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How well do you know what happened to these child actors from the '70s and '80s? While some went on to achieve success in Hollywood, others crashed and burned. Where did your favorite child stars end up?
Jodie Foster
Jodie Foster began acting in television commercials at the age of three. When Foster was twelve years old, she was cast by Martin Scorsese as Iris, the child escort in Taxi Driver. Although the Los Angeles Welfare Board initially opposed her appearance in the film, she was eventually approved to work on set.
Foster transitioned into adult roles in the 1980s and '90s, earning critical acclaim for her performances in The Accused and The Silence of the Lambs, the later of which became one of the most successful films of 1991. These days, Foster is focusing more on directing rather than acting.
Molly Ringwald
In 1979, after appearing on Diff'rent Strokes, Molly Ringwald was cast on the spin-off The Facts of Life, where she played perky feminist student Molly Parker. Ringwald was let go after the first season, but she rose to stardom as a member of the Brat Pack in the 1980s, due to her performances in Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Pretty in Pink.
In 2008, Ringwald starred in The Secret Life of the American Teenager as the mother of the main character, which ran for five seasons. She later released a jazz record called Except Sometimes. In 2019, Ringwald, who is fluent in French, debuted as a translator, translating the French novel Lie With Me by Philippe Besson into English.
Donny Osmond
Donny Osmond was one of the biggest teen idols of the '70s. He rose to fame in the 1960s as part of The Osmonds with his four elder brothers. After Osmond moved on to a solo career, he became even more popular. He and his sister, Marie, hosted the popular variety series Donny & Marie from 1976 to 1979.
From 1998 until the turn of the century, Osmond and his sister hosted a talk show of the same name, earning them a Daytime Emmy Award nomination. He then competed on both The Masked Singer and Dancing with the Stars, the latter of which he won. Most recently, Osmond and Marie headlined a residency at the Flamingo Las Vegas for 11 years.
Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore shot to stardom at the age of 6 thanks to her role in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. The film was the highest-grossing of the 1980s and made her one of the most famous child actresses in history. Barrymore soon adopted a hard-partying lifestyle until she entered rehab at the age of 13, only to be institutionalized afterward for eighteen months.
In 1999, Barrymore earned a Former Child Star "Lifetime Achievement" Award, which commemorated her achievements as a child actress. In the 1990s and 2000s, Barrymore starred in a number of hits, including The Wedding Singer, Never Been Kissed, and Charlie's Angels. From 2017 to 2019, she served as the lead on the Netflix series Santa Clarita Diet.
Helen Hunt
With roles on the Mary Tyler Moore Show, Swiss Family Robinson, It Takes Two, and much more, Helen Hunt was a face to be recognized throughout the era. By the 1980s, Hunt began appearing in studio films aimed at a teenage demographic. Hunt's fame skyrocketed in the early 1990s thanks to the sitcom Mad About You.
Hunt's acting career is still lucrative as ever. She has received a number of accolades for her performances, including several Primetime Emmy Awards for her role in Mad About You, and an Academy Award for her performance as Carol Connelly in As Good As It Gets alongside co-star Jack Nicholson. She is also known for starring in films like Twister and Cast Away.
Linda Blair
Linda Blair rose to fame at the age of thirteen for her performance in The Exorcist. The role earned her an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress, but Blair became the center of controversy due to the film's graphic subject matter. She even received death threats from critics who believed that her character glorified Satan.
Although her acting career has slowed over the years, Blair has channeled her energy into becoming an animal rights activist and humanitarian. Blair worked with organizations like PETA and even established her own non-profit in 2004, the Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation, which rescues and rehabilitates abused and neglected animals. She is a vegan.
Janet Jackson
As the youngest member of the famous Jackson family, it’s no wonder Janet Jackson rose to stardom on Good Times. She also appeared in Fame and Diff’rent Strokes. When Jackson was sixteen, her father arranged a record contract, and her self-titled debut album, Janet Jackson, released in 1982.
While her brother Michael became a legend, Jackson has had tremendous success as a musician. She is known for her provocative and socially conscious records as well as her elaborate stage performances. As one of the best-selling musical artists in the world, Jackson has sold over 100 million records.
The Jackson 5
After signing with Motown in 1968, the Jackson 5 became the first group to debut with four consecutive number one hits: "I Want You Back", "ABC", "The Love You Save", and "I'll Be There". Although each of the brothers released solo albums, Michael Jackson was the most successful. The group was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1980.
