Then: Jonathan Lipnicki
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Lipnicki became arguably the most adorable child actor of all time when appearing in the hit film Jerry Maguire. The success of acting alongside Renee Zellweger and Tom Cruise led Lipnicki to become a featured star. He was the lead in films such as Stuart Little, Stuart Little 2, and The Little Vampire. Once he became a teenager, roles began drying up. Is Lipnicki still acting today?
Now: Jonathan Lipnicki
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In a word, yes. The 33-year-old grew up in a Los Angeles suburb. After enjoying a relatively normal childhood, Lipnicki went back into the acting realm — focusing primarily on independent films. Lipnicki has been a contestant on several reality shows, including Drop the Mic, Worst Cooks in America, and Celebs Go Dating. Most recently, Lipnicki packed on some serious muscle en route to getting a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Then: Jonathan Taylor Thomas
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JTT earned the ‘teen heartthrob’ moniker during his time as a child actor star. Thomas’ popularity first began with Home Improvement, and later sat with roles in Tom and Huck, The Lion King, and Wild America. After his hit roles, Thomas somewhat fell off the radar. He decided not to follow the conventional path of becoming an adult actor. What did Thomas exactly do?
Now: Jonathan Taylor Thomas
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Born Jonathan Taylor Weiss, the actor ended up leaving the world of film and television in favor of enrolling at Harvard. 10 years after first attending Harvard, JTT earned another degree from Columbia. Since attending college, Thomas has kept a very low profile. He’s made various appearances in guest spots. This has included a brief role on the show Last Man Standing (starring his former TV dad Tim Allen).
Then: Jake Lloyd
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You may remember Jake Lloyd for his role as the son of Arnold Schwarzenneger in the Christmas movie Jingle All The Way. However, Lloyd will forever be known as ‘baby Darth Vader’ aka Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode 1 — The Phantom Menace. We often look at child actors and wonder if they’ve gone down a good path…or down one leading to trouble. Unfortunately for Lloyd, he took the latter option.
Now: Jake Lloyd
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Sadly, Lloyd was the target of bullying in the wake of his Star Wars appearance. He seemingly became very bitter about his role in the film and often spoke about this in interviews. He attended college in Chicago — though left after only one semester. Over the next few years, Lloyd had issues with the law. It was then found out that Lloyd had been suffering from schizophrenia for years. After 10 months in jail (for a charge stemming from a high-speed police chase), Lloyd reportedly got transferred to a psychiatric facility. In 2020, he’s since reportedly moved closer to his family with the hopes that he’ll get his life back on track.
Then: Willie Aames
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There was a huge run of sitcoms throughout the ’70s and ’80s. One of the biggest stars from this era was Willie Aames. First starring on Gunsmoke and later The Odd Couple, Aames gained plenty of notoriety for his time on Eight is Enough. He became a gigantic star in this series. After a seven-year run on Charles in Charge ended, Aames seemed like a relic lost in the ’80s. His story since then is rather unconventional, to say the least.
Now: Willie Aames
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The roles for Aames dried up. He reportedly fell into alcohol addiction — which led to many failed relationships. Things got so bad for Aames, that he was reportedly sleeping outside in parks as a homeless person. However, at the age of 47, he got his life together. Aames became an installer of satellite dishes. He then worked on a cruise ship as a director. As fate would have it, Aames ended up marrying a woman (Winnie Hung) who had been his pen pal for 30 years. She initially started as a fan of his. Congratulations, Winnie and Willie.
Then: Brian Bonsall
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The cute little kid in the center of this picture is Brian Bonsall. He starred in Family Ties for 78 episodes alongside the likes of Michael J. Fox, Justine Bateman, and Michael Gross. Bonsall went on to star in many different programs. In the ’90s, he was the lead in Blank Check and Father and Scout. Suddenly, Bonsall fell off the face of the Earth. His last known acting role was in a 2022 project called You’re Melting. What happened to this fresh-faced youngster?
Now: Brian Bonsall
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Bonsall retired from acting as a teenager. He then became heavily involved with music — particularly of the punk/hard rock variety. Over the years, he’s been reportedly arrested three times for various crimes (including assault). Most recently, Bonsall married a woman named Courtney. He also became a father to a baby boy named Oliver Leon.
Then: Amanda Bynes
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At one time, Amanda Bynes was one of the brightest young stars on television. She delighted fans with her role on The Amanda Show and All That. Bynes was immensely gifted as a sketch/character actor. She had a myriad of impressions, and often seamlessly moved back and forth between different portrayals. As she got older, Bynes moved into film with roles in What a Girl Wants, She’s the Man, and Big Fat Liar.
