From Full House to 7th Heaven: What are your favorite childhood actors doing now?
- - From Full House to 7th Heaven: What are your favorite childhood actors doing now?
Nourhan SandoukNovember 14, 2025 at 12:31 AM
0
What Are Your Favorite Childhood Actors Doing Now?
While shows like Full House and 7th Heaven continue to air, the lives of the child actors who starred in them have taken surprising, sometimex unexpected turns. Some transitioned into A-list careers, others found unexpected success outside of Hollywood’s spotlight, and a few have faced significant challenges. Here is a look at where the stars of your favorite childhood family dramas are today.
Wiki Commons
Jeff Cohen
Jeff Cohen’s performance as Lawrence “Chunk” Cohen in the 1985 classic The Goonies made him an icon of 1980s cinema
His singular performance, which featured the memorable “Truffle Shuffle,” established him as one of the most quotable and endearing child actors of his era. However, Cohen took a distinct path from many former child stars, he left Hollywood to earn a law degree.
He attended the University of California, Berkeley, earning his undergraduate degree, then the UCLA School of Law, one of the nation’s top law programs, demonstrating intellectual capabilities far beyond his comedic childhood performances.
He later returned to the entertainment industry, not as an actor, but as an attorney who helps others, including former child stars, navigate the complex business.
Warner Bros, Wiki Commons
Danny Lloyd
At the age of six, Danny Lloyd delivered a truly haunting performance as Danny Torrance in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining (1980). With zero prior experience, Lloyd convincingly portrayed a child experiencing supernatural terror, holding his own opposite Jack Nicholson in scenes that became instant cinematic classics, such as “Redrum” sequence. Despite this incredible, career-making debut, Lloyd made an almost immediate, shocking turn, he chose to leave acting behind, walking away from Hollywood’s spotlight to live a quiet, everyday life.
He attended regular schools, developed normal friendships, and experienced typical childhood and adolescence.
New World Pictures
Shannen Doherty
Shannen Doherty began her career as the wholesome, innocent Jenny Wilder in the final seasons of Little House on the Prairie (1982-1983), positioning her as a traditional, family-friendly actress. However, her transformation into the complex, rebellious Brenda Walsh in Beverly Hills, (1990-1994) marked one of television’s most dramatic and successful reinventions.
Doherty’s physical transformation from prairie girl to ’90s icon involved dramatic hair changes from braided wholesomeness to dark, voluminous styles that became signature looks by fans worldwide. Her fashion evolution embraced grunge influences, minimalist chic, and alternative aesthetics that rejected the overly polished glamour of 1980s television stars. The glow-up represented not just physical maturation but conscious reinvention, transforming herself from child actress into complex adult performer unafraid of controversy or difficult roles.
20th Century Fox
Carrie Henn
Carrie Henn became an instant icon in science fiction cinema through her role as Rebecca “Newt” Jordan in James Cameron’s Aliens (1986). Her ability to hold her own alongside Sigourney Weaver, delivering emotional depth and forming the film’s crucial mother-daughter bond, earned her a Saturn Award nomination and guaranteed her a promising Hollywood trajectory.
Yet, Henn made a surprising choice, she rejected the path of fame to become a teacher. She found her calling in education rather than entertainment, occasionally attending fan conventions where she is celebrated for her iconic role and respected for her decision to walk away from the spotlight.
Image Credit: IMDb/ Wikipedia.
Mara Wilson
Mara Wilson was one of the most iconic child star of the 1990s, truly beloved for her roles as Natalie Hillard in Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) and Matilda Weasley in Matilda (1996). Her natural acting talent made her one of Hollywood’s most bankable young performers, seemingly destined for a long career. However, Wilson made a definitive choice that surprised the industry, she quit acting at age 13 after her final film appearance in 2000.
Wilson’s departure from acting wasn’t about career failure or lack of opportunities but rather about recognizing that the entertainment industry’s demands were incompatible with her well-being and authentic self-expression. She has spoken openly about how child fame creates unrealistic expectations, distorts normal development, and often leaves former child stars struggling with identity issues because their formative years were spent performing rather than discovering who they genuinely are. Wilson pursued education, earning a degree from New York University, and developed interests in writing and activism that reflected her actual passions rather than what Hollywood wanted from her.
DenisMakarenko / Deposit Photos
Ian Somerhalder and Nikki Reed
The Twilight Saga and The Vampire Diaries made Ian Somerhalder and Nikki Reed household names, establishing them firmly within the glamorous world of Hollywood celebrity. Yet, at the height of their fame, the couple chose to leave Los Angeles entirely, dedicating their lives to operating a working farm. Their move to pursue environmentalism, healthy living, and family far from the industry’s epicenter, a decision they actively share with fans, highlights a rare and inspiring rejection of the typical celebrity trajectory.
Image Credit: IMDb/ Wikipedia /David Shankbone.
The Olsen Twins
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen started at just nine months old by sharing the role of Michelle Tanner on Full House, and rapidly grew their brand into films, merchandise, and fashion. This early success positioned them as the industry standard for transitioning child stars. Yet, the twins chose a different path, they retired from acting in their early twenties to focus exclusively on fashion. By maintaining extreme privacy and avoiding the social media spotlight, the Olsens successfully leveraged their business foundation to build design houses. Their transformation from child stars to fashion industry leaders demonstrates that entertainment fame can serve as a foundation for entirely different achievements rather than as a limiting identity.
Karyn Parsons
Karyn Parsons became instantly recognizable as Hilary Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Despite her success and proven comedic talent, Parsons gradually withdrew from the entertainment industry after the show ended.
She found her true passion in cultural education. Parsons founded a literacy non-profit dedicated to sharing African American history with children. Her choice to prioritize creating meaningful educational content over chasing further fame is a powerful example of using celebrity resources for lasting generational impact.
Related:
She slept in a shelter before she held the Oscar: Halle Berry’s Hollywood rise
Is Bruce Willis OK? The Hollywood tough guy facing life’s hardest role yet
Like MediaFeed’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was produced and syndicated by MediaFeed.us.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
