Here's a list of 10 formerly famous tykes who bucked the odds and emerged from childhood TV stardom -- often after long periods in which they took time off or struggled to find work -- and became famous adults in their own right. We couldn't be more proud. If there are other TV child stars who now have Hollywood careers you admire, let us know in the comments section.

Tatyana Ali
Claim to Fame: Ashley Banks on 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' (was also 'Sesame Street')
How Old Was She? 11
What She's Up to Now: The 30-year-old has a recurring role on 'The Young and the Restless' as Roxanne; she also headed voter registration drives during the last presidential election and appeared in Will.i.am.'s 'Yes We Can' video.

Jason Bateman
Claim to Fame: James Cooper Ingalls on 'Little House on the Prairie,' Derek Taylor on 'Silver Spoons'
How Old Was He? 12
What He's Up to Now: A decade after his 'Teen Wolf' years, Bateman emerged as the star of the cult hit show 'Arrested Development' and proved a scene-stealer in movies like 'Juno' and 'Hancock.' At the age of 40, he's graduated (back) to leading-man status in Mike Judge's 'Extract.'

Candace Cameron Bure
Claim to Fame: D.J. Tanner on 'Full House'
How Old Was She? 11
What She's Up to Now: After taking time off to raise a family (she's married to Russian hockey player Valeri Bure, brother of famed NHL star Pavel Bure), the 33-year-old came back to play Summer Van Horn on ABC Family's teen-gymnast show 'Make It or Break It.' Her character is dating the dad of gymnast Lauren, whose last name, interestingly enough, is Tanner.

Melissa Gilbert
Claim to Fame: Laura Ingalls on 'Little House on the Prairie'
How Old Was She? 10
What She's Up to Now: She beat Valerie Harper to become president of the Screen Actors Guild in 2001, and served two terms before stepping down in 2005. Her autobiography 'Prairie Tale: A Memoir' was published in June, and she's married to Bruce Boxleitner; their son is named Michael in honor of 'Little House' star Michael Landon. Gilbert is 45.

Sara Gilbert
Claim to Fame: Darlene Conner on 'Roseanne'
How Old Was She? 13
What She's Up to Now: Melissa's adoptive half-sister, now 34, has spent three seasons on 'The Big Bang Theory' as Leslie Winkle, a scientist who's romantically involved with Leonard -- played by Johnny Galecki, who was Darlene's boyfriend (and later husband) on 'Roseanne.'

Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Claim to Fame: Tommy Solomon on 'Third Rock from the Sun'
How Old Was He? 15 (also appeared on the 'Dark Shadows' remake at 10)
What He's Up to Now: After a string of critically acclaimed but underseen indies ('Mysterious Skin,' 'Brick,' 'The Lookout'), Gordon-Levitt finally scored an indie success this summer with the sleeper hit '(500) Days of Summer.' And he's still only 28 years old.

Neil Patrick Harris
Claim to Fame: Doogie Howser on 'Doogie Howser, M.D.'
Age (Then): 16
How Old Was He? He's the legendary Barney Stinson on 'How I Met Your Mother,' and this year will achieve the grand distinction of hosting both the Tonys and the Emmys. 'HIMYM' fans are hoping that Harris, now 36, will host the Emmys and win one, too, as he heads into the show with his second Supporting Actor nomination.

Alyssa Milano
Claim to Fame: 'Who's the Boss?'
How Old Was She? 12
What She's Up to Now: Her TV series 'Romantically Challenged' almost made it onto ABC's fall schedule; it looks to be picked up for midseason. In real life, the 36-year-old may be romantically challenged no more: She recently wed agent David Bugliari, and she extols her love of baseball in her book: 'Safe at Home: Confessions of a Baseball Fanatic.'

Fred Savage
Claim to Fame: Kevin Arnold on 'The Wonder Years'
How Old Was He? 12
What He's Up to Now: Having mostly left acting behind, he's found renewed success at 33 as a TV director, directing episodes of kids' series 'Drake & Josh' and 'Hannah Montana' as well as the very adult series 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.'

Ricky Schroder
Claim to Fame: Ricky Stratton on 'Silver Spoons'
How Old Was He? 12
What He's Up to Now: He's kicked the child-star label at last with lead roles on 'NYPD Blue,' 'Strong Medicine' and '24.' And if you're keeping track at home, after trying on the more adult-sounding "Rick" for a while, Schroder announced in 2007 that he was going back to the name Ricky. It seems at 39 years old, he's got those insecurity issues licked.


http://insidetv.aol.com/2009/09/03/former-tv-child-stars-who-arent-crackheads/

That's a good list but I think Ron Howard is the epitome of a child TV star who makes good

There are several more that should be included such as:

Bill Mumy-Lost In Space
Butch Patrick-The Munsters
Brandon Cruz-The Courtship Of Eddie's Father
Susan Olsen-Cindy Brady

And many more..................................

