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No king rules forever—and practically no star stays famous forever, either. However, when someone leaves the spotlight, even if it’s dramatic, it doesn’t always end up in the headlines. It sometimes happens subtly and silently. Not with a bang, but a whimper, to paraphrase renowned poet T. S. Eliot.

Inspired by u/Weep2D2, the more celebrity-news-savvy members of AskReddit revealed which stars faded away without many folks even realizing it. Scroll down for a trip down memory lane and a reminder of who used to be very well-known in the public eye.

Bored Panda was curious about what stars can do to stay in the spotlight for longer, as well as what their options are if they want to move away from fame. So, we reached out to Mike Sington, Hollywood's Ultimate Insider, for his advice. Check out what he told us below.

#1

"Which Celebrity Faded Away Without Many Realizing It?" (50 Answers) Rick Moranis stepped away after his wife died of cancer so he could concentrate on raising his children. He did a few small roles and voice-over work, but other than that he was a stay at home Dad. Then when his kids were older, he said he really didn't miss it much and just kept out of the limelight. Huge respect for him.

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Joshua David
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22 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Didn't he get punched in NYC in an unprovoked attack a couple of years ago?

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#2

"Which Celebrity Faded Away Without Many Realizing It?" (50 Answers) I heard someone saying "if you wonder why an actress stopped working, the answer is probably Harvey Weinstein".

It's really sad.

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Rayne OfSalt
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1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yeah, a woman being labelled "difficult to work with" in hollywood usually means that she refused to f*ck the studio executives and/or director.

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According to entertainment, pop culture, and lifestyle expert Sington, actors looking to switch career tracks should first identify what sparks their passion. "What are your interests, skills, and values? Perhaps you've always been drawn to technology, business, or education. Once you've pinpointed a potential new career path, research the necessary qualifications and experience," he said.

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"Consider taking online courses, volunteering, or shadowing professionals in your desired field to gain insights and build a network. Remember, it's never too late to learn new skills and pursue a different career. Embrace the opportunity to reinvent yourself and find a fulfilling new path," the expert suggested.


#4

Ashely Judd. And then I found out she'd been harassed by Weinstein.

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#5

"Which Celebrity Faded Away Without Many Realizing It?" (50 Answers) Duffy the Welsh singer just dropped off the face of the earth. Years later it came out that she’d been kidnapped by a crazed fan, held captive for days and all the things that go along with that. It wasn’t reported at the time.

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MrLiesegang
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1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What the hell? I hope guys like that are never gonna be released from prison.

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#6

"Which Celebrity Faded Away Without Many Realizing It?" (50 Answers) Helen Hunt. She was on a bit tv show in the 90s, then started making movies, won an Oscar, made a few more movies, and then disappeared.

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Robin Roper
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1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hunt was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type two in 2010, which causes tumors to grow on the nerves that control balance and hearing. Before the surgery, she was already deaf in her left ear and had tinnitus. In 2012, she became completely deaf after undergoing surgery to remove tumors and now uses an auditory brain implant to help her sense vibrations. As someone who has gone completely deaf and now has two Cochlear Implants, I can declare, no one's life isn't dramatically changed after they go deaf. It is a life altering event.

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Sington explained to Bored Panda that talent isn't the only factor that determines whether someone stays in the spotlight... though it is "undoubtedly a cornerstone." There are other qualities to consider, from having a strong work ethic and being adaptable to having a keen understanding of audience preferences.

"Celebrities who consistently deliver quality work, evolve with the times, and connect with their fans on a personal level tend to have longer-lasting careers. Additionally, a positive public image, strategic career choices, and a willingness to take calculated risks can significantly contribute to sustained success," he said.

"Ultimately, a combination of talent, hard work, and savvy career management is key to maintaining a long-lasting presence in the spotlight."


#8

If you had told me 20 years ago the most relevant Olsen sister would be Elizabeth I’d have been very confused, but here we are. The other two are a non-entity and she is part of the biggest film Franchise of our generation.

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Lyoness
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1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be fair the other two do very well out of their fashion label and old movies.

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#9

"Which Celebrity Faded Away Without Many Realizing It?" (50 Answers) Julia Stiles.

You couldn’t see a romantic comedy without her in it. Then she was nowhere to be found. Has a brief role in a Bourne movie, then went right back to indie work.

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iseefractals
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19 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

W...what? That YOU haven't see her (or lack the ability to check her IMDB) doesn't mean she "disappeared" One, she was in multiple bourne films, Hustlers in 2019, A full season of dexter back in 2010. She had a role in the TV series "The lake" From 2022-2023 and Riviera from 2017-2020, did voice work for Dragons: the nine realms from 2021-2023 and Was just in "Chosen Family" this year. Her directorial debut for "wish you were here" is forthcoming.....along with 60 other acting roles over the past 25 years. She didn't fade away, she's just not a fame whore chasing the spotlight.

