# What sitcom had a lot of child actors that were regulars go on to success as actors . Actors had to be minors to count, not playing minors **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [May 24, 2025, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746 "2025-05-24T13:10:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/21 "2025-05-24T16:15:36Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Fred Savage - still acting > Danica McKellar - several dozen Hallmark Xmas movies > Jason Harvey - still acting > Probably others, it’s been awhile since I’ve seen it Josh Saviano, who played Kevin’s best friend Paul, left acting after the show ended. Olivia d’Abo, who played the older sister Karen, has had a steady acting career, but she was already 19 when the show premiered. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/22 "2025-05-24T16:21:56Z")
One of the Sprouse twins from _Zack and Cody_ went on to act in other shows. Oh, Cole Sprouse was on _Riverdale_ Kelly from _Married with Children_ went on to other acting roles on movies. (Applegate) Candace Cameron Bure. Lets not forget her success. Many young actors from Disney channel went on to being very successful. Ariana Grande. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/23 "2025-05-24T16:40:53Z")
Brady Bunch Premiered September 26, 1969 Barry and Maureen were past 18 when it ended March 8, 1974 Christopher Knight 1957 Mike Lookinland 1960 Eve Plumb 1958 Susan Olsen 1961 Maureen McCormick 1956 Barry Williams 1954 ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/24 "2025-05-24T16:47:53Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Brady Bunch > > Premiered September 26, 1969 > > Barry and Maureen were past 18 when it ended March 8, 1974 Yes, but how many of them wound up being successful actors as adults, as the OP asks? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/25 "2025-05-24T16:49:58Z")
I think all of them acted afterward. Barry and Maureen were the most sucessful. Susan was a train wreck for awhile. She has some credits after cleaning up. None were stars afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![Julius\_Henry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8797f3/32.png) [@Julius\_Henry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Julius_Henry)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/26 "2025-05-24T17:05:37Z")
The TV series based on _Paper Moon_ was not successful, but their Addie Pray was played by 12 year old Jodie Foster, who has been quite successful as an actress since then. ---
**Author:** ![We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/We_re_wolves_not_werewolves)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/27 "2025-05-24T17:07:15Z")
That 70’s show? I know for a fact Mila Kunis and Laura Prepon were under 18 when that started. Some of the others may have been just around 18 at that time. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/28 "2025-05-24T17:13:52Z")
> [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](#): > > That 70’s show? I know for a fact Mila Kunis and Laura Prepon were under 18 when that started. Kunis (now famously) was only 14 when she was cast (having lied about her age), and had just turned 15 when the show premiered in August of 1998, but Prepon had already turned 18 in March of that year. Wilmer Valderrama was also 18, Topher Grace and Ashton Kutcher were 20, and Danny Masterson was 22. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/29 "2025-05-24T17:29:25Z")
Clint Howard was eight when he starred in _Gentle Ben_ from 67-69. Now, I don’t know if one would consider his adult acting career a ‘success’, but his Wiki page lists a boatload of movie credits and another boatload of TV series credits. He’s appeared in 17 movies directed by his big brother Ron. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/30 "2025-05-24T17:34:38Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Now, I don’t know if one would consider his adult acting career a ‘success’… If Danny Bonaduce is considered a success then I think Jay North would qualify for this list too. Actually though, I don’t consider either to be successful after the roles they became known for. ---
**Author:** ![We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/We_re_wolves_not_werewolves)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/31 "2025-05-24T17:36:11Z")
doh! And it was right in the OP if I had read it carefully! Hmm, what about a classic from my childhood, Silver Spoons? Ricky Schroeder, Jason Bateman, and Alfonso Ribeiro starred. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/32 "2025-05-24T17:39:26Z")
Elinor Donahue was still only 17 when Father Knows Best began. Only about 6 months from her 18th birthday so very close to the line. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/33 "2025-05-24T17:40:35Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > If Danny Bonaduce is considered a success then I think Jay North would qualify for this list too. Actually though, I don’t consider either to be successful after the roles they became known for. To the extent that Bonaduce has had a successful career as an adult, it’s been as a radio and TV personality (radio host, TV talk show host, reality-TV star), rather than as an actor. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/34 "2025-05-24T17:44:01Z")
It’s still early for Modern Family but Ariel Winter 1998 Rico Rodriguez 1998 are already getting roles. Modern Family premiered September 23, 2009 Ariel is doing really well. Especially since Covid slowed everyone down in 2020. Link [Ariel Winter - IMDb](https://m.imdb.com/name/nm1736769/) It’ll be a few more years before their post sitcom careers can be judged. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/35 "2025-05-24T17:57:46Z")
Tuesday Weld was 16 when she first appeared on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/36 "2025-05-24T18:11:22Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > If **Freaks and Geeks** counts as a sitcom, it probably wins. The 3 younger kids were under 18 and all successful and still working as actors. [John Francis Daley](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0197855/?ref_=tt_cst_t_1), > [Samm Levine](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0505949/?ref_=tt_cst_t_3) & [Martin Starr](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0771414/?ref_=tt_cst_t_6). The older kids have done great overall, but don’t count, even Seth Rogan was 19. Seth Rogan was born in 1982 and the show was in 1999, so he was definitely a minor. ---
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/37 "2025-05-24T18:14:46Z")
Growing Pains. Although I’m loathe to consider Kirk Cameron as successful, the show also had a young Leonardo DiCaprio (towards the end of the series, at least). ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/38 "2025-05-24T18:17:20Z")
_Blossom_ had Mayim Bialik, Joey Lawrence & Jenna von Oy, all 3 had adult success. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/39 "2025-05-24T18:21:53Z")
I would not consider Danny successful as an actor. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746/40 "2025-05-24T18:23:11Z")
Oh, glad to be wrong, he might be one of the biggest successes then. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sitcom-had-a-lot-of-child-actors-that-were-regulars-go-on-to-success-as-actors-actors-had-to-be-minors-to-count-not-playing-minors/1018746.md?page=3)