History’s Most Infamous Recluses

40 Famous Personalities Who Avoided The Spotlight

Some celebrities become reclusive as a way to shy away from fame and live a more private life. Ironically, other people with absolutely no claim to fame become famous precisely because they live a reclusive life. Whatever the reason they decided to withdraw from the world, here are 40 of the most infamous recluses of all time.

Devorah Baron

Devorah Baron was a noted Hebrew author who disregarded established gender roles to excel at her craft. Born in 1887, she published her first work when she was only 14 years old. However, her finest work was produced later in life when she was a strict recluse. Baron remained secluded in her home for the last 34 years of her life, not even attending her husband's funeral.

 יעל י, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Syd Barrett

One of the founding members of the British rock group Pink Floyd, Syd Barrett was the primary songwriter for the band from 1965 to 1968. Ousted from the band in 1968 due to his erratic behavior, he became increasingly reclusive. By the early 1980s, he rarely left home except to visit his sister.

 Gems, Getty Images

Marlon Brando

Widely acclaimed for his work in films such as A Streetcar Named Desire and The Godfather, Marlon Brando was one of the greatest actors of the 20th century. However, his personal life was troubled. He became reclusive after a scandal erupted around his son Christian in 1990.

 Grayscale Portrait Photo of American actor Marlon Brando facing the camera

Maria Callas

Called “the undisputed queen of the world’s opera” by Time magazine in 1956, Maria Callas had a troubled personal life that was riddled with scandals. Following an on-again-off-again affair with Aristotle Onassis, Callas became a recluse in Paris in her later life.

 CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons

Huguette Clark

Huguette Clark was an American heiress and philanthropist. She had one of her estates torn down and rebuilt during the Great Depression to provide needed jobs. Shy and skittish throughout her life, she became increasingly reclusive over time. She spent her last 20 years in a ritzy hospital in New York City.

 Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

Greta Garbo

One of the greatest actresses of all time, Greta Garbo starred in 28 films between 1924 and 1941. She never married, had no children, and became increasingly reclusive through her later years. One of her closest friendships was with Claire Koger, who worked as her cook and housekeeper for 31 years.

 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Wikimedia Commons

John Deacon

Known for his songwriting prowess as well as his bass guitar work with the rock band Queen, John Deacon became increasingly reclusive through the 1990s. In 1997, he retired from the music industry. He has since lived a quiet life with his family in southwest London.

 Christopher Hopper, Wikimedia Commons

Eliza Emily Donnithorne

Eliza Emily Donnithorne was an Australian recluse who likely served as the inspiration for Miss Havisham, a character in Charles Dickens' Great Expectations (1861). Like Miss Havisham, Donnithorne had her dreams of marriage evaporate when her groom didn't show up on their wedding day. Both the real-life woman and the literary character spent the rest of their lives as recluses. 

 librarianidol, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Enya

Born Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin, Enya is Ireland's best-selling solo artist and is second only to U2 as Ireland's best-selling musical act. She has never married or had children and is known for her quiet, reclusive lifestyle.

 Orlando Sentinel, Wikimedia Commons

Rod Evans

Rod Evans was one of the founding members of the British rock band Deep Purple. After leaving that band, he fronted Captain Beyond before retiring temporarily from the music industry. He returned briefly to the stage in 1980 but otherwise has lived quietly in California as a respiratory therapist since the 1970s.

 Capricorn Records, Wikimedia Commons

Bobby Fischer

Renowned chess prodigy Bobby Fischer became famous as a teen in the 1950s but by the early 1970s, he disappeared from the public eye. In his later life, he became an international fugitive after participating in an unsanctioned game in Yugoslavia, which was under a United Nations embargo.

 Bert Verhoeff, Wikimedia Commons

Glenn Gould

Glenn Gould, one of the most famous classical pianists of the 20th century, was known for his eccentricities. In his personal life, he disliked being touched and he became increasingly reclusive over time. In his later years, he kept in touch with people mainly through phone calls and letters.

 Don Hunstein, Wikimedia Commons

Alexander Grothendieck

Alexander Grothendieck is considered by many to be the most important mathematician of the 20th century. The recipient of the Fields Medal in 1966, he became increasingly estranged from the mathematics community throughout the 1970s and 1980s. In 1991, he moved to a small French village where he lived for the last two decades of his life.

