Angelina Jolie and More Stars Who've Tried to Retire

Dec. 6, 2012 — -- intro: Angelina Jolie claims she's almost ready to retire from acting. "If it went away tomorrow, I would be very happy to be home with the children," she said in an interview with Britain's Channel 4 News. "I think I'm going to have to give up the acting as the kids hit the teenage years, anyway, too much to manage at home."

It's not the first time Lara Croft has threatened to ditch her guns -- in 2010, Jolie told Vanity Fair she probably wouldn't be in business for much longer -- but it's hard to believe her retirement will last. She'll have to break it for "Maleficent," the movie she's currently working on, when it premieres in March 2014, after the 13th birthday of her eldest son, Maddox.

Jolie's soon-to-be husband, Brad Pitt, has also said he plans to stop acting in a few years, but historically, superstars don't stay retired:

quicklist: 1title: Michael Jordantext: The basketball icon's 1993 retirement didn't stick. He returned to the game in 1995 after a lackluster stint in baseball with the Chicago White Sox, and led the Bulls to three more consecutive NBA championships in 1996, 1997 and 1998. He retired for a second time in 1999. These days, Jordan's most often found swinging clubs on the golf course -- that is, when he's not getting kicked out because of his cargo shorts. media: 17886859

quicklist: 2title: Jay-Ztext: Jigga Man's likened himself to Michael Jordan in more than a few songs, and with good reason -- both are among the best in their fields, and both can't stay away. Jay-Z said he was retiring from rap with 2003's "Black Album." In 2006, he announced he was recording a new album and told Entertainment Weekly his attempt to get out of rap was "the worst retirement in history."

He just headlined eight shows at Brooklyn's new Barclay's Center in New York and delighted elderly subway riders in the process. It doesn't look like he's going anywhere anytime soon. media: 17886879

quicklist: 3title: Alec Baldwintext: Time's ticking for Baldwin. In 2009, the "30 Rock" star told Playboy he'd give up acting in 2012, when his NBC sitcom wrapped. "In March 2012, I'll wake up and say, 'What am I going to do now? Am I done?'" he said. "I think I will be done. I may finish a play or something, but I'm retiring at the wrap party."

Since that interview, he's reiterated that he plans to get out of the game, but he also took on roles in "Rock of Ages" and Woody Allen's "To Rome with Love." If he's really looking for a new challenge, he could take on Donald Trump for Most Prolific Twitter Ranter. media: 17886904

quicklist: 4title: Clint Eastwoodtext: In 2008, the legendary actor-director said "Gran Torino" would be his last starring role, but he'd continue working behind the camera as a director. He broke his pact with this year's "Trouble with the Curve," which he directed and starred in alongside Amy Adams and John Goodman. He also stole the show at this year's Republican National Convention, though he may not want that on his resume. (Remember his conversation with the empty chair?)media: 17886745

quicklist: 5title: Barbra Streisandtext: Streisand threw in her touring mic in 2000 with a "farewell" concert. "It feels like time to say goodbye to this part of my life," she told the sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden.

Or ... not. Six years later, she was back on a comeback tour, and this year, she embarked on the "Barbra Live" set of concerts, which kicked off at the Barclays Center in her native Brooklyn, N.Y.media: 17887669