Hollywood’s Most Memorable Child Stars & What They’re Up To Today
It certainly feels like just yesterday when we witnessed these actors and actresses make their acting debut at a young age. Believe it or not, those familiar faces are all grown up now, and some of them managed to become some of the industry’s biggest stars! Without a doubt, these child celebs have certainly come a long way since their days as popular child stars.
However, there are also numerous child stars who decided to walk away from the spotlight to pursue other careers and chase educational degrees. Of course, no matter where they ended up, quite a couple of them are barely recognizable now. You could say they’d be even more unrecognizable when you only know them for their adorable young faces. For a pleasant and nostalgic throwback, here are some of your favorite child stars and the things they’re doing now.
Alexandrea Owens-Sarno
Born in 1988, Alexandrea Owens-Sarno is an American actress who started acting at the tender age of 12. If you watched the 1997 classic Titanic, you probably remember Alexandrea for her credit role as “Cora Cartmell,” a young steerage passenger. She’s also seen in the scene where she dances with Jack Dawson at an Irish party.
After her early success in Titanic, Owens-Sarno began auditioning for more acting roles in Hollywood. After college, she then moved to Los Angeles, where she enrolled in acting classes. Today, Owens-Sarno presently works in sketch comedy and improv. We certainly didn’t know that she had a humorous side to her, and we hope that she manages to find further success in her comedic career.
Alyson Stoner
Alyson Stoner is a well-known American actress who’s appeared in several films. During the early stages of her career, she was seen in Cheaper By The Dozen, Camp Rock, and the Step Up franchise. She also has a good number of television credits to her name, including in the hit Disney Channel sitcom The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.
Stoner has made it clear that she’s had difficulties growing up as an actress in Hollywood. Since then, she’s managed to shift her focus towards making music, and she’s been able to release a steady stream of music singles. Some of her singles include Who Do You, Love, Fool, and the recently released Stripped Bare. We hope that Stoner finds success and fulfillment in her recent pursuits.
Amanda Bynes
If you’re a ’90s’ child, then there’s a good chance that Amanda Bynes was a consistent staple on your television growing up. This actress rose to fame as a child star on the hit Nickelodeon show All That. After her success in that series, she quickly got her own show called The Amanda Show, where she hosted and even starred in a series of sketches.
Despite her early success as a child star, Bynes’ career as a celeb wasn’t all smooth sailing as she grew up. In 2012, she suffered a breakdown that resulted in several run-ins against the law. Despite all the turmoil, Bynes seems to live a pretty comfortable life with a net worth of $3 million. It’s safe to say that this former Nickelodeon star won’t need any payday loans anytime soon.
Angela Cartwright
Angela Cartwright is a successful British-American actress who rose to fame for her roles in television and film. She’s probably best known as a child actress, and she played the role of Brigitta von Trapp in the classic 1965 film The Sound of Music. On television, Cartwright portrayed the character of Linda Williams in the iconic ‘50s television show The Danny Thomas Show.
Cartwright now works as a professional photographer despite achieving massive success as an actress. She’s stepped away from acting since the ‘80s and is currently based in Studio City, California. She must be incredibly passionate about photography, and you can make the case that she used her acting career as her investment into cultivating another successful career in a different field in the industry.
Anna Chlumsky
Anna Chlumsky is a famous American actress who began her entertainment career as a child star. She’s probably best known for her on-screen role as Vada Sultenfuss in the 1991 film My Girl, and she managed to appear in its 1994 sequel as well. Despite the early success she generated in the acting business, Chlumsky chose to finish her college degree.
Between 1999 and 2005, her career entered a hiatus while she attended college. Once she graduated, Chlumsky immediately returned to acting by appearing in a good number of independent films. She also made television appearances, and she played the role of Amy Brookheimer on the hit HBO television series Veep. Subsequently, she earned six nominations for a Primetime Emmy for her performance in the show.
Blake & Dylan Tuomy-Wilhoit
If you’re a big Full House fan, then you certainly remember the twins who played as Uncle Jesse and Aunt Becky’s kids on the show. Interestingly, the twins were Blake and Dylan Tuomy-Wilhoit, and neither one chose to continue accumulating acting credits after their early-found success.
Blake, who played Nicky became a firefighter, and he chose to live a quiet life away from Hollywood. On the other hand, Dylan worked as a foley artist, and he was able to work on several movies, including Furious 7, Bluffing, Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse, and many more. However, the twins made a comeback in acting, as they returned as Nicky and Alex in the Netflix revival, Fuller House. Surely, the franchise’s fans celebrated.
Bonnie Langford
It’s safe to assume that film enthusiasts know who Bonnie Langford is. She first rose to fame as a child star back in the ‘70s, when she appeared in the hit television series Just William. By the ‘80s, Langford played the role of Mel Bush in Doctor Who. Besides television, she also appeared in several musicals on Broadway and in the West End.
Today, Langford is 57 years of age, and she continues to appear in movies, theatre, and television. Some of her recent work includes her performance as Carmel Kazemi in the celebrated BBC soap opera EastEnders. She also received multiple credits and praise for her performance, including the 2016 British Soap Award for Best Newcomer. It looks like fans have a lot to wait for Langford herself.
Brandon Cruz
Born in May 1962, Brandon Cruz is a well-known American actor and singer. As an actor, he’s probably best known for his on-screen role as Eddie Corbett in the hit television series The Courtship of Eddie’s Father. Besides his stellar television career, Cruz also holds acting credits in several movies such as The Bad News Bears, Jesus Rides Shotgun, Lords of Salem, and many more.
Besides acting, he’s also a musician, and a member of a good number of rock bands such as Dr. Know and Flipper. Today, Cruz is already 59 years of age, and he’s about to enter his retirement years. Despite his advanced age, we’re pretty confident that he’ll be able to sustain any lifestyle he wants to live during his retirement.
Brittany Ashton Holmes
Brittany Ashton Holmes is an American actress who started her acting career at a very young age. You might remember her when she portrayed the adorable Darla in The Little Rascals back in the ‘90s. Besides this film, Holmes also managed to turn in a good number of performances, including in a 1995 episode of Ellen.
