Being a child actor is tough. A child actor known for horror films? That’s even more difficult, since it often leads to type casting. It’s a known issue for child actors finding it tough to find roles as they mature.
Some continue in film, while others disappear from Hollywood. People often wonder what has become of those familiar young faces so look no further. This list tells you all you need to know.
Daveigh Chase – Now
Chase had lots of acting experience before playing the exceptionally creepy Samara, in the 2002 film The Ring in the picture above. The role put her on the map.
She’s been active in both film and television, landing a recurring role on the HBO series “Big Love” in 2006 then appearing in 31 episodes of the serialized drama. Chase has other feature films since and is even pursuing a singing career.
Miko Hughes – Then
A young Miko Hughes terrified audiences playing the role of Gage in Pet Sematary. He went on to ride the horror film wave, when in 1994, Hughes played Heather Langenkamp’s son in Wes Craven’s New Nightmare.
Miko Hughes – Now
Hughes is on the Hollywood scene doing guest appearances on a multitude of television series, dabbling in voice acting, working as a musician, and directing a segment for the 2013 horror anthology film, Chilling Visions: 5 Senses of Fear.
Lisa and Louise Burns – Then
Lisa and Louise Burns had roles in an episode of the 1970s television series Kids before getting the part in Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining” as the scary girls that we all know and love.
Lisa and Louise Burns – Now
The ladies left acting and disappeared from the public eye after the release of The Shining. Then they appeared on the VH1 series, Where Are They Now, while also resurfacing for a screening of the Stanley Kubrick film Dr. Strangelove.
Danielle Harris – Then
Young Danielle Harris began her film career in horror movies, appearing in both Halloween 4 and Halloween 5 as Jamie Lloyd.
Danielle Harris – Now
Harris went on to do a series of guest spots on various television programs, with a few supporting roles in feature films. She returned to do horror in 1998 with Urban Legend, and then lent her voice to voice acting gigs.
Harris has been very active in horror filmmaking, starring in many horror features since then, even directing the feature film Among Friends.
Alex Vincent – Then
Vincent starred in the first installment of the Child’s Play franchise which launched his career. He went on to appear as a lead in the sequel, Child’s Play 2, continuing his success.
Alex Vincent – Now
Vincent was eventually replaced by Justin Whalin in the third film though there was a brief cameo in archive footage. He stepped away from acting between 1994 and 2007, citing a bad experience while making the film My Family Treasure as his reason for leaving.
Vincent attempted to return to Hollywood during his high school years, but had trouble finding roles. He returned in 2008 with several horror films since.
Harvey Stephens – Then
To play the spawn of satan can’t possibly be easy, meaning it was even more difficult for a child actor. But Harvey Stephens played evil very well as Damien in the 1976 supernatural horror film, The Omen.
Harvey Stephens – Now
Harvey Stephens made an appearance in a made-for-TV movie in 1980, then left Hollywood up until the 2006 remake of The Omen where he had a cameo as a television reporter. Stephens currently works in stocks and property development.
A. Michael Baldwin – Then
A. Michael Baldwin found fame and notoriety for his role in Don Coscarelli’s Phantasm. He played Mike, a young boy who was devastated by the loss of his parents. The film went on to achieve critical acclaim and a large cult following.
A. Michael Baldwin – Now
Baldwin’s role was recast in the second installment of the Phantasm franchise. But he did star in the third and fourth films and is confirmed to be in the fifth installment titled Phantasm: Ravager.
He has taken several breaks from acting. Baldwin even got in touch with an Indian guru, living on an ashram for a period of time. Baldwin recently returned to making horror movies for the past years.
Brandon Adams – Then
Before his roles in horror movies, young Brandon Adams played Zeke in Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker. He went on to play a character named Fool in “The People Under the Stairs”.
Adams had opportunities to work with great talent, like legendary director Wes Craven. Adams appeared in the 1993 critically panned horror film “Ghost in the Machine” as Frazer.
Brandon Adams – Now
He made his mark on the horror scene, so Adams moved to several television series and doing voice work for video games. He made only one feature film since 2000.
He has now been focusing on his career as a rapper with the stage name of B. Lee.
Kyle Richards – Then
Kyle Richards appeared in many horror movies before she could even drive. She played Angie in the 1977 horror film “Eaten Alive”, Debbie in “The Car”, and famously portrayed Lindsey Wallace in, “Halloween”.
Kyle Richards – Now
Richards still acts, guest-starring on a variety of television series and making film appearances from time to time. She is famous as a regular cast member on Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”.
Stephen Dorff – Then
As a young actor, Stephen Dorff’s first feature film was the 1987 horror feature “The Gate”. He played Glen, a young boy who goes on to discover a portal to hell in his backyard.
Stephen Dorff – Now
Dorff kept acting since “The Gate”, even appearing on different television series and made-for-TV movies. He even made an impressive return to the horror genre with his role in “Blade”.
Dorff has acted in several horror films since “Blade”, including “Feardotcom”, “Alone in the Dark”, and “Botched”.
