Best / Worst child & teen actors from sitcoms or dramas - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Ireneparalegal · 09-07-2007, 11:47 PM

My best are characters that didn't seem "adult-like", they talked in a way that was real and not "scripted"; they flowed really well on their respective shows.

Best:

Tabitha Stevens (Bewitched)
Little Ricky (I Love Lucy)
Adam Rich (Eight is Enough)
The kids on Roseanne
The kids on The Waltons
Opie (The Andy Griffith Show)
Beaver (Leave It to Beaver)
The kids on Family Affair
The boys on My Three Sons
Tommy (Alice)
The kids from the Brady Bunch (Not including Robbie Rist)
Eddie (The Courtship of Eddie's Father)
Thelma (Good Times)
The girls from One Day At A Time
Rudy and Theo (The Cosby Show)
Joanie, Richie (Happy Days)
Dee and Roger (What's Happening)
The kids from The Wonder Years
The kids from Bernie Mac
The kids from Brothers Garcia
The kids from Everybody Loves Raymond
Max (George Lopez Show)
The kids from According To Jim
The kids from Little House on the Prairie
The girls from Facts of Life
Brenda (227)

My worst are children who were over the top, were more annoying than funny, etc.

Worst:

Olivia, Denise (The Cosby Show)
The kids from Full House
The kids from Who's The Boss
The boys from Home Improvement
The kids from Make Room For Daddy
Chachi (Happy Days)
Vicky (The Love Boat)
Lucy's kids on The Lucy Show
Arnold (Diff'rent Strokes)
The kids from Growing Pains
Punky Brewster

dawsongirl · 09-08-2007, 12:16 AM

Worst: The Olsen twins. Michelle was cute until she started talking a lot. Then it became apparent that they really couldn't act.

Boy Meets World was a toss up. Ryder Strong and Will Fridle (sp?) were good...not sold on the rest of the kids. Danielle Fishel fell somewhere in the middle. Ben Savage was not his brother.

Never really had a problem with the teens on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. Well, that girl who played Dreama couldn't act.

Zoneboy · 09-08-2007, 12:22 AM

I would also add Billy Mumy and Angela Cartwright of Lost In Space to the best list.

comedyfreak · 09-08-2007, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

I would also add Billy Mumy and Angela Cartwright of Lost In Space to the best list.

Me too, along with Butch Patrick as Eddie Munster
Ken Weatherwax and Lisa Loring as Pugsley and Wednesday Addams

waichingliu81 · 09-08-2007, 06:48 AM

best/favourites

rudy, olivia, theo huxtable (the cosby show)
DJ connor (roseanne)
arnold jackson (diff'rent strokes)
bud bundy (married with children)

worst

nicky (the fresh prince of bel air)
the olsen twins
bradley, randy, mark (home improvement)
the second claire (my wife and kids)
becky (roseanne)

comedyfreak · 09-08-2007, 08:02 AM

I forgot about Bud Bundy, he was very cool.

waichingliu81 · 09-08-2007, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

I forgot about Bud Bundy, he was very cool.

yeah, well he was also very funny but that was all thanks to the actor who played him, david faustino. he was great as bud. i cannot of anyone else who could've played that character as well as he has done, nor perform it better than david

mstewart · 09-08-2007, 09:46 AM

Best:
Kim Fields - Facts of Life
Nancy McKeon - Facts of Life
Angela Powell - The New Dick Van Dyke Show (She played Dick's daughter Annie)
Shelley Fabares - The Donna Reed Show
Kirk Cameron - Growing Pains (He was natural)
Will Smith - The Fresh Prince of Bel Air
MacKenzie Phillips - One Day At A Time
Keisha Knight Pullum - The Cosby Show
Tracey Gold - Growing Pains
Ricky Schroder - Silver Spoons

Worst:
Gary Coleman - Diff'rent Strokes (The Arnold stick got old fast)
Raven - The Cosby Show (That grown up dialogue grated on my nerves)

catlover79 · 09-08-2007, 10:18 AM

Ron Howard gets my vote as top child actor ever.

Worst? Glenn Scarpelli. He always made me CRINGE.

icecream · 09-08-2007, 11:46 AM

my top 10
1. Fred Savage (The Wonder Years)
2. Michael J. Fox (Family Ties)
3. Beverley Mitchell (7th Heaven)
4. Amy Davidson (8 Simple Rules)
5. Amber Tamblyn (Joan of Arcadia)
6. Kirk Cameron (Growing Pains)
7. Justine Bateman (Family Ties)
8. Erin Moran (Happy Days)
9. Jonathan Taylor Thomas (Home Improvement)
10. Cole and Dylan Sprouse (Suite Life of Zack & Cody)

the worst
Nikolas and Lorenzo Brino (7th Heaven)
Conner Rayburn (According to Jim)