In 2001, the full group only had one reunion seventeen years after disbanding, in which they performed at Madison Square Garden to commemorate Michael's career. Following Michael's death in 2009, the surviving brothers recorded a radio single and later went on tour.
Brooke Shields
Shields began modeling at 11 months old. Her first major film role was in Pretty Baby as a young child who lived in a brothel. By the age of 16, Shields had achieved stardom as both a model and a child actress.
Shields starred in Suddenly Susan from 1996 until 2000 and has since guest-starred in a number of programs, such as Nip/Tuck, Two and a Half Men, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She was close to Michael Jackson, whom she met at the age of 13, and was devastated by his passing.
Tatum O’Neal
In 1974, Tatum O'Neal became the youngest person ever to win an Academy Award at the age of 10 for her performance as Addie Loggins in Paper Moon. She acted opposite her father, Ryan O'Neal.
O'Neal appeared in a handful of films in the '70s and '80s, including The Bad News Bears and Little Darling. In 2008, O'Neal was arrested for possession of crack cocaine. She was briefly married to celebrity tennis player John McEnroe.
Marie Osmond
At first, Marie Osmond was one of the only Osmond siblings who did not become involved with the music industry, but her tune changed after Donny rose to teen idol status. Osmond signed with the family's label and became a successful country music singer, as well as the host of variety show Donny & Marie alongside her brother.
From September 2008 to November 2019, Marie and Donny's brother-sister act was the headliner in the showroom at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. The pair was honored by the Las Vegas Walk of Stars and received a star on the famous Las Vegas Strip in October 2019. October 4 is officially known as "Donny & Marie Day" in Las Vegas.
Danny Bonaduce
The son of veteran TV writer and producer Joseph Bonaduce, Danny Bonaduce rose to fame as a child actor of the 1970s on The Partridge Family, in which he played the wise-cracking bass-player Danny Bonaduce.
Since the show ended, Bonaduce has starred in a number of other TV series, including Breaking Bonaduce, a short-lived VH1 reality show about his life. He currently works as a radio host on The Danny Bonaduce & Sarah Morning Show.
River Phoenix
River Phoenix was the older brother of Joaquin Phoenix. He began acting in television commercials at the age of ten before his breakout role in Stand by Me, based on the novella The Body by Stephen King. By the time he turned eighteen, Phoenix had earned an Academy Award nomination for his role as Danny in Running on Empty.
Sadly, 23-year-old Phoenix passed away on October 31, 1993, from a drug overdose. At the time of his death, he was filming Dark Blood, which was released 19 years later, despite being incomplete. Prior to his death, Phoenix's public image was squeaky clean, due to his dedication to a variety of social, political, and humanitarian interests, including veganism.
David Cassidy
David Cassidy was best known for playing Keith Partridge on the 1970s musical-sitcom The Partridge Family. The role launched Cassidy's career as a teen idol and superstar pop singer of the decade. Sadly, it wasn't long before the lifestyle overtook him...
Cassidy first admitted that he suffered from an alcohol problem in 2008. Diagnosed with liver disease in 2017, Cassidy's health began to rapidly decline. He passed away in November of that year due to liver and kidney failure. "You know, I did it to myself, man. I did it to myself to cover up the sadness and the emptiness," he said shortly before he died.
Danny Lloyd
Danny Lloyd is best known for his role as Danny Torrance in the 1980 film adaptation of Stephen King's The Shining. Kubrick was able to film all of the six-year-old boy's scenes without making Lloyd aware that he was in a horror movie; Lloyd believed he was acting in a drama film about a family who lived in a hotel. He retired from acting at the age of ten.
Lloyd went on to become an anatomy professor at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. He had a brief cameo in 2019's The Shining sequel Doctor Sleep as a spectator at a baseball game. For the most part, Lloyd, who is married with four children, has managed to keep his personal life private.
Gaby Hoffman
Gaby Hoffmann began acting in commercials at the age of four to help support her family. In 1989, Hoffmann had her film debut alongside Kevin Costner in Field of Dreams. She was then cast in Uncle Buck with rising star Macaulay Culkin, whom she did not like. Upon hearing of his success, Hoffmann was driven to outperform him, earning roles in This is My Life and Sleepless in Seattle with Tom Hanks.
After seeing Hoffmann's performance on Louis C.K.'s third season of Louie, Jill Soloway wrote the role of Ari Pfefferman, the youngest sibling of the Pfefferman family, for her specifically. Hoffmann has a daughter with her longtime partner, cinematographer Chris Dapkins.
