# Cute kid actors who grew up to be not so cute... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 31, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-kid-actors-who-grew-up-to-be-not-so-cute/611313 "2012-01-31T15:57:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-kid-actors-who-grew-up-to-be-not-so-cute/611313/61 "2012-02-01T04:24:09Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > 19 is a child. If Jeffrey Jones had made that his mantra, he’d have a serious career today. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-kid-actors-who-grew-up-to-be-not-so-cute/611313/62 "2012-02-01T04:25:09Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Lindsay Lohan? All we see her in anymore is booking photos and TMZ. What movie has she made that she didn’t look terrific in? ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-kid-actors-who-grew-up-to-be-not-so-cute/611313/63 "2012-02-01T05:08:45Z")
Gotta add my agreement that **Chefguy** ’s adult picture of Angela Cartwright just shows the effects of age. Back in the late 70s I remember seeing her on some talk show with one of her young kids and she was gorgeous. I did have a crush on her from “The Danny Thomas Show.” A really nice pic, perhaps from her later teens, but she _is_ wearing a ring: [http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/9559/AngelaCartwright\_K16.jpg](http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/9559/AngelaCartwright_K16.jpg) Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-kid-actors-who-grew-up-to-be-not-so-cute/611313/64 "2012-02-01T05:50:07Z")
Left hand and everything? She betrayed me. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-kid-actors-who-grew-up-to-be-not-so-cute/611313/65 "2012-02-02T01:31:20Z")
While he never did anything for me personally (just ‘not my type’), the [Britannica Kid](http://www.perfectduluthday.com/encyclopedia2.jpg)had a fan following in the '80s/early '90s. His name is Donavan Freburg, and he’s the son of political comedian and advertising millionaire Stan Freburg who directed the commercials (which I’m guessing may have something to do with how he got the job), and whatever '80s cute he had he kind of grew out of- [current vid that starts with his image](http://youtu.be/DLASBNDUU74?t=59s). He reminds me of Truman Capote. Davy Jones was a cute [child star](http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lr9ns1GMCj1qznyz8o1_500.jpg)on stage and grew into an adorable twink on [The Monkees](http://www.themortonreport.com/davey-jones.jpg) (when by his own statements he got enough she-ass to last him for three lifetimes), but sometime after his date with Marcia Brady he had a less than courteous 30s (though from [this pic](http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxak20aIsP1qznyz8o1_500.jpg) he still had no trouble getting pussy to come to him). Then he went through a serious “alcoholic with smoker skin” middle aged phase and looked really rough, but after some plastic surgery and probably lifestyle changes the last time I saw him he looked better. (Rule of thumb gauged from young pics of Capote, Jones, and lots of other smaller good looking young guys- really cute “twinks” [gay slang: young, hairless, of-age-but-boyish looks] don’t age well.) ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-kid-actors-who-grew-up-to-be-not-so-cute/611313/66 "2012-02-02T02:14:56Z")
Melissa Gilbert. She had a cute, if gawky, phase in her _Little House_ days, was borderline as a young adult, and then … ugh. A couple of face lifts and a nose job did not help. Ack. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-kid-actors-who-grew-up-to-be-not-so-cute/611313/67 "2012-02-02T02:30:01Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > Melissa Gilbert. She had a cute, if gawky, phase in her _Little House_ days, was borderline as a young adult, and then … ugh. A couple of face lifts and a nose job did not help. Ack. The fact she comes across as a self-absorbed bitch in interviews doesn’t help either. ---
**Author:** ![bahia\_hombre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@bahia\_hombre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bahia_hombre)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-kid-actors-who-grew-up-to-be-not-so-cute/611313/68 "2012-02-02T04:54:41Z")
[Bobby Brady?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:10.1.10MikeLookinlandByLuigiNovi.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-kid-actors-who-grew-up-to-be-not-so-cute/611313/69 "2012-02-02T05:07:25Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > Melissa Gilbert. She had a cute, if gawky, phase in her _Little House_ days, was borderline as a young adult, and then … ugh. A couple of face lifts and a nose job did not help. Ack. But those boobs Yowsa. ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-kid-actors-who-grew-up-to-be-not-so-cute/611313/70 "2012-02-02T05:58:06Z")