 Konrad Jacobs, Wikimedia Commons

Mark Hollis

English musician Mark Hollis was one of the co-founders as well as lead singer and principal songwriter for the 1980s band Talk Talk. After the band broke up in 1991, he resurfaced in the public eye briefly following the release of his solo album in 1998. Afterwards, he lived out the rest of his life quietly with his family.

 Martyn Goodacre, Getty Images

Howard Hughes

Howard Hughes became one of the richest and most influential people in the world during his lifetime. In his heyday, he was known for romancing Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Ava Gardner, Olivia de Havilland, Hedy Lamarr, and Ginger Rogers, among others. But, due to mental and physical health issues, he grew increasingly eccentric and reclusive as he aged.

 Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

Ted Kaczynski

Ted Kaczynski gained notoriety as the Unabomber, mailing or hand-delivering 16 bombs to various locations between 1978 and 1995. In 1971, he moved to a small remote cabin in Montana, where he lived alone without running water or electricity.

 George Bergman, Wikimedia Commons

Harper Lee

Author of the beloved American novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee always shied away from the public eye. Following the publication of the novel in 1960, Lee rarely gave interviews or made public appearances and she published very little, other than a few short essays.

 Truman Capote, Wikimedia Commons

Lee Mavers

Lee Mavers rose to fame when he joined the English rock band The La's in 1984 as the band's songwriter, singer, and rhythm guitarist. However, disappointed with the group's eponymous 1990s album, Mavers retreated from public life. He returned to the stage in 2005 and has since performed only sporadically, sometimes under a pseudonym.

 Masao Nakagami, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Pordenone Montanari

Pordenone Montanari is a renowned Italian painter, sculptor, author, and poet. He roved through Europe in the 1960s and early 1970s. In 1990, he moved to a villa in Valle San Nicolao, Italy, where he lived and worked in complete isolation (other than his wife) for 18 years.

 Gorodenkoff, Adobe Stock

Richard O'Sullivan

Acting since the age of eight, Richard O'Sullivan appeared in numerous British films and television series from the 1950s through to the mid-1990s. Since retiring from acting, he has lived a quiet life, dwelling in a retirement home for entertainers since 2003. 

 Mario Soldati, Wikimedia Commons

William Onyeabor

William Onyeabor was a Nigerian funk musician who self-released eight albums in his home country between 1977 and 1985. Always enigmatic and reclusive, he withdrew completely from the public eye following the release of his last album, refusing to speak about himself or his music. 

 William Onyeabor: When the going smooth & good, Perros

Marcel Proust

Born in Paris in 1871, Marcel Proust became one of the most influential authors of the 20th century. Plagued by allergies and asthma, he became a virtual recluse for the last 17 years of his life, rarely leaving his apartment and working in a sunless writing studio.

 Otto Wegener, Wikimedia Commons

Thomas Pynchon

An author of both fiction and non-fiction works, Thomas Pynchon is considered one of America's greatest novelists. However, he has been reclusive throughout his adult life. Very few photos of him have surfaced and he usually remains secretive about his location. 

 Mr. DiLillo, Wikimedia Commons

Tommy Quickly

Signed by The Beatles' manager Brian Epstein in the 1960s, Tommy Quickly had a brief music career as a singer. Despite being offered material written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, fame eluded Quickly. He left the music business in 1965 and the public eye in 1966, after he suffered from a breakdown. He has flown under the radar since then.

 Tommy Quickly - The Wild Side of Life - Shindig! 1964, Marty Bellvue

JD Salinger

Jerome David Salinger—better known by his initials—was catapulted to fame after his 1951 novel, The Catcher in the Rye, was published. The book was controversial and, more troubling, later became associated with the man who slayed John Lennon. To avoid scrutiny, Salinger became reclusive—and remained so for his entire life.  

 Lotte Jacobi, Wikimedia Commons

Phil Spector

One of the most successful music producers of the 1960s and 1970s, Phil Spector worked with some of the era's hottest acts including The Beatles, The Righteous Brothers, The Ramones, Cher, and Ike and Tina Turner. Somewhat reclusive throughout his life, he withdrew further following a serious car accident in 1974.

 Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

Layne Staley

Layne Staley was best known as the original lead singer of Alice in Chains. He struggled with addiction for most of his adult life, becoming increasingly reclusive because of it. For the last few years of his life, he rarely left his apartment.