Now: Amanda Bynes
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Bynes stopped acting around 2010. A few years later, she repeatedly was featured in tabloids for a combination of bizarre behavior and incidents with the police. Ultimately, it was determined that Bynes suffered from bipolar disorder. Since then, she’s aimed to live a sober life. Bynes graduated from FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising) in 2019. Most recently in 2024, Bynes launched her own podcast.
Then: Corey Feldman
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In the annals of child actors, Corey Feldman’s name is truly up there as one of the biggest ones of all time. Feldman starred in several high-profile films. His face became synonymous with the entire decade. There was even a spell in which Feldman was one of the most popular actors in the entire world. However, all good things have a habit of coming to an end. The same thing can be said about Feldman’s acting career.
Now: Corey Feldman
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As is the case with many child actors, Feldman’s window closed pretty much as the 1990s took off. He has appeared in several reality shows. However, he hasn’t come anywhere close to sustaining the same sort of success he once had. The 52-year-old recently has focused on his musical pursuits. As of 2024, he’s released six albums to date (with many of them having a pseudo-Michael Jackson feel to them in both music and in terms of Feldman’s attire).
Then: Aaron Carter
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Though his older brother, Nick, was a big star with the Backstreet Boys, his younger brother Aaron was even more popular. He had ‘gold’ albums in multiple countries by the time he turned 11. From there, Aaron’s second album achieved ‘platinum’ status. He truly had the makings of being the next gigantic American pop star. However, this dream quickly unraveled…
Now: Aaron Carter
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After public relationships with Lindsay Lohan and Hilary Duff failed, Aaron’s musical career began taking a nosedive. He appeared in multiple straight-to-DVD films (which also bombed). Aaron then reportedly had various run-ins with the law. This included being arrested multiple times for various charges. Sadly, Carter passed away in 2022. He was only 34 years of age.
Then: Mara Wilson
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California native Mara Wilson was the adorable daughter of Robin Williams and Sally Field in Mrs. Doubtfire. As she got older, Mara took on roles of her own — starring as the titular character in Matilda. After a decade of working as a child actor, Mara abruptly retired. The death of her mother reportedly impacted her desire to continue on screen. Since then, what has she been doing?
Now: Mara Wilson
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After attending high school in Southern California, Mara graduated from NYU’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts. Mara has dabbled in some different artistic projects (podcasting, writing, guest starring), though she’s not gone back as a fully committed actress. Much of her time now is spent writing in her newly adopted hometown city of Queens. Interestingly enough, she is the first cousin of political pundit Ben Shapiro (though the two reportedly have no relationship based on their differing political views).
Then: Dante Basco
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As a child actor, Dante Basco primarily was in the background. He had a few speaking parts and predominantly did voice-overs on commercials. However, his breakout role came in the 1991 film Hook. Playing Rufio — the king of the Lost Boys — Dante was magnetic on-screen alongside Robin Williams. He forever will be known for this wonderful portrayal. As he got older, was Dante able to capitalize on this role as it pertained to landing other projects?
Now: Dante Basco
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At only 48 years of age, Dante has been steadily working since 1988. He continues to have guest spots on both television shows as well as in movies. Aside from directing, writing, and producing, Dante has returned to his roots as a voice-over actor. He’s voiced prominent roles for such animated series as American Dragon: Jake Long, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Star Wars Galaxy of Adventures.
Then: Danica McKellar
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For many of you reading this piece, Winnie Cooper was probably your first crush. Danica McKellar starred as Winnie in the hit show Wonder Years. She captivated audiences as the love interest of Kevin Arnold (played by Fred Savage). Once Wonder Years ended, Danica floated around primarily in guest roles. She soon realized that her future sat in the classroom rather than behind the camera…
Now: Danica McKellar
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With acting on the back-burner, Danica decided to attend UCLA (where she graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Mathematics). Furthering the notion of Danica’s impressive brain, she went on to author four books focused on mathematics. In recent years, she’s attempted to get back into acting. Danica has been featured in multiple Hallmark Channel films (including Christmas at Dollywood and Crown for Christmas).
Then: Adam Rich
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Adam Rich was once the cute little kid on the hit show Eight is Enough. His comedic timing — coupled with his on-screen charisma — made him a fan favorite. His iconic haircut from the show resulted in children all over the country soon joining in with a similar hairdo. Once the roles dried up, Adam had a very difficult time adjusting to life in high school…
Now: Adam Rich
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Throughout high school, Adam reportedly struggled immensely with substance abuse. This had been a constant theme throughout his life. The strangest instance came in 1996 when Adam faked his own death with the help of a San Francisco news publication. Based upon his IMDb page, Adam hadn’t acted in anything since 2003 (when he played himself in Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star). He sadly passed away in 2023 at age 54.
Then: Danielle Fishel
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The perfect girl next door with a quirky personality and an even quirkier first name. Topanga Lawrence (played by Danielle Fishel) was the object of every tween boy’s affection during her run on Boy Meets World. Danielle played the iconic character for nearly a decade before the show ended in 2000. Once the show ended, did Fishel continue acting?
Now: Danielle Fishel
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Technically, yes — although Danielle was in nothing memorable (unless you count the 2014 straight-to-video classic Dorm Daze 2). At age 27, Danielle went back to college to obtain a degree. Shortly after, Danielle was cast in the reboot of her old show entitled Girl Meets World. Though the show didn’t offer much in the way of success, Danielle did manage to get married in 2018 to rapper/actor Jensen Karp. The two have two young boys together. Along with Rider Strong and Will Friedle, the trio hosts a highly popular podcast entitled Pod Meets World.
Then: Jaleel White
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“Did I do that?!”
The iconic catchphrase is heard everywhere. Steve Urkel (played by Jaleel White) was one of the sitcom’s most memorable characters. While a total savant intellectually, it was his goofiness that endeared him to audiences all over the world. Once Family Matters ended, many speculated over whether Jaleel would continue with acting — or transition to something different. His ultimate decision was a fascinating one.
Now: Jaleel White
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As fate would have it, Jaleel was a bit typecast by the Urkel hysteria. He did garner a few roles — though none were overly substantial. Instead of pursuing acting exclusively, Jaleel graduated from UCLA. He’s since featured on reality shows, web series, television dramas, and also commercial work. He most recently was cast in the 2020 comedy entitled The Big Show Show (focused on professional wrestler Paul Wight).
Then: Alyson Stoner
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Alyson Stoner initially broke out as a dancer in several rap music videos. Alyson was particularly popular with rapper Missy Elliott (featuring in a number of her shoots). As an actress, Alyson was a fixture in the Cheaper by the Dozen series. Did Alyson’s interest in dancing wane as she got older?
Now: Alyson Stoner
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The 30-year-old Ohio native has continued to enjoy a very fruitful career in show business. Alyson has voiced characters for both video games and animated series (such as Pete the Cat and Young Justice). From a dance perspective, Alyson has worked as a hip-hop dance instructor for young children/adults in North Hollywood, CA. She also shocked everyone by appearing in Missy Elliott’s performance during the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards.
Then: Jeff Cohen
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The Goonies is a total cult classic film. Within the movie itself is a cult classic character named Lawrence ‘Chunk’ Cohen. His famed ‘truffle shuffle’ (shown above) made him a total fan favorite for those who loved his anxious yet energetic personality. Though he had a few other appearances on screen, child actor Jeff Cohen pretty much fell off the face of the map in 1991. What happened to the LA native?
Now: Jeff Cohen
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Having a much different appearance than he had as a child, Jeff is now one of the biggest entertainment lawyers in Hollywood. He first attended Berkeley before eventually getting his law degree from UCLA. To this day, Jeff still looks back fondly at his childhood — particularly at his role as Chunk.
Then: Peter Ostrum
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The original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory remains a very popular film. The whimsical nature of Mr. Wonka’s factory — coupled with Gene Wilder’s eclectic yet wholesome performance — simply carries this film nearly 50 years after it was made. The lead in the movie, Charlie (played by Peter Ostrum), is a 12-year-old hailing from Cleveland. Little did he know that this movie would change his life forever.
Now: Peter Ostrum
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Peter decided that he wanted to maintain some sense of independence rather than being shuttled from one set to another. As he grew up, Peter took an interest in animals. He later became a professional veterinarian after obtaining the requisite schooling. Though based in New York with his family, the 66-year-old still makes time to show up at Wonka reunions and meet-and-greets.
Then: Shaun Weiss
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Shaun Weiss lived like a king during the ’90s. Appearing in hits such as Heavyweights and The Mighty Ducks trilogy, the comedic Weiss had the look of someone who would work well into adulthood. The iconic character ‘Goldberg’ is forever associated with both Weiss and the Ducks trilogy. Sadly, Weiss’ career didn’t progress the way he would’ve hoped. Instead, it led him down a dark, dangerous path…
Next: Shaun Weiss
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Shaun struggled in getting roles once into his early 20s. He’d appear in the occasional commercial, though he wasn’t able to latch onto a recurring role. In 2017, Weiss was arrested twice — once for shoplifting and once for possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested a third time for public intoxication. Various reports indicated that Weiss had been living on the streets homeless for upwards of three years. As of 2024, Weiss is reportedly sober and in a much better place. He’s continued his stand-up career and is a fixture on the meet-and-greet circuit.
