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The Case of the Disappearing Teen Actor

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Seriously Random Lists | Comments (65)



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There are countless cases of child stars who go bad. There are yet other cases of child stars who go on to successful entertainment careers. This is neither of those. These are ten former teen and child actors who returned to normal civilian life only to be recognized occasionally at Starbucks and mentioned occasionally on a site like this.

(See Also The Case of the Disappearing Actor and The Case of the Disappearing Actress)


Mayim Bialik: Signature Role: Blossom in “Blossom.”

Where Is She Now? Doctorate in Neuroscience. Married. 2 children. Lives in L.A.

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Ilan Mitchell-Smith: Signature Role: Wyatt in Weird Science

Where Is He Now? Doctorate in medieval studies. Married. Assistant Professor of English at Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas.

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Josh Saviano: Signature Role: Paul Ffieffer in “The Wonder Years”

Where Is He Now? Attended Yale Undergrad. Fordham law school. Married. One Child. Corporate attorney in New York City.

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Andrea Elson: Signature Role: Lynn Tanner in “Alf”

Where Is She Now? Married. One child. Lives in L.A..

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Michael Fishman : Signature Role: D.J. Tanner in “Roseanne”

Where Is He Now? Married. Two children. Coaches high school baseball.

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Maia Brewton: Signature Role: Sara Anderson in Adventures of Babysitting

Where Is She Now? Married. Has one child with her wife.

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Amanda Peterson:Signature Role: Cindy Mancini in Can’t Buy Me Love.

Where Is She Now? Married with children. Lives in Northern California.

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Lisa Whelchel: Signature Role: Blair in “The Facts of Life”

Where Is She Now? Married. Home schools her three children. Works with her husband, who is an associate pastor in the Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California

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Michael Schoeffling: Signature Role: Jake Ryan in Sixteen Candles

Where Is He Now? Lives in Northeastern Pennsylvania and runs a successful business building fine hand-crafted furniture.

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Deborah Foreman: Signature Role: Julies Richman in Valley Girl and Susan Decker in Real Genius.

Where Is She Now? Former graphic artist. Sells her own hand-painted furniture. Teaches pilates out in California.

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Comments

Wow, D.J. did a goood job growing up.
Now I'll feel icky when watching Roseanne reruns...

Posted by: badkittyuno at August 19, 2010 3:40 PM

Mayim Bialik is still acting and is currently on Secret Life of the American Teenager...that I heard about...from my friend. And by "heard about from my friend" I mean "I watch it."

Sigh.

Summer TV programming does funny things to me.

Posted by: Ashlie at August 19, 2010 3:40 PM

Wait, Jake Ryan is a "She" now?

Posted by: abbytron at August 19, 2010 3:40 PM

Mayim Bialik was recently on an episode of What Not To Wear (shut up, it gets me away from my computer during lunch). Not only did she just get her doctorate, but she dressed like an East European peasant from the 1900's. She was so far away from the "L.A. scene" that I was surprised that she was actually living in L.A.

Posted by: BWeaves at August 19, 2010 3:42 PM

Mayim Bialik was also a guest star on an episode of Big Bang Theory this year, as a match for a blind date with Sheldon.

Posted by: Gentleman Farmer at August 19, 2010 3:47 PM

Michