Why did Rick Moranis quit acting? Family tragedy and more explored as Spaceballs star reprises role 30 years after leaving Hollywood

Rick Moranis, who quit acting in 1997 after the death of his wife to take care of his two children, is set to reprise his role in the sequel of the 1987 movie, Spaceballs, according to People Magazine.

According to Deadline, Rick Moranis is not the only person set to return. He will be joined by original cast member Bill Pullman. They shall also be joined by Keke Palmer as the newest addition. Apart from them, Mel Brooks, who is set to turn 99 this June, will also return as the director of the much-awaited sequel.

Rick Moranis' family tragedy and more explored as he is set to return as Dark Helmet in the new Spaceballs sequel

Rick Moranis, who was at the height of his career when he quit acting in 1997 after the death of his wife, Ann Belsky, sat down for an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2015 and said that he never regretted his decision. He said:

"I have absolutely no regrets whatsoever. My life is wonderful. I took a break, which turned into a longer break. Stuff happens to people all the time, and people make adjustments, change careers, move to another city. Really, that's all I did."

Rick Moranis and costume designer Ann Belsky tied the knot in 1986. The couple were together for five years until Ann's untimely death from breast cancer at the age of 35. The couple had previously welcomed two children, Rachel and Mitchell, during their marriage.

Rick Moranis, who is known for blockbuster movies like Ghostbusters, Little Giants, Little Shop of Horrors, Strange Brew, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, and his final appearance in the 1997 movie, Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves, worked on smaller voice-over projects after quitting Hollywood.

Rick Moranis said in his interview with The Hollywood Reporter that in the years since he made the decision, being with his children had outweighed everything. He said:

"I was working with really interesting people, wonderful people. I went from that to being at home with a couple of little kids, which is a very different lifestyle. But it was important to me."

According to People Magazine, Rick Moranis was set to appear in a reboot of the popular Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, whose production has unfortunately been paused due to internal conflict. In 2020, Rick Moranis also appeared in an ad as himself alongside Ryan Reynolds for Mint Mobile. Ryan Reynolds explained the decision in a statement by saying:

"Like many Canadians and humans, I adore and worship Rick Moranis. From Strange Brew to Ghostbusters to Spaceballs to Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, his performances and lines are burned into my brain and heart. We asked Rick to do this 8 days before our shoot kind of on a lark but after a few emails and a conversation, he agreed. And it was wonderful. Everyone on set was completely star struck, most of all me. We’re so grateful he came back and hope he stays back."

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According to the New York Post, in the same year, while walking down the street in New York, Rick Moranis was randomly attacked by a man named Marquis Ventura for no apparent reason. Moranis was hospitalized with injuries to his head but later recovered. The attacker was later given a two-year sentence and was also convicted of engaging in similar attacks on other unsuspecting people.

The latest Spaceballs sequel starring Rick Moranis, who returns to the big screen after a 30-year break, is gearing up for a release in 2027.

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