1. Jaleel White
You might remember him best as the nerdy, and hilariously clumsy, Steve Urkel from Family Matters. After dominating sitcoms all throughout the ’90s, White eventually stepped away from constant acting roles. These days, he’s kept a relatively low profile compared with his early fame. While he hasn’t returned full-time to a major hit show, he’s occasionally popped up in guest appearances and smaller projects, and reportedly has been working on a memoir about his life growing up in the spotlight.
2. Mara Wilson
Mara Wilson became famous as a child starring in beloved films like Matilda and Mrs. Doubtfire. But at age 13 she decided to step away from acting, she said the repetitive nature of film sets and the lack of creative freedom burned her out. Since then she’s turned to writing: she published a memoir and has written plays and essays, building a creative life far from the red-carpet spotlight.
3. Jeff Cohen
As a kid, Jeff Cohen endeared himself to audiences as “Chunk” in the adventure classic The Goonies. But as puberty set in, roles became scarce and the “Chunk” persona grew harder to shake. Eventually, Cohen left acting behind. Today he has built a very different career, he works as an entertainment lawyer, representing other performers. That shift shows a conscious move from on-screen childhood fame to a stable, adult professional life.
4. Christine Lakin
Christine Lakin earned recognition early on as Alicia “Al” Lambert in the family sitcom Step by Step. But as she grew older, the appeal of on-screen acting faded, Lakin found herself more drawn to what happens behind the camera. She gradually shifted toward choreography and directing, later helming episodes for shows like The Goldbergs and its spin-off, among others. For many former child stars, that behind-the-scenes path provides the control and creative fulfillment that childhood fame often denies.
5. Shirley Temple
One of the earliest, if not the earliest, superstars of child stardom, Shirley Temple captured hearts with films like Bright Eyes and The Little Colonel starting at the tender age of three. But she left Hollywood long before most, quitting acting at 21. Instead of the spotlight, she chose public service: she went on to serve as a U.S. ambassador to Czechoslovakia and Ghana, and pursued philanthropic and diplomatic work. Her story remains one of the most remarkable transformations from childhood fame to real adult purpose.
6. Dylan Sprouse
Dylan Sprouse, who starred alongside his twin brother Cole in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, gradually stepped back from Hollywood once the show ended. He pursued a more private life by enrolling at New York University, where he studied video game design. After graduating, he explored creative passions outside acting, including brewing, co-founding All-Wise Meadery in Brooklyn. Though he has taken selective roles as an adult, Dylan isn’t pursuing acting as his main career, preferring entrepreneurship and projects that genuinely interest him rather than staying in the Hollywood cycle.
7. Cole Sprouse
Like Dylan, Cole Sprouse also stepped away from acting after their Disney Channel fame, choosing instead to attend NYU with a focus on archaeology and photography. While Cole eventually returned to television later through Riverdale, he has publicly shared that he stepped away for years because he felt burnt out and wanted time to understand himself outside his childhood roles. He still keeps Hollywood at a distance, spending stretches of time focusing on photography projects and exhibitions. His journey is one of redefining his identity beyond the child-actor label.
8. Angus T. Jones
Angus T. Jones was once the highest-paid child star on TV thanks to his role as Jake Harper on Two and a Half Men. But as he grew older, Jones became uncomfortable with the show’s content and the pressures of fame. He eventually left the series and stepped away from acting entirely, citing spiritual and personal reasons. In recent years, he has stayed out of the spotlight, focusing on his education and later joining a management role at various tech and media ventures. His quiet life today reflects his desire to move away from the global attention he experienced as a teen.
9. Jonathan Taylor Thomas
A major ’90s heartthrob thanks to Home Improvement and The Lion King, Jonathan Taylor Thomas stepped away from Hollywood in the early 2000s at the height of his popularity. He chose to pursue education, studying at Harvard, Columbia, and later St. Andrews in Scotland. Aside from a few brief guest appearances over the years, Thomas has largely avoided returning to acting. He prefers a private lifestyle and keeps his personal activities extremely low-key, rarely making public appearances. For many fans, he became the classic example of a child star who chose a quieter, more grounded life far from the spotlight.
10. Amanda Bynes
Amanda Bynes rose to fame through All That, The Amanda Show, and later hit movies like Hairspray and Easy A. But by her early twenties, she stepped away from Hollywood after facing personal and mental-health struggles. Instead of returning to acting, Bynes pursued a different creative path, enrolling at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles. In recent years, she has stayed mostly out of the entertainment world, focusing on wellness, fashion interests, and maintaining a stable private life. Her story reflects the steep pressures child performers can face and the courage it takes to rebuild life on one’s own terms.
11. Macaulay Culkin
Macaulay Culkin became one of the biggest child stars in history thanks to Home Alone, My Girl, and Richie Rich, but the pressures of early fame pushed him to leave Hollywood while still in his teens. He has said in interviews that he wanted a normal life after years of nonstop work. Culkin stepped away from mainstream acting for decades, occasionally reappearing in select indie projects and voice work. As an adult, he focused on creative ventures like his comedy podcast and his satirical website Bunny Ears. Today, Culkin lives a quieter life centered on family, appearing only when he chooses, far from the hectic pace that defined his childhood stardom.