You could say that this rising star was well on her way to becoming one of the most recognizable actresses in Hollywood. So, it was a surprise when she decided to retire and walk away from the industry back in 1996. Since then, Holmes avoided the spotlight, and she’s reportedly living in Los Angeles with her husband. Holmes is also reportedly pursuing a degree in political science.
Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable actresses in Hollywood for the past few decades. She started out as a child model, and she landed her first acting credit at the tender age of 12. As a child star, she appeared in several television shows and Louis Malle’s 1978 film Pretty Baby.
As she entered her teenage years, Shields continued cultivating her modeling career. She also managed to land roles in several dramas during the ‘80s, such as The Blue Lagoon and Endless Love. Today, Shields is already 56 years of age, and she continues to appear in television and film. She also remains a part of the modeling world, balancing her modeling and acting careers with her various philanthropic advocacies.
Butch Patrick
Butch Patrick is another American actor who began his professional acting career when he was only seven. He’s probably best known for his on-screen role as child werewolf Eddie Munster on the iconic CBS comedy television series The Munsters. He also holds acting credit in the 1966 classic Munster, Go Home!
Today, Patrick is already 68 years of age, and he continues to receive acting roles in various films and television shows. Besides acting, he also consistently works in the indie movie circuit to give back to the industry that served him well. Patrick has also gone through and conquered several health conditions throughout the years. Moreover, he’s beaten his bad vices and substance-abuse habits, and he’s been sober for over ten years.
Christian Bale
Christian Bale is an incredibly successful English actor who’s known for his versatility in acting. He certainly came a long way from his acting debut in Steven Spielberg’s 1987 classic Empire of the Sun when he was only 13 years of age. As an actor, he’s been able to receive numerous accolades, including two Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award.
Today, Bale is already 48 years of age, and he continues to appear in various films. He’s also still known as Hollywood’s most versatile actor, as he’s more than willing to change his physique for any movie role. You could say that this decorated actor is incredibly committed to his craft. Bale will continue to receive various film credits in the next few years, by the looks of it.
Christina Ricci
Any film enthusiast could easily argue that Christina Ricci is one of the most talented actresses in Hollywood today. She started her acting career at the age of nine when she starred in the 1990 film Mermaids. She then quickly followed up her acting debut with a breakout performance in The Addams Family and its sequel as Wednesday Addams.
Today, this iconic goth actress is 42 years of age, and she’s still one of the top actresses in the industry. She continues to accumulate credits from a number of television and movie projects, and she’s been able to win several awards throughout the years. Some of Ricci’s accomplishments include a Sattelite Award for Best Actress and nominations for a Primetime Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award.
Dakota Fanning
There’s certainly no question that Dakota Fanning is one of the most sought-after actresses in Hollywood today. Born in 1994, this American star started acting at seven when she starred as Lucy Dawson in the 2001 drama film I Am Sam. She also managed to win a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for her performance in the said movie.
You could easily tell that this promising actress had all the potential she needed to become a high-caliber talent. She quickly followed up her impressive performance in I Am Sam with phenomenal acting outings in Man on Fire, The Cat in the Hat, Charlotte’s Web, and many more. Today, she continues to accumulate film credits, and she’s also adding more acting accolades to her name.
Daniel Radcliffe
You could say that Daniel Radcliffe will forever be known for his role as Harry Potter in the Harry Potter film franchise. Interestingly, he already held credits as an actor after making his acting debut in the 1999 film David Copperfield. Besides his debut movie, Radcliffe also appeared in The Tailor of Panama before his 2001 breakthrough in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Today, Radcliffe is 32 years of age, and he continues to act in various films and even television shows. He also occasionally appears in different theatrical productions. Besides acting, this well-known actor also likes to keep himself busy through his various philanthropic ventures. We’re certainly impressed how he’s able to juggle his schedule around acting and being a philanthropist.
Dante Basco
Dante Basco is an incredibly talented American film, television, and voice actor. During the early stages of his career, he was able to land the role of Rufio, the leader of the Lost Boys, in the Steven Spielberg classic Hook. Besides Hook, Basco also became famous for his role as Prince Zuko in Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Basco also holds credit in Disney Channel’s American Dragon: Jake Long as Jake Long himself. Today, he is already 46 years of age and continues cultivating a relatively successful career as an actor. He still appears in various films and television shows, and it’d be reasonable to expect that he will be making an appearance in some of your favorite programs in the next few years.
Drake Bell
Drake Bell started his career as a child star when he was just seven years old. He appeared in the hit television series Home Improvement back in 1994. Aside from that, he also continued to shine in shows like The Drew Carey Show and Seinfeld. Of course, these were not the only projects the young star worked on.
Bell further sealed his career when given a starring role under Nickelodeon’s Drake and Josh. The young star didn’t settle with becoming an actor as he also put his time and investments on his music career which helped him earn a decent sum. Unfortunately, Bell is currently on probation for two years because of child endangerment, but fans are confident that he’ll make it through.
Dylan & Cole Sprouse
Dylan and Cole Sprouse are one of Hollywood’s most famous twins. The two became child stars at an early age, specifically in the series Grace Under Fire. The show ran from 1993 to 1998. However, they gained a huge fan base when they were cast in The Suite Life of Zack and Cody back in 2005. After starring in the show’s spinoffs, the twins took a lengthy break to get a degree.
Afterward, they are back on the entertainment scene. Cole was cast in Riverdale while his brother appeared in films like Banana Split and Dismissed. It’s not clear when the twins will be working together like before. However, it’s good to see them all grown up and taking more roles to further their career.
Edward Furlong
Edward Furlong is best known for his role as John Connor in the hit film franchise, The Terminator. He worked alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton. Aside from that, he also appeared in Pet Sematary II, American Heart, and American History X. He had a good run from the ‘90s all the way to 2000s when his career hit a huge roadblock.
Apparently, Furlong got hooked on substance abuse and other bad vices. He was also had a run in with the law several times. Fortunately, the actor took steps to get the help he needed. Today, he is back to acting and appearing in conventions. It seems that his investments in his life has helped him get back on his feet.