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Fame definitely isn’t for everyone. Being famous has its fair share of pros and cons. On the one hand, with lots of attention comes lots of opportunities—from career and financial ones to networking and philanthropy. If you learn how to use all of that attention to your advantage, you can lay the groundwork for a career spanning decades, build generational wealth, and use it to support the causes near and dear to you.

On the flip side, with lots of attention comes tons of scrutiny, judgment, and envy. There is no person in the history of humankind who was beloved by everyone. No matter how amazing, talented, empathetic, and charismatic you are, someone will find something to criticize.


#10

Craig Ferguson, the true king of late night.

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Furthermore, some people who long for fame can’t stand seeing others who are successful. So, they look for ways to bring them down a notch or two. Nasty comments on social media, mean looks, snide comments in public… They can really hurt if you’re not used to them and take them personally.

If you have hopes of maintaining stardom for as long as you can, you have to learn to let some things go. It also helps to learn to distinguish between positive (aka useful) criticism and plain old negativity. Often, overly critical comments are more a reflection of the commenter’s (lack of) self-esteem than any issues with you as a professional actor, singer, or artist.

But, to be fair, it’s always okay to decide to switch careers and go off to do something else that’s less stressful. Not everyone needs or wants to be a star after having had a taste of fame.

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#13

"Which Celebrity Faded Away Without Many Realizing It?" (50 Answers) Rene Russo.

She always gave off Bacall vibes to me, and I feel like at the time she was hitting her stride, she disappeared. There are far more roles now for women in their 40’s, but in the early 2000s we didn’t have streaming services / prestige TV to remind us what wonderful actors weren’t getting roles.

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#15

"Which Celebrity Faded Away Without Many Realizing It?" (50 Answers) Jonathan Taylor Thomas.

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Lyoness
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1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Smart kid. Went to Harvard, graduated, did some directing and voicework and now he seems to be doing selective acting work again.

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Aside from needing to have a metric ton of emotional resilience and a zen mindset, you have to have something to offer to the public. To put it bluntly, no matter your specific niche and skill set, you have to be a good entertainer. If you don’t provide the public with something interesting and in demand, then you won’t have a career as an entertainer for long.

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Obviously, it’s best if you’re authentic. Doing dumb and dramatic stuff can keep the spotlight on you, but it’s hardly sustainable. Being your genuine self, however, is something that will never go out of style. And you don’t necessarily have to be ‘loudly’ charismatic to be likable, either. Real charisma revolves around your presence, whether you’re a chatterbox or take a long while to think before speaking.


#16

"Which Celebrity Faded Away Without Many Realizing It?" (50 Answers) Eric Bana! I had the biggest crush on him back in the day. He seemed to be pretty popular from 2001-2006.

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Rayne OfSalt
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1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dude was a staple on Aussie sketch comedy shows for decades. He still acts in Aussie movies & tv shows.

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#17

"Which Celebrity Faded Away Without Many Realizing It?" (50 Answers) Chris Tucker.

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Dre Mosley
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1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He pops up here and there. He just doesn't seem to be all that interested in acting anymore. He was in Ben Affleck's "Air" movie that came out not that long ago.

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#18

Meg Ryan was everywhere in the 90’s and it seems like she took a pretty significant break, though I know she’s been in a few movies through the years. For such a cultural icon of style, you’d think she would be more “present” since her 90’s looks have made such a serious comeback. .

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So, Pandas, what stars have you suddenly realized are no longer in the spotlight?

On the other hand, which beloved celebrities do you think have such staying power that they’ll be famous until they retire?

We’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment below.


#19

Jackie Chan sorta just disappeared back to China.

According to Chris Tucker he is like a god there though lol.

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#20

"Which Celebrity Faded Away Without Many Realizing It?" (50 Answers) Rick Moranis - he's a stand up bloke.

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Binky Melnik
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1 day ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

His wife died, and he quit working to raise his children, so this is actually a HAPPY disappearance! (Yikes; for anyone who thinks I’m happy his wife’s dead … NOOOO! I’m happy he realized raising the kids was more important than acting!)

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#22

"Which Celebrity Faded Away Without Many Realizing It?" (50 Answers) This is very era specific, but I feel like I saw tabloid stories about Lara Flynn Boyle, specifically about her weight, every single day for 3 years and then I never heard about her again.

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#23

Minnie Driver.

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Lyoness
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1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She was in an incredible series called Speechless up until 2019 (https://m.imdb.com/title/tt5592146/) and has been working steadily since. Her Wikipedia page is stuffed.

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#24

"Which Celebrity Faded Away Without Many Realizing It?" (50 Answers) Jessica Alba did for a pretty longtime.

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Binky Melnik
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1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She’s running a billion-dollar company now. I imagine she feels that’s more important than acting.

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#26

"Which Celebrity Faded Away Without Many Realizing It?" (50 Answers) Hilary Duff comes to mind.

She never really had any scandals or drama during her career. Started off as a child star, became quite famous for a while and then fell into obscurity. Depending on the shows and music you watched growing up she went from being (what felt like) everywhere to pretty much nowhere.

