Joel Courtney to announce shock retirement from acting?

Sad news for Courtney fans. Speculation had been rife that the American actor best known for his role in The Kissing Booth, will announce his retirement from acting, at age 30, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 09/04/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being an actor isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being an actor just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouJoel

For a little while on Wednesday evening, #ThankYouJoel was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“You’ve accomplished everything I ever dreamed of #ThankYouJoel.”
— @DesireePlum, 8 Apr 2026

“Courtney wasn't retired?”
— @borisB0, 8 Apr 2026

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