Elden Henson
If you have watched the film Mighty Ducks, you have probably remembered Elden Henson playing the role of Fulton Reed. He was the ringer to doing slapshot on the team. After this role, Henson furthered his career by appearing in films like She‘s All That, Cheats, Under the Tuscan Sun, The Hunger Games Part 1 and 2.
His most recent work was in Daredevil where he gave life to Foggy Nelson for three seasons. He reprised his role in the series Defenders. Henson split from his wife Kira Sternbach just after two years of marriage. He does co-parent his son, Dodger. The actor doesn’t have to worry about applying for personal loans since he has enough money to tide him over.
Elijah Wood
Elijah Wood has been an actor ever since he was young. He started his career in the entertainment industry when he was just 12 years old. However, thanks to his mother, he wasn’t allowed to appear in horror movies or films that would taint his career. Today, Wood has grown up to be one of the best names in Hollywood.
In fact, one of his best works was in The Lord of the Rings franchise, which took more than a decade to make. Aside from that, Wood uses his investment money to create his own films, too. For example, he was the brains behind Mandy and The Greasy Strangler. We do hope that his mother approves of his preferences nowadays.
Erin Murphy
It has been almost five decades sinceErin Murphy gave life to Tabitha Stephens in the popular sitcom, Bewitched. The actress, who is currently 57 years old, shared that she and her fraternal twin sister, Diane Murphy, got the role of Tabitha. However, Diane left the entertainment industry after a while leaving Erin to finish the show herself.
Today, Erin is busy with raising her family, but she hasn’t turned her back on acting. In fact, she received credit for her work in the television movie Life Interrupted. Aside from that, Erin was spotted at the Family Film Awards. She didn’t look like she aged at all! The actress welcomes anyone who recognizes to her to come up and say hello to her.
Gary Coleman
After portraying the sassy Arnold Jackson in Diff‘rent Strokes, Gary Coleman became the darling of Hollywood. He was best known for his famous catchphrase, “Whatchu talkin’ ‘bout?” The show ran from 1978 to 1986 and helped seal his fame as a child actor. However, Coleman struggled to transition into becoming a bona fide actor after the show ended. He did make cameos in shows like The Jamie Foxx Show, The Simpsons, and Robot Chicken.
He even got embroiled in a big controversy after taking his parents to court for misappropriating his assets. He could have stabilized his finances with the help of a financial adviser. Coleman was married to Shannon Price for a year. Sadly, the couple split and two years later, the actor passed away.
Haley Joel Osment
Haley Joel Osment rose to fame with his work in the film The Sixth Sense. His cherubic face and depth in acting endeared him to his audience. But did you know that he also played the role of the young Forrest in Forrest Gump? Osment was an actor material and he had certainly used it to his advantage.
Aside from The Sixth Sense, he also worked in The Kominsky Method, Teachers, Silicon Valley, and The Boys. He also received credit for his supporting role in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. The actor is currently back in Los Angeles where he is working on Goliath. He still has the same cherubic face hidden behind a beard, but he is every inch the actor and creator he grew up to be.
Hayden Panettiere
Hayden Panettiere started her career doing commercials. By the time she was five, she got her first major acting gig in One Life to Live. She later became a Disney child star in Remember the Titans, Ice Princess, and Tiger Cruise. After her stint under Disney, Panettiere further honed her craft by taking on the role of Claire Bennet in the hit television show, Heroes. The show ran from 2006 to 2010.
Panettiere’s versatility as an actress has earned her several nominations for her work. Aside from that, she also found luck in the romance department and is now a mother. However, she suffered from post-partum depression which affected her work in Nashville. We give credit to the star for putting her health first by getting the help she needed.
Hayley Mills
Hayley Mills rose to stardom in shows like Pollyanna and Parent Trap. She was taken under the wings by Walt Disney himself. Little did she know that he had a hand in how her acting career was shaped until years later. Mills was given access to correspondence between her, her parents, and Disney. Although the child star experienced challenges when she was young, she didn’t look at her past with regret.
In fact, the actress has penned her autobiography called Forever Young. In this book she talks about her experiences growing up as a child star, her bouts with bulimia, and more. She also wrote about the challenges of transitioning away from being a Mouseketeer. To her credit, her career shifted to doing stage productions where she truly blossomed.
Hilary Duff
Hilary Duff has certainly grown from her days in Disney’s Lizzie McGuire. She used this platform to score more projects like Agent Cody Banks, A Cinderella Story, and Cheaper by the Dozen. However, Duff’s career had its ups and downs at the time, but she still managed to land a role in Younger. Although there are talks of the show having a spinoff that centers on Duff’s character, many are eager to see here in the reboot of Lizzie McGuire instead.
Duff remains busy with her acting projects. To her credit, she is currently working in the sitcom, How I Met Your Father, which is a spinoff of the hit television series How I Met Your Mother. Aside from that, Duff was previously married to hockey player Mike Comrie, but they’re now separated. She now has a relationship with Matthew Koma.
Jay North
Jay North is a household name back in the days as he starred in the beloved sitcom Dennis the Menace. He won the coveted role after competing against 500 boys. The young star nailed the role right from the start, winning numerous accolades. However, his life wasn’t as great as he hoped it would be. His aunt and uncle handled his life back then and were quite abusive to the child. To his co-stars’ credit, they did try to help him out.
North went on to do other roles in Wagon Train, The Lucy Show, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and others. He also did voice acting in The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show. Though the actor was haunted by the demons of his past, he has bravely faced them and managed to live a better life.
Jerry Mathers
Who hasn’t heard of Jerry Mathers? The actor first gained recognition in the hit sitcom Leave It to Beaver that ran from 1957 to 1963. But this wasn’t his first gig. In fact, Mathers started out as a commercial model when he was only two years old. Additionally, he appeared in movies from 1954 to 1955. He was actually the first child star to receive royalties, and even today, he’s still earning from his work back in the days.