Danny Pintauro – Then
The 1983 film “Cujo” was Pintauro’s first feature film, taking on the role of a young boy named Tad in the Stephen King adaptation for the screen.
Danny Pintauro – Now
Pintauro starred on the hit television series, “Who’s the Boss”, before taking 15 years off from acting after the show ended. He returned in 2007, coming out as gay, and being an outspoken advocate for gay and lesbian couples.
Patty McCormack – Then
McCormack portrayed one of the most sinister killer children in movie history. Her chilling performance as Rhoda Penmark in The Bad Seed had the actress taking the role both in the Broadway play and the film version.
Patty McCormack – Now
McCormack still acts from time to time. She has been working since the 1950s, with almost no down time in between roles. She appeared in the 2008 film Frost/Nixon, a film that was nominated for five Academy Awards.
Linda Blair – Then
It was in her teen years when Linda Blair was cast as Reagan in The Exorcist. This is the one role that she is most associated with to this day. The movie is a classic.
Linda Blair – Now
Blair starred in the sequel to The Exorcist in 1977, then joined a series of horror films throughout the 1980s, earning herself certified ‘Scream Queen’ status.
Blair acts occasionally, but most of her efforts are for charity, like The Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation, which finds homes for pets and stands up against animal cruelty.
Danny Lloyd – Then
Lloyd has to be one of the most memorable children ever to be in a horror film. His character, Danny Torrance, ranting about “redrum” in “The Shining” is regularly quoted by cinephiles and film fans.
And who could forget Tony, the boy who lived in Danny’s mouth? They say Stanley Kubrick shielded him to the point that Danny didn’t know it was a horror movie until production was finished.
Danny Lloyd – Now
Lloyd made one more movie after The Shining and then left Hollywood, eventually explaining that securing roles was difficult and he wanted to be an ordinary kid again.
He went on to become a pig farmer during college, before becoming a high school science teacher.
Corey Feldman – Then
In his early career, Feldman appeared in different important horror films. He was Tommy Jarvis in “Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter”, starred in “The Lost Boys”, and was also in Joe Dante’s “Gremlins”.
Corey Feldman – Now
Feldman has had his ups and downs, both personally and professionally. He struggled with addiction, dealt with rejection by Hollywood, and appeared on several reality series.
He has continued to act though the quality of roles that he currently plays are not as glamorous as the ones in his youth.
Feldman released his memoir, “Coreyography” in 2013. Fans and critics loved it for its honesty and willingness to go to uncomfortable places just to tell his story.
Isabelle Fuhrman – Then
A twelve-year-old Isabelle Fuhrman was lucky enough to be plucked from relative obscurity to play the demonic title character in Orphan. Fans adore her for that role in the film.
Isabelle Fuhrman – Now
Furhman went on to play Clove in The Hunger Games, then starred in Masters of Sex, and Down a Dark Hall. She is in Escape Room 2, Orphan: First Kill, and the series, The Edge of Seventeen.
John Franklin – Then
A film based on Stephen King’s short story, Children of the Corn starred then 25-year-old John Franklin as Isaac Chroner. He was able to play the young character since he was diagnosed with GHD, a growth hormone deficiency which caused the actor to look much younger.
John Franklin – Now
Franklin starred as Cousin It in “The Addams Family” in 1991, and went on to play smaller roles. He left the world of acting to become a teacher in the early 2000s, but soon returned. His most recent role was in 2018’s “Hell’s Kitty”.
David Dorfman – Then
In 2002, a nine-year-old David Dorfman was chosen to play creepy kid Aidan Keller in The Ring. He reprised the role in the 2005 sequel, The Ring Two.
David Dorfman – Now
Dorfman is something of a boy genius and was admitted to UCLA at the age of 13. He graduated as valedictorian, and then graduated from Harvard Law School at 18. Dorfman also made an appearance in 2008’s Drillbit Taylor.
Christina Ricci – Then
Ricci was just a child when she got her breakthrough role as Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family (1991). She was just 11 at the time.
Christina Ricci – Now
Ricci became a teen icon, starring in Now and Then and Casper, before taking on darker roles in Sleepy Hollow and Monster. She went on to receive a Golden Globe nomination for her 1998’s The Opposite of Sex, and an Emmy nod for a guest appearance on Grey’s Anatomy in 2012.
In 2013, Ricci starred in the title role of Lifetime’s Lizzie Bordon Took an Ax.
Billy Redden – Then
Redden played a banjo-playing Georgia teen in the 1972 dramatic thriller Deliverance, with Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, and Ned Beatty. He was the only authentic “local” in the cast, being plucked from obscurity from his school thanks to his lanky look.
Billy Redden – Now
Redden gave banjo tours along the Georgia coast after Deliverance. He came back on screen in 2003, when Tim Burton found out he was working as a dishwasher-busboy at the Cookie Jar Cafe in Clayton, Georgia. Burton cast Redden in a cameo in Big Fish.
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