Where Did They Go?
Whether you're a child actor or not, fame is fickle. Some of these '90s icons peaked before the turn of the century, while others managed to come back to success after some time off. No matter what, these are some of the faces which helped define the 1990s.
Marla Sokoloff
Marla Sokoloff's best-known role was as Gia Mahan, Stephanie Tanner's archenemy on Full House and its recent reboot, Fuller House. Since then, Sokoloff has appeared in The Practice but mostly keeps a lower profile raising her three children.
Val Patterson, CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
Pauly Shore
For a short period in the 1990s, Pauly Shore was a star. With hosting duties on MTV and starring roles in films like Encino Man, Shore had a distinct presence in the '90s. As it sometimes happens, his star waned and he became somewhat of a punchline but he managed to keep his humor. In 2003, he directed the film Pauly Shore Is Dead which was about his declining popularity in show business.
Super Festivals, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Fairuza Balk
The alternative It Girl of the 1990s, Fairuza Balk seemed headed for stardom with a starring role in The Craft and appearances in Almost Famous and American History X. She continues to act, most prominently in the television series Paradise City.
Barry Watson
Barry Watson was a 1990s heartthrob, appearing most prominently on 7th Heaven. Not as high-profile as before, Watson nevertheless continues to act, appearing on Samantha Who? and The Loudest Voice.
Jenna Von Oÿ
Playing Blossom's best friend Six on the quintessential 1990s teen sitcom Blossom catapulted von Oÿ into the spotlight. Also appearing in The Parkers and A Goofy Movie, von Oÿ worked steadily in the '90s. Turning to music in 2000, von Oÿ continues to act but also focuses on writing.
Moira Kelly
From appearances in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, The West Wing, and as Nala in The Lion King, Moira Kelly has an impressive resume. Since the 1990s, she has continued to act, appearing on Citadel and My Southern Family Christmas.
Mike Vitar
Mike Vitar was Benny the Jet in The Sandlot and Luis in the Mighty Ducks franchise. He retired from acting in 1997 and has mostly kept a low profile. He has worked as an EMT and a firefighter and appears to have no desire to return to Hollywood.
Twentieth Century, The Sandlot (1993)
Skeet Ulrich
Skeet Ulrich was a mainstay of 1990s movies, starring as Billy Loomis in Scream, Chris Hooker in The Craft, and Vincent Lopiano in As Good as It Gets. Seemingly disappearing by the turn of the century, Ulrich returned in 2008 for a starring role in the short-lived series Jericho and has since them appeared as LAPD Detective Rex Winters in the Law & Order franchise, as Forsythe Pendleton "FP" Jones II on Riverdale, and reprised his Scream role in the most recent sequels, Scream and Scream VI.
Tatyana Ali
Playing Ashley Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air kept Tatyana Ali in the spotlight in the 1990s. She later appeared on The Young and the Restless in the 2000s and 2010s and in 2023, she starred in Giving Hope: The Ni’Cola Mitchell Story.
The Bui Brothers, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Jason Behr
Jason Behr was everywhere in the 1990s and into the early 2000s. He appeared on Step by Step, The Profiler, 7th Heaven, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, JAG, Dawson's Creek, and Breakout Kings. Since then, he starred in the series Roswell and had by-roles in films such as The Shipping News and The Grudge.
Dominick D, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Rachael Leigh Cook
Rachael Leigh Cook was another '90s It Girl, famous for The Baby-Sitters Club and She's All That. In the early 2000s, she starred in Josie and the Pussycats. Since then, she has had a somewhat lower profile, appearing in a number of Hallmark movies.
Super Festivals, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Billy Baldwin
Whether as a punchline on The Simpsons or for being one of the "other Baldwins", Billy Baldwin's 1990s fame has been a mixed blessing. He had some big-name films in the 1990s, such as Backdraft and Flatliners, and he continues to work. Today, aside from being Alec Baldwin's brother, he's mostly known for his marriage to Wilson Phillips’ Chyna Phillips.
