Our Favorite Child Stars Of The ’50s, ’60s, And ’70s: Where Are They Now?
Several TV shows and films influenced popular culture in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Life wasn’t always about Netflix; back then, a monochrome TV was plenty to keep everyone entertained. Have you ever wondered what became of the kids from The Brady Bunch or The Partridge Family? Let’s go back in time for some answers.
Quinn Cummings
With the title character of precocious Lucy, Quinn Cummings shot to fame at the age of 10. She was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film The Goodbye Girl in 1977. She left performing in the early 1990s, tired of the popularity. She established a blog called “The QC Report” in 2005 and has subsequently published three memoirs. Her experience as a mother inspired her to invent the HipHugger baby-carrying sling, which she led until 2006.
Lauren Chapin
Kathy Anderson, Lauren Chapin’s character in the 1954 sitcom Father Knows Best, may have had a stable family life, but Lauren Chapin did not. Her biography claims that she had a really rough childhood.
Lauren Chapin
Lauren was unable to find work when the show was canceled. By the early 1980s, she had worked as a dog groomer and a hostess to supplement her income. She now runs a live version of her one and only show, which performs for money at various occasions.
Hayley Mills
Hayley was just 13 years old when she landed the role of Pollyanna in Pollyanna, a live-action Disney drama based on the same-named book. She quickly became a child idol as a result of her cheery character’s attitude, and she went on to star in a number of other films.
Hayley Mills
Since then, the leading lady has played a variety of parts, both great and small, in films and theater. She may not be well-known nowadays, but she was once a household name.
Kym Karath
When a film as innovative as The Sound of Music comes out, it introduces a slew of new talent, including Kym Karath. She played Gretl von Trapp, and despite the fact that she didn’t realize it, her performance went well.
Kym Karath
Kym left the industry in 1981, stating that she preferred school to the media. She traveled to Paris in her early twenties, where she studied art history and modelled. She’s now married and works as an extra. She has no film or television credits after 1981.
Johnny Crawford
Johnny Crawford is most known for his portrayal as Lucas McCain’s son in the Western classic The Rifleman, but he was also a founding member of the Mouseketeers in 1955. He was nominated for an Emmy for his outstanding performance in The Rifleman.
Johnny Crawford
Johnny continued to appear in guest parts on television after the show ended in 1963. In the early 1990s, he traded in his acting profession for a dance career. He is now the proud leader of the Johnny Crawford Dance Orchestra, a vintage-themed band based in California.
Jerry Mathers
Jerry told the producers he didn’t want to be there when he auditioned for the part of Beaver Cleaver at the age of two. He joined the air force to serve in the United States. Before pursuing a career in commercial loan management, he served in the Air Force as a kid.
Jerry Mathers
He left the profession in 1978 but every once in a while appeared as a guest star. A few years ago, the actor even endorsed the film Leave It to Beaver.
Kristy McNichol
Kristy McNichol began her career in television in the mid-1970s. Her most well-known role was on Family, in which she played Letitia “Buddy” Lawrence. She was nominated for four Emmy Awards and won two of them in 1977 and 1979.
Kristy McNichol
In the 1980s, she had a successful career, but in the 1990s, she struggled owing to rumors of substance abuse. Kristy quit the set of Empty Nest in 1992 because of mental health difficulties. She is currently a private school acting teacher.
Jay North
Dennis the Menace was a live-action troublemaker in the 1960s children’s show of the same name before becoming a well-known cartoon character to today’s age. Prior to landing the lead part in the CBS sitcom, he had worked in the industry.
Jay North
Jay, like many other young actors, found the job to be too demanding and left after a few more roles when the show ended. He works as a correctional officer in Florida’s juvenile justice system at the age of 68.
Tommy Norden
Shows with animal stars aren’t as frequent these days, but if you go back in time, they were all the rage. The story of a bottlenose dolphin, Flipper, on NBC, quickly became popular.
Tommy Norden
He had previously worked on other shows, but his part as Bud Ricks on the show was a hit. Soon after Flipper ended, Tommy left the industry and started a family. He allegedly operates an executive recruiting firm in New York City.
