Actor Matthew Fox explains decision to quit Hollywood lifestyle after ‘Lost’ success

Actor Matthew Fox has opened up about his decision to step away from Hollywood and relocate to Italy, saying the move was driven by a desire to focus on family life away from the pressures of fame.

The Lost star, 59, who played Dr. Jack Shepard in the hit series from 2004 to 2010, shared in a recent interview with People magazine that leaving Los Angeles allowed him to step back from the intensity of the entertainment industry and be more present for his children.

“I spent a lot of time, for a few years there in Los Angeles, heavily in the spotlight, specifically with Lost, and then did a couple of years of doing films after that,” Fox said. “For me, the step away was more about spending time with my family.”

Fox shares two children, daughter Kyle and son Byron, with his wife, Margherita Ronchi. He explained that the decision to move came at a pivotal time, as their daughter was entering her teenage years.

“Our daughter was entering her teen years, and I had been on sets and also traveling around doing a lot of promotion for Lost,” he said.

“Margherita and I really felt like it was a great time for us to really, really focus on our kids that are going through the teen years, which is always a bit of a challenge.”

The actor said the shift away from Hollywood was not a retreat from his career, but rather a way to gain perspective and balance.

“When you’re in this business, I think it’s really good to carve out a place where you feel like you’re living life,” Fox added. “I think that feeds the work you do when you reenter and take a gig.”

Fox became a household name for his role in Lost, which ran from 2004 to 2010 and remains one of television’s most influential drama series.