Leave It to Beaver has been shown all over the world and was even dubbed in different languages. After he received his degree in 1973, he went on to work in real estate and banking. Mathers continued to act. His latest role, however, is as an advertising spokesman. Additionally, he also appeared in commercials promoting a home exercise unit.
Jodie Foster
Jodie Foster started out as a child star back in the ‘60s. However, her performance in Taxi Driver put her on the map. Although her role was a bit controversial, critics couldn’t help but praise her for her work. She also became a teen idol for her roles in Freaky Friday and Candleshoe. Aside from that, the actress has a degree from Yale University.
Foster has several box office hits to her name like The Silence of the Lambs, Panic Room, and Inside Man. Her recent work was in Hotel Artemis, but there is more to her than just being an actress. In fact, she is also a director. Foster came out as a lesbian in 2013. Though it stunned her fans at first, she later gained numerous support.
Johnny Crawford
Johnny Crawford enjoyed fame as a child star in the western show The Rifleman during the ‘50s. But before he got this role, he was one of the original Mouseketeers under The Mickey Mouse Club. However, he was cut from the group when the management decided to go with 12 children instead. Two years later, he got the part in The Rifleman that helped him shine.
Aside from that, Crawford also spent his time and investments on his music career. In fact, he had four songs that reached the Top 40 hits. The actor-singer managed to make the most out of his two passions. His last act was in Bill Tilghman and the Outlaws or The Marshal. The actor has passed away at the age of 75.
Jon Provost
Lassie alum Jon Provost has certainly left his childhood looks behind. However, he still has the same spirit as his character, Timmy Martin, even now at 71 years of age. He started as a child star at seven when he joined the cast. His performance quickly endeared him to the other cast members and crew and later became an important character in the story.
It wasn’t surprising that the hit show continued to make a mark in the entertainment industry decades later. In fact, Provost is still quite active as an actor and continues to be remembered for his role in this classic film. There’s no doubt that he had a financial adviser to teach him the ropes growing up since he’s now living a comfortable life with his family.
Jonathan Lipnicki
Those who grew up during the ‘90s until the early 2000s will be familiar with Jonathan Lipnicki.
He’s that young star with spiky hair and cute round glasses who starred in Jerry Maguire. After his success in the film, he also made it big in Stuart Little. Aside from that, Lipnicki also appeared in The Little Vampire, Like Mike, and a guest role in Dawson‘s Creek.
After taking some time off acting, Lipnicki became a victim of bullying. To his credit, he didn’t let this stop him from pursuing his dream of acting. Although his films are not shown in theaters most of the time, he still enjoys his career as an actor. Today, Lipnicki isn’t only busy with his showbiz career, but he‘s also a black belter in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Kym Karath
Kym Karath is a former child star and Hollywood actress. You probably recognize her as one of the cute children on the ever-iconic musical film Sound of Music. However, she began her career as early as four years old. Her earliest film appearance was on Spencer‘s Mountain, which starred Veronica Cartwright and Henry Fonda. During the following years, she also made appearances on a couple of films, The Thrill of It All and Good Neighbor Sam.
After garnering much success as a child star, Karath graduated with a degree in Humanities at the University of Southern California. Subsequently, she moved to Paris, where she continued her studies on art while earning as a model. She married at the age of 26 and retired from acting.
Josh Peck
Josh Peck grew up in New York, aspiring to become a stand-up comedian when he was eight. He began his career in the late ‘90s and would appear on the television screens on The Amanda Show from 2000 to 2002. After that, he rose to prominence as Josh Nichols on Nickelodeon’s sitcom Drake and Josh. The series aired from 2004 until 2007 and garnered a great degree of commercial success. In addition, he produced a couple of television films in 2006 and 2008.
Following the success of his television roles, Peck appeared in several films such as Mean Creek, Battle of the Year, and Red Dawn, among others. He’s now a YouTuber and has a lifestyle vlog channel with his wife, Paige O’Brien.
Joshua Jackson
Joshua Jackson started his acting career with a small role in the 1991 movie Crooked Hearts. A year later, he was cast for his most iconic role as Charlie on The Mighty Ducks film franchise. In the same light, fans also credit the actor for his memorable performances as Pacey Witter on the teen drama series Dawson‘s Creek. The show aired from 1998 until 2003, and it also starred the likes of Katie Holmes and Michelle Williams. Along the way, he appeared in several films, including 1999’s Cruel Intentions.
During the late 2000s, Jackson found success starring in JJ Abrams television series Fringe. Today he’s 43 years old, and some of his latest works include television shows such as Dr. Death and Little Fires Everywhere.
Keith Thibodeaux
If you don’t remember who Keith Thibodeaux is, it’s probably because you know him as Richard Keith. He’s a former child actor known for playing the role of Little Ricky on the ‘50s sitcom The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour and I Love Lucy. The show’s producer thought that his Cajun French last name would be too hard to pronounce, resulting in his famous stage name.
Apart from the sitcom, he also appeared on several other television shows and The Andy Griffith Show. As an adult, he joined the rock band David and the Giants. He’s now married to Kathy Denton, and in 1990, he became an Executive Director of his own company, Ballet Magnificat! In 2017, the couple made the investments to expand their company to Curitiba, Brazil.
Kel Mitchell
Kel Mitchell started his career at the age of 15. His fans credit him for being one of the original cast members of Nickelodeon’s All That, from 1994 until 1999. Along the way, he and co-star Kenan Thompson starred on another Nickelodeon series titled Kenan and Kel. He was also part of the 1997 film Good Burger, originating from a skit he played in All That.
Mitchell and Thompson rose to fame as a duo, but he also did several movies and shows outside of their partnership. Some noteworthy projects of his include Mystery Men and Honeydripper. He also served as a writer and producer on the film Dance Fu. His latest television appearances include Dancing with the Stars and Tails of Valor.
Kenan Thompson
One of Kenan Thompson’s earliest television appearances was on CNN as an entertainment reporter for Real News for Kids. However, we all love and credit his earlier career as one of the stars of Nickelodeon. Along with his iconic duo with Kel Mitchell, he starred in the sketch show All That and sitcom Kenan and Kel. He was also part of Good Burger and the Mighty Ducks film franchise.