Ron Howard
Ron Howard, one of the most well-known child actors in the world, has had a long and successful career. His first notable part was as Opie Taylor in The Andy Griffith Show, and he boosted his popularity by appearing in Happy Days.
Ron Howard
He’s now known as a fantastic director. He is a Hollywood superstar, having directed films such as A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13, The Da Vinci Code, as well as many others.
Tony Dow
What good is a family program if there aren’t any fights between siblings? In Leave it to Beaver, Tony Dow’s Wally Cleaver played the quintessential older brother alongside Jerry Mathers. Tony was given parts in other shows such as Mr. Novak and Never Too Young.
Tony Dow
He began acting in the early 1970s after a brief stint in the National Guard, but soon gravitated into filming, building, and journalism. Tony, like Mathers, promotes Leave it to Beaver on MeTV at the age of 72.
Mary Badham
To Kill a Mockingbird was one of the rare movie adaptations that seamlessly moved from the literature to the cinema. Alongside Gregory Peck, Mary Badham, 10, played Jean Louise Finch. Her outstanding performance earned her an Oscar nomination as well.
Mary Badham
Despite the fact that fame was chasing her, she preferred to focus on other objectives. She was a college testing coordinator and an art restorer, according to the most recent sources. Mary has two children and is currently married.
Danielle Spencer
Danielle Spencer played Dee Thomas on ABC’s sitcom What’s Happening!! when she was 13 years old. She played the part until 1979, when the show was cancelled. She then went on to study to be a veterinarian in order to fulfill the wishes of her late stepfather, who had sadly perished in a vehicle accident.
Danielle Spencer
Danielle has mostly retired from the silver screen, though she does periodically don her acting hat. She owns and operates a veterinary clinic in California and has beaten breast cancer.
Jimmie Walker
J.J. Evans won an award for his portrayal of the Evan family’s eldest son. Jimmie Walker, who played Evans in the CBS sitcom Good Times, won two Golden Globes. He came up with the catchphrase “Dy-n-omite!” which is still recognized today.
Jimmie Walker
Later, he went into radio, hosting shows on WOAI, KKAP, WHIO, and WLS. The Brooklyn-born actor released a memoirs about his time on the show in 2012 as a tribute to his catchphrase and the show that made him famous. He continues to do stand-up comedy to this day.
Danny Bonaduce
The Partridge Family, a fixture of 1970s television, featured teen sensation David Cassidy, but Danny Bonaduce’s humorous character Danny Partridge received a lot of praise. Danny dabbled in practically every element of the entertainment industry during his career.
Danny Bonaduce
He became a professional wrestler and a well-known radio personality after releasing his own record and hosting a VH1 reality show. In addition, he is an ordained minister. He appeared on the ABC reboot of Battle of the Network Stars in 2017.
Eve Plumb
Eve Plumb, who played Jan Brady, the middle sister in The Brady Bunch, was another famous child actress. “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!” said the 11-year-old at the time. ” iconic. Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway, which aired on NBC in 1976, featured her in a considerably more mature character.
Eve Plumb
She performed in a number of guest roles on television sitcoms during the 1980s and 1990s, including the Brady Bunch spin-offs. In addition to acting, the actor was a gifted painter.
Marc Copage
Marc Copage, then five years old, played Corey, Diahann Carroll’s character’s son, in the revolutionary 1968 sitcom Julia. The actress gushed about her TV son, describing him as “very lovable.” In 2014, Marc returned to school and began studying jazz improvisation.
Marc Copage
Because work was scarce, he eventually had to settle for something less demanding. He is currently based in Los Angeles as a singer and dancer. “Social dancing instructor,” according to his Facebook page.
Jon Provost
Sure, the rough collie Lassie was the unquestioned star of the nearly two-decade-long TV show, but fans also adored Timmy Martin, played by Jon Provost. He quickly grew disillusioned with Hollywood and decided to pursue a career in real estate.
Jon Provost
He still pops up in guest positions now and again, but for the most part, he keeps out of the spotlight. Timmy’s in the Well: The Jon Provost Story, his autobiography, was published in 2007.