Peter Ostrum
Peter Ostrum only had one role during his time in showbusiness—he played Charlie Bucket opposite Gene Wilder in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Ostrum was scouted by talent agents in the sixth grade while performing in the Cleveland Playhouse children's theater.
Ostrum was offered a three-picture contract, but he turned it down. Today, Ostrum is a veterinarian. He works at the Countryside Veterinary Clinic in Lowville, New York.
Maureen McCormick
Marcia Brady was one of the most iconic characters from The Brady Bunch. McCormick was only 12 years old when she took on the role of the oldest and often wisest Brady sibling.
Despite achieving significant success on the show, McCormick struggled with drug addiction and mental illness, which damaged her reputation as an actress. She is now sober. In 2008, McCormick released an autobiography titled Here's the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice, which debuted at number four on The New York Times bestseller list.
Mindy Cohn
Mindy Cohn is best known for her role as Natalie Green on The Facts of Life, a spin-off of the popular show Diff'rent Strokes. The series also featured soon-to-be-megastars George Clooney and Molly Ringwald. She was discovered by Charlotte Rae, who visited Cohn's Bel-Air high school while researching The Facts of Life.
After the show ended in 1988, Cohn continued acting in a variety of programs, such as 21 Jump Street and The Middle. From 2002 until 2015, Cohn was the voice behind Velma Dinkley in the Scooby-Doo franchise. It was revealed in 2017 that Cohn had been battling breast cancer since 2012. Fortunately, Cohn is now cancer-free.
Gary Coleman
Gary Coleman was one of the highest-paid child actors in the late 1970s and early '80s. He was best known for his role as Arnold Jackson in Diff'rent Strokes, which earned him numerous awards. Despite his successful acting career, Coleman struggled later in life.
In 1989, Coleman won a lawsuit against his parents and business adviser over the misappropriation of his assets, but he still declared bankruptcy a decade later. Coleman suffered from a variety of health problems, few of which were publicly disclosed. He died in 2010 at the age of 42
Justin Henry
At the age of 7, Justin Henry starred as the adorable Billy Kramer in Kramer vs. Kramer alongside Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Street. He earned an Academy Award nomination for the role, making him the youngest Oscar nominee in any category to date, and the only actor to ever have been nominated during the same decade as their birth.
Although Henry dabbled in acting throughout the '80s and '90s, he left the industry after founding the Slamdunk Film Festival, which ran from 1998 to 2003. Henry currently resides in Los Angeles, where he works as a sales director at eyeReturn Marketing.
Susan Dey
Audiences were introduced to Susan Dey as Laurie Partridge on The Partridge Family alongside actors David Cassidy and Shirley Jones. Dey later played Grace Van Owen on L.A. Law, for which she received three Emmy Award nominations.
Before her role on The Partridge Family, Dey worked as a model. During her time on the series, Dey harbored feelings for her co-star Cassidy; although the two pursued a relationship after the show had wrapped, it did not work out. Dey is the only cast member who refused to participate in a Partridge Family reunion, allegedly due to Cassidy's presence.
Mike Lookinland
Best known as Bobby Brady in The Brady Bunch, Mike Lookinland was once one of the most recognizable faces of the 1970s. Aside from a few reunion specials, Lookinland's acting career was short-lived.
He spent several years as a camera operator before leaving showbusiness for good. Lookinland now resides in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he owns and operates a decorative concrete business
Harvey Stephens
Harvey Stephens was only four years old when he was cast as devil child Damien Thorn in 1976's The Omen, earning a Golden Globe nomination for the performance. He even dyed his hair for the role.
The Omen was Stephens' only real acting gig. In 2017, Stephens was arrested and jailed for attacking two cyclists who cut him off while driving. He was sentenced to 14 months in jail.
Robbie Rist
Known for playing cousin Oliver in The Brady Bunch, Martin in Grady, and David in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Robbie Rist eventually opted to move behind the camera.
Following his acting career, Rist became a successful voice actor and musician, working on projects like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Sharknado.
Robby Benson
Robby Benson rose to prominence as a teen idol in the late 1970s due to his roles in the sports films One on One and Ice Castles. Benson later became known for voicing the Beast in Disney's animated film Beauty and the Beast.
Today, he is an activist in the field of heart research, having undergone four open-heart surgeries over the course of his life to correct congenital heart defects.
Kim Richards
Kim Richards began her career as a child actress, best known for playing Prudence Everett in the series Nanny and the Professor.
