# 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:** 3
**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, 6:44pm 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/1018746/41 "2025-05-24T18:44:27Z")
David and Ricky Nelson who played themselves on the Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet were both under 18 when the show started. Both have been successful outside of acting. However, while David did have a few forgettable roles on TV he made his show biz mark in directing and producing. Rick got a little notice as an actor early on for the movie Rio Bravo and some TV parts but his major success came as a musician. ---
**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, 6:51pm 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/1018746/42 "2025-05-24T18:51:22Z")
The requirements for this thread are: - Success at acting once not a child - Child (under 18) had a regular role on a sitcom. Successes as singer, real estate agents or fashion mogul need not apply. Whatever the Brady kids did, was hard to equate as successful acting careers, unless I’m missing something. Resuming a childhood character doesn’t feel quite the same. If the child actor has a good run at both Writing/Directing and some acting, I will accept that. ---
**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, 7:36pm 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/1018746/43 "2025-05-24T19:36:55Z")
Sorry, meant to state directly that the Nelson brothers weren’t really successful as actors. David is hardly remembered for his directing work and Rick’s career nearly died after his notoriety as a teen idol while he was still on the show. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 9:29pm 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/1018746/44 "2025-05-24T21:29:16Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > NPH is a good example, were their other kids on the show? I feel like he had a neighborhood friend. Max Casella was Vinnie, Doogie’s best friend, but he was born six years before NPH, so he was already an adult. Lisa Dean Ryan, who played Doogie’s girlfriend for the first several seasons, was 19 when the show began; Lucy Boyer, who was Vinnie’s girlfriend, was 17 when the show began, and is still working steadily. > [@aceplace57](#): > > Eve Plumb 1958 Eve Plumb has 73 screen credits, and only seven of them are for playing Jan Brady. She continues to find work, which I count as successful for an actor. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 9:52pm 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/1018746/45 "2025-05-24T21:52:56Z")
Shelly Fabares was 14 when she began appearing on _The Donna Reed Show_, as Reed’s daughter. She went on to star in numerous movies, and later, TV shows, including the long-running _Coach_. I just learned looking this up that she is the niece of actress Nanette Fabray (née Fabares). ---
**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, 10:10pm 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/1018746/46 "2025-05-24T22:10:58Z")
Also One Day at a Time will her Aunt. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 10:23pm 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/1018746/47 "2025-05-24T22:23:16Z")
_Boy Meets World_, perhaps? Ben Savage was 13 when the show started, and has credits as recent as 2022. Rider Strong was 14, and has credits from 2022. Will Friedle was 17, and continues to work, primarily as a voice actor. Danielle Fishel was 12 when the show debuted, is still working. Maitland Ward was 16, and works in adult films now. Ethan Suplee was 17, and still works. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 10:24pm 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/1018746/48 "2025-05-24T22:24:09Z")
Probably excluded by the condition of not being a sit-com, but the successful Australian soaps _Neighbours_ and _Home and Away_ churned through decades of young Australian talent, many of whom hit international recognition afterwards. I’ve heard it argued that the way these are filmed (lots of outdoor filming so cannot waste time, no stars just an ensemble cast, and having to turn up knowing your lines or you get written out real quick) gives them a professionalism that makes them attractive. Mainly they came in at 17-18 through to early 20s, and I’m not going to bother doing the sums as to which ones are within the strict limits of teenagerhood, but the [linked article here](https://www.businessinsider.com/stars-who-started-on-neighbours-home-and-away-2017-9) (don’t worry, its a scroller, not an endless clickbaiter) gives you a list to work through if you want. It includes Margot Robbie (in), Chris Hemsworth (out), Isla Fisher (in), Melissa George (in), Guy Pearce (out) - so Oscar, Grammy, Emmy winners galore. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 10:49pm 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/1018746/49 "2025-05-24T22:49:11Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > One of the Sprouse twins from _Zack and Cody_ went on to act in other shows. Brenda Song was 15 when Suite Life started and has had a decent acting career. ---
**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, 10:50pm 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/1018746/50 "2025-05-24T22:50:54Z")
Selena Gomez was on the Suite Life of Zack&Cody when she was 13 or 14. Clearly successful as an actress. She’s another one off, gonna be difficult to beat the Cosby Show. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 11:01pm 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/1018746/51 "2025-05-24T23:01:43Z")
Add Victoria Justice to that show though! Not quite caught up to The Cosby Show but getting close … ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 11:09pm 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/1018746/52 "2025-05-24T23:09:35Z")
Does Joseph Gordon -Levitt count? He was 15 when “Third Rock from the Sun” debuted, but had many credits before it. ---
**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, 11:11pm 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/1018746/53 "2025-05-24T23:11:28Z")
I think he counts. Soaps really don’t for this thread. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 11:34pm 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/1018746/54 "2025-05-24T23:34:25Z")
The Mickey Mouse Club may or may not count as a sitcom, but the last version of it (1989-1994) had a lot of future stars (age when they started in the show in parentheses): Keri Russell (15) Christina Aguilera (13) Ryan Gosling (13) Britney Spears (12) Justin Timberlake (12) and Nikki DeLoach (14) (who is something of a star in a bunch of Hallmark movies) ---
**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, 11:35pm 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/1018746/55 "2025-05-24T23:35:59Z")
**Not a sitcom.** ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2025, 1:03am 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/1018746/56 "2025-05-25T01:03:27Z")
Wait I lost sight that they were supposed to be ensemble casts of kids. _goes to check on Just The Ten Of Us and 8 Simple Rules cast…_ ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2025, 1:13am 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/1018746/57 "2025-05-25T01:13:11Z")
How could you forget the other two kids on **Family Ties**? Jennifer (Tina Yothers b. 1973) and Andy (Brian Bonsall b. 1981) should count for something. Little Brian went on to be Worf’s son Alexander on Star Trek: TNG, among other roles. Tina has a few other acting credits as well. They’re not Annette Funicello level but they ain’t Chip Cunningham either. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2025, 1:33am 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/1018746/58 "2025-05-25T01:33:29Z")
**Saved by The Bell** had Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Elizabeth Berkley, Mario Lopez and Tiffany Amber Thiessen start the show as minors and they have had active careers as adults. ---
**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 25, 2025, 1:33am 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/1018746/59 "2025-05-25T01:33:41Z")
Please go check IMDB, Tina Yothers has not had a successful acting career as an adult. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2025, 1:37am 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/1018746/60 "2025-05-25T01:37:19Z")
Zendaya was in a Disney Channel sitcom called Shake it Up [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=2) [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=4)