Erin Murphy
The hit 1960s sitcom Bewitched cast this blue-eyed beauty as Tabitha Stephens. She appeared in over 100 television ads throughout the show’s run, but she stopped acting when it ended in 1972.
Erin Murphy
She worked as an acting teacher, casting director, fashion stylist, makeup artist, and stunt double after graduating from San Diego State University. In 2010, she returned to the silver screen as a television correspondent and infomercial host for FOX Reality Channel and E!
Angela Cartwright
Angela Cartwright was known for her portrayal as Brigitta, one of the von Trapp children, in the renowned 1965 musical The Sound of Music. In addition to that major part, she would play Penny in Lost in Space.
Angela Cartwright
Angela embraced the chance after her marriage in 1976 to get behind the camera and established a successful photographic business in Los Angeles. She is now starring as Dr. Smith’s mother in Netflix’s Lost in Space adaption.
Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields modeled for Ivory Soap for the first time at the age of 11 months. She played the contentious part of child courtesan Violet in the 1978 film Pretty Baby when she was 12 years old.
Brooke Shields
She was the youngest person to appear on the cover of Vogue at the age of 14. Her roles helped her gain greater recognition till her sitcom Suddenly Susan hit the mark. Her subsequent career includes a few cameos.
Keith Thibodeaux
Little Ricky, played by Keith Thibodeaux, may have been the show’s heart and soul, acting as an adorable glue that held the audience in place. He began portraying the character at the age of 5. He then went on to the musical parts of the project.
Keith Thibodeaux
Keith struggled with addiction in the early 1970s, but after rediscovering Christianity, he became clean and sober. He is now the Executive Director of Ballet Magnificat, an international dance group that his wife Kathy started in 1986.
Peter Ostrum
Peter Ostrum had a brief but enjoyable playing career that began with the role of Charlie Bucket in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. He was given a tri-film deal after the film, which he turned down before slipping into the background.
Peter Ostrum
He considered returning to Hollywood, but ultimately chose to get a degree in veterinary medicine. He currently lives in a remote part of New York with his lovely family and works at the Countryside Veterinary Clinic.
Lisa Loring
In the 1960s, The Addams Family, in addition to The Munsters, became popular for its spooky idea. While Christina Ricci is best known for playing Wednesday Addams, the role was first portrayed by Lisa Loring.
Lisa Loring
Lisa married for the first time in 1973, when she was 16 years old, and had her first kid. She was a make-up artist who also appeared in soap operas in minor roles. She has avoided the spotlight since 2014.
Susan Olsen
Lisa married for the first time in 1973, when she was 16 years old, and had her first kid. She was a make-up artist who also appeared in soap operas in minor roles. She has avoided the spotlight since 2014.
Susan Olsen
She appeared in a few Brady Bunch spin-offs, but her acting career was cut short. Later on, she tried her hand at graphic design. She was fired as a host at LA Talk Radio in 2016 after sending an improper message to a guest on Facebook.
Valerie Bertinelli
Valerie Bertinelli of Delaware got her big break in 1975 as Barbara Cooper Royer on the smash sitcom One Day at a Time. With their roles, she and fellow child actor Mackenzie Phillips soared to stardom.
Valerie Bertinelli
After 1984, she appeared in a few more shows, including Touched by an Angel and Hot in Cleveland. She wrote two books about her weight-loss and diet challenges. She has hosted the Food Network cooking show Valerie’s Home Cooking since 2015.
Melissa Gilbert
Laura Ingalls must be the most popular of all the amazing characters who live in lovely Walnut Grove on Little House on the Prairie. Melissa appeared in 190 of the show’s 204 episodes. She continued to work in Hollywood after the show ended.
Melissa Gilbert
She was a contestant on Dancing with the Stars in 2012. Melissa entered politics in 2016 and ran for Congress in the United States. She won, but was forced to withdraw owing to the recurrence of an old injury.
Maureen McCormick
Maureen McCormick played Marcia Brady, the excessively tidy eldest daughter on The Brady Bunch in the 1970s. She continued to act after the show ended, and in 1995, she released a solo album.
Maureen McCormick
She competed in the Australian version of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! Dancing With The Stars season 23 in 2015 In 2019, she appeared among the other cast members in A Very Brady Renovation.