In 2003, he joined the cast of Saturday Night Live, where we still see him perform to this day. He has been on the sketch show for over 19 seasons, making him the longest-tenured cast member in the show’s history. Thompson also starred in several films, such as Home Sweet Home Alone and Clifford the Big Red Dog.
Kevin Schmidt
Growing up,Kevin Schmidt found no interest in acting. However, things soon changed when his older siblings persuaded him to send audition tapes for minor roles in television shows. His earlier appearances include NCIS and Monk. Along the way, he made it on the big screen, garnering a reasonable degree of success on the film series Cheaper by the Dozen. He also co-starred in The Butterfly Effect and Catch That Kid.
By the age of 17, Kevin underwent a weight transformation. As a result, he shared his newfound love for fitness when he wrote and directed a project with Alyson Stoner, The Alyson Stoner Project. To this day, he appears in different television shows and films such as Randy‘s Canvas and Love.
Kiernan Shipka
Kiernan Shipka is no stranger to entertainment. As early as five years old, she took ballroom dance lessons. Her earliest television appearance was when she was only five months old in the medical drama ER. However, her breakout role was in the critically-acclaimed series Mad Men where she played the role of Sally Draper. Here, the industry credits her with two Screen Actors Guild Awards as part of the show’s ensemble.
Apart from Mad Men, Shipka also starred in the FX series Feud: Bette and Joan. Some of her latest projects include Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and the film The Silence. Her performance on the latter is proof of her dedication as an actress, learning sign language for the role.
Kim Fields
Kim Fields found success early on in her career. The former child star is best known for her role as Dorothy ‘Tootie’ Ramsey on the sitcom The Facts of Life, which aired from 1979 until 1988. However, before this, she made several television appearances, including Baby, I’m Back and Good Times.
To her credit, following the sitcom’s success, she shied away from acting to finish her education. However, she returned in the ’90s, appearing in television shows such as Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Living Single. After which, she ventured on to different careers, as a singer and a director. She directed several sitcoms and episodes on the sketch show All That. Currently, she stars on the Netflix series The Upshaws.
Kim Richards
Kim Richards began her acting career appearing on television commercials. One of her earliest major roles was Prudence Everett on the show Nanny and the Professor. Soon enough, she garnered enough attention to be one of Disney’s child star investments. Her Disney films include No Deposit, No Return, Escape to the Witch Mountain, and Return to the Witch Mountain. During the mid-‘70s, she was also seen in the Disney series Whiz Kid Capers.
Richards made dozens of television show appearances outside of Disney. As a young adult, she starred in the films Tuff Turf and Meatballs Part II. Today, she is viewed as a socialite, and one of her most recognizable roles is in The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
Kirsten Dunst
Kirsten Dunst was a child model amongst the investments of modeling agencies such as Elite Model Management and Ford Models. In 1988, she made a minor appearance on Saturday Night Live as George Bush’s granddaughter. Soon after, she made her film debut in Oedipus Wrecks. It wasn’t long before she made a career breakthrough when she starred alongside Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise in Interview with the Vampire.
Today, at age 39, Kirsten is one of the most accomplished actresses in Hollywood. She has garnered several industry award nominations and starred in dozens of blockbusters. From Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man film franchise to Jumanji and Wimbledon, she has made a diverse set of roles. Her latest is the film The Power of the Dog.
Tony Dow
Tony Dow was another well-known actor back in the day. Initially pursuing a career in swimming and diving, he switched to acting after doing his iconic role in Leave It to Beaver in 1957, despite getting little to no acting experience. He continued to appear throughout the show’s run until 1963. He continued to do acting until 1965 when he served in the National Guard. Amidst doing minor roles, he did some behind-the-camera work credits. However, by 1999, his acting career has pretty much ended.
Today, Dow has been noted for his work as a sculptor. He mostly does a lot of abstract works, with bronze being his base for his designs. Though he’s rarely seen on the small screen today, he’ll be surely remembered for the legacy he has left behind.
Lance Kerwin
It wasn’t much of a surprise that Lance Kerwin became a child actor. His father was an acting coach, and he often had scripts to read for him. His mother was a performer who later became a talent agent in the same light. During the ’70s, he made dozens of appearances on television films and shows. Critics back then gave him credits for being the leading child star of the said era. His most memorable roles include Salem’s Lot, The Loneliest Runner, and James at 15.
Kerwin retired from acting in 1995 after a small role in the film Outbreak. He married Yvonne Kerwin in 1998, and they have four children. The former actor is currently working with Diamond Resorts by selling timeshares, according to reports.
Lauren Chapin
Lauren Chapin is best known for her role as Kathy Anderson in the classic sitcom Father Knows Best. It aired from 1954 until 1960, while she appeared in 196 episodes. Her performances garnered much acclaim in the industry, to which she received honors with five Junior Emmy Awards for Best Child Actress. She’s also the younger sister of the two other child stars, Michael and Billy Chapin.
The iconic sitcom was the peak of Lauren’s career. After her successful run, she was typecast as Kathy Anderson, and roles for her talents soon dwindled. However, some reports mention that the former child star found various other works such as a cocktail waitress, a flight attendant, and even as an insurance claims examiner.
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan began her career as a model at the age of three. Soon enough, she appeared on television shows such as the soap opera Another World. However, her breakthrough role came after Disney made investments in the film The Parent Trap. Her newly found success led to dozens of other television appearances such as Get a Clue and Life-Size. Simultaneously, she prospered as a film actress in Mean Girls, Herbie: Fully Loaded, and Freaky Friday.
During the 2000s, Lohan became a subject of a string of controversies. However, she has successfully bounced back from her issues and has starred in several films since then. She has also made many television show appearances, such as Sick Note and Lindsay Lohan’s Beach Club.
Lisa Loring
Most of us probably remember Lisa Loring as the cute and quirky six-year-old playing as Wednesday Addams on the sitcom The Addams Family. The series aired for a couple of years, from 1964 until 1966. Then, following the relative degree of success of the sitcom, she joined the cast of ABC’s The Pruitts of Southampton in 1966.
