Child Stars Who Ruined Their Careers

Growing up on camera can bring early fame along with pressure that few people are ready to handle. Many young performers booked hit roles and then struggled to keep the momentum going once the spotlight shifted or the industry changed around them. Some stepped away by choice while others faced long gaps between jobs, and a few tried new paths outside entertainment entirely.

This list looks back at child stars whose careers stalled or shifted after early success. You will find concrete details about the roles that made them famous, the projects that followed, and where each person focused their energy later on. The goal is simple, share what happened in clear terms so readers can see the full arc from breakout parts to later chapters.

Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan broke out in ‘The Parent Trap’ and moved quickly into box office hits like ‘Freaky Friday’ and ‘Mean Girls’. She also released two studio albums and became a regular presence on red carpets and magazine covers during the same period.

Her acting output slowed for years as she appeared in scattered film and television projects. She later focused on business ventures and reality television before returning to leading roles with new streaming films and holiday titles.

Amanda Bynes

Amanda Bynes started on Nickelodeon with ‘All That’ and fronted ‘The Amanda Show’. She moved into teen comedies with ‘Big Fat Liar’ and ‘She’s the Man’ and also starred in the sitcom ‘What I Like About You’.

After the feature ‘Easy A’ she stepped away from acting and studied fashion in Los Angeles. She kept a low profile for long stretches and has not returned to a regular on screen schedule since that period.

Macaulay Culkin

Macaulay Culkin became a global star with ‘Home Alone’ and sequel roles that defined early nineties family movies. He worked steadily through that peak period and then paused his career while still very young.

He later took selective parts in independent films and television along with stage work and voice roles. He also explored music projects and personal creative ventures before sparingly reappearing in high profile shows and receiving major public honors.

Corey Feldman

Corey Feldman stacked memorable credits as a kid with ‘Gremlins’, ‘The Goonies’, ‘Stand by Me’, and ‘The Lost Boys’. That run made him one of the most visible young actors of the eighties.

Work became more sporadic as he entered adulthood with a mix of direct to video films, reality television, and music releases. He continued to appear at conventions and fan events while producing his own projects to stay active in entertainment.

Dana Plato

Dana Plato played Kimberly on ‘Diff’rent Strokes’ and was a central part of the sitcom’s early success. She left the series as a young adult and took guest roles and small parts afterward.

Her mainstream acting opportunities declined in the nineties. She worked in independent productions and made public appearances related to the show, though she did not regain the steady network visibility she had as a child.

Corey Haim

Corey Haim became a teen sensation after early work in ‘Lucas’ and a breakout turn in ‘The Lost Boys’. He followed with a string of late eighties titles that kept him on magazine covers and in constant demand.

By the mid nineties his filmography shifted to low budget releases and cameo work. He pursued comebacks through documentaries and reality television but did not recover the major studio momentum of his first years.

Edward Furlong

Edward Furlong landed a landmark debut with ‘Terminator 2’ and then worked in films like ‘American History X’ and independent dramas. Casting interest remained strong for several years after that opening wave.

His output slowed and he moved into smaller productions and overseas shoots. He later made occasional returns connected to the ‘Terminator’ franchise and took parts in independent projects while keeping a lower profile.

Jake Lloyd

Jake Lloyd became known worldwide for playing Anakin in ‘Star Wars Episode I’. He appeared in a few additional roles around the same time and then withdrew from screen work while still in his teens.

He did not pursue a continuing acting career in adulthood. Public updates about him have been rare, and he has largely remained outside the industry since leaving it as a young person.

Tatum O’Neal

Tatum O’Neal won an Academy Award for ‘Paper Moon’ at a very young age and followed with films like ‘The Bad News Bears’. She also worked on television during later periods with recurring roles.

Her career moved in cycles with long gaps between major parts. She wrote memoirs, made talk show appearances, and returned to acting at intervals, though she did not consistently match the visibility of her earliest years.

Orlando Brown

Orlando Brown was a familiar face on Disney Channel through ‘That’s So Raven’ and related appearances. He also released music and took voice roles for animated series during the same period.

Work slowed as he moved into adulthood and he appeared mainly in independent projects and occasional television spots. He released new songs and music videos while trying to reestablish a steady on screen presence.

Jaimee Foxworth

Jaimee Foxworth played Judy on ‘Family Matters’ during the show’s early years. After leaving the series she made limited acting appearances and began exploring new lines of work outside scripted television.

She later returned for interviews and retrospective programs tied to classic sitcoms. Her primary focus shifted away from acting, and she did not pursue a sustained return to network television.

Brian Bonsall

Brian Bonsall joined ‘Family Ties’ as the youngest Keaton sibling and worked in several early nineties television films. He was a regular on screen presence as a child performer.

He left acting as a teenager and concentrated on music with rock bands that toured regionally. He made no push to resume a traditional acting career and instead kept his creative focus on recording and performing.

Jeremy Jackson

Jeremy Jackson spent his youth on ‘Baywatch’, where he appeared in many seasons and became known worldwide. The series gave him broad exposure and led to modeling and music opportunities.

After the show ended he transitioned to reality television and appearances at fan conventions. Acting credits were intermittent and he did not regain the weekly series visibility he once had.

Mischa Barton

Mischa Barton worked as a child in film and theater before breaking out as Marissa on ‘The O.C.’. That teen drama made her a regular in entertainment media and opened doors to feature films.

Subsequent roles were scattered across independent movies and limited series. She later appeared on reality television and took parts in international productions but did not replicate the early network peak in the United States for a sustained period.

Jodie Sweetin

Jodie Sweetin grew up on ‘Full House’ and remained part of the franchise through cast reunions and specials. She became closely identified with the role and stayed connected to the fan community.

Her adult career included hosting gigs, reality competition shows, and a return to scripted work with ‘Fuller House’. Outside of the revival she worked steadily but did not center her career around new long running network series.

Leif Garrett

Leif Garrett started in acting as a child and became a teen music star with charting singles in the late seventies. He also appeared in films and television during that crossover period.

His recording career slowed and acting roles became more sporadic in later decades. He continued to perform live, release compilations, and participate in interview projects that looked back on his early fame.

Alisan Porter

Alisan Porter headlined ‘Curly Sue’ as a child and took a handful of additional roles while growing up. She later stepped away from acting and shifted her focus toward music.

Her career pivot paid off when she won ‘The Voice’, which led to new albums and touring. She records and writes songs and works in the studio rather than pursuing a return to child star style film leads.

Mara Wilson

Mara Wilson charmed audiences in ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ and ‘Matilda’ before stepping away from on camera roles. She chose not to continue the trajectory of mainstream child stardom.

She built a career as a writer and voice actor and began appearing at literary events and podcasts. She occasionally returns for cameo roles but keeps her primary focus on writing and narration.

Frankie Muniz

Frankie Muniz led ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ and starred in youth focused features like ‘Agent Cody Banks’. He became one of the most recognized child and teen actors of the early two thousands.

He later pursued professional racing and business ventures while taking occasional television and film parts. He maintains a public presence through sports and appearances, with acting no longer his main priority. He will return for the revival of ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ though.

Angus T. Jones

Angus T. Jones grew up on ‘Two and a Half Men’, appearing in hundreds of episodes across many seasons. The show gave him sustained network visibility and long running sitcom experience.

He stepped away from acting as a young adult and focused on education and personal projects. He has made only rare on screen appearances since leaving weekly television work.

Share your picks in the comments and tell us which former child star story surprised you the most.