From what I understand it was intentional though. She had a good career and made lots of money + wanted to focus on her relationship and raising a family so that’s what she did.

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Binky Melnik
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1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think this one’s incorrect; she was the co-lead in the TV show “Younger” which wrapped up recently (she was on the entire run of about five-six years), and I also saw her play Sharon Tate in a recent movie, too. Oh, wait! Isn’t she also on the new “How I Met Your Mother”? That’s still on, (I think; I barely got through the first two episodes. It’s execrable), and I remember checking it out and she had a major role, if not the lead. These are all recent and at least one is still on-going, and I don’t call that “falling into obscurity.” Perhaps she did briefly? She certainly isn’t what I’d call “obscure” now!

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#29

Richard Dean Anderson.

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#30

Bridget Fonda: Gotta be over 20 years at this point.

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Binky Melnik
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1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She was in an extremely bad car accident and hurt very badly. She’s been recovering ever since, and is unfortunately triple the size she was when she was popular. I’m afraid no one would hire her now even if she were interested in it. 😰 She’s been married to Danny Elfman forever, though, and that delights me! I usta see Oingo Boingo live constantly, so it pleased me to no end that they met and fell in love!

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#33

Demi Moore for about 20 years.

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Alexia
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19 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've also read she's spending time with her former husband Bruce Willis, who was diagnosed with a form of dementia.

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#34

Madeline Stowe.

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Ann Kapoxeet
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1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Revenge! She was awesome in that. She also did this creative series that involved singing and dancing. I love her!

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#35

Don't ask me why, but Ricki Lake was the first one to come to mind.

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Dre Mosley
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1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lost a bunch of weight, returned to daytime TV briefly with a new talk show that tried to be more like Oprah as opposed to her previous show where it was trashy and full of drama; it failed to grab an audience.

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#37

Mena Suvari.


She dropped out of Hollywood after enduring hellish sexual abuse and spoke of how she really wasn't acting in a lot of the roles she was placed in (typically hypersexual/bad young girl roles). Really sad, she's a survivor.


Fiona Apple as well.
ETA - I'm aware she came out with a great album in 2020, but I still rarely hear about her. Not the same as Duffy or Mena Suvari, just was saying.

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Nicole
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1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

was trying to remember the show I liked with Mena Suvari in it (south of hell) and I went to IMDb. She’s been in lots of stuff just not mainstream anymore by the looks of it. A lot of b movie horror stuff.

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#38

Rupert Grint.

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LonelyLittleLeafSheep
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18 hours ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Apparently he invested in real estate and did very well so he's not desperate for money and can pick and choose projects.

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#39

"Which Celebrity Faded Away Without Many Realizing It?" (50 Answers) Fair few people retired and just chilled on their fat sacks of cash. Sean Connery said when he chose League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and passed on Gandalf he realised he didn't understand the game anymore and just retired too live a life.

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#41

Meg White of the White Stripes. Shows up sells millions of albums wins a few Grammys then dips. The most recent picture of her was from like 10 years ago. You could pass her in a grocery store and probably not know.

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Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het
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1 day ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I believe she has trouble with the fame, wanted the quiet life. Good on Meg if she is happy.

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#42

Tia Carrera just dropped off the face of the earth, didn't she?

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Rayne OfSalt
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1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, she didn't? She's done plenty of voice and acting work, as well as releasing multiple music albums for which she's won grammy awards.

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#43

MySpace creator, Tom.

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Dre Mosley
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1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sold it, made a boatload of money, and just indulges in his hobbies now. Read that somewhere.

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#45

Shia LaBeouf. Dude was everywhere until suddenly he wasn’t anymore.

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notlikeyou1971
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1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Remember that he was a Disney child star everyone? Yeah I am sure majority of readers on here are too young to know that. A lot of Disney kids,unless they were really strong burned out or faded away. A lot of child stars have problems in general. Shia was showing signs in his behavior. That and the fact that he abused his ex gf. People don't take kindly to men who abuse partners or erratic behavior.

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#46

Some of the brat pack. Well most of them. Although Jamie Gertz popped up as the owner of the Atlanta Hawks in the draft.

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LuisSD stuff
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1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All of them were of their time. I think Demi Moore is still doing projects. And Molly Ringwald, is she part of the brat pack?

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#47

2000s singer Mya. She was e v e r y w h e r e and then nowhere. I wouldn't be surprised if she was being roped into Diddy business and decided she'd rather walk away than be subjected to those evils but I'm only making a guess.

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#48

Gerard Butler

He was everywhere from like 2006 to 2016, then just nothing.

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#49

Larisa Oleynik. Has the biggest crush in her in the 90s. Haven't seen her in probably close to 20 years.

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Nicole
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1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Omg yes ! Alex Mack, 3rd rock from the sun, 10 things I hate about you etc.

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#50

Wade Boggs. May he rest in peace.

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