Loring is also known for starring in the soap opera As the World Turns and slasher films such as Iced and Blood Frenzy during her adult career. Soon after, she retired from acting. Today, Loring is 64 years old and has two children. She has been married four times, but people would probably remember her being married to adult actor Jerry Butler.
Lisa Whelchel
Disney scouted the 12-year-old Lisa Whelchel as a Mouseketeer on The New Mickey Mouse Club during the late-’70s. After garnering a decent degree of exposure on Disney, she portrayed Blair Warner on the sitcom Facts of Life. The series experienced commercial success and even had a spinoff, Diff’rent Strokes. In 2001, she reprised her role on The Facts of Life Reunion.
Apart from her acting career, Welchel is also an accomplished singer. In 1984, she released her debut album, All Because of You. It garnered enough attention to get her Grammy nomination for Best Inspirational Performance. She has also authored ten books about religion, child discipline, motherhood, and homeschooling. One of her best-selling books is So You’re Thinking About Homeschooling.
Macaulay Culkin
Macaulay Culkin has been a familiar face in the entertainment industry as a child. He’s best known for portraying the intelligent and eccentric lead child roles in Rocket Gibraltar, Uncle Buck, and the critically-acclaimed Home Alone franchise. Despite the immense success he has experienced as a child, his career as an adult didn’t flourish much. He eventually involved himself with numerous irrelevant projects and investments which had steered him away from the industry. After high school, he attempted to regain his footing by starring in Party Monster and Saved, but the hype was insufficient to put him back on top.
Recently, Culkin founded a website and podcast called Bunny Ears that gained a significant number of followers. He was recently engaged to actress Brenda Song, and they have a child together.
Mara Wilson
Back in the ‘90s, when Netflix wasn’t a thing yet, people watched movies such as Mrs. Doubtfire and Thomas and the Magic Railroad that starred none other than the famous Mara Wilson. A native of California, Wilson had set her sights on becoming an actress ever since she was a child despite not having her family’s support. She started with numerous appearances in commercials before getting the role of Natalie Hillard in Mrs. Doubtfire; the film was a success and received numerous praises. She eventually received lead credits in the movies Matilda and Thomas and the Magic Railroad.
At over 30 years old, Wilson works as a writer for different shows and publications. She published her own memoir entitled Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental fame in 2016.
Marc Copage
Marc Copage is one of the people who fearlessly stood up against oppression and defied stereotypes even as a child. As among the earliest black child stars in the US, Copage received the lead credit as Diahann Carroll’s son in the critically-acclaimed sitcom Julia back in 1968. Copage went on to portray Corey Baker, the son of a nurse for over three seasons. The said television show was the pioneer in starring an African-American woman with a non-conforming role. The show focused on big issues such as racism. After the show, Copage steered away from acting and decided to work as a leasing agent and assistant manager.
Marguerite Moreau
Child actress Marguerite Moreau is known for her role as Connie in the critically-acclaimed The Mighty Ducks franchise. However, her stellar appearance didn’t receive significant attention because she was pursuing a degree in political science from Vassar College. After her acting hiatus, Moreau played Katie in Wet Hot American Summer. She reprised the same role in the prequel Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp and the sequel Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later.
In 2002, she was cast as Jesses in Queen of the Damned, a film based on Anne Rice novels. Subsequently, she appeared in movies such as Ingenuous and Life Happens, among others. At 44 years old, Moreau shows no signs of retiring from the industry.
Mary Badham
Scout Finch’s name will most likely incite nostalgia in most of us who have read the famous novel To Kill a Mockingbird. In the 1962 movie adaptation, Scout was played by Mary Badham, who was eventually nominated for an Academy as Best Supporting Actress. It’s worth noting that the actress had no prior exposure to acting before becoming one of the cast members. On the film’s set, Badham built a special relationship with actor Gregory Peck who takes the credit as Scout’s father, Atticus. Badham often called him Atticus until his unfortunate passing in 2003.
In the present, Badham works in the academy as a college testing coordinator and an art restorer. She’s married to Richard Wilt, and they have two children together.
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
Perhaps the most famous twins in the entertainment industry, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, are a duo who have also cemented their fame in the world of fashion. Despite having zero to no knowledge in showbiz, the twins remained determined as they faced many challenges. It’s worth noting that their earliest appearance was sharing the role of Michelle Tanner on ABC’s Full House. As they matured, they made investments in a company named Dualstar, which procured television movies. After a significant streak in entertainment, the two pursued their first love—fashion.
Presently, the phenomenal twins own a number of brands, like The Row, Elizabeth and James, Olsenboye, and StyleMint. With a net worth of over $500 million, the twins were among the richest women in the industry.
Maureen McCormick
Avid fans best remember Maureen McCormick for portraying Marcia Brady on one of ABC’s renowned television series, The Brady Bunch, which aired from 1969 to 1974. Subsequently, she reprised the role on several franchise spinoffs, including The Brady Kids, The Brady Bunch Hour, The Brady Brides, and A Very Brady Christmas. She parlayed her success as an actress to the music industry, releasing over four albums with some casts of The Brady Bunch. McCormick also released her very own country album, titled When You Get a Little Lonely.
At 65 years old, she had previously received credit on television shows such as Gone Country and published a New York Times best-selling autobiography.
Melissa Joan Hart
Melissa Joan Hart became a staple personality on television; this was made possible for her roles in television shows including Clarissa Explains It All and Melissa & Joey; the latter received an Emmy Award nod. Growing up in New York, she had already been exposed to television commercials since she was four years old. Hart’s credits are in shows like Kane & Abel and Another World in the subsequent years. She eventually ventured out as a director and producer from being a notable actress.
Outside of the entertainment industry, she has pooled her investments in a fashion brand named King of Harts with the support of her musician husband, Mark Wilkerson. They have been married since 2003 and share three children, Mason, Braydon, and Tucker.