[Jonathan](http://samanthaiam.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/jerry-maguire-kid-then-and-now.jpg) [Lipnicki](http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-body/news/jonathan-lipnicki-explains-how-he-got-his-hot-body-20111111) from Jerry Maguire. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-kid-actors-who-grew-up-to-be-not-so-cute/611313/71 "2012-02-02T06:22:04Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > It’s a GOOD thing that you just done, runner pat. A REAL good thing. You’re a bad man, **Astorian** , a _very_ bad man! ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-kid-actors-who-grew-up-to-be-not-so-cute/611313/72 "2012-02-02T06:29:19Z")
> [@Girl\_From\_Mars](#): > > [Jonathan](http://samanthaiam.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/jerry-maguire-kid-then-and-now.jpg) [Lipnicki](http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-body/news/jonathan-lipnicki-explains-how-he-got-his-hot-body-20111111) from Jerry Maguire. The face is still too “human head weighs 8 pounds” to feel non-perv enough about him, but the body… that is almost objectively the definition of “anything but not hot”. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-kid-actors-who-grew-up-to-be-not-so-cute/611313/73 "2012-02-02T16:00:09Z")
> [@Superbia-acedia](#): > > Cute little Andy Keaton from Family Ties, Brian Bonsall: > > Granted, it’s a mug shot, but still, I don’t think he would look much better in the grocery store. Nah, granted he could use a shower and a shave, and the neck tattoo isn’t doing him any favors, but facial shape wise and features wise he is fairly attractive. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-kid-actors-who-grew-up-to-be-not-so-cute/611313/74 "2012-02-02T17:23:23Z")
Not all ‘cute’ kid actors are the kind you’d expect to be good-looking as adults, especially the boys. Ron Howard was supposed to be geeky and sweet and pretty much stayed that way. > [@Girl\_From\_Mars](#): > > [Jonathan](http://samanthaiam.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/jerry-maguire-kid-then-and-now.jpg) [Lipnicki](http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-body/news/jonathan-lipnicki-explains-how-he-got-his-hot-body-20111111) from Jerry Maguire. Wow. He was a rather odd-looking kid who grew up to be way better looking than I’d have expected. ---
**Author:** ![expectopatronum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/expectopatronum/32/173_2.png) [@expectopatronum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/expectopatronum)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-kid-actors-who-grew-up-to-be-not-so-cute/611313/75 "2012-02-02T19:10:12Z")
since we’re apparently doing anti-examples of this too, here’s one: [dudley dursley.](http://www.harry-potter-movie-buzz.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/harry-melling-dudley-dursley.jpg) > [@Irishman](#): > > Nah, granted he could use a shower and a shave, and the neck tattoo isn’t doing him any favors, but facial shape wise and features wise he is fairly attractive. i agree, there’s nothing wrong with him a shower couldn’t fix. the mug shot examples aren’t really fair. no one looks good in a mug shot except maybe paris hilton. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-kid-actors-who-grew-up-to-be-not-so-cute/611313/76 "2012-02-02T19:17:01Z")
I always thought the kid playing Dudley Dursley had way too much presence and intelligence for Dudley. Dudley in the books was mean and dumb. Slack-jawed and staring. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-kid-actors-who-grew-up-to-be-not-so-cute/611313/77 "2012-02-02T19:53:09Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > I always thought the kid playing Dudley Dursley had way too much presence and intelligence for Dudley. Dudley in the books was mean and dumb. Slack-jawed and staring. I hated that they dropped the character’s scenes in _Deathly Hallows_ because it showed how Dudley had changed (for the better). Per the producers, one reason they didn’t at least have him on camera for longer like Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia was because the actor had changed so much they didn’t think people would recognize him. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-kid-actors-who-grew-up-to-be-not-so-cute/611313/78 "2012-02-02T20:04:37Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > I hated that they dropped the character’s scenes in _Deathly Hallows_ because it showed how Dudley had changed (for the better). Per the producers, one reason they didn’t at least have him on camera for longer like Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia was because the actor had changed so much they didn’t think people would recognize him. On the Deathly Hallows I DVD (blu-ray at least) you can watch the entire deleted scene of Dudley saying goodbye to Harry outside their home. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cute-kid-actors-who-grew-up-to-be-not-so-cute/611313.md?page=3)