# Child actors we havn't seen since they were kids. All grown up! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 21, 2009, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-we-havnt-seen-since-they-were-kids-all-grown-up/503723 "2009-07-21T06:56:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-we-havnt-seen-since-they-were-kids-all-grown-up/503723/41 "2009-07-23T00:29:05Z")
> [@Serenata67](#): > > [Jodie Sweetin](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842332/), our beloved Stephanie Tanner, has disappeared. Occasionally news breaks about her failed marriage, but she’s been quiet. I have a picture taken of me a few months ago at the Carnegie Deli in New York City. On one side of me is a picture of Father Guido Sarducci and Jodie Sweetin is on the other side. When I looked closely at the picture, I had no clue who she was. I had to guess at what the signature said and look her up on IMDB. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-we-havnt-seen-since-they-were-kids-all-grown-up/503723/42 "2009-07-23T00:31:43Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > Damn! I’ll be in ma bunk. Definitely try and catch the Two and a Half Men episode _Santa’s Village Of The Damned._ (Josie, if you are reading this, call me!) ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-we-havnt-seen-since-they-were-kids-all-grown-up/503723/43 "2009-07-23T01:04:58Z")
I went to college at the same time as Chunk, who ran for student body president with the slogan “Chunk for President.” (I can’t say I went to college _with_ him, since I never actually met the guy, just saw his signs–I’d never seen _Goonies_.) I think he went to law school after that… ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-we-havnt-seen-since-they-were-kids-all-grown-up/503723/44 "2009-07-23T01:14:10Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > One that got me was Allison Smith. She used to play one of the [daughters](http://www.hilaryshepherd.com/rantsnraves/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/kate__allie_cast.jpg) (on the right) on _Kate & Allie_ back in the mid-eighties. Then about fifteen years later she was on _The West Wing_ looking like [this](http://api.ning.com/files/owda-NA3MXXBSZEnZZscKoLHofj7qkcmRBLCh69ZAW*JTCZzFNKvwPMJQrSMa6afiD22Tnxonf6Lq9WJ5b-0GLCEkzXpwLEK/allison03.jpg?width=325&height=400&xn_auth=no&type=jpeg). She’s Mallory! Wow! And Danica McKellar was also on West Wing. Coincidence? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-we-havnt-seen-since-they-were-kids-all-grown-up/503723/45 "2009-07-23T03:45:11Z")
Lacey Chabert, the youngest Salinger on _Party of Five_ has [not turned out so bad either](http://rockthewristband.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/lacey-chabert.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-we-havnt-seen-since-they-were-kids-all-grown-up/503723/46 "2009-07-25T18:14:45Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > Definitely try and catch the Two and a Half Men episode _Santa’s Village Of The Damned._ > > (Josie, if you are reading this, call me!) Whaddya know–\*\*Josie Davis \*\*was a guest star on this week’s _ **Burn Notice** _! She had brown hair, so it took me a bit to realize it was her. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-we-havnt-seen-since-they-were-kids-all-grown-up/503723/47 "2009-07-25T19:08:38Z")
When I was a kid, I had a big crush on Lu Ann Haslam, one of the three live-action stars of the live action/cartoon combo "The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. And, seeing [a recent pic](http://www.mofolandia.com.br/varios/Huckfinn_luann_haslam.jpg), I think I still do. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-we-havnt-seen-since-they-were-kids-all-grown-up/503723/48 "2009-07-25T19:30:55Z")
I’m mildly curious about what child stars went on to have a successful entertainment career in adult life. There are not a whole lot of them: Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, Elizabeth Taylor, and Ron Howard are the only ones that come quickly to mind. Others? ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-we-havnt-seen-since-they-were-kids-all-grown-up/503723/49 "2009-07-25T19:56:09Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > When I was a kid, I had a big crush on Lu Ann Haslam, one of the three live-action stars of the live action/cartoon combo "The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. > > And, seeing [a recent pic](http://www.mofolandia.com.br/varios/Huckfinn_luann_haslam.jpg), I think I still do. Not to highjack the thread, but IMDB says there were only six of these. Wow! I remember this series - specifically because Ted Cassidy was Injun Joe and his voice is so distinctive. I thought there were a bunch of those. Weird how one’s mind goes as one grows old… ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-we-havnt-seen-since-they-were-kids-all-grown-up/503723/50 "2009-07-25T20:03:59Z")
There were a more than that. Wiki says 20. Only six titles have been added to IMDB, though. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-we-havnt-seen-since-they-were-kids-all-grown-up/503723/51 "2009-07-25T20:13:15Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > I’m mildly curious about what child stars went on to have a successful entertainment career in adult life. There are not a whole lot of them: Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, Elizabeth Taylor, and Ron Howard are the only ones that come quickly to mind. Others? Christian Bale, Seth Green, Elijah Wood, Sean Astin. Depending on what you mean by child “star”, of course. But I’m highly impressed by Seth Green as someone who seems never to have stopped working. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-we-havnt-seen-since-they-were-kids-all-grown-up/503723/52 "2009-07-25T20:32:37Z")