Barry Williams
Barry Williams appeared in Here Come the Brides, The Mod Squad, and Bartleby, the Scrivener before landing the pivotal part of Greg Brady on The Brady Bunch at the age of 15. He became one of the teen heartthrobs of the 1970s because to the role.
Barry Williams
He turned his attention to theater after the show was canceled. Growing Up Brady: I Was a Teenage Greg, which he published in 1990, became a New York Times bestselling novel. He now works for the MeTV television network as a spokesperson.
Linda Blair
Linda began her career as a commercial actor and model, but her portrayal of possessed toddler Regan MacNeil in The Exorcist, one of the most horrific films ever filmed, stunned the world. Her performance earned her not only recognition but also an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Linda Blair
Linda got herself into some legal difficulty in the late 1970s when she was accused of substance misuse. After that, she was unable to rebuild her career. The Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation is the former actress’s own animal-rights charity.
Justin Henry
Justin managed to steal the show as Billy Kramer, the charming son of Meryl Streep and Dustin Hoffman in the blockbuster hit Kramer vs. Kramer. He was the youngest person ever to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
Justin Henry
Justin continued his film career until the 1980s before taking a ten-year break to focus on his education. From 1998 to 2003, he was the founder of the Slamdunk Film Festival. He’s presently a sales director at eyeReturn Marketing in Los Angeles.
Jackie Earle Haley
At the age of six, Jackie began performing in television commercials. Before landing the role of Kelly Leak, a baseball bad boy in the Bad News Bears franchise, he guest-starred in a number of notable 1970s series.
Jackie Earle Haley
He returned to the big screen after a long layoff that began in 1993, and his part in Little Children earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He presently resides in San Antonio, Texas, with his third wife and two children.
Harvey Stephens
What better way to forget about sleep for a few days than to watch The Omen, a spine-chilling film from 1976? With his performance as The Antichrist, Harvey Stephens, a 4-year-old child actor, ensured that no one would name their child Damian.
Harvey Stephens
Harvey was the epitome of a one-hit wonder, flopping at the box office later on. He did get a few minor jobs before disappearing from the profession. He now lives with his family in England and works as a futures trader.
Suzanne Crough
With a shake of her tambourine, the beautiful redhead played Tracy on the 1970s sitcom The Partridge Family, making everyone grin. Despite the fact that it was only her second audition, she aced it and quickly established herself as a valued member of the ensemble.
Suzanne Crough
Suzanne’s Hollywood career came to an end by the end of the 1970s. She did obtain a few minor roles, but her most recent credit was in the 1980 TV movie Children of [Separation]. Unfortunately, she died in 2015 at the age of 52.
Alison Arngrim
Despite auditioning for both Mary and Laura Ingalls, she was cast as Nellie Oleson on the 1970s historical drama series Little House on the Prairie. It was later difficult for her to break out from the Nellie Oleson mold.
Alison Arngrim
After the show finished, she went into stand-up comedy and volunteers for numerous humanitarian organizations. Confessions of a Prairie B–: How I Survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated, her memoir published in 2010, was a New York Times bestseller.
Pamela Sue Martin
Pamela Sue Martin began her career in the entertainment industry as a model at the age of 17. She didn’t take long to make the leap to acting, as she did in 1972’s Poseidon Adventure.
Pamela Sue Martin
Martin is most known for playing Nancy Drew, a teen detective on the television series The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries. She’s also renowned for playing socialite Fallon Carrington Colby in the ABC drama Dynasty. Although it’s been a while since we’ve seen Martin in the spotlight, she played Harriet Grosset in the third Nancy Drew TV series.
Mike Lookinland
We can’t discuss the other members of The Brady Bunch without mentioning Bobby, who was played by Mike Lookinland, a former child star. Lookinland, who is now 59 years old, starred in the ABC sitcom from 1969 to 1974 as the youngest brother, as well as other sequels and spinoffs.
Mike Lookinland
Lookinland remained working in the entertainment sector as a cameraman after his stint as a Brady came to an end. He left this employment not long after to start his own firm in Salt Lake City, Utah, making custom concrete worktops.
