NBC Special on 6/21

[Brett Ferino]

We remember the characters, but whatever became of the young actors who made them famous? Malcolm-Jamal Warner (“The Cosby Show”) narrates “Child Stars, Then and Now,” a special one-hour look at 15 of America’s most beloved child stars. “Child Stars, Then and Now” will be telecast on Saturday, June 21, 8:00PM on NBC.

There is life after stardom, and these actors prove it. “Child Stars, Then and Now” shows us the many different and often surprising life paths of 15 former young stars. The special features interviews with the stars and chronicles the rise to fame and current whereabouts of Lisa Loring and Ken Weatherwax (Wednesday and Pugsley Addams, “The Addams Family”); Cary Guffey (Barry Guiler, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”); Larry Mathews (Richard ‘Richie’ Petrie, “The Dick Van Dyke Show”); Willie Aames (Tommy Bradford, “Eight Is Enough”); Candace Cameron (Donna Jo ‘D.J.’ Tanner, “Full House”); Angela Cartwright and Bill Mumy (Penny and Will Robinson, “Lost In Space”); Jill Whelan (Vicki Stubing, “The Love Boat”); Butch Patrick (Eddie Munster, “The Munsters”); Emmanuel Lewis (Webster Long, “Webster”); Haywood Nelson (Dwayne Nelson, “What’s Happening!!”); Danielle Spencer (Dee Thomas, “What’s Happening!!”); Peter Ostrum (Charlie Bucket, “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory”), and Jason Hervey (Wayne Arnold, “The Wonder Years”). The special also contains private footage and photos of the stars then and now.

The special will be followed by "The Cosby Show: A Look Back" at 9:00PM