10 Child Stars Who Left Fame Behind

Sometimes, you have to make your own way! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at stars who reached high levels of fame at a young age, only to step away once they reached adulthood. Our countdown includes stars Peter Ostrum, Mara Wilson, Kay Panabaker and more! Which former child actor do you think has the most normal life now? Let us know in the comments below.
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#childstars #hollywood #fame #matilda #nickelodeon #goonies #disneychannel

[@WatchMojo]

Which former child actor do you think has the most normal life now? Let us know in the comments below. For more content like this, click here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6KahYODqqesprM

[@devingiles6597]

Jeanette McCurdy

[@brittany34-453]

Jeanette Mccurdy cause she wants to have a normal life

[@ecwdude17]

Ross Bagley

[@jcj268]

Haven’t you done this list already?

[@brokenbridge6316]

Respect to Jennette McCurdy for stepping away from the lime light. Although I don't know what she's up to right now. I will always wish her the best of luck in whatever she does going forward.

[@dvalica86]

Fame at a young age is truly detrimental

[@BlackHatCinephile]

🏆🥇

[@Reaperguy67]

​@@BlackHatCinephile no one wants your spam in the comments

[@multiyapples]

I don’t blame Jennette for leaving the industry.

[@bronzin1445]

Honestly, she’s a trooper for sticking with it for as long as she could

[@devingiles6597]

Honorable mentions: Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen Laundry Bender Frankie Muniz Lauren Taylor

[@maddalonefarms]

Bender didn’t retire

[@carlintaylor3229]

Nothing wrong with wanting to be in movies and TV have some success for a bit and then go on to do something else with life being in Hollywood isn't meant for everyone God bless these guys ❤❤

[@savagegardenrox]

I have to imagine it was very weird for JTT to be like 12 years old and know that thousands of kids had posters of him on their bedroom walls. Like, he was THE heartthrob for years and that must have been uncomfortable

[@jeannehall6546]

Mara Wilson, Lisa Gerrittson, Quinn Cummings, Frankie Muniz, Linsey and Sidney Greenbush, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Mike Lookinland, Jake Lloyd (now a schizophrenic), Rodney Allen Rippy, Lisa Welchel, Radames Pera.

[@kyleboulanger170]

Frankie Muniz went into Formula One racing right after Malcolm In The Middle ended its run until he had a massive wreck in 2009. Since then, he's performed in several bands.

[@jeannehall6546]

@@kyleboulanger170 Didn’t he suffer from injuries and now can’t withcall doing “Malcom In The Middle”?

[@irawilliams343]

Fame isn't just worth it if your privacy and mental health are on the line

[@Jeremiah_Rivers76]

I couldn’t have put it any better. It’s a double-edged sword that can either bring good to one’s life or ruin it without taking it.

[@bronzin1445]

More often than not, that’s the price you pay for fame and fortune.

[@CloneScavengerVulpin8389]

​@@Jeremiah_Rivers76 that couldn't be more true especially in this day and age.

[@dwightnorton3398]

Awesome

[@Jeff98177]

Pamelyn Ferdin was in a bunch of movies and TV shows as a child. In an episode of Chips, she played an accident victim, and in a conversation said she was going to be a nurse, which she did in real life. I asked her about it, and she said that she was allowed to work out her own dialogue for the scene, so she put that in there.

[@jeannehall6546]

@@Jeff98177 She’s now a militant animal-privilege activist!

[@deshornanthony]

I loved Sam so much

[@mr.x8259]

Macaulay Culkin.

[@ROCKONplaceboforever]

Fame seems to more bad then good hope they all happy now good list WatchMojo 👏

[@elalacran4993]

Fame can have its ups & downs ..

[@BlackHatCinephile]

🥉

[@OliviaMelville-t2w]

I knew about jennate mcurdy left acting and Mara Wilson left acting for a while and she doing acting again

[@theanimeguy13ify]

Other child stars who left behind did we missed: Frankie Muniz Jake Lloyd Mike Lookinland Amy Bruckner Amanda Bynes Caroline Sunshine Lisa Gerrittson Dylan Spouse Jenna Von Oy Quinn Cummings etc.

[@kimberlybellard6972]

I remember the Panabaker Sisters & Reed it & Weep

[@josh72456]

I knew a bit about Ross Bagley, I knew more about Charlie Korsmo, Jeff Cohen, Mara Wilson, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Angus T. Jones and Peter Ostrum. Shirley Temple I only know the name.

[@johnsumner6593]

kay panebaker did a couple of seasons of csi

[@lawdog72562]

I hope that one day yall will pay tribute to Ariana Richards (Lex from Jurassic Park). She seems to be living her best life now and has always been one of my faves. First onscreen crush too lol

[@kamsismith]

Mara Wilson after her mom died and being constantly sexualized.

