Child Stars – How Have They Grown?

 Erik Per Sullivan – The once adorably awkward Dewey from Malcolm in the Middle has grown up to look, well, not so awkward.

Mischa Barton – The once rail-thin star of The O.C. has come under scrutiny for her weight gain with which she has come to terms. She says, “When you’re 16, you’re not what you are at 25. I was really young and just had not filled out at all. Not everybody stays the same body type. It was always, ‘She’s too skinny, she must be sick.’” Then it was, “She’s too big.” I was never the right weight. Whatever weight she is, she has enough acting jobs and endorsements to keep her busy.

Danny Bonaduce – Became famous in the 1970′s as Danny on The Partridge Family. His next gig was as a radio broadcaster in Los Angeles. He also made several movies and appeared on television shows. Following the end of The Partridge Family, Bonaduce went through a period of drug abuse and even homelessness. The actor divulged on his radio show that he had lived in his car behind Grauman’s Chinese Theater for a while, where he was greeted by fans and autograph-seekers. Among his several arrests following his television series days were one for attempting to buy cocaine and another for robbing and beating a transvestite prostitute. Today, he is back on the radio and appears to be a survivor.

Kristen Stewart – Was nominated for a Young Artist Award for her performance with Jodie Foster in Panic Room at the age of nine. Born into a showbiz family, she is best known for her performance in The Twilight Saga, where she met and began a relationship with Robert Pattinson that was frequent fodder for the paparazzi. She continues to give critically acclaimed performances and seems, so far, to be able to stay out of trouble.

Jodie Foster – She has been acting since the age of 3, receiving two Academy Awards and many nominations. She graduated from Yale University and has two sons. She continues to act and direct and seems to have weathered her early fame quite well.

Jonathan Lipnicki – An American actor known for his childhood roles in Jerry Maguire, Stuart Little, The Little Vampire, and Like Mike. Took a hiatus from acting to lead a normal teenage life, but, now, is back with a vengeance. Without glasses and with a super-buff body gained from competing in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, he is again ready for the grappling ring of Hollywood

 

 Macauley Culkin – Called the greatest child actor since Shirley Temple, he rose to international fame in the blockbuster movie, Home Alone. He went on to similar acclaim in several other movies, including Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, My Girl and The Good Son, and more. In 1995, his parents separated and fought a lengthy legal battle over custody of their kids and Macauley’s substantial fortune. This lawsuit lasted two years, during which time Mack refused to work. His mother eventually received custody. After several years away from acting, he returned to play some darker, more experimental roles and play in a band. The actor’s gaunt appearance here worried his many fans after he was said to be close to death last year as he allegedly battled a devastating heroin addiction. He looked considerable healthier at last year’s Comic Con Convention but is said to be smoking up to 60 cigarettes a day, which he can definitely afford with his $15 million net worth

Angus T. Jones – Starred as the sarcastic, wise-cracking son of single father, Jon Cryer, who lives with his uncle (and Cryer’s brother), Charlie Sheen in the popular comedy, Two and a Half Men. He became the most highly paid child actor at the age of 17, earning $300,000 per episode for 26 episodes. In 2012, he began criticizing the show as “filth” and discouraging people from watching it. His protest is linked to his religious beliefs as a member of the Voice of Prophecy Seventh-Day Adventist church in Los Angeles. He certainly is able to be a large donor.

 

Lindsay Lohan – Burst onto the acting scene playing twins in the remake of The Parent Trap. Next came the hit movies, Freaky Friday and Mean Girls. She was a bona fide star. The temptations of tinsel town proved to be too much for the Disney star, and she has spent time in and out of court mandated rehabilitation, jail and psychotherapy, while appearing in less than critically acclaimed films. She keeps trying though and, perhaps one day, she will get her mojo back.

Shirley Temple was able to successfully graduate from giggles and curls to responsible adult and eventual United States Ambassador. Not all child actors fare as well.

Danica McKellar – Winnie of The Wonder Years appears to be a winner at transitioning from child actress to adult actress—not to mention author of several books on the joys of math for middle and high schoolers and film director and writer. Her parents’ emphasis on education (she graduated from UCLA summa cum laude) and studies of mathematics helped keep this girl’s head straight.