She went on to become a TV personality on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. In 2015, Richards was arrested for shoplifting at a Target department store and released on $5,000 bail.
Ron Howard
Ron Howard got his start in the industry as a child actor, playing Opie Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show and Richie Cunningham on Happy Days. He also appeared in 1962's musical box office hit The Music Man.
Howard has continued to live a life of success, directing Solo: A Star Wars Story, A Beautiful Mind, The Da Vinci Code, and more. He has four children, one of whom is actress Bryce Dallas Howard.
Ron Palillo
Ron Palillo was best known for playing the endearingly dim-witted "sweathog" Arnold Horshack on Welcome Back Kotter.
Palillo went on to become a theater director and children's book illustrator. Sadly, he passed away at age 63 after suffering a heart attack. He is survived by his partner of 41 years, Joseph Gramm.
Barry Williams
Best known as Greg Brady from The Brady Bunch, Barry Williams was one of the biggest teen heartthrobs of the '70s and '80s.
Following the show's cancellation, Williams became involved in musical theater productions like Grease, The Sound of Music, and West Side Story. Williams is currently the oldest surviving cast member from The Brady Bunch.
Karen Carpenter
Karen Carpenter and her brother Richard found massive music industry success during the 1970s as a musical duo called the Carpenters. Her album “Close To You” featured two chart-topping singles.
Sadly, after a long battle with anorexia nervosa, Karen passed away in 1983 at age 32 due to heart failure. Her death led to increased visibility and awareness of eating disorders.
Erin Murphy
Erin Murphy is best known for her role as young Tabitha Stephens in Bewitched. She originally shared the role with her twin sister, Diane, but as the two got older and looked less similar, only Erin played Tabitha.
After Bewitched came to an end, Murphy guest-starred on shows like Lassie and appeared in over 100 commercials. Murphy has since worked as a television host and correspondent for a variety of networks.
Mackenzie Phillips
Mackenzie Phillips first entered the limelight when a casting director discovered her at the age of 12. She was cast in American Graffiti and later rose to stardom for her role as Julie Cooper in One Day at a Time.
Phillips struggled with drug addiction for several decades, losing her job on the series two separate times due to cocaine use. These days, Phillips works as a drug rehab counselor at the Breathe Life Healing Center in West Hollywood.
Valerie Bertinelli
Valerie Bertinelli is best known for portraying Barbara Cooper Royer on One Day at a Time. She married Eddie Van Halen in 1981 and the two had a son together before separating in 2001.
Bertinelli later joined the cast of Touched by an Angel for the show's final two seasons. From 2010 to 2015, she starred in the sitcom Hot in Cleveland alongside Betty White. She is an advocate for the Jenny Craig weight-loss program.
Adam Rich
For all five seasons, Adam Rich played Nicholas Bradford, or "America's little brother," on Enough is Enough. He is credited with inspiring a generation of pageboy haircuts.
Rich left the industry after the series ended. He struggled with addiction throughout his teens and adulthood, almost dying of a Valium overdose in 1989 with an arrest following soon afterward. Rich has been in and out of rehab throughout his entire life.
Melissa Gilbert
Melissa Gilbert starred as Laura Ingalls Wilder in Little House on the Prairie from 1974 to 1984. She beat out over 500 other child actresses for the role.
Gilbert served as the President of the Screen Actors Guild for four years. In 2016, she ran for U.S. Congress in Michigan's 8th congressional district, winning the Democratic primary. She later dropped out due to injuries sustained in an earlier car accident.
Danielle Spencer
Danielle Spencer starred as Dee Thomas on the sitcom What’s Happening!! during the late 1970s. She later reprised the central role in the sequel series, What’s Happening Now!!
In 2004, Spencer was diagnosed with spinal stenosis as a result of a car accident in 1977, and surgery to correct the problem left her partially paralyzed for eight months. Spencer has been a veterinarian in California for over 25 years. She believes her own medical issues motivated her to help treat animals.
Kristy McNichol
Kristy McNichol is best known for playing Angel in Little Darlings, Polly in Only When I Laugh, and Barbara Weston in the sitcom Empty Nest. She earned two Emmy Awards for her portrayal of Letitia "Buddy" Lawrence in Family.
In 2001, McNichol retired from acting after 24 years. "My feeling was that it was time to play my biggest part—myself!" she said in a statement. McNichol revealed in 2012 that she is a lesbian and has lived with her partner since the early 1990s. She hoped that her openness would help younger people who felt like outsiders due to their sexuality.