I'm sure there are many more who turned out OK. The entertainment news focuses more on the train wrecks.

I'm sure there are many more who turned out OK. The entertainment news focuses more on the train wrecks.
Exactly.

Jerry Mathers
Paul Petersen
Paul O'Keefe
Erin Murphey
Stanley Livingston
Barry Livingston


Those are child actors that also turned out alright.

Not only that, Paul Petersen is THE major activist of child stars. Speaking of Jerry Mathers, his on-screen tormentor Ken Osmond (Eddie) even became a police officer!! :cool: :D

Great list. A few others who have turned out ok.
Christine Lakin
Raven Symone
Solelil Moon-Frye

Brice Beckham (Wesley of "Mr. Belvedere") seems to have turned out okay, too. Heck for that matter all of the Owens kids seem okay. Not much with the post-Belvedere work, but they're not in jail or anything.

Brice Beckham (Wesley of "Mr. Belvedere") seems to have turned out okay, too. Heck for that matter all of the Owens kids seem okay. Not much with the post-Belvedere work, but they're not in jail or anything.
Yes, plus Tracy Wells is a full-time wife/mom, so that's why she pretty much dropped out of the limelight after the show ended.

how about meloria hardin of the office and monk she has worked almost nonstop in movies and tv since 1977 she seemes to be doing great

That is a great list, and it's funny how Ron Howard isn't on there! I agree, he's probably the most successful of all in terms of the entertainment industry. I would also add Tony Dow to this list. Everyone made some great suggestions! I love Jason Bateman and it's really cool how successful he's become!

Keisha Knight Pulliam- The Cosby Show: I never hear anything bad about her, she seems to be doing good and staying out of trouble.

Mario Lopez- Saved By The Bell: Consistently Looks good and healthy. He stays in great shape. He's pretty successful hosting shows like Extra, Randy Jackson's Best Dancing Crew and being runner up on Dancing With The Stars.

Mark Paul Gosselaar- Saved By The Bell: Has 2 children and is happily married to the same woman going on 13 years! I never heard any negative stories surrounding him and his wife/marriage, for what i hear though, he's faithful and so is she! That says a lot in Hollowood! Has a successful show on TNT, Raising The Bar.

I would put Ben Savage on their as well. He turned out good just like his brother Fred

Ron Howard should be on the list.

It's nice to read a list of former child stars who have not ended up drug addicted, homeless, dead at a young age or in prison!

I got some others that turned out fine and didn't get into b-s:

Soleil Moon Frye - after Punky ended in 1988, she's done guest appearances on many shows, including "Saved by the Bell" before landing a semi-regular role on the later seasons of "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch." She's currently married to Jason Goldberg and have 2 daughters.

Michael J. Fox - although he's been suffering w/ Parkinson's disease, he's been holding up pretty well. He also had a second successful sitcom in "Spin City," which was also created by Gary David Golberg.

Will Smith - we all know what he's been up to and he's still doing great in the movies.

The Savage Bros.


Jason Bateman highly deserves to be on that list. He also holds the distinction of being the youngest person to ever direct a TV show.

Another name that should be added to this list is one of TV's earliest child stars, Keith Thibodeaux, who played little Ricky on I Love Lucy. He and his wife own and operate their own dance company, Ballet Magnificat.

The entire cast of "The Facts Of Life":

Lisa Whelchel has mostly left acting behind her and is now an outspoken Southern Baptist who raises her children in a strict religious home. She's written several best-selling books.

Mind Cohn still acts occassionaly but mostly does voice over work for animated series and animated movies.

Nancy McKeon has continued to act well into her adult life. She's starred in numerous TV Movies and two other series "Can't Hurry Love" which aired in 1994-1995 and "The Division" which ran from 2001-2004. She still turns up now and then in a movie of the week.

Kim Fields has avoided the pitfalls of child stardom with continued success as an actress and director. She's starred in "Living Single" and directed short-films and numerous other projects.

and then there is McKenzie Astin who has continued in the tradition of his mother Patty Duke and brother Sean Astin and found a successful career as a working actor.