12. Jake Lloyd
Jake Lloyd was thrust into worldwide attention as young Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. The backlash and bullying he experienced after the film’s release made acting deeply stressful for him, and he retired from Hollywood not long after. In interviews, his family shared that the intensity of Star Wars fandom and the sudden fame made childhood difficult. Lloyd eventually withdrew from public life entirely, focusing on his health and personal stability. His story remains one of the clearest examples of how early fame, especially within huge franchises, can affect young actors long after the spotlight fades.
13. Peter Ostrum
Peter Ostrum is remembered for playing Charlie Bucket in the 1971 classic Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Surprisingly, that was the only film he ever made. After his brief moment of fame, Ostrum chose not to continue acting and instead developed a passion for animal care. He went on to earn a veterinary degree and became a large-animal veterinarian in upstate New York, a career he has held for decades. Ostrum has occasionally appeared in documentaries reflecting on the film, but he remains a full-time vet who prefers the grounded, everyday work of caring for animals over any return to Hollywood.
14. Mara Hobel
Mara Hobel gained early recognition for her role as young Christina Crawford in the 1981 film Mommie Dearest. Although she continued acting through the ’80s, Hobel gradually stepped away from Hollywood and redirected her energy toward education and family life. She later became involved in local theater and teaching, helping young performers develop their skills rather than pursuing major film or television roles herself. Hobel’s quieter career path shows how many former child actors find fulfillment in community-based creative work rather than the intense pace of the entertainment industry.
15. Barret Oliver
Barret Oliver became famous as Bastian in The NeverEnding Story and as the robot-friendly inventor in D.A.R.Y.L.. But after a string of successful roles in the 1980s, he decided to leave acting completely. Oliver immersed himself in the world of photography, specifically historical and alternative photographic processes. He later became an acclaimed fine-art photographer and even published books on 19th-century printing techniques. While fans still remember him for his childhood films, Oliver’s adult life has been devoted to art, craftsmanship, and teaching, far removed from the movie sets where his career began.
16. Ross Bagley
Ross Bagley charmed audiences as Little Nicky on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and later as Dylan in Independence Day. After a strong run as a child actor, he gradually stepped away from Hollywood to focus on education and family life. Bagley eventually pursued a career outside the industry, working in real estate and keeping a low profile compared to his early fame. He occasionally reconnects with fans through interviews or cast reunions, but for the most part, he has embraced a life away from acting. His path reflects the experiences of many child performers who decide to prioritize stability and privacy once the spotlight dims.
17. Lisa Jakub
Lisa Jakub became widely known after her roles in Mrs. Doubtfire and Independence Day, but she left Hollywood at 22 after struggling with the instability of the industry. She has spoken openly about the anxiety and stress she felt as a young performer. After stepping away, Jakub began a new chapter as a writer and later became a mental-wellness advocate. She published a memoir and now leads programs supporting mindfulness and mental health. Jakub’s life today centers on helping others find balance, something she had difficulty achieving during her years as a child star.
18. Michael Oliver
Michael Oliver rose to fame in the early 1990s as the mischievous Junior in the Problem Child films. Despite the franchise’s success, Oliver stepped away from Hollywood as he grew older, preferring a private life outside the industry. He has rarely given interviews, but when he has, Oliver explained that acting was never a lifelong passion for him. Today he works regular jobs, keeps out of the public eye, and leads a quiet life far from the chaotic fame he experienced as a child. His journey highlights that not every young star dreams of a lasting Hollywood career, many simply want normalcy.
19. Ariana Richards
Ariana Richards became internationally known as Lex Murphy, the young computer-savvy heroine in Jurassic Park. After appearing in a handful of ’90s films, she gradually stepped away from acting to pursue her passion for visual art. She studied at Skidmore College and trained professionally as a painter, eventually building a successful career creating fine-art portraits. Richards still makes rare public appearances at Jurassic Park events, but her main focus is her art studio, where she produces award-winning work for clients around the world. Her journey shows how early fame can evolve into a long-lasting, more personal creative calling.
20. Danny Lloyd
Danny Lloyd, who played young Danny Torrance in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, stepped away from Hollywood almost immediately after the film’s release. His parents kept him out of the spotlight to give him a more ordinary childhood, and Lloyd ultimately chose not to return to acting as an adult. Instead, he built a career in education and became a longtime community college professor. Apart from a small cameo in Doctor Sleep decades later, he prefers a life far removed from the horror classic that made him famous. His story reflects a rare example of childhood celebrity handled with careful distance and balance.
21. Haley Joel Osment
Haley Joel Osment was one of the most celebrated child actors of the late ’90s, earning an Oscar nomination for The Sixth Sense. After a string of successful films, he stepped back from Hollywood during his teen years, choosing to focus on education and stage acting instead of mainstream movie roles. While Osment has since returned to acting in small indie projects and voice work, he has deliberately avoided chasing the blockbuster spotlight he once had. Today he keeps a modest, low-profile career, enjoying projects that interest him without the pressure of leading roles. His shift shows how some former child stars redefine success on quieter, healthier terms.