Then: Tiffani Thiessen
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Saved By The Bell featured Mark-Paul Gosselaar as the lead (Zack Morris). However, we all know that the real showstopper was his on-screen girlfriend Kelly Kapowski (played by Tiffani Thiessen). She went on to star in several movies and television series (Beverly Hills, 90210, Son in Law). As she aged away from the teen demographic, Tiffani ended up reinventing herself in a completely different field…
Now: Tiffani Thiessen
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Tiffani acted consistently well into the 2000s. To this day, she still makes appearances on various sitcoms. Tiffani was the lead in the Netflix show Alexa & Katie. However, Tiffani has also taken to the screen in a new way. She prides herself on being a fantastic chef. Tiffani was given the opportunity to host her own cooking show (Dinner at Tiffani’s). When not acting, she’s quite active in showcasing her latest creations via her Instagram profile. At 50 years of age, she currently has two children with her husband, fellow actor Brady Smith.
Then: Edward Furlong
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There was a time in which Hollywood absolutely adored Edward Furlong. He initially became a known commodity with his role in Terminator 2: Judgment Day. From there, he began acting alongside a plethora of Hollywood’s A-List crowd. Roles in Detroit Rock City and American History X soon followed. Possessing a tremendous trajectory, what exactly went wrong for Furlong?
Now: Edward Furlong
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Since the year 2000, everything has pretty much fallen off a cliff for Edward. He wasn’t getting his usual A-List roles — largely because of reported drug and alcohol abuse. There was a time in which a then-15-year-old Edward was dating his 28-year-old tutor. Throughout the 2000s, he’s been arrested multiple times for suspicion of domestic violence. Edward last acted in the 2023 film The Forest Hills. Most recently, Edward can be seen traveling all over the country signing autographs/taking pictures at various conventions.
Then: Jason David Frank
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Tommy Oliver aka the Green Ranger was brilliantly played by actor Jason David Frank. Jason was within the Power Rangers environment for years. While he acted in several other shows, it was always this series that made the Southern California native popular. As he got older, Jason decided to apply the physicality he learned on set with another type of activity…
Now: Jason David Frank
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Jason’s role on television enabled him to become an expert in several different types of martial arts. As such, he began dabbling with the idea that he’d become an MMA fighter. This dream became a reality in 2009 when he signed with a promoter. From there, Jason won all four of his amateur matches before winning his only professional bout versus Jose Roberto Vasquez in 2010. Sadly, Frank passed away in 2022 at the age of 49.
Then: Josh Saviano
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Ah, another star from The Wonder Years. Josh Saviano brilliantly played the empathetic and smart best friend, Paul. Saviano and Savage had a brilliant on-screen chemistry (which still exists off-screen today). While Saviano didn’t do a whole lot of acting post-Wonder Years, he did turn out to be a very big success…
Now: Josh Saviano
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From an acting standpoint, Saviano participated in three episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2014-16). It’s the only acting job he took dating back to the conclusion of The Wonder Years in 1993. Saviano ultimately graduated from Yale and then became a lawyer. Most recently, Saviano created two law firms of his own. To this day, Saviano is still friends with Fred Savage and Danica McKellar.
Then: Devin Ratray
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You probably remember Devin Ratray as the bullying big brother to Macaulay Culkin’s character (Kevin) in Home Alone. Devin was exceptional in this role (which spanned over two movies). From there, Ratray continued to act — though none of the roles were exactly compelling. Did he stick with acting as he got older, or did he give it up altogether?
Now: Devin Ratray
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Devin is still going strong! He stuck with acting — which proved to be a smart decision. Over the last few years, he’s starred in hit movies such as Hustlers and Nebraska. From a television standpoint, he’s enjoyed recurring roles on projects such as The Tick, Mosaic, and Chicago Med.
Then: Jerry Mathers
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Leave It to Beaver was one of the most wholesome television programs ever made. It perfectly depicted pure Americana during the late ’50s and into the early ’60s. The changing of the country’s attitude was reflected here with this perfect family. Of course, the headliner was Beaver himself (played by Jerry Mathers). Mathers was only 15 when the show stopped filming. Though eternally famous for this role, what else did the rest of his life have in store for him?
Now: Jerry Mathers
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Once the show ended, Jerry ended up joining the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He eventually graduated from Berkeley and dabbled in banking, loan work, and real estate. However, his love of acting never faded. Jerry ended up acting in some capacity from the time he was two years old until the year 2015 (when he was 66 years of age). Now 75, he’s currently living with his third wife.