Being a child actor can be incredibly challenging. Growing up under America’s microscope means facing constant public scrutiny during your most vulnerable years. Rejection becomes a routine part of life, and mental health struggles often accompany the pressures of early fame. Even before the rise of social media and online audiences, putting your life on display was never easy.
Old Hollywood stars like Shirley Temple and newer stars like Daniel Radcliffe and Elijah Wood illustrate the ability of some actors to maintain a career from childhood to adulthood. But others, at the height of their careers as kids or adolescents, simply faded away. These are child stars who shone bright for a brief moment. See what happened to some of the most recognizable child actors of the past and discover where life took them when the lights went down.
This post was updated on October 8, 2025 to include the deaths of Benji Gregory and Danielle Spencer, and update current ages.
Jeremy Miller
- Played Ben Seaver on Growing Pains
- Currently 48 years old
- Had a male stalker while he was on Growing Pains
- Began drinking alcohol at 4 years old
- Currently in recovery for alcohol use disorder
Emmanuel Lewis
- Played Webster on Webster
- Began acting at age 9
- Currently 54 years old
- At age 13, Lewis was 42 inches tall and weighed 40 lbs.
Ami Foster
- Played Margaux Kramer on Punky Brewster
- Discovered on Star Search at age 8
- Appeared on one episode of Webster
- Currently 50 years old
- Lives in California with her husband and two kids
Chad Allen
- Played David Witherspoon on Our House
- Began acting at age 7
- Retired from acting
- Currently 51 years old
- He is a psychologist
- Member and supporter of the LGBTQ+ community
Brice Beckham
- Played Wesley Owens on Mr. Belvedere
- Currently 49 years old
- Appeared on one episode of Alice
- Co-founder of Drama ¾, a third-party production company in Los Angeles.
Ari Meyers
- Played Emma McCardle on Kate & Allie
- Currently 56 years old
- Graduated from Yale University with a double major in Philosophy and Theater Arts
- Now a postpartum and lactation nurse at an LA-area hospital
Staci Keanan
- Began her career at age 5 by modeling
- Cast as Nicole Bradford in My Two Dads at age 12
- Tutored students in grades 5-12
- Currently a lawyer and law professor in Los Angeles using her given name, Anastasia Love Sagorsky
Josie Davis
- Played Sarah Powell in 104 episodes of Charles in Charge
- Currently 52 years old
- Began acting at age 3
- Has a kitschy new podcast called “The Imperfect Podcast”
Keshia Knight-Pulliam
- Played Rudy Huxtable on The Cosby Show
- Currently 46 years old
- Started working in entertainment at 9 months old
- Graduated from Spelman College with a Sociology degree
- Has a line of spices and seasonings called Keshia’s Kitchen
- Married with a baby boy born in early 2023
Danny Pintauro
- Played Jonathan Bower on Who’s the Boss?
- Currently 49 years old
- Did some stage acting
- Other jobs include Tupperware sales, restaurant manager, and vet technician
- Has lived in Las Vegas and Austin and now lives in California and has returned to acting
Brian Bonsall
- Played Andy Keaton on Family Ties
- Currently 43 years old
- Began acting at age 4
- Left acting and moved to Boulder, Colorado with his family
- Has been a musician since 1998
- Plays in the punk band “Lights in the Sky”
Jason Hervey
- Played Wayne Arnold on The Wonder Years
- Now 53 years old
- Serial entrepreneur
- Currently the Founder & CEO of Marathon 360, a marketing agency
Benji Gregory
- Played Brian Tanner on Alf
- Full name is Benji Gregory Hertzberg
- His grandmother was his agent
- Served in the Navy
- Benji Gregory passed away on June 13, 2024, at the age of 46.
Danny Cooksey
- Played Sam McKinney on Diff’rent Strokes
- Currently 49 years old
- Began acting at age 8
- Played in a variety of bands
- Lives in Los Angeles with his wife and daughter
Philip McKeon
- Played Tommy Hyatt on Alice
- Was discovered by Linda Lavin, who played Alice, his mother
- Worked in radio after ending his acting career
- Died in 2019 at the age of 55
Adam Rich
- Played Nicholas Bradford on Eight is Enough for 112 episodes
- Appeared on some of the most popular shows of the 1980s
- Began using drugs at age 14
- Dropped out of high school at age 17
- Died in 2023 from an accidental fentanyl overdose
Sidney and Lindsay Greenbush
- Shared the role of Carrie Olson on Little House on the Prairie
- Left acting not long after Little House ended
- Currently 55 years old
- Sidney is widowed; Lindsay is married
Jill Whelan
- Played Vicki Stubing in six seasons of The Love Boat
- Currently 59 years old
- Played heart patient Lisa Davis in the cult hit Airplane
- Was named “Celebrations Ambassador” by Princess Cruises, the same line featured in The Love Boat
- Married three times
Danielle Spencer
- Played Dee Thomas on What’s Happening!
- Also played Dee in the sequel, What’s Happening Now!
- Was in a car accident at age 8 which left her in a coma for three weeks
- Lived in Africa after the show was cancelled
- She was a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
- She died on August 11, 2025, at the age of 60.
Missy Gold
- Played Katie Gatling on Benson
- Currently age 55
- Appeared on several popular shows of the ‘80s
- Sister of Tracey Gold, who starred in Growing Pains
- She is a psychologist
Cherie Johnson
- Played a character of the same name — Cherie Johnson — on Punky Brewster
- Currently age 49
- Acts, writes, and produces
- Has a line of hair products called Wild Cherry
- Hosts a podcast called “Cherie’s World”
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images.