90s Child Stars: Where Are They Now?! You Won’t BELIEVE It!

During the 1990s, an influx of talented young actors emerged, gracing both movies and TV series with memorable performances. Macaulay Culkin and Jaleel White were among these stars, embodying characters that became iconic symbols of the ’90s through their charismatic and hilarious portrayals as Kevin McCallister and Steve Urkel. Their careers have since branched out in numerous directions, but they’ve continued to make a name for themselves in the entertainment industry, earning praise not only for their childhood roles but also for their more recent work.

Many performers who once graced Hollywood as child stars have since moved away from acting and made a mark as influential public figures, such as Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen and Jonathan Lipnicki. These ’90s actors were often cast alongside seasoned professionals, demonstrating impressive skill even at the beginning of their careers. It’s intriguing to follow the paths of those who gave us iconic performances from that era and see where they are now.

12. Tahj Mowry

Starred In Smart Guy

As the younger sibling of famous twin actresses Tia and Tamera Mowry, I, Tahj Mowry, have carved out my own path in the entertainment industry. In the ’90s, I was the star of the sitcom “Smart Guy,” where I played the child prodigy T.J. Henderson. Throughout my career, I’ve taken on various TV roles, but I’ve also made appearances in a few comedy films, such as “Are We Done Yet?” in 2007 and “Me Time” in 2022. However, my most significant role post-child actor days was as Tucker in the ABC Family sitcom “Baby Daddy.”

11. Jonathan Lipnicki

Starred In Jerry Maguire & Stuart Little

Noted for providing an iconic quote from the movie “Jerry Maguire”, Jonathan Lipnicki began his acting career in late ’90s as Ray Boyd, the son of Dorothy (played by Renee Zellweger). More recently, he’s taken a break from major productions and has appeared on reality TV shows, as well as starring in various B-movies since the start of the 2010s. His upcoming project is the 2024 slasher film titled “Camp Pleasant Lake”.

10. Tatyana Ali

Starred In The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

By 1985, Tatyana Ali had already become a regular cast member on PBS’ Sesame Street at just six years old. A few years down the line, she landed her breakthrough role as Ashley Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Throughout the show’s entire run, she was a main cast member, growing up both on screen and professionally, gaining recognition as an actor and singer. Since then, Ali has taken on smaller roles in various TV shows, but reprised her role as Ashley Banks for season 2 of the revamped Fresh Prince series, Bel-Air.

9. Anna Chlumsky

Starred In My Girl

Anna Chlumsky initially gained recognition as an actress when she was young, playing the character Vada Sultenfuss opposite Macaulay Culkin in the movie ‘My Girl’. By the end of that decade, Chlumsky took a break to focus on her studies and re-entered Hollywood in 2005, starring in the 2007 comedy film ‘Blood Car’. During the 2010s, Chlumsky experienced success with HBO’s ‘Veep’, receiving several Emmy nominations for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series during the show’s run. This summer, she will appear alongside Rebel Wilson and Anna Camp in the action comedy movie, ‘Bride Hard’.

8. Mara Wilson

Starred In Matilda & Miracle on 34th Street

In the ’90s, Mara Wilson’s acting career saw her sharing screen time with comedy greats like Martin Short in “A Simple Wish” and Robin Williams in “Mrs. Doubtfire”. Yet, it was her portrayal of the titular character in “Matilda” that left a lasting impression on Wilson’s filmography. Over the years, Wilson has been candid about her challenges in the entertainment industry. After a break of 12 years, Wilson resumed her acting career, focusing primarily on voice roles (in “BoJack Horseman” and “Big Hero 6: The Series”) and web series such as “Helluva Boss” and “Ollie & Scoops”.

7. Lindsay Lohan

Starred In The Parent Trap

As a dedicated film enthusiast, it’s hard to overlook Lindsay Lohan’s standout performances during her early acting career. The 1998 remake of “The Parent Trap,” where she played the twins Hallie and Annie, remains unforgettable in my mind. Fast forward to the early 2000s, and Lohan graced our screens with her charisma in comedies like “Freaky Friday” and “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen.” However, it was her role as Cady Heron in “Mean Girls” that truly solidified her status as a teen icon.

Unfortunately, personal issues caused Lohan to step away from acting for a while. But she made a triumphant return with a string of Netflix romantic comedies. And the best part? She’s coming back this summer in the sequel to “Freaky Friday,” titled “Freakier Friday.” I can hardly wait!

6. Haley Joel Osment

Starred In The Sixth Sense & Forrest Gump

In “The Sixth Sense,” Haley Joel Osment, who previously shone as a child actor in “Forrest Gump,” stood shoulder to shoulder with Bruce Willis and is renowned for one of horror’s most memorable lines. This performance earned him several Best Supporting Actor nominations, including an Academy Award. As a testament to his talent, Osment was a notable figure among the decade’s top child actors. Today, he continues acting steadily, recently appearing in a supporting role for the psychological thriller “Blink Twice,” and making minor appearances on the TV series “The Boys” and “What We Do In the Shadows.

5. Christina Ricci

Starred In The Addams Family & Casper

Christina Ricci first appeared in films in 1990’s “Mermaids,” but it was the following year that she truly broke out as Wednesday Addams. Her performance in “The Addams Family” and its sequel left audiences in awe of her dry wit, faithfully embodying the Wednesday from previous portrayals while also making the character uniquely her own. Later on, Ricci worked in both movies and TV shows, but it was her TV roles that garnered more attention, including “The Lizzie Borden Chronicles” and “Yellowjackets.” Recently, Ricci has revisited Wednesday again, this time as a supporting character in Netflix’s series alongside Jenna Ortega.

4. Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen

Starred In Full House

Even though Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen initially found fame as Michelle Tanner on Full House back in the late ’80s, they spent the subsequent decade working on numerous video series and TV movies. Contrary to expectations, they didn’t reappear in Fuller House when it was revived in 2016. However, this wasn’t too shocking as the twins have shown a growing passion for fashion, establishing their own label, The Row, and earning respect from the CFDA for their contributions to the fashion industry.

3. Raven-Symoné

Starred In The Cosby Show & Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper

For fans who recall watching Disney Channel sitcoms, Raven-Symoné is best known for playing the psychic lead in “That’s So Raven.” However, her acting career began early, with fame coming from her role as Olivia Kendall in the later seasons of “The Cosby Show.” Recently, Raven-Symoné has returned to Disney Channel, reprising her iconic character in the 2017 series spinoff, “Raven’s Home.” In addition to acting, she has also taken on directing roles for several episodes of “Raven’s Home,” as well as other Disney shows such as “Sydney to the Max” and “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.

2025-05-05 01:52