Thora Birch
A child star who appeared in Clear and Present Danger and American Beauty, Thora Birch
came into her own starring in Ghost World. She found the transition into adult roles difficult. Birch has acted more recently, including in 2019 film The Last Black Man in San Francisco.
John Manard, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Tahj Mowry
Tahj Mowry was a child actor with his own show, Smart Guy, while also appearing in Kim Possible. He left acting to focus on school and later turned to singing. In 2023, he returned to acting in the Disney+ series The Muppets Mayhem.
Walt Disney Television, Flickr
Devon Sawa
A 1990s teenage heartthrob, Devon Sawa starred in films such as Now and Then and Final Destination. Trying to escape his heartthrob image, he laid low for a while, finally returning to acting and appearing in the Chucky television series, starting in 2021.
Rider Strong
Rider Strong had a role in the 1990s hit Boy Meets World, but at the time, wasn't too thrilled to be part of it. In an interview, he stated ,"I did not want to be associated with the show, which is crazy to me now". Apparently at peace with his past, Strong now co-hosts a Boy Meets World rewatch podcast.
Super Festivals, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Andrea Barber
After her stint as Kimmy on Full House, Andrea Barber left acting. She did return for the Fuller House reunion series and also appeared in the Nickelodeon series That Girl Lay Lay as the principal, starting in 2021.
Nate Richert
Nate Richert's character, Harvey Kinkle, on Sabrina the Teenage Witch brought him into the spotlight. Since then, Richert has turned to music and is also working towards a career in carpentry.
Fiona Apple
Fiona Apple's '90s music and image left an indelible mark on the decade. She continues to make music but her fame in the 1990s was absolute. Perhaps her most notable song, "Criminal" won a Grammy back in 1996 and she’s shown she has staying power, winning two more Grammys in the 2020s.
Sachyn, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Macy Gray
Macy Gray was everywhere in the 1990s and her song "I Try" is rightfully considered a classic. She was never able to recapture that popularity in subsequent work but she nevertheless perseveres. She appeared on Dancing With the Stars and The Masked Singer in Australia. In the 2020s, she moved on to film projects.
LivePict, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Andrew Keegan
Andrew Keegan may have been typecast as an unlikable jerk, playing Joey in 10 Things I Hate About You. Whether or not typecasting was the reason, Keegan nevertheless took a break from acting. In recent years, he has returned to acting, appearing on television and films in the 2020s.
ArtModerne, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Larisa Oleynik
Speaking of 10 Things I Hate About You, Larisa Oleynik made her mark in that film as well. Before that, she had a starring role in Nickelodeon's The Secret World of Alex Mack. Since then, she's had a lower profile but continues to work, including a recurring role as Cynthia Cosgrove in Mad Men.
Bridget Fonda
Another 1990s It Girl, Bridget Fonda was also part of an acting dynasty—her father was Peter Fonda, Jane Fonda is her aunt, and her grandfather was the legendary Henry Fonda. She was ubiquitous in the 1990s, with major roles in Single White Female and Jackie Brown. Since then, she has stepped back from Hollywood, focusing on raising her child with husband Danny Elfman.
Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock
Mara Wilson
Mara Wilson was a child star with a big '90s presence. With notable roles in Mrs. Doubtfire and Matilda, she was the ultimate 1990s kid. She left acting and turned to writing, and released her 2016 book Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame, which focuses on the difficulties of being a child star.
Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Anna Chlumsky
Anna Chlumsky found early success as a child actor in My Girl, opposite Macaulay Culkin. She appeared in the sequel, My Girl 2, but left acting to focus on school. Since then, she defied the odds of former child stars and found success on the series Veep, earning six nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
Walt Disney Television, Flickr
Jonathan Lipnicki
Jonathan Lipnicki gained fame in the 1996 Tom Cruise hit Jerry Maguire and he appeared in a number of films and television series throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. As he became an adult, roles in mainstream projects dried up but he continues to work in independent films and has otherwise focused on philanthropic work for organizations such as the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Shane West
Shane West's most notable role was actually from 2002, the film A Walk to Remember. He began his career in the 1990s, however, appearing in Once and Again and The Cider House Rules, as well as an appearance on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He continues to act and play music, including a stint with Los Angeles punk legends the Germs.
Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Monica
In the 1990s, Monica had a big hit with the song "The Boy Is Mine," a duet with Brandy. After that success and the release of a few albums, Monica seemed to disappear. She did do some acting, including on Felicity, and has since then worked on The Voice.
Streets6392, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Brandy
Brandy's success with "The Boy Is Mine" continued with further work in acting—in Moesha and I Still Know What You Did Last Summer—and singing, selling over 10 million records and winning a Grammy. Recently Brandy appeared on Broadway in the musical Chicago.
Mike D. Photography, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Emilio Estevez
When he became an actor, Emilio Estevez opted to retain his family name rather than using his father, Martin Sheen's, stage surname. A fixture of 1980s movies, Estevez had some major roles in the '90s in Mission: Impossible and The Mighty Ducks franchise. He switched to working behind the scenes as a writer and director, although he did appear in the 2021 revival series The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers.
Sinbad
A mainstay of the 1980s and '90s stand-up circuit, Sinbad exemplified early '90s colorful fashion, appearing in the films The Coneheads and Jingle All the Way, as well as his own sitcom. By the 2000s, the work slowed down and he suffered a stroke in 2020. He did appear as himself in season 4 of Atlanta and continues to do voice work.
Michael Atkinson, Wikimedia Commons
Jonathan Taylor Thomas
Perhaps the ultimate teen heartthrob of the 1990s, Jonathan Taylor Thomas was everywhere. He was on a hit television show, Home Improvement, and voiced Simba in The Lion King. He left show business to focus on school but has done some work as an actor and director since then.
Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock
Edward Furlong
Edward Furlong came to public attention in the 1991 blockbuster Terminator 2: Judgment Day. As a child actor, he focused mainly on serious roles, such as A Home of Our Own, Little Odessa, and The Grass Harp. He transitioned to young adult roles in films, such as American History X and Animal Factory. Although as an adult the work slowed down, he continues to act to this day.
Miguel Discart, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Nick Stahl
Starting in commercials, Nick Stahl moved to film work as a child actor, appearing in Mel Gibson's The Man Without a Face. As a young adult, he appeared in the WWII film The Thin Red Line. His mainstream acting roles dried up by the turn of the century but he continues to act in independent films and he also works behind the scenes, such as Second Unit Director on Sin City.
Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Joseph Mazzello
Best known for Jurassic Park, Joseph Mazzello worked steadily through the 1990s. He eventually went to school to study filmmaking, earning a degree in cinema and television production at USC.
Rumer Willis
The child of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, Rumer made her film debut at age five in the film Now and Then, in 1995. As an adult, she has appeared on the drama series Empire and in the 2019 Quentin Tarantino film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. She made her Broadway debut in 2015 in the musical Chicago.
Toglenn, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Madeline Zima
First appearing as a child in the Woody Allen film Alice in 1990, Madeline Zima went on to appear in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle in 1992. As an adult, she continues to work, including a role in the television series Californication, back in 2007.
Thomas Dekker
As a child actor on The Young and the Restless at the age of five, he also appeared in such '90s television staples as Seinfeld, ER, and The Nanny. Since then, he has had a role on Heroes, playing Zach (Claire Bennet's best friend). He then went on to star in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.
Macaulay Culkin
If you ask anyone to name a '90s child star, Macaulay Culkin's name would probably come up the most. His hit films My Girl, Uncle Buck, Home Alone, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, and Richie Rich defined childhood in the 1990s. Like many child stars, adult roles eluded him and he turned to music—however, his new dream soon turned into a nightmare.
While playing with his band—The Pizza Underground—at the Rock City in Nottingham, England, things went from bad to worse when the crowd thought the band name was a jab at The Velvet Underground. The unruly crowd booed Culkin and his bandmates, but things got even more humiliating when people started throwing pints of ale at the stage. The Pizza Underground left the venue after 15 minutes, canceled the rest of their UK tour, and split up soon after.
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