JulieSomoski · 09-08-2007, 12:42 PM

Great list, Irene! It's perfect - wouldn't change a thing about it.

megamanj2004 · 09-08-2007, 12:51 PM

Best:
The kids from Facts of Life, The
Theo and Rudy - Cosby Show, The
Michael J. Fox - Family Ties
Fred Savage and Danica McKellar - Wonder Years, the
All the kids (except for Joey and/or Matthew Lawrence) on Gimme a Break!
Ron Howard

Worst:
The kids on Who's the Boss? (especially Danny Pintauro)
Joey Lawrence (when he was on Gimme a Break!)
Emmanuel Lewis (?) - Webster (Isn't it kinda creepy that Emmanuel was 12 when Webster first started and he played a 6 year-old on the show? And he was around 17 when the show was in its last season playing a Jr. High School student).
Gary Coleman (Arnold's Schtick got really old and really annoying really fast!)
Danny Cooksey's Character on Diff'rent Strokes
Chachi (Joanie Loves Chachi)
Raven Symone (any show she sets her foot into is INSTANT SHARK BAIT!)
Denise and Vanessa Huxtable - Cosby Show, The
Screech - Saved By the Bell (for the most part, it's for Dustin Diamond's behavior off the cameras on SbtB and his behavior on "Celebrity Fit Club")

waichingliu81 · 09-08-2007, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by megamanj2004

Best:
The kids from Facts of Life, The
Theo and Rudy - Cosby Show, The
Michael J. Fox - Family Ties
Fred Savage and Danica McKellar - Wonder Years, the
All the kids (except for Joey and/or Matthew Lawrence) on Gimme a Break!
Ron Howard

Worst:
The kids on Who's the Boss? (especially Danny Pintauro)
Joey Lawrence (when he was on Gimme a Break!)
Emmanuel Lewis (?) - Webster (Isn't it kinda creepy that Emmanuel was 12 when Webster first started and he played a 6 year-old on the show? And he was around 17 when the show was in its last season playing a Jr. High School student).
Gary Coleman (Arnold's Schtick got really old and really annoying really fast!)
Danny Cooksey's Character on Diff'rent Strokes
Chachi (Joanie Loves Chachi)
Raven Symone (any show she sets her foot into is INSTANT SHARK BAIT!)
Denise and Vanessa Huxtable - Cosby Show, The
Screech - Saved By the Bell (for the most part, it's for Dustin Diamond's behavior off the cameras on SbtB and his behavior on "Celebrity Fit Club")

oh i forgot about screech. god he was so annoying

RapunzeL · 09-08-2007, 02:19 PM

The absolute worst child actor was Richie Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show. No wonder he hardly ever came out of his room.

Zoneboy · 09-08-2007, 02:28 PM

The best list should also include:

Jay North - Dennis the Menace
John Provost - Lassie/Timmy and Lassie
Tommy Rettig - Lassie/Jeff's Collie

Although it wasn't a tv series, Some of the finest child actors ever were the kids from Our Gang including:

George "Spanky" McFarland
Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer
Tommy "Butch" Bond
Darla Hood
Robert "Wheezer" Hutchins
Billy "Buckwheat" Thomas
Eugene "Porky" Lee
Alan "Farina" Hoskins
Matthew "Stymie" Beard
Jackie Cooper Etc...

09-07-2007, 11:47 PM	#1
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,691	Best / Worst child & teen actors from sitcoms or dramas My best are characters that didn't seem "adult-like", they talked in a way that was real and not "scripted"; they flowed really well on their respective shows. Best: Tabitha Stevens (Bewitched) Little Ricky (I Love Lucy) Adam Rich (Eight is Enough) The kids on Roseanne The kids on The Waltons Opie (The Andy Griffith Show) Beaver (Leave It to Beaver) The kids on Family Affair The boys on My Three Sons Tommy (Alice) The kids from the Brady Bunch (Not including Robbie Rist) Eddie (The Courtship of Eddie's Father) Thelma (Good Times) The girls from One Day At A Time Rudy and Theo (The Cosby Show) Joanie, Richie (Happy Days) Dee and Roger (What's Happening) The kids from The Wonder Years The kids from Bernie Mac The kids from Brothers Garcia The kids from Everybody Loves Raymond Max (George Lopez Show) The kids from According To Jim The kids from Little House on the Prairie The girls from Facts of Life Brenda (227) My worst are children who were over the top, were more annoying than funny, etc. Worst: Olivia, Denise (The Cosby Show) The kids from Full House The kids from Who's The Boss The boys from Home Improvement The kids from Make Room For Daddy Chachi (Happy Days) Vicky (The Love Boat) Lucy's kids on The Lucy Show Arnold (Diff'rent Strokes) The kids from Growing Pains Punky Brewster
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09-08-2007, 12:22 AM	#3
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,412	I would also add Billy Mumy and Angela Cartwright of Lost In Space to the best list.
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09-08-2007, 10:18 AM	#9
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Ron Howard gets my vote as top child actor ever. Worst? Glenn Scarpelli. He always made me CRINGE.
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09-08-2007, 11:46 AM	#10
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,808	my top 10 1. Fred Savage (The Wonder Years) 2. Michael J. Fox (Family Ties) 3. Beverley Mitchell (7th Heaven) 4. Amy Davidson (8 Simple Rules) 5. Amber Tamblyn (Joan of Arcadia) 6. Kirk Cameron (Growing Pains) 7. Justine Bateman (Family Ties) 8. Erin Moran (Happy Days) 9. Jonathan Taylor Thomas (Home Improvement) 10. Cole and Dylan Sprouse (Suite Life of Zack & Cody) the worst Nikolas and Lorenzo Brino (7th Heaven) Conner Rayburn (According to Jim)
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09-08-2007, 12:42 PM	#11
JulieSomoski Roseanne Reboot - March 27! Forum Veteran Join Date: Nov 06, 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,558	Great list, Irene! It's perfect - wouldn't change a thing about it.
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09-08-2007, 12:16 AM	#2
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,134	Worst: The Olsen twins. Michelle was cute until she started talking a lot. Then it became apparent that they really couldn't act. Boy Meets World was a toss up. Ryder Strong and Will Fridle (sp?) were good...not sold on the rest of the kids. Danielle Fishel fell somewhere in the middle. Ben Savage was not his brother. Never really had a problem with the teens on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. Well, that girl who played Dreama couldn't act.