22. Quinn Cummings
Quinn Cummings earned an Oscar nomination as a child for her role in The Goodbye Girl and later starred in the TV series Family. But by her twenties, she decided Hollywood wasn’t where she wanted to stay. Cummings reinvented herself as a writer and businesswoman, launching a popular blog, publishing several books, and creating a baby-carrying device called the HipHugger. She has spoken openly about why she walked away, saying the unpredictable nature of acting didn’t suit her long-term goals. Today she continues writing and running her own creative ventures, showing how child actors can thrive in entirely new fields.
23. Willa Holland
Willa Holland started as a successful child model and later gained attention as an actress on The O.C. and Arrow. However, after years in the industry, she decided to step away from Hollywood to focus on her personal life and wellbeing. Holland has kept a quiet profile in recent years, rarely appearing in new projects and choosing to live largely outside the public eye. Although she hasn’t ruled out returning, she has clearly prioritized privacy and balance after growing up in front of millions. Her story highlights how even modern child actors feel the need to reclaim their time and identity.
24. Taran Noah Smith
Taran Noah Smith played Mark, the youngest Taylor son on Home Improvement, but he chose to leave acting behind as soon as the show ended. He has said that growing up on TV made him eager to experience life outside Hollywood. Over the years, Smith has explored several careers, including running a vegan food company and volunteering with disaster-relief groups. He later completed marine engineering training and worked in technical roles on underwater vehicles. Today, he keeps a quiet lifestyle focused on hands-on work rather than entertainment, showing how completely a former child star can redefine their path.
25. Ashleigh Aston Moore
Ashleigh Aston Moore is best remembered for playing Chrissy in the 1995 coming-of-age film Now and Then. After appearing in a variety of TV projects throughout the ’90s, she stepped away from the industry during her teen years. Her family shared that she simply wanted a more typical life, free from the pressures of auditions and acting schedules. Although she didn’t pursue a Hollywood career as an adult, Moore is still fondly remembered by fans of the movie. Her story reflects how many young performers decide early on that fame isn’t worth the instability that comes with it.
26. Alexander Polinsky
Alexander Polinsky gained early recognition for his role as Adam Powell on Charles in Charge. As he grew older, he stepped away from on-camera acting and transitioned into voice work, eventually moving into creative roles behind the scenes. Polinsky now focuses on voice acting, music, animation, and production, allowing him to stay connected to entertainment without the intensity of child stardom. He has explained that working creatively on his own terms has been far healthier than the pressures of TV fame. His experience shows how former child actors often find fulfilling careers in the quieter corners of the industry.
27. Alexa Vega
Alexa Vega became internationally famous as Carmen Cortez in the Spy Kids films, but her career gradually shifted as she grew older. While she continued acting into adulthood, she and her husband eventually stepped away from Hollywood, choosing to relocate to Hawaii to focus on family and faith. Vega has said that the constant schedule and expectations of the industry were no longer compatible with the lifestyle she wanted. Today, she lives a more private life centered on parenting, community, and occasional creative projects. Her story shows how even highly successful child stars may choose simplicity over continued fame.
28. Amanda Peterson
Amanda Peterson rose to teen stardom in the ’80s after playing Cindy Mancini in Can’t Buy Me Love. But after working steadily through childhood and adolescence, she stepped away from Hollywood in her early twenties. Peterson chose a quieter life in her home state of Colorado, focusing on education, writing, and raising her family. Although she largely avoided public attention, she remained a beloved figure to fans of the film. Her departure from Hollywood shows the reality that many former young stars seek normalcy and privacy after growing up in front of the world.
29. Gaby Hoffmann
Gaby Hoffmann grew up on screen in films like Field of Dreams, Uncle Buck, and Now and Then, but she stepped away from Hollywood in her teens to focus on school and a more grounded upbringing. She later returned to acting selectively as an adult, choosing independent films and character-driven roles over mainstream fame. Hoffmann has explained that taking time away allowed her to discover who she was outside the industry. Today, she balances her creative interests with a private family life, working only on projects that align with her values. Her journey reflects how stepping back often helps young actors reconnect with their passions on healthier terms.
30. Jerry Mathers
Jerry Mathers became one of television’s most iconic child stars as “The Beaver” on Leave It to Beaver. But after the show ended, Mathers stepped away from acting for several years to focus on school, military service, and building a life outside the spotlight. Though he occasionally returned for reunions or nostalgic projects, his main career path shifted toward business and public speaking. Mathers has often reflected on how important it was for him to experience normal life after being a household name throughout his childhood. Today he enjoys a quiet, steady lifestyle, grateful for his early success but no longer driven by the Hollywood machine.
Whether they became authors, photographers, entrepreneurs, or simply private citizens, each of these former stars found a path that made sense beyond the spotlight. Their stories remind us that walking away from Hollywood isn’t a failure, it’s often an act of self-care, reinvention, and honest personal choice.
This story Where Are They Now? 30 Former Child Actors Who Walked Away From Hollywood was first published on Daily FETCH
