26 child stars who quit acting
(STACKER) – Being a child star sounds like a kind of purgatory: Sure, you get fame, fortune, and don’t have to go to school, but you also grow up fast, are at risk of being taken advantage of financially, and lose out on many aspects of a “normal” childhood. Nevertheless, child stars are a part of our collective consciousness. We watch them grow up as we grow up. A kind of transference exists; we want to see them grow up and thrive, whatever that looks like. For some child stars, it means blossoming their careers into full-fledged adult roles. But for many a child star, that means quitting the entertainment industry entirely.
Stacker compiled this list of 26 child actors who quit show business, pulling from historical news coverage. The list includes diverse actors from various genres and eras and excludes actors who continue to take gigs, even if acting is not their primary job.
Jake Lloyd
– Major role: Young Anakin Skywalker in “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace”
– Second act: Unknown
Jonathan Taylor Thomas
– Major role: Randy Taylor in “Home Improvement”
– Second act: Producer
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
– Major role: Michelle Tanner in “Full House”
– Second act: Fashion designers
Ross Bagley
– Major role: Nicky Banks in “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”
– Second act: Real estate professional
Jeff Cohen
– Major role: Chunk in “The Goonies”
– Second act: Lawyer
Willow Smith
– Major role: Marley Neville in “I Am Legend”
– Second act: Musician
Peter Ostrum
– Major role: Charlie Bucket in “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory”
– Second act: Veterinarian
Jennette McCurdy
– Major role: Sam Puckett in “iCarly”
– Second act: Writer and director
Luis Armand Garcia
– Major role: Max Lopez in “George Lopez”
– Second act: Philanthropy
Ariana Richards
– Major role: Lex Murphy in “Jurassic Park”
– Second act: Painter
Angus T. Jones
– Major role: Jake Harper in “Two and a Half Men”
– Second act: Businessperson
Rivkah Reyes
– Major role: Katie in “School of Rock”
– Second act: Comedy performer and podcaster
Kay Panabaker
– Major role: Jamie Bartlett in “Read It and Weep”
– Second act: Zookeeper
Jamie Waylett
– Major role: Vincent Crabbe in the “Harry Potter” films
– Second act: Sells personalized messages
Tricia Joe
– Major role: Claudia Kishi in “The Baby-Sitters Club”
– Second act: Unknown
Steven Anthony Lawrence
– Major role: Beans in “Even Stevens”
– Second act: Teacher and YouTuber
Jolean Wejbe
– Major role: Teenie in “Big Love”
– Second act: Student
Jeremy Suarez
– Major role: Jordan Thomkins in “The Bernie Mac Show”
– Second act: Worker in construction, retail, and other industries
Carrie Henn
– Major role: Newt in “Aliens”
– Second act: Teacher
Ross Malinger
– Major role: Jonah Baldwin in “Sleepless in Seattle”
– Second act: Car salesman
Lisa Jakub
– Major role: Lydia Hillard in “Mrs. Doubtfire”
– Second act: Writer, yoga teacher, and public speaker
Danny Lloyd
– Major role: Danny Torrance in “The Shining”
– Second act: Professor
Caitlin Sanchez
– Major role: Dora (voice) in “Dora the Explorer”
– Second act: Unknown
Barret Oliver
– Major role: Bastian in “The NeverEnding Story”
– Second act: Printer and photographer
Liesel Matthews
– Major role: Sara Crewe in “A Little Princess”
– Second act: Philanthropist
