One of Netflix’s biggest stars quits acting after 20 years despite ‘luck’

Courtney Henggeler, a star in one of Netflix’s biggest TV shows Cobra Kai, has retired from acting.

The 46-year-old actor started her career in Hollywood in 2005 with cameos in major TV shows like House M.D, Criminal Minds and NCIS.

In recent years she has appeared in The Big Bang Theory as Missy Cooper for two episodes and the 2024 feature movie, The Boys in the Boat directed by George Clooney.

But none have been bigger than her six-season-long starring role in Cobra Kai as Amanda LaRusso, the wife of Daniel LaRusso who is played by Ralph Macchio.

The Karate Kid spin-off came to a dramatic conclusion earlier this year, racking up tens of millions of views along the way. Just weeks later, Courtney is ‘hanging up’ her showbiz gloves.

In a post on her Substack to her fans at the end of March she reflected on ‘ 20 plus years of fighting the good fight in the acting business.’

The post explained that she was ‘tapping out’ as she ‘no longer wanted to be a cog in the wheel of the machine.’ Instead, she wants to ‘be the machine’.

The actor explained that all she ever knew was ‘the hustle’ to land one-line roles and recurring characters that ‘never recurred’ before getting ‘back to the grind. Back to the wheel. Back to the machine.’

She described her two-decade journey as ‘surviving on crumbs’ and ‘filling mugs with delusion’ in an attempt to reach the ‘golden goose’.

‘I’m famished’ she wrote,as she acknowledged that her Netflix role counted her as among the ‘lucky ones’.

The star continued: ‘I was on a series. A successful series. I made money. My face was on the billboards I longed for 20-plus years. I was directed by George Clooney for godsakes. This by all definitions is the golden goose.

‘For years I silenced the voice in my head, begging me to walk away. 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.’

She concluded her message to fans asking: ‘What if we are the gauntlet?’.

Her other IMDb credits include Jane The Virgin, Friends with Benefits, Nobody’s Fool and Feed.

Fans on social media have shared their support for Courtney’s decision, including The Sopranos actor Jamie-Lynn Sigler.

‘So much love and respect for you. Truly,’ she wrote on Instagram.

‘Excited to see what you do next! Thanks for all the laughs with Amanda and truly being yourself,’ cobrakainationyt shared.

Ralph’s daughter Julia Macchio who plays a minor role in the show, said: ‘Love you to the moon and back.’

‘Oh Courtney!! I’m gonna miss you. I wish you all the best. I love your characters, always funny, with a touch of sarcasm and lots of intelligence. Big hugs and all the best in what comes next,’ Clarisconinsta added.

She is far from the only actor to consider leaving the profession.

Just this week, Oscar-winning star Cat Blanchett also spoke about her intentions to quit the industry, albeit for different reasons.

‘My family roll their eyes every time I say it, but I mean it. I am serious about giving up acting. (There are) a lot of things I want to do with my life,’ she told Radio Times in a recent interview.

She later added: ‘I’ve always felt like I’m on the periphery of things, so I’m always surprised when I belong anywhere.

‘I go with curiosity into whatever environment that I’m in, not expecting to be accepted or welcomed. I’ve spent a lifetime getting comfortable with the feeling of being uncomfortable.’

Metro has reached out to Courtney Henggeler’s representative for comment.

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