and shows off the sense of humor and some of the misadventures you can expect to see when the show hits the streaming service this summer. I've described "Too Much" as a "star-studded" show, and for good reason. Dunham described her cast as "an embarrassment of riches" (via Tudum), and you can expect to see appearances from Andrew Scott, Richard E. Grant, Stephen Fry, Jennifer Saunders, Rhea Perlman and many, many more in the show (you can find a full cast breakdown below). Excited? You don't have long to wait. The streaming giant has confirmed that "Too Much" will be available to stream on Netflix from Thursday, July 10. The "Too Much" trailer already helps sell the show's vibe and hints at some of the ups and downs that Jessica will face. If you want an even clearer picture of what to expect from the show, though, Netflix has already shared a full synopsis for the romantic comedy series. It reads: "Jessica (Megan Stalter) is a New York workaholic in her mid-thirties, reeling from a broken relationship that she thought would last forever and slowly isolating everyone she knows. When every block in New York tells a story of her own bad behavior, the only solution is to take a job in London, where she plans to live a life of solitude like a Brontë sister. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. "But when she meets Felix (Will Sharpe) — a walking series of red flags — she finds that their unusual connection is impossible to ignore, even as it creates more problems than it solves. Now they have to ask themselves: do Americans and Brits actually speak the same language?" In addition to the above names, "Too Much" also stars Adèle Exarchopoulos, Adwoa Aboah, Andrew Rannells, Daisy Bevan, Dean-Charles Chapman, Emily Ratajkowski, Janicza Bravo, Jessica Alba, Kaori Momoi, Kit Harington, Leo Reich, Michael Zegen, Prasanna Puwanarajah, Rita Ora, and Rita Wilson. Need something new to stream while you wait? Be sure to check out our guide to the best Netflix comedies or our overall round-up of the best shows on Netflix for tons more streaming recommendations.