Mindy Cohn
Fans of ‘90s ABC sitcoms will find it hard to forget the face of Mindy Cohn, who was among the cast of The Facts of Life. Her shot to fame was catalyzed by actress Charlotte Rea when she saw the former with a group of friends. While Rea was researching for her upcoming project, she couldn’t help but notice the 13-year-old Cohn, who filled in for one of the characters in the said sitcom. Since then, the duo had worked together and become inseparable. Cohn’s other projects include The Boy Who Could Fly and Velma’s voice in the Scooby-Doo franchise.
Outside of work, Cohn has made investments in the WeSPARK Cancer Support Center and is one of the foundation’s founding members.
Miranda Cosgrove
Miranda Cosgrove’s claim to fame was fuelled at the young age of three. She was gleefully singing and displaying her dance moves in a restaurant when a talent agent noticed her and approached her mother. Shortly after, Cosgrove was seen in Burger King, McDonald’s, and Mello Yello commercials. In 2003, she received her earliest movie credit in School of Rock. However, her breakthrough role was in the television show Drake and Josh, where she played Morgan. A few years later, she appeared in iCarly, which helped her become the highest-paid actress in the industry.
Recently, Cosgrove appeared in the movie 3022 and has been the host of CBS’s Mission Unstoppable with Miranda Cosgrove. It looks like fans are about to see more of this stunning actress in the years to come.
Nancy McKeon
NBC’s The Facts of Life has been the starting point of many child stars, and one of them is Nancy McKeon. At the age of five, she started to receive her own salary at the age of five for starring in several television commercials and minor roles in television shows. It is also worth noting that the said sitcom takes credit for McKeon’s breakthrough. The Facts of Life became one of the most viewed hits on television after it was released. Unfortunately, as the show ended, Nancy’s career was also halted. Despite the setbacks, she has found her way to survive by taking on roles in television movies.
The actress is married to Marc Andrus. The pair has two wonderful daughters, Aurora and Harlow.
Peter Ostrum
Peter Ostrum is one of the actors who found success in another field after leaving the entertainment industry. His first and only film credit was Charlie Bucket in the children’s fantasy film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Despite having had a great time on the set, Ostrum preferred not to take on more roles. It even reached the point where he was hesitant to talk about his breakthrough role. However, he discovered his love for horses on the set of the said movie.
He eventually ended up taking a degree in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. Ostrum also acquired a doctorate so he could work as a full-fledged veterinarian. Apart from being a notable doctor, Ostrum is married and has two children.
Piper Perabo
While Piper Perabo is well-known for her role as Annie Walker in Covert Affairs, her career beginnings were initially quite a struggle. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in theater at Ohio University, she moved to New York to find better prospects. There, she worked as a waitress and took up some theater gigs. Her breakthrough came in 2000 when she appeared in Coyote Ugly. Building on this success, she started appearing in indie and television films. In 2010, she achieved considerable success when she was cast in the leading role in Covert Affairs.
Today, Perabo has been juggling her career between film and television. Her most recent appearances were in Yellowstone, Billions, and The Big Leap. All of these works were well-received by critics.
Quinn Cummings
While Quinn Cummings quit acting a very long time ago, she had left an impressive mark during her acting career. At a very young age, she started appearing in various television commercials after being discovered by James Wong Howe. By the age of 10, she made a big splash when she played the role of Marsha Mason’s daughter in The Goodbye Girl. Her performance led her to be nominated for both an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress, becoming one of the youngest people to ever do so.
Today, Cummings has been focused on various areas ever since she retired from acting in 1991. She saw success when she established HipHugger in the early 2000s, which became her great investment.
Raven-Symoné
Before Raven-Symoné became highly successful in the industry, she already had huge ambitions during childhood. At the age of four, she auditioned for a role in Ghost Dad but wasn’t considered due to her very young age. Nevertheless, Bill Cosby, who starred in the leading role, liked her and found her a role in The Cosby Show as his step-granddaughter Olivia. She subsequently established herself as a formidable actress and singer.
Today, she has been well-known for her lead role in Raven’s Home, which earned her a Daytime Emmy nomination. She still remains active in many family-friendly shows. In addition, she has completed her associate degree in fine arts in 2016 after putting her career on hold in 2013 to continue her studies.
Regina King
Regina King has been one of the most celebrated black actresses in Hollywood. Initially pursuing a communications degree at USC, she dropped out after two years to pursue acting. She began her career in 1985, appearing in the television sitcom 227 for five years. She then found success during the ’90s, with her appearances in Jerry Maguire, Friday, and Enemy of the State. In the 21st century, she continued to gain success, with her most notable shows, like American Crime and If Beale Street Could Talk, which saw her getting two Emmys and Oscar and Golden Globe nominations.
Today, King has been a juggernaut in the industry. In addition to her acting projects, she has found success as a director in One Night in Miami, her most notable directorial work.
Ricky Schroder
Ricky Schroder has been quite active in the industry for decades. As a child, he first became famous for his role in The Champ in 1979, which saw him becoming the youngest person to win a Golden Globe. He then increased his profile with his role in Silver Spoons. After the series ended, he pursued education, eventually enrolling for a degree at Mesa State College in Colorado.
During his adult career, he became successful again, establishing himself in more mature roles to disassociate himself from his more lighthearted childhood career. Today, Schroder has remained active, although his latest appearance was in 2016. He made headlines in recent years during the global health crisis due to viral videos involving him, which led to him receiving backlash.
Ron Howard
While Ron Howard is well-known for his impressive directorial career, he made his name as an actor for decades. He started his career quite young, appearing in several TV series, including The Twilight Zone and The Andy Griffith Show. The latter, in particular, can receive credits for putting him into the spotlight. He continued to succeed in this field during the ‘70s. However, by 1980, he slowed down on his acting career considerably and focused on directing. His first great hit as a director was Apollo 13 in 1995.
Today, Howard remains one of Hollywood’s most respected directors. He’s now working on a film based on the cave rescue of a Thai football team in 2018. He still does some acting gigs from time to time, with Arrested Development being his most notable.
Ross Lynch
Ross Lynch is quite the all-around guy, having made success in multiple areas over the years. He initially started his career as a musician by forming the band R5 with siblings Riker, Rocky, and Rydel and their family friend Ellington. They debuted in 2009 and created their YouTube channel the same year. The band’s most notable song was Loud, which they released in 2013. Outside of music, Lynch carved out a name for himself in acting, with his first acting credit being Moises Rules! in 2010.