Shaun Cassidy
Shaun Cassidy is an American musician, actor, writer, and producer who appeared in The Hardy Boys Mysteries as one of the main characters. He also starred in the film Breaking Away and appeared on the daytime drama General Hospital.
Shaun Cassidy
Cassidy performed almost exclusively as a stage actor in the 1980s and 1990s, appearing on Broadway and in London’s West End. Cassidy has been a television writer and producer since the mid-’90s, developing and producing a variety of series including American Gothic, Roar, and Invasion.
Leif Garrett
It’s no wonder that Leif Garrett began his entertainment career at the age of five, given that he was born and reared in sunny California. Garrett appeared in a number of films, including Devil Times Five, in which he co-starred with his sister.
Leif Garrett
Nonetheless, the star’s most memorable performances include Jimmy Henderson’s breakout role in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice. Garrett rose to notoriety as a musician throughout the 1970s, however he eventually returned to acting. Garrett has had a few run-ins with the law since then, but he appears to be on the mend now.
Mackenzie Phillips
Because her father was the lead singer of The Mamas & the Papas, Mackenzie Phillips was born into stardom. Despite this, she managed to break free from his shadow and establish herself as an actor in her own right. She not only appeared in American Graffiti, but she also starred in the sitcom One Day at a Time as Julie Mora Cooper Horvath, a rebellious yet loving teen.
Mackenzie Phillips
Phillips’ personal life has been a source of controversy from her days as a child star. Today, she appears to be doing better than ever, even appearing in the revival of One Day at a Time as Pam Valentine.
Jodie Foster
Let’s face it: no matter who you are or how old you are, you’ve heard of Jodie Foster. The critically acclaimed actress, who is now 57 years old, began her professional career as a child model when she was only three years old! Foster made her acting debut in the TV series Mayberry R.F.D. when she was six years old.
Jodie Foster
The acting jobs kept coming after that, but Foster struggled at times to shift into adult parts. However, it appears that she found her path and has continued to star in and direct films!
David Cassidy
David Cassidy, Shaun’s half-brother, was an actor, singer-songwriter, and musician in the United States. In the 1970s musical sitcom The Patridge Family, he played Keith Partridge, the son of Shirley Patridge (played by his real-life stepmother, Shirley Jones).
David Cassidy
Cassidy’s teen idol fame as a superstar pop singer was boosted significantly by this part. Despite the fact that Cassidy stayed in the spotlight after the series ended, he died of liver disease in 2017 at the age of 67.
Willie Aames
Willie Aames began his acting career as a child and has amassed quite a following over the years. Aames is best remembered for his roles as Tommy Bradford on the 1970s TV show Eight Is Enough, Buddy Lembeck on the 1980s sitcom Charles in Charge, and the main character in the direct-to-video series Bibleman.
Willie Aames
Now 60 years old, Aames keeps himself active and engaged by spending time with his family and occasionally making an appearance in Hallmark TV movies such as Love on the Menu.
Kathy Coleman
Kathy Coleman is no longer a household name, but she was once. Coleman is best recognized for her role as Holly Marshall in the children’s TV show Land of the Lost.
Kathy Coleman
Coleman, who is now 58 years old, hasn’t performed in several years, but she did offer interviews and commentary tracks to the now-discontinued Land of the Lost DVDs for all three seasons. Coleman’s autobiography was released in April of 2015, “Lost Girl: The Truth and Nothing But the Truth, So Help Me Kathleen.â€
Ralph Carter
Ralph Carter is an American actor and musician best known for his role on the CBS sitcom Good Times as Michael Evans, the youngest child of Florida and James Evans, Sr.
Ralph Carter
Carter had his Broadway debut at the age of nine in The Me Nobody Knows, which you may not be aware of. Carter is now officially retired from the spotlight and is working with an organization in New York City that honors Black Theater.
Kim Richards
On Bravo’s reality show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, you may remember her as Kyle’s elder and spacey sister. Kim Richards, believe it or not, was much more than a TV celebrity at one point in her life.
