‘Cobra Kai’ Star Courtney Henggeler Exits Hollywood After 20 Years of Fighting for Her Break
Sarah Johnson
April 18, 2025
Brief
Courtney Henggeler, star of Netflix’s 'Cobra Kai,' announces her departure from Hollywood, sharing candid reflections on industry struggles and reclaiming her personal and professional life.
Courtney Henggeler, best known as Amanda LaRusso in Netflix’s hit series "Cobra Kai," has announced she’s stepping away from Hollywood after more than 20 years of navigating the relentless entertainment industry. At 46, she’s officially "tapping out," choosing to reclaim control over both her career and her life.
In a heartfelt Substack post, Henggeler revealed she called her agents to say she no longer wanted to be "a cog in the wheel of the machine" — a system she’s spent decades trying to survive rather than fully thrive in.
Though Henggeler’s work includes roles on popular shows like "House," "NCIS," and "The Big Bang Theory," her reflections capture the gritty reality many actors face. She described Hollywood as a place where artists often survive on “crumbs,” chasing the elusive "golden goose" of success that hovers just out of reach. "20 plus years of this. I’m hungry," she wrote, her words a candid admission of the toll the grind took.
Despite calling herself "one of the lucky ones" for landing billboards and even working with George Clooney on the 2023 film The Boys in the Boat, Henggeler confessed that the glamour often masked a gauntlet of challenges. The constant struggle to reach the craft of acting had become stifling, prompting that inner voice she long ignored to finally be heard.
Her exit comes shortly after “Cobra Kai” wrapped its sixth and final season earlier this year, closing a significant chapter in her career — and one heavily linked to the legacy of “The Karate Kid” series, starring Ralph Macchio and William Zabka. Macchio recently shared with Fox News how his own approach of keeping "one foot in and one foot out" of Hollywood has played a key role in maintaining his 38-year marriage.
In an industry famous for chewing up talent and spitting them out, Henggeler’s candid farewell is a reminder that even success on screen doesn’t always erase the behind-the-scenes battles. It’s a statement about choosing personal peace over the relentless hustle — a tough but admirable move that many in her shoes might admire, even if it’s not often spoken aloud.
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Editor's Comments
Courtney’s decision underscores a truth many actors quietly live with: the glitz often comes with a heavy price. Her vivid metaphors about surviving on crumbs and chasing a golden goose perfectly capture the exhausting chase for that elusive ‘big break.’ It’s refreshing when someone finally calls it as it is — Hollywood isn’t always the dream factory it’s cracked up to be.
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