Growing up in Hollywood is unpredictable. A person can be a star who’s on top of the world one moment, then back to being an average Joe the next day. But for child actors, navigating through the entertainment industry can be even more complex. Especially if their looks have dramatically changed like these 10 child actors below.
1. Steven Anthony Lawrence
If you watched Disney Channel’s Even Stevens. then you probably remember “Beans,” who was played by Steven Anthony Lawrence. He was already a unique kid and he played his role with total commitment because of his unique look he already had. But as he got older he struggled to pay the bills and in December 2015 he was spotted working as a Santa’s helper in a local mall in Southern California. He got recognized and went viral with all the selfies people took with him.
2. Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen
Most of us remember Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen from when they were on the show Full House as babies and preteens. Because the twins were so popular they had a soaring career besides the show which included their own book series, TV show, and even movies. But then they disappeared from the spotlight. People were eager to find out what became of the Olsen twins and it was quite a shock to see them all grown up. If you compare them when they were kids to today, they look quite differently. They have moved on from appearing on camera and these days they are more concerned with their fashion line than appearing on the remake of Full House.
3. Aaron Carter
Those who grew up back in the ’90s and the early 2000s remember the iconic boy band, The Backstreet Boys. His older brother, Nick Carter, garnered most of the teenage girl crushes. Aaron came into the mix and piggy backed off of Nick’s success. Now the girls had not one, but two adorable singing guys to have crushes on. Aaron looked like a smaller version of Nick, which appeased the younger fan base. But once Aaron’s fame faded life hasn’t been the most peaceful. He’s gotten into trouble with the law and has had addictions.
4. Susan Olsen
From 1969 to 1974 Susan Olsen played Cindy Brady in the hit show The Brady Bunch. She was the youngest child in the Brady family so she really had to play up the cute and adorable moments on camera. Because she played a character with so much sweetness and innocence, it could be assumed that Susan maintained that image throughout her life. But Susan has gotten herself into trouble when she lost her job at a Los Angeles radio station when she got into a fight online with an actor.
5. Jake Lloyd
Jake Lloyd was just a kid when he was selected to play Anakin Skywalker, the adorable little boy who would become Darth Vader. He was thrown into a demanding film schedule. After Star Wars Jake put his acting career in the backseat and tried to live as normal of a life as possible. But, life didn’t go quite that way for him when he was taken into custody in 2016 because of a high speed car chase in South Carolina. He spend 10 months behind bars before he was moved to a psychiatric facility struggling with mental illness.
6. Macaulay Culkin
Macaulay Culkin was a household name when he was a child. From the Home Alone franchise and other movies like Richie Rich and Uncle Buck to even appearing in one of Michael Jackson’s music videos, he was the “it” kid in Hollywood. But when he got older he took a step from the acting spotlight. When he made a public appearance, his fans were shocked at how different he looked.
7. Amanda Bynes
From the time she was seven, Amanda Bynes was in front of a camera. It didn’t take long for her career to take off. First she was a regular on Nickelodeon before she got her own spin-off, The Amanda Show. She had knack for comedy and it took her far. However, after Amanda announced she was going to retire from acting, her life has seemed to take a turbulent turn. She has been seeing wearing handcuffs several times and getting into trouble. But, she has been showing to have weathered through her storms and getting better. She even announced she wants to return to acting.
8. Edward Furlong
There was a time that Edward Furlong was the reason that a lot of young girls started liking boys. He was a teen idol that played John Connor in Terminator 2 Judgment Day, which came out in 1991. But, as he has aged, he doesn’t look like what most people would expect. He still is acting, but if you compare him to how he looked as a kid, it’s hard to tell he is the same person.
9. Lindsay Lohan
When it comes to child celebs, Lindsay’s almost at the top of the list of celebrities you wouldn’t recognize grown up. Her career took off when she starred in the remake, The Parent Trap and she immediately became a Disney favorite. She had other leading roles in Freaky Friday and Mean Girls. Not only was she talented, but also adorable. She was on her way to being a high demand actress when it seemed her life fell apart. Her family began speaking out about the problems in her life. She still has a loyal fan base that’s cheering her on for her big comeback.
10. Brian Bonsall
Brian Bonsall played the Andy, little brother of Michael J. Fox, on the hit show Family Ties. Most of us remember him as the adorable boy with the bowl haircut. But time hasn’t been the nicest to Brian. He quit acting and went on to get involved in the Punk music scene. Brian has found himself in trouble with the law several times. Lately, though, there are reports he has cleaned up his life.
To learn more about these famous child celebrities, check out the video below!
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