The sitcom boom of the 1970s and ’80s put a remarkable group of young performers in American living rooms every week. Some became inseparable from a single character, while others quietly built longer careers in film, television, music, or work far outside Hollywood.
Their stories rarely followed the same script once the cameras stopped rolling. A few kept acting, some chose entirely new professions, and others faced serious personal or health struggles. Here’s what happened to 20 familiar child stars after the shows that first made audiences remember them.
Jeremy Miller
Born on October 21, 1976, Jeremy Miller became a sitcom regular as Ben Seaver, the youngest of the original Seaver children on “Growing Pains.” He stayed with the ABC series throughout its 1985–1992 run and later returned for two reunion movies. Miller also voiced Linus van Pelt in several “Peanuts” television specials during the mid-1980s, but Ben remained the role most closely associated with him. His life away from the set was more difficult. Miller has spoken publicly about alcohol dependence, explaining that he first tasted alcohol by finishing adults’ leftover beers at age 4 but did not begin drinking regularly until years later. He eventually sought treatment after years of blackouts and health problems and has continued to speak candidly about addiction and recovery. Miller also worked in catering, and he revealed in 2025 that former co-stars Alan Thicke and Kirk Cameron helped his family when financial trouble left them close to homelessness.
Emmanuel Lewis
Emmanuel Lewis was born on March 9, 1971, and began appearing in commercials at age 9. His small stature and sharp comic timing helped him land the title role in “Webster,” which ran from 1983 to 1989 and made him one of the decade’s most recognizable young television stars. Lewis continued to make occasional screen appearances after the sitcom ended and graduated from Clark Atlanta University in 1997 with a degree in theater arts.
Ami Foster
Born on August 5, 1975, Ami Foster first drew national attention as a young singer on “Star Search.” She soon moved into acting, appearing in a 1983 episode of “Webster” before taking the role of Margaux Kramer, Punky’s fashion-conscious friend on “Punky Brewster.” Foster remained with the series during its 1984–1988 run and also did voice work for “It’s Punky Brewster” and “Pound Puppies.” Her later film credits included the 1989 comedy “Troop Beverly Hills.”
Chad Allen
Chad Allen was born on June 5, 1974, and started acting at age 7. He played David Witherspoon on “Our House” and went on to prominent roles as Zach Nichols on “My Two Dads” and Matthew Cooper on “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.” Allen retired from acting in 2015 to pursue psychology, earning his doctorate in clinical psychology from Antioch University New England in 2020. Openly gay since the 1990s, he has also been a longtime advocate for LGBTQ+ causes.
Brice Beckham
Born on February 11, 1976, Brice Beckham is best remembered as the mischievous Wesley T. Owens on “Mr. Belvedere,” which aired from 1985 to 1990. Before landing that part, he made a guest appearance on “Alice.” Beckham later studied theater at the University of Southern California and continued working as an actor, writer, producer, and editor. He also co-founded the Los Angeles production company Drama 3/4 with filmmaker David Fickas.
Ari Meyers
Ari Meyers was born on April 6, 1969, and played Emma McArdle, the brainy daughter of Susan Saint James’ character, on “Kate & Allie.” She appeared during the first five seasons of the 1984–1989 sitcom before leaving to attend Yale University, where she studied philosophy and theater. Meyers returned to acting and audiobook narration after college, then made a much bigger career change: she trained as a nurse and began working in postpartum care and lactation support.
Staci Keanan
Staci Keanan, born Anastasia Sagorsky on June 6, 1975, started as a child model before becoming a sitcom mainstay. She played Nicole Bradford on “My Two Dads” from 1987 to 1990, then Dana Foster on “Step by Step” from 1991 to 1998. After leaving regular screen work, she earned a law degree from Southwestern Law School in 2013. Using her given name professionally, Anastasia Sagorsky has worked as a deputy district attorney in Southern California and joined Southwestern’s adjunct faculty in 2021.
Keshia Knight Pulliam
Born on April 9, 1979, Keshia Knight Pulliam began appearing in advertisements as a baby and found lasting fame as Rudy Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” which ran from 1984 to 1992. At age 6, she became the youngest performer then nominated for an Emmy in the supporting actress category. Pulliam graduated from Spelman College with a sociology degree in 2001 and continued acting as an adult, most notably on “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne.” She married actor Brad James in 2021 and has two children, daughter Ella and son Knight.
Danny Pintauro
Danny Pintauro was born on January 6, 1976, and played Jonathan Bower throughout the 1984–1992 run of “Who’s the Boss?” He later performed onstage, graduated from Stanford University, and held jobs outside entertainment, including restaurant management and veterinary work. Pintauro publicly came out as gay in 1997 after a tabloid threatened to do so for him. In 2015, he disclosed that he had been HIV-positive since 2003 and discussed his past use of crystal meth. He returned to the screen in the 2022 television movie “A Country Christmas Harmony.”
Brian Bonsall
Brian Bonsall publicity portrait from the television series ‘Family Ties’, 1987. (Photo by Paramount/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Born on December 3, 1981, Brian Bonsall was only 4 when he joined “Family Ties” as Andy Keaton in 1986. He remained on the series until its 1989 finale and later played Alexander Rozhenko on “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” His best-known film role came in the 1994 family comedy “Blank Check.” Bonsall left acting in the mid-1990s, moved to Colorado, and concentrated on music. He has performed with several punk bands and joined the touring lineup of The Ataris in 2016.
