Penn Badgley to announce shock retirement from acting?

  • By Smith Alexander
  • Washington
  • Last updated on

Badgley created a stir on Monday when rumors have surfaced that his career was over.
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Sad news for Badgley fans. Speculation had been rife that the American actor best known for his roles in Gossip Girl, Easy A or John Tucker Must Die, will announce his retirement from acting, at age 39, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 13/01/2026 : 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.

#ThankYouPenn

For a little while on Monday evening, #ThankYouPenn 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 #ThankYouPenn.”
— @DesireePlum, 12 Jan 2026
“I thought Penn Badgley retired about 5 years ago?!?”
— @millythom, 12 Jan 2026

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