09-08-2007, 06:48 AM	#5
waichingliu81 debbie allen Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2006 Location: london, england, UK Posts: 4,347	best/favourites rudy, olivia, theo huxtable (the cosby show) DJ connor (roseanne) arnold jackson (diff'rent strokes) bud bundy (married with children) worst nicky (the fresh prince of bel air) the olsen twins bradley, randy, mark (home improvement) the second claire (my wife and kids) becky (roseanne)

09-08-2007, 08:02 AM	#6
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,060	I forgot about Bud Bundy, he was very cool.

09-08-2007, 09:46 AM	#8
mstewart mstewart Senior Member Join Date: Jan 25, 2002 Location: California Posts: 1,780	Best: Kim Fields - Facts of Life Nancy McKeon - Facts of Life Angela Powell - The New Dick Van Dyke Show (She played Dick's daughter Annie) Shelley Fabares - The Donna Reed Show Kirk Cameron - Growing Pains (He was natural) Will Smith - The Fresh Prince of Bel Air MacKenzie Phillips - One Day At A Time Keisha Knight Pullum - The Cosby Show Tracey Gold - Growing Pains Ricky Schroder - Silver Spoons Worst: Gary Coleman - Diff'rent Strokes (The Arnold stick got old fast) Raven - The Cosby Show (That grown up dialogue grated on my nerves)

09-08-2007, 12:51 PM	#12
megamanj2004 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 21, 2004 Posts: 2,359	Best: The kids from Facts of Life, The Theo and Rudy - Cosby Show, The Michael J. Fox - Family Ties Fred Savage and Danica McKellar - Wonder Years, the All the kids (except for Joey and/or Matthew Lawrence) on Gimme a Break! Ron Howard Worst: The kids on Who's the Boss? (especially Danny Pintauro) Joey Lawrence (when he was on Gimme a Break!) Emmanuel Lewis (?) - Webster (Isn't it kinda creepy that Emmanuel was 12 when Webster first started and he played a 6 year-old on the show? And he was around 17 when the show was in its last season playing a Jr. High School student). Gary Coleman (Arnold's Schtick got really old and really annoying really fast!) Danny Cooksey's Character on Diff'rent Strokes Chachi (Joanie Loves Chachi) Raven Symone (any show she sets her foot into is INSTANT SHARK BAIT!) Denise and Vanessa Huxtable - Cosby Show, The Screech - Saved By the Bell (for the most part, it's for Dustin Diamond's behavior off the cameras on SbtB and his behavior on "Celebrity Fit Club")
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09-08-2007, 02:19 PM	#14
RapunzeL Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 06, 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 19	The absolute worst child actor was Richie Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show. No wonder he hardly ever came out of his room.

09-08-2007, 02:28 PM	#15
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,412	The best list should also include: Jay North - Dennis the Menace John Provost - Lassie/Timmy and Lassie Tommy Rettig - Lassie/Jeff's Collie Although it wasn't a tv series, Some of the finest child actors ever were the kids from Our Gang including: George "Spanky" McFarland Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer Tommy "Butch" Bond Darla Hood Robert "Wheezer" Hutchins Billy "Buckwheat" Thomas Eugene "Porky" Lee Alan "Farina" Hoskins Matthew "Stymie" Beard Jackie Cooper Etc...