[@michaelmonthey5974]

What about Macaulay Culkin?!

[@jorgeadairramos7469]

Hello good morning 🎉🎉🎉

[@nbaairdog3124]

Good morning sir'd!

[@eugeniapatroncosta920]

I respect you decission; Jennette.

[@SpongeBobSquarePantsNickJr]

I predict the top 3 are Nick stars. ✨

[@CIS101]

Just before 5:32 that would be "subsidiary" not "subsidary". Not a big deal, but I have often commented on scripting, and narration on a lot of channels. I've always liked WatchMojo, but I'm getting a bit suspicious if the narrators are real people or not.

[@matuyag26]

Best decision 👏

[@Originella]

No, ThEy'Ve AlL gOt BaRs On ThEm!!

[@carmensandiego3691]

SHIRLEY TEMPLE!

[@CIS101]

They probably did the right thing. I'm always surprised by celebs who are also academic geniuses. Modern day Polymaths I guess.

[@laurenregnier3710]

I KNEW Shirley Temple would be number 1 . 😊

[@emiliobello2538]

Another is Thomas Horn of Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close So much that he has gone AWOL

[@dlgtbh]

I have Jennette McCurdy's book, but I've yet to read it. I need to start on it now. Also, I wish there was a biographical film on Shirley Temple, as her story is my favorite.

[@THANATOS-PRIME]

It’s a really good book and you’re gonna feel really bad for all of the stuff she had to go through growing up with her overbearing, narcissistic and abusive mother and all the creepy and inappropriate moments. Dan Schneider had brought on set.

[@BlackHatCinephile]

🥈

[@Reaperguy67]

​@@BlackHatCinephile go away Spam bot

[@superstaridol427]

The one that stood out to me is my own even though it didn't make the list. If I were to choose I would pick one of many Disney Legends Miley Cyrus. I can honestly empathize with them because I have an Irish Down Syndrome swimmer.

[@Jiwa-Money-Sdn-Bhd]

me too

[@ashrafabdulrasheed1954]

They wanted to follow their true passions. You gotta respect that.

[@paullatimer1639]

Don't know who most of these people are, don't care.

[@tylergoodman3560]

Not everyone can handle the fame pill. 🎉

[@5lim.0]

I think it’s other pills causing problems

[@tylergoodman3560]

@TrollHunterDestroyReaperAlts You're a sad, strange little man, aren't you? 🎉

[@CertifiedCommentBotHater]

@@TrollHunterDestroyReaperAlts Imagine having no friends outside your blatant alts and having no life outside of bullying/harassing and making false about people for no reason just because you've been rightfully called out for it multiple times before Go outside and touch grass why don't you

[@tylergoodman3560]

​@@TrollHunterDestroyReaperAltsAw, Did I strike a nerve, and you can't handle the truth? 😂🎉

[@Reaperguy67]

​@TrollHunterDestroyReaperAlts you don't know him to prove he is a kid

[@scottbakanumba1heathen313]

Missy Gold from "Benson". Now psychologist.

[@Enrique-e2b]

Rhiannon leigh wryn and the twins Amanda and Rachel Byrnes and Molly Jepson and Shane haboucha etc greetings

[@TonyLikeGames2]

RepetitiveListsMojo

[@katherineknapp4370]

😊

[@edreid7872]

In most cases, fame left them behind, and they continue to capitalize on it by writing tell-all bios and selling autographs at conventions..😂

[@Jeff98177]

The "tell-all bios" you make fun of, help the fans see them as whole people, not just the characters they portrayed on screen. And who wouldn't want to meet your favorite child star? I've met several, who have since passed away, and it was a wonderful experience.

[@edreid7872]

@@Jeff98177 Who’s making fun?..Just stating facts homie.. The shelf life of the Child Star is up there with a bag of potato chips.. The only way to keep a cash flow is by writing salacious details of their experiences for anyone who cares… Grow up..🙄.. Hold on, while I download Todd Bridge’s bio of being a drug addict on my Kindle…🤣.. Fun reading..I suggest folks spend their time reading things that will make them better thinkers…not how much kids spent on their weekly drug habit.. So much for being whole people..😖

[@Jeff98177]

@@edreid7872 A number of child stars did quite well for themselves afterward. You're jealous.

[@edreid7872]

@@Jeff98177😂..Jealous of what?… a bunch of has-beens wishing for a more successful acting career?.. Sounds pretty pathetic, and nothing to be envious of..I'm pretty content with my normal lifestyle thank you very much..😁.. And those who are successful now, I applaud them.. Jodie Foster being my favorite..

[@bobbykerner5454]

Ah boo hoo I got rich and want to complain about it