Being a child star places young children in the spotlight and under intense scrutiny from the media and fans, which is challenging in this current age of social media. Therefore, while some young actors go on to have extremely lucrative careers, such as Neil Patrick Harris and Natalie Portman, others choose to avoid the spotlight or discover that their interest in acting has diminished. Here are 10 young actors who left the business and what they are currently up to…
Jennette McCurdy
If you tuned into the new iCarly reboot and were confused at the lack of Sam Puckett, its because McCurdy, who played the goofy Sam has quit the acting scene. The former actress has also gone public with her poor treatment from producer Dan Schneider. Nowadays, the young woman has put her talents to use, pursuing writing and directing instead.
Jennette McCurdy
Amanda Bynes
Bynes has technically been on a ‘break’ since 2010, when she withdrew from the public eye to address her substance misuse and legal problems. She appeared in Hairspray and She’s the Man as well as the comedies All That, The Amanda Show, What I Like About You, and others prior to her break. She earned her diploma from Irvine’s Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in 2019.
Amanda Bynes
Peter Ostrum
If you saw Charlie Bucket in the first Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory marvel at the Oompa Loompas, you may have wondered where he went. It turns out that the former child star is now a veterinarian. The man wearing the checkered shirt is him.
Peter Ostrum
Mara Wilson
Her endearing portrayals in films like Mrs. Doubtfire, Matilda, and Miracle on 34th Street won over viewers. While the former actress may no longer be visible to the public, you can still hear her voice on podcasts like Welcome to Night Vale or in the animated television series Big Hero 6. She also published a book titled Where Am I Now? on her time in Hollywood. True Tales of Childhood and Unexpected Fame.
Mara Wilson
Jonathan Taylor Thomas
The Home Improvement actor was a major teen heartthrob in the 1990s, but he has primarily stayed away from acting in order to concentrate on his studies. He graduated from Columbia University in 2010 and has only made a few cameo appearances.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas
Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen
The twin sisters, who first gained notoriety on Full House as Michelle Tanner together as infants, have given up acting. This dynamic duo appeared in films including When in Rome and New York Minute. They also had a streak of TV movies and direct-to-video releases. Now that they co-founded The Row, Olsenboy, and StyleMint, they are focusing more on the fashion industry.
Mary Kate And Ashley Olsen
Jake Lloyd
Gaining notoriety in one of the biggest movie franchises of all time couldn’t have been easy. He was one of the highlights of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace as the cute little Anakin Skywalker. He stopped acting after the movie and has since dealt with legal and mental health concerns.
Jake Lloyd
Omri Katz
If you enjoy Halloween movies like Hocus Pocus, you may recall Katz as Max, the young man who defends Salem from the Sanderson sisters. On the enduring television series Dallas, he played John Ros Ewing III. But he gave up performing and now has a cannabis clothing business.
Omri Katz
Angus T. Jones
Due to his portrayal of Jake Harper on the well-liked CBS series, Two and a Half Men, the actor was the highest paid child star in television in 2010. But when the “half-man” was requested to handle more mature storylines, he left the program.
Angus T. Jones
Shirley Temple
Temple, one of the most well-known child stars ever, gave up acting in 1950 at the age of 22 after a string of unimpressive film parts. At the young age of 3, she began performing in hit films including Bright Eyes, Curly Top, and Heidi.
She started working as a diplomat after taking an official retirement, and she even represented the US at a General Assembly meeting of the UN. She received a Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award for her contributions to the film industry before she passed away.