Fred Savage
Claim to Fame: Kevin Arnold on 'The Wonder Years'
How Old Was He? 12
What He's Up to Now: Having mostly left acting behind, he's found renewed success at 33 as a TV director, directing episodes of ... the very adult series 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.'

That's just sad.

What about Tia & Tamera Mowry?

That's a good list but I think Ron Howard is the epitome of a child TV star who makes good

Same goes for his brother, Clint. He's not as well known as Ron, but he stills acts quite a bit(especially in alot of his brother's things!!). Awesome parental upbringing by the Howard's.

I'm also thinking Helen Hunt. I'm not sure if she was in any TV series, but I remember her on afterschool specials and she was also in an episode of The Bionic Woman. I'm sure she was in a few other episodes of other shows, before she started into movies.

Susan Olsen-Cindy Brady

And many more..........

How about the rest of the Brady's, well, with the exception of Maureen McCormick(bless her heart). Chris Knight is even the host of Trivial Pursuit:America Plays! I haven't heard of anything bad happening to the rest. Except for Maureen(did anybody read her book? Wow!) I know Monika did!

Tim Considine (Spin & Marty and My Three Sons)
Don Grady & Dawn Lyn (My Three Sons)
Kathy Garver & Johnnie Whitaker (Family Affair)
Bobby Burgess and others from Mickey Mouse Club

Great List.

How about the rest of the Brady's, well, with the exception of Maureen McCormick(bless her heart). Chris Knight is even the host of Trivial Pursuit:America Plays! I haven't heard of anything bad happening to the rest. Except for Maureen(did anybody read her book? Wow!) I know Monika did!
Yes, I did. I would recommend it to all sitcom fans. :cool: :D

That's just sad.

How is that sad?

How is that [Fred Savage working on "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia"] sad?

Because it's a show that is too edgy. It's bad enough for TV to "push the envelope", but for our own Kevin Arnold to be involved with it ... :eek:

I'm sorry, but working on offensive shows is in the same league as being a crackhead if you ask me.

Because it's a show that is too edgy. It's bad enough for TV to "push the envelope", but for our own Kevin Arnold to be involved with it ... :eek:

I'm sorry, but working on offensive shows is in the same league as being a crackhead if you ask me.

How is being a drug addict in the same league as one who works for adult-oriented television?

It's for adults; can't handle the big boys then don't watch it.

How is being being a drug addict in the same league as one who works for adult-oriented television?


I have to agree with you there. I can't stand watching shows like It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia either, but I don't see how creating a show like that is the same as getting into drugs, alcohol, crime, multiple sexual partners, and other reckless behavior.

The majority of the Little House kids (except for Melissa Gilbert, who revealed in her book Prairie Tale that she had a coke problem in the mid-late 80s) grew up without the influence of drugs. Not sure about Jonathan Gilbert, who fell off the radar screen years ago. Even Melissa admitted in her book that Jonathan cut off all ties to the Gilbert family years ago and she's only seen/talked to him a handful of times since he turned 18.

Re: "Our Kevin Arnold"
I think that's why some of these young stars get into trouble. They can't live up to our expectations of who we think they are or should be. Fred Savage is his own person, not the fictional Kevin Arnold.

If you don't like It's always sunny then don't watch, but making a show that isn't whitewashed and is for adults, not children is not a bad thing. not all tv should be sanitized and sappy and geared for children, some of us want to watch shows geared for an adult mind.

is david faustino a crackhead?

All the kids from the Waltons and Little House On The Prairie

KeKe Palmer

Tiffani Thiessen

Elizabeth Berkley

Fred Savage is also the co-star of "The Grinder" with Rob Lowe, which isn't too bad of a show.


Other child stars that haven't been mentioned who should be applauded:


Jodie Foster - Often cited with Ron Howard as the best example of a child star who grew up well. Noted more as a movie star, she made guest appearances on several sitcoms as a youngster, like "The Partridge Family", "Family Affair", "My Three Sons", "The Courtship Of Eddie's Father", and "Mayberry RFD" with her brother Buddy, who could also be on this list.

Butch Patrick (The Munsters)
Shelley Fabares (Donna Reed Show, Coach, One Day At A Time)
Valerie Bertinelli (One Day At A Time, Hot In Cleveland)
Angela Cartwright (Make Room For Daddy, Lost In Space) and her sister Veronica (Violet Rutherford on "Leave It To Beaver")
Erin Murphy (Bewitched)
Bill Mumy ("Lost In Space")