Jason Hervey
Jason Hervey was born on April 6, 1972, and made Wayne Arnold a memorably aggravating older brother on “The Wonder Years,” which aired from 1988 to 1993. After his acting career slowed, Hervey moved behind the camera. He worked as an executive producer for World Championship Wrestling and later partnered with former wrestling executive Eric Bischoff to produce reality, sports, and unscripted television programming.
Benji Gregory
Benji Gregory, born Benjamin Gregory Hertzberg on May 26, 1978, played Brian Tanner on all four seasons of “ALF” from 1986 to 1990. He largely left acting after the series and later served in the U.S. Navy as an aerographer’s mate. Gregory died on June 13, 2024, at age 46. He and his service dog were found in his car in Peoria, Arizona. The Maricopa County medical examiner ruled his death accidental and attributed it to environmental heat exposure in the setting of hepatic cirrhosis.
Danny Cooksey
Danny Cooksey was born on November 2, 1975, and joined “Diff’rent Strokes” as Sam McKinney during the sitcom’s final three seasons. He later played Bobby Budnick on Nickelodeon’s “Salute Your Shorts” and appeared as Tim in “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.” Cooksey also built a substantial voice-acting career, with roles including Montana Max in “Tiny Toon Adventures,” Jack Spicer in “Xiaolin Showdown,” and the title character in “Dave the Barbarian.” He has performed in several rock bands as well.
Philip McKeon
Philip McKeon was born on November 11, 1964, and played Tommy Hyatt, the son of Linda Lavin’s title character, throughout the 1976–1985 run of “Alice”. He made only a handful of screen appearances after the sitcom and eventually moved into radio, working for the Los Angeles news station KFWB before relocating to Texas. McKeon died on December 10, 2019, at age 55 after what his family described as a long illness; no more specific cause was publicly released.
Adam Rich
Adam Rich was born on October 12, 1968, and became one of late-1970s television’s most recognizable child actors as Nicholas Bradford on “Eight Is Enough.” He appeared throughout the family drama’s 1977–1981 run and later guest-starred on series including “The Love Boat,” “CHiPs,” and “Baywatch.” Rich’s life after childhood fame included highly publicized struggles with substance use and mental health, along with arrests and several attempts at treatment. Those difficulties sometimes overshadowed the warmth and comic instinct he brought to his best-known role. In October 2022, Rich said that he had been sober for seven years and encouraged others not to give up on recovery. He died at his Los Angeles home on January 7, 2023, at age 54. The Los Angeles County medical examiner determined that he died from the effects of fentanyl and ruled the death accidental.
Sidney and Lindsay Greenbush
Twin sisters Sidney and Lindsay Greenbush were born on May 25, 1970, and were 3 when they began sharing the role of Carrie Ingalls on “Little House on the Prairie.” Credited together as Lindsay Sidney Greenbush, they appeared from the show’s 1974 premiere through its eighth season in 1982. Both made a small number of appearances after leaving the series, then stepped away from acting and returned to school. They have occasionally reunited with their former castmates at fan events.
Jill Whelan
Born on September 29, 1966, Jill Whelan played Captain Stubing’s daughter, Vicki, during six of the nine seasons of “The Love Boat,” which aired from 1977 to 1986. Film fans may also recognize her as Lisa Davis, the sick child whose trip to a hospital helps set the plot of the 1980 comedy “Airplane!” in motion. Whelan has continued to act and appear at “Love Boat” reunions. In 2015, Princess Cruises named her its Celebrations Ambassador, linking her once again with the cruise line featured on the show.
Danielle Spencer
Danielle Spencer was born on June 24, 1965, and won audiences over with Dee Thomas’ dry delivery and perfectly timed “Ooh, I’m gonna tell Mama” on “What’s Happening!!” The series ran from 1976 to 1979, and she later reprised the part on “What’s Happening Now!!,” which aired from 1985 to 1988. In September 1977, when Spencer was 12, she was seriously injured in a car crash that killed her stepfather, actor Tim Pelt, and left her in a coma for about three weeks. Complications from those injuries required medical treatment and surgery years later. Spencer eventually chose a career away from Hollywood, earning her veterinary degree from Tuskegee University in 1993 and working as a veterinarian and animal-welfare advocate. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 and underwent a double mastectomy. Spencer died in Richmond, Virginia, on August 11, 2025, at age 60 after a long battle with cancer.
Missy Gold
American child actress Missy Gold, circa 1985. She is wearing a James Dean badge. (Photo by Ron Wolfson/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Missy Gold was born Melissa Fisher on July 14, 1970, and played the governor’s daughter, Katie Gatling, throughout the 1979–1986 run of “Benson.” Before landing the role, she appeared on series including “Eight Is Enough” and “Fantasy Island.” Gold, whose older sister Tracey starred on “Growing Pains,” left acting after “Benson.” She graduated from Georgetown University and earned a doctorate in psychology, building a second career as a licensed psychologist under the name Melissa Gold.
Cherie Johnson
Born on November 21, 1975, Cherie Johnson played Punky’s best friend, a character also named Cherie Johnson, throughout the 1984–1988 run of “Punky Brewster.” She returned to the part in the short-lived 2021 revival. Johnson also had a substantial second sitcom role as Maxine Johnson, Laura Winslow’s best friend on “Family Matters,” from 1990 to 1998. She has continued working as an actor, writer, and producer while pursuing business interests that include the Wild Cherry hair-care line.