Kim Richards
She started out as a child actress and grew to notoriety thanks to her parts in Nanny and the Professor, Escape to Witch Mountain, and Return to Witch Mountain. Kim, who is now 55 years old, spends her time with her family and away from the spotlight after overcoming personal challenges.
Erin Moran
Erin Moran was born and reared in California, and her first acting job was for a First Federal Bank television ad when she was five years old. Moran’s breakout role as Joanie Cunningham, Richie Cunningham’s spunky younger sister, on the famous sitcom Happy Days came after multiple appearances on various TV shows.
Erin Moran
Moran moved on to other acting endeavors after a spin-off show and filming the final season of Happy Days. Even so, the adored actress had struggled before her death in 2017.
Brandon Cruz
He is most known for his role as Eddie Corbett on the comedy-drama series The Courtship of Eddie’s Father, which he landed at the age of five. Brandon Cruz continued to work as a child actor for several years after the show was cancelled, but in the late 1970s he became interested in punk rock.
Brandon Cruz
He’s even performed with bands like Dr. Know, the Dead Kennedys, and Flipper. Cruz has also worked as an assistant editor on the animated comedy South Park, among other things, in the television industry.
Parker Stevenson
Parker Stevenson is an American actor best remembered for his roles as Frank Hardy in The Hardy Boys and Craig Pomeroy on Baywatch in the 1970s. Stevenson is still very much in the spotlight, even though some of you are too young to recognize him.
Parker Stevenson
In reality, he presently plays Louis Osmond, Academy Director, in Netflix’s Greenhouse Academy. Stevenson has been doing photography since he was a child, in addition to performing. ShadowWorks, his photography website, features his work.
Robby Benson
Try to convince us that Robby Benson was not the biggest teen idol of the late 1970s by looking at those baby blue eyes. Just have a peek at him! Benson rose to fame as a result of his roles in a number of sports films, including One on One and Ice Castles.
Robby Benson
Benson rose to prominence after voicing the Beast in the Disney animated picture Beauty and the Beast, as well as its various sequels and spin-offs. Since then, Benson has directed television (including a few Friends episodes!) and written a biography about his experiences.
Ricky Schroder
Many actors work for years in the hopes of winning a coveted award, but Ricky Schroder won one when he was nine years old for his role in the 1979 film The Champ. His performance earned him a Golden Globe in 1980.
Ricky Schroder
He continued to act in TV shows such as 24 and NYPD Blue. In 1992, the actor married and had four children. In 2016, he starred in Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love, a television movie.
Christopher Knight
Christopher’s Hollywood career began in 1969, when he was cast in The Brady Bunch as Peter Brady, the middle kid. He became a teen icon alongside the other Brady brothers and stayed on the show until it ended.
Christopher Knight
He retired from acting in the 1980s, disinterested in the red carpet, and pursued a career in business and technology. Christopher, a self-described “geek,” co-founded Visual Software, a 3D graphics company, in 1991. In the 2000s, he returned to television and saw a rebirth in popularity.
Butch Patrick
Butch began acting at the age of seven and is arguably best known for his role as kid werewolf Eddie Munster on the CBS popular show The Munsters in the 1960s. This cult classic was later adapted into a film.
Butch Patrick
His acting was outstanding, and he was clearly a rising star. In 1975, however, he left performing to work for his father. He dabbled in music and even put out a single. Prostate cancer was his battle, and he won.
Tatum O’Neal
Tatum, the daughter of Joanna Moore and Ryan O’Neal, made news in 1973 when she co-starred in Paper Moon with her father. She won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for this part when she was ten years old — and it was also her first film – and went on to become the highest-paid child performer in history.
Tatum O’Neal
Tatum and her father have a tense relationship. She suffered with substance abuse as a child. Although she is not as well-known as she was in 1973, she can occasionally be seen on television.
Melissa Sue Anderson
Melissa was cast as Mary Ingalls on the popular and lauded series Little House on the Prairie when she was 11 years old, and her career took off. She was the only member of the cast to receive an Emmy nomination.
Melissa Sue Anderson
In 1979, she won an Emmy for an ABC Afterschool Special. Throughout the 1980s, the actress continued to work but had little success. She now lives in Quebec with her husband and occasionally appears in minor television appearances.