Courtney Henggeler Exits Acting: A Journey from Struggle to Self-Discovery
So, it turns out that after two decades of chasing the elusive Hollywood dream, Courtney Henggeler, the beloved Amanda LaRusso from Netflix’s “Cobra Kai,” has decided to throw in the towel. Shocking, right? In a lengthy post on her Substack, Henggeler revealed her retirement from the acting scene, candidly stating, “I no longer wanted to be a cog in the wheel of the machine.” Ah, the classic tale of a weary actor fed up with the grind—who could have seen that coming? After years of what she calls “the hustle”—which seems more like a euphemism for relentless disappointment—Henggeler finally had a lightbulb moment and decided that being part of the Hollywood machinery just wasn’t her jam anymore.
Her announcement comes on the heels of “Cobra Kai” wrapping up its sixth season in February 2025, which she described as a great ride. But let’s not kid ourselves; even being on a hit series doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be content with the relentless grind of auditions and the waiting game. Henggeler’s resume boasts roles on shows like “Jane the Virgin,” “Mom,” and “The Big Bang Theory,” but she paints a rather bleak picture of her career. The acting gigs she landed were often fleeting, with her roles being little more than a couple of lines—yes, we’re looking at you, “Dr. House.”
She reminisced about the empty plates and the hope of finding the proverbial golden goose in a world where most actors end up surviving on crumbs. Henggeler’s self-reflection is both poignant and a tad ironic. After all, she finally snagged a lead role in a series that made her somewhat of a household name, yet she still felt the urge to bail out. “I’m considered one of the lucky ones,” she said. But even luck doesn’t seem to be enough when you’re still stuck in the exhausting cycle of auditions, rejections, and the desperation to land the next big role.
Henggeler’s retirement screams of a broader trend in the industry: the need to reclaim one’s identity outside of the relentless chase for stardom. Her story is a stark reminder that not every actor’s journey is filled with champagne and red carpets. Sometimes, it’s just a lot of hustle, dashed hopes, and a quest for personal freedom.
And there you have it—another artist stepping off the hamster wheel of Hollywood, seeking something more meaningful. Let’s just hope she finds it, or else we might have to start a support group for disillusioned actors.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, Dotdash Meredith
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