 Rex Aran Emrick, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Sly Stone

As the frontman for the American band Sly and the Family Stone, Sylvester Stewart—better known by his stage name Sly Stone—had a pivotal role in shaping the funk genre. However, plagued with addiction issues, he had a difficult time managing the demands of the music industry. More enigmatic than reclusive, he has always been difficult to pin down for commitments—whether concerts or interviews.

 Simon Fernandez, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Patrick Süskind

German writer Patrick Süskind is best known for his novel Perfume: The Story of a Murderer. The book was on the Spiegel bestseller list for nine years and has sold more than 20 million copies. Despite his incredible success, Süskind lives a private, reclusive life. He rarely gives interviews and there have been few photos of him shared publicly.

 Ron Lach, Pexels

John Swartzwelder Junior

John Swartzwelder Junior began his career as a writer at Saturday Night Live before joining the writing team for The Simpsons. From 1989 to 2003, Swartzwelder wrote 59 full episodes of the animated television series and contributed to several others. He lives a reclusive lifestyle and shies away from the public eye. He has only given one interview about his work on The Simpsons, in 2021.

 Bill Oakley, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Akira Toriyama

Widely regarded as one of the most important manga artists of all time, Akira Toriyama was also an influential character designer for video games. Despite his fame, he was reclusive, rarely appearing in public or giving interviews. Few photos of him have been published.

 STR, Getty Images

Meg White

Meg White, who played drums and provided backing vocals for the American rock group The White Stripes, suffers from acute anxiety and shyness. She guards her privacy closely and has not made any public appearances or granted any interviews since 2009. 

 Masao Nakagami, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Brian Wilson

Best known for his work with The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson has had an illustrious career in the music business as a singer, songwriter, and record producer. His issues with mental illness have kept him out of the public eye for extended periods.

 IthakaDarinPappas, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ida Wood

Born in 1838, Ida Wood married into wealth. Her husband—Benjamin Wood—was a politician and businessman who was a co-owner of the New York Daily News. After she was widowed in the early 1900s, Wood moved into a two-room suite in a New York hotel with her two sisters. The three remained secluded in the suite for over 20 years; even maids were not allowed inside to clean it.

 Mathew Benjamin Brady, Wikimedia Commons

Jocky Wilson

Jocky Wilson was a professional darts player who dominated the game in the 1980s, winning several major darts tournaments. However, persistent health problems forced him to retire from the game in 1995 and he was rarely seen in public afterward.

 Jocky Wilson Said, Eef Schellevis

Bill Watterson

Bill Watterson was the author of the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip, which was syndicated from 1985 to 1995. After retiring the strip, Watterson has lived a secluded life away from the public eye, turning down interviews and avoiding public appearances.

 Kenyon College, Wikimedia Commons

Henry Darger

Born in 1893, Henry Darger lived a solitary life in Chicago. For 43 years, from the age of 30 until the end of his life, he lived in a single room, where he prolifically wrote and created art. A 15,000-page manuscript along with hundreds of drawings and watercolor illustrations were recovered posthumously from his room. 

 cottonbro studio, Pexels

Dave Chappelle

Famed comedian Dave Chappelle walked away from his hit show on Comedy Central in 2005, briefly retreating to South Africa. Although his overseas stay was short, he never returned to work at Comedy Central and has only worked sporadically since. 

 Davej1006, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

B Traven

B Traven is the pen name of someone so reclusive that no one knows their real identity. Famous for writing The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1927), B Traven is the author of several other novels and a collection of short stories as well.

 Amrei-Marie, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Emily Dickinson

Considered one of America's most important poets, Emily Dickinson lived most of her life in isolation. She used handwritten correspondence to maintain many of her friendships—and perhaps even a few romantic relationships.  

Although Dickinson never married, three letters she wrote between 1858 and 1862 are addressed to a person with whom she was clearly enamored. The mystery person, only called “Master” in the letters, has never been identified. Some scholars have suggested that “Master” referred to a lover, while others speculate that they weren't anyone in particular, just a fictional muse or God. Unless Dickinson’s ghost cares to fill us in, we'll never know the truth.

You May Also Like: 

The Dark and Mysterious Life of Emily Dickinson

Reclusive Facts About JD Salinger

The Chilling Fall Of Pink Floyd’s Syd Barrett

 Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

Sources: 1