> [@supervenusfreak](#): > > [Ralphie Parker](http://16.media.tumblr.com/VHd3z1bUkh2f0ka0S0xOpx1wo1_400.jpg) has grown up quite nicely too. Apparently Peter Billingsley has done quite well for himself, as a producer. He’s worked quite a bit with Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau. He’s in Iron Man as the scientist who says the reactor can’t be built. He had to shave his head because Bridges said he wasn’t the only one who was going to be bald. (from the extra features on the BluRay) He was an exec producer. ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-we-havnt-seen-since-they-were-kids-all-grown-up/503723/53 "2009-07-25T20:57:43Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > When I was a kid, I had a big crush on Lu Ann Haslam, one of the three live-action stars of the live action/cartoon combo "The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. > > And, seeing [a recent pic](http://www.mofolandia.com.br/varios/Huckfinn_luann_haslam.jpg), I think I still do. Oh my God. Someone who understands. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-we-havnt-seen-since-they-were-kids-all-grown-up/503723/54 "2009-07-25T21:20:25Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > I’m mildly curious about what child stars went on to have a successful entertainment career in adult life. There are not a whole lot of them: Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, Elizabeth Taylor, and Ron Howard are the only ones that come quickly to mind. Others? Shia LaBoeuf, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera. ---
**Author:** ![Monstera\_deliciosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monstera_deliciosa/32/109_2.png) [@Monstera\_deliciosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstera_deliciosa)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-we-havnt-seen-since-they-were-kids-all-grown-up/503723/55 "2009-07-25T22:31:00Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > I’m mildly curious about what child stars went on to have a successful entertainment career in adult life. There are not a whole lot of them: Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, Elizabeth Taylor, and Ron Howard are the only ones that come quickly to mind. Others? Jodie Foster. Helen Hunt. The latter wasn’t a child “star” but she was an actress. She appeared as Murray’s daughter in at least one episode of \*The Mary Tyler Moore Show. \* ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-we-havnt-seen-since-they-were-kids-all-grown-up/503723/56 "2009-07-25T23:22:11Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > Christian Bale, Seth Green, Elijah Wood, Sean Astin. Depending on what you mean by child “star”, of course. But I’m highly impressed by Seth Green as someone who seems never to have stopped working. And in this thread [Sarah Polley](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Polley), who has been a very big deal in Canadian cinema in particular since she was a little girl. Somewhere online there is a discussion where she talks about inadvertent exploitation of child actors, particularly in relation to her own work on the difficult _Baron Munchausen_ set. Apparently her experience was less than positive, something the adults around her, including Gilliam, seemed somewhat unaware of. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-we-havnt-seen-since-they-were-kids-all-grown-up/503723/57 "2009-07-26T03:03:50Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > -The little girl from Kevin Costner’s Waterworld was Tina Majorino who also starred as Deb in Napoleon Dynamite. And Mac in [Veronica Mars](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cindy_%22Mac%22_Mackenzie). Plus, she’s in a [band](http://www.myspace.com/amproject). ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-we-havnt-seen-since-they-were-kids-all-grown-up/503723/58 "2009-07-26T05:11:06Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > I’m mildly curious about what child stars went on to have a successful entertainment career in adult life. There are not a whole lot of them: Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, Elizabeth Taylor, and Ron Howard are the only ones that come quickly to mind. Others? What’s a child “star” and what qualifies as “child” and “adult?” And how long does someone have to continue working to be considered to have a “successful” career? How about Melissa Gilbert, Sara Gilbert, Sarah Chalke, [Patrick Laborteaux](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0479779/), Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shannon Doherty, Alyssa Milano, Mischa Barton, Kim Fields, Shelley Fabares, Valerie Bertinelli, [Martha Plimpton](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000588/), Brooke Shields, Michael J. Fox, Jason Bateman, Justine Bateman, [Regina King](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005093/)… ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Violaceous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Miss\_Violaceous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Violaceous)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-we-havnt-seen-since-they-were-kids-all-grown-up/503723/59 "2009-07-26T15:48:15Z")
I (briefly) went to middle school with Ashley Johnson. She worked a fair amount back then, including a role as one of the bratty children in Nine Months. Now she looks like this: [http://www.celebritydesktop.com/images/actresses/ashley\_johnson.jpg](http://www.celebritydesktop.com/images/actresses/ashley_johnson.jpg) Also, little Naomi Wildman from Star Trek: Voyager grew up to be a smoking hot redhead. Redheads seem to be “in” right now, so she should get more work! But it looks like she’s pursuing a music career at the moment. [http://www.scarlettpomers.com/enter.html](http://www.scarlettpomers.com/enter.html) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-we-havnt-seen-since-they-were-kids-all-grown-up/503723/60 "2009-07-26T17:57:26Z")
TCM had _Stand by Me_ on last night, which prompted me to look up what [Andy “Lardass” Lindberg](http://web.mac.com/adlindberg/New/Welcome.html) [has been up to](http://web.mac.com/adlindberg/New/Resume.html). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-we-havnt-seen-since-they-were-kids-all-grown-up/503723.md?page=2)