Erin Moran
Erin Moran was best known for portraying Joanie Cunningham on Happy Days. She later starred in the spin-off Joanie Loves Chachi alongside Happy Days co-star Scott Baio.
In 2011, Moran participated in a lawsuit against CBS after she and her co-stars claimed they had not been paid for the use of their likeness. Moran was found dead at the age of 56 due to throat cancer.
Tanya Tucker
Tanya Tucker was only 13 when she had her first hit song, "Delta Dawn". Tucker is one of the few child performers who maintained their audience even after maturing into adulthood.
Tucker has been a successful country singer and songwriter since the early 1970s. She has had a number of popular albums, hit songs, and Country Music Association award nominations. Her 2019 album While I'm Livin' won the Grammy Award for Best Country Album.
Johnny Whitaker
From 1966 to 1971, Johnny Whitaker played the young redheaded Jody Davis on Family Affair. He also portrayed Scotty Baldwin in General Hospital.
After years of substance abuse, Whitaker was subject to an intervention by his family, who threatened to cut off contact with him unless he sought help. In 2011, Whitaker said that he had been sober for 13 years.
Scott Baio
Scott Baio is known for portraying one of the most iconic characters of the time: Chachi Arcola in Happy Days. Baio also appeared in Bugsy Malone.
Later on, Baio starred in the Nick at Nite sitcom Nick See Dad Run. There have been several allegations of assault and sexual misconduct made against him.
Quinn Cummings
Quinn Cummings rose to fame as precocious Lucy McFadden in The Goodbye Girl, which earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at the age of 10.
Cummings quickly grew tired of living in the spotlight and quit show business in the early 1990s. Since her acting days, Cummings has published several books and invented the HipHugger baby sling. She has not been publicly photographed since 2009.
Suzanne Crough
Suzanne Crough played the youngest Partridge sibling, Tracy, on The Partridge Family. After the show ended, she made guest appearances on a number of shows, but her last credited on-screen role was in 1980.
During a 2010 reunion interview on The Today Show with co-stars from The Partridge Family, Crough stated that she was the manager of an OfficeMax. She passed away in her home five years later.
Jackie Earle Haley
Before his big break as Kelly Leak in The Bad News Bears, Jackie Earle Haley guest-starred on shows like The Patridge Family and The Waltons.
Although Haley failed to land another major part for several decades, he returned to the screen in 2006 for Little Children, which earned him an Oscar nomination. Haley's career rekindled, winning him roles in films like Watchmen, Lincoln, and A Nightmare on Elm Street.
Parker Stevenson
Parker Stevenson was first introduced to his future career by his mother, who worked as an actress and took him to filming sessions. Stevenson is best known for playing Franky Hardy in The Hardy Boys and Craig Pomeroy in Baywatch.
Stevenson married actress Kirstie Alley, but the pair divorced after 14 years. He recently starred in the Netflix series Greenhouse Academy.
Pamela Sue Martin
Pamela Sue Martin transitioned from modeling to acting in her late teens. She is best known for portraying teen detective Nancy Drew in The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, as well as playing the role of socialite Fallon Carrington Colby on the nighttime soap Dynasty.
After her time on both The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries and Dynasty, Martin faded into obscurity. In the 2000s, she became the artistic director of the Interplanetary Theater Group, located in Idaho.
Willie Aames
Willie Aames made appearances in several iconic '70s shows, including Swiss Family Robinson and Gunsmoke. Aames had his big break in Eight Is Enough as Tommy Bradford.
Although Aames acted throughout the '80s, he struggled with depression and cocaine addiction. In the '90s, he became a born-again Christian and starred as an evangelical superhero on the series Bibleman for seven years.
Brandon Cruz
When Brandon Cruz was only five years old, he was cast as Eddie Corbett on The Courtship of Eddie's Father. His only film project was The Bad News Bears.
Cruz took a break from acting that spanned nearly two decades in order to focus on his music career. He briefly fronted the Dead Kennedys before returning to the screen for small roles in Safe and The Motorcycle Diaries.
Kathy Coleman
Kathy Coleman starred as Holly Marshall on Land of the Lost for three seasons. It was both Coleman's second and final acting gig.
Coleman married at the age of 19nd moved to Nevada, where she worked on a dairy farm with her husband at the time. She has published two memoirs, Lost Girl: The Truth and Nothing But the Truth, So Help Me Kathleen and Run Holly Run.