Today, Lynch has established a musical duo, together with Rocky, called The Driver Era. The pair was created after R5 disbanded in 2018. As for acting, he has appeared as Harvey Kinkle in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
Ryan Gosling
Ryan Gosling has pretty much-seen success after success today. He started his career at the age of 13 when he did The Mickey Mouse Club alongside co-stars Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, and Justin Timberlake. In 2001, he made his first film credit with his role as a Jewish neo-Nazi in The Believer, signifying his intentions to take up more mature roles. He garnered global recognition with his stellar performance in The Notebook, which saw him getting nominated for an Oscar.
Thanks to his immense talent, Gosling has been a highly sought-after actor in the industry. His performance in La La Land earned him another Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe for Best Actor award. He has been quite busy with several projects, including The Gray Man and The Actor.
Ryan Reynolds
Looking at his career,Ryan Reynolds has seen ups and downs. While his passion lay with acting, he was discouraged early on and pursued a degree at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Eventually, he pursued acting and made himself known in 1996 with his roles in The X-Files and Sabrina, The Teenage Witch. He then continued to act in mainly comedic movies until 2004, when he played the villainous role in Blade: Trinity.
However, he continued to have hits and misses in the succeeding years, with Green Lantern, in particular, becoming a great stain on him. In 2016, he finally achieved mainstream success with his role as the title character in Deadpool. Today, Reynolds has been a mainstream icon and has recently worked on Spirited, Free Guy, and Red Notice films.
Sally Field
Sally Field is perhaps one of the most celebrated actresses in Hollywood. She first began her career when she played in Gidget in 1965. While the series was a flop, it could get credits as a springboard to her career later. She eventually got typecast for sitcoms and achieved success in 1976 as the title character in Sybil. She received an Emmy for her role that led to her breaking her sitcom typecast. In the succeeding years, she continued to achieve success, with her performances in Norma Rae and Places in the Heart winning her an Oscar for each film.
Today, Field remains active in showbiz, with her latest performance being in Dispatches from Elsewhere. Outside of her career, she has been involved in various philanthropic and social causes over the years.
Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson has been one of Hollywood’s most well-known actresses. Before her mainstream success, she already had huge ambitions to make big in the world of acting. In the ‘90s, she did minor roles in theater and film. She had her first leading credit in Manny & Lo in 1996. Fast forward years later, she made her breakthrough in 2003 with her movies Lost in Translation and Girl with a Pearl Earring. The former, in particular, started a long collaboration with Woody Allen. In 2010, she achieved worldwide recognition for her role as Natasha Romanov in Iron Man 2.
Today, Johansson has demonstrated that she can have mainstream success and be a highly talented actor. Recently, she reprised her role as Romanov again for the movie Black Widow, which was received quite well by audiences.
Shia LaBeouf
Based on his career, Shia LaBeouf certainly knows how to be extremely expressive.
He started in the business in the ‘90s as an escape from a troubled environment. Thanks to his appearance in Even Steven, he became known to young viewers and made his breakthrough in 2007 with his role in the thriller Disturbia. A year later, he achieved mainstream success, receiving credits from his roles in Transformers and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. He continued to achieve success in several films in the 2010s.
Today, despite his less than stellar public image, LaBeouf remains quite sought after thanks to his talent. In addition to his acting, he has been known for his performance art through the trio LaBeouf, Rönkkö & Turner, which began in 2014.
Soleil MoonFrye
Soleil Moon Frye has managed to carve out a successful career for decades. She started her career in 1982 and achieved success in 1984 when she starred as the title character in Punky Brewster. While the ratings were less than ideal for NBC, it nonetheless became a hit with children. When the series ended in 1988, Frye moved on into voice acting, starting in the ‘90s. She lent her voice in Tiny Toon Adventures, The Ren and Stimpy Show, and The Cartoon Cartoon Show.
Today, Frye remains quite active as a voice actor. Recently, she reprised her role in the reboot of Punky Brewster in 2021. Outside of acting, she has several investments, including a boutique, stationeries, and DIY kits.
Tom Felton
Like so many of his co-stars in Harry Potter,Tom Felton can credit his current career successes thanks to their long appearances in the film series. Prior to Harry Potter, Felton first made his name in several commercial appearances before landing a role in The Borrowers in 1997. In 2001, his fortunes changed for the better when he was cast as Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. He continued to play the role until the series’ final film, Deathly Hallows – Part 2.
Today, Felton has continued to achieve considerable success in his career. His most recent performances include Braking for Whales, A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting, and The Forgotten Battle. He has been busy working on the films Save the Cinema and Canyon del Muerto.
Tom Welling
Tom Welling has certainly seen success in his career. Initially an athlete and, later, a construction worker. He was discovered for a Tommy Hilfiger campaign and pursued modeling. Eventually, he ventured into acting, as he didn’t like modeling and admitted to being not good at it. He became famous in 2001 when he played the role of Clark Kent in Smallville. His role lasted for a decade until the series’ ended in 2011. His another notable success was when he played Cain, a.k.a. Marcus Pierce in Lucifer.
Today, Welling has expanded his repertoire to directing and production. He began directing and producing in the mid-2000s, having worked on several episodes of Smallville. His most recent credit, Professionals, saw him playing a role and being the executive producer for ten episodes.
Tommy Norden
While not much about Tommy Norden is known today, he was once a well-known actor in the mid-20th century. He started his career in the early ‘60s, immediately rising to the top. He became famous for his role as Bud Ricks in Flipper. Other notable roles include Naked City, East Side/West Side, and Route 66. Despite his acting success, he had to end his career in 1975, with The Secret of Isis being his final acting credit. According to him, he stopped acting to focus on his family’s business.
Today, Norden is still heavily invested in his family’s business. Currently, he owns a record company based in New York. Although his acting career had ended decades ago, many still remember his Flipper days, as his attendance during two-anniversary celebrations can attest.