It is not only that fame at such a young age opens opportunities to many that few would ever imagine themselves being but it also comes with its own set of pressures, inspection and changes in their lives making it hard to maintain a career in the spotlight. Numerous child stars came to fame with their iconic roles to later abandon the industry, take up some new creative direction or become increasingly intermittent. Their experiences are indicative of the possibilities as well as the hurdles of being raised in front of the camera.
Others experienced the emotional burden of living in public eye even before they were mature enough and some merely discovered other interests other than acting. In other instances, the nature of their careers changed due to changes in the industry or personal decision. This is a glimpse into famous child stars, whose careers took an entirely new turn following initial success.
1. Lindsay Lohan
Since her breakthrough in The Parent Trap and the hits of Freaky Friday and Mean Girls, Lindsay Lohan became a permanent part of entertainment media. Her performances were sluggish over the years with some of her projects in between and reality TV shows. Over the past few years, she has reappeared at the top in streaming movies and holiday movies.
2. Amanda Bynes
Amanda Bynes was a household name in the first part of the 2000s with her appearances in Nickelodeon series, All That and The Amanda Show, plus in the teen comedy show, Shes the Man. Since Easy A, she left acting to pursue fashion and has kept a very low profile since, and no on-screen regular time since.
3. Macaulay Culkin
Macaulay Culkin was one of the most renowned child actors of the 1990s whose successful film, Home Alone was followed with a break in his career despite his early age. After that, he selected independent film roles, stage work, and voice acting with selectiveness and experimented with music and creative projects. He has since made a comeback in high profile shows and major public recognition.
4. Corey Feldman
Corey Feldman started his career with such classics as The Goonies and Stand by Me, but in his adulthood, it turned out to be less successful as the actor became more involved in direct-to-video productions, reality shows, and music. He is kept busy with fan shows and self-generated entertainment projects.
5. Dana Plato
Most recognized as Kimberly on the sitcom Diff in 1989, Dana Plato dropped out of the show when she was a young adult and had fewer opportunities at mainstream roles in the years after. She featured in standalone productions and in public appearances related to the sitcom but never again enjoyed the exposure she had received on the network.
6. Corey Haim
By the mid-1990s, the career of Corey Haim had changed its direction to low-budget films after initial success in “Lucas” and The Lost Boys. Documentaries and reality TV were used to make comebacks, but these failed to regain the previous studio momentum.
7. Edward Furlong
Edward Furlong began well with the release of Terminator 2 and continued to have a good spell in both major and independent films. He has mostly remained low profile with later work involving smaller productions and some brief visits to the Terminator franchise.
8. Jake Lloyd
Thrust into international stardom at a very tender age as young Anakin Skywalker in the first installment of Star Wars, Jake Lloyd dropped out of acting when he was in his teens. Since then, he has not been in the industry though he has seldom been in the limelight.
9. Tatum O’Neal
Having won an Academy Award in 1973 in the category of paper moon as a child, Tatum O’Neal in her career worked in both films and TVs throughout the years, but with a significant gap between the significant working projects. She is also a writer of memoirs and talk shows.
10. Orlando Brown
An Orlando Brown is also a Disney Channel regular who ventured into music and voice acting, through the show That is so Raven. His performance declines during adulthood, with the participation in independent films and music albums to reinstate his presence on the screen.
11. Jaimee Foxworth
Jaimee Foxworth played Judy on Family Matters and was there in the initial success of the program. She had tried her hands in other careers besides acting and only went back to give interviews and retrospective relating to classic sitcoms.
12. Brian Bonsall
As the last Keaton sibling, Brian Bonsall, joined the family in the TV series Family Ties, he had steady employment in the early 90s before dropping acting as a teenager. He has turned to music since then, toured with rock artists and recorded.
13. Jeremy Jackson
The long run of Jeremy Jackson as a member of Baywatch in the world scene was a step to recognition. He then transitioned to reality TV and conventions, and sporadic acting credits.
14. Mischa Barton
Emerging as Marissa on the O.C., Mischa Barton would then show up in independent films, mini-series and reality television. As she went on with acting, she failed to recreate her initial network heights in U.S.
15. Jodie Sweetin
Growing up on Full House and back to Fuller House, Jodie Sweetin, also worked as a host and in reality competitions shows. She has remained active in the entertainment business but not hosting a new long running network series.
16. Leif Garrett
Leif Garrett changed to a teenager music star and left the role of a child actor in late 1970s. His subsequent career was marked with acting intermittently, live performances, and interview projects, which reflect on his initial acclaim.
17. Alisan Porter
Star of the movie, Curly Sue, Alisan Porter turned to music and eventually won the voice show and published albums. She has not gone back to the child star-like movie heroes.
18. Mara Wilson
Mararied, having starred in such films as Matilda and Mrs. Doubtfire, Mara Wilson decided to abandon on-screen projects creating a career of writer, voice actor and, periodically, taking a cameo part.
19. Frankie Muniz
Frankie Muniz, the star of Malcolm in the Middle, and movies such as agent cody banks, went on to become professional racers and businessmen. He is no longer centering his attention in acting, but will be playing the same role in the new revival Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair.
20. Angus T. Jones
Spending his youth on Two and a Half Men, Angus T. Jones followed the ways of education and own projects and rarely appeared after, becoming an actor as an adult.
These tales demonstrate that fame, when it comes early on, may take a great number of different roads, some of them off the stage altogether and others into new areas of creation. Though their professions may have changed, both of them made a remarkable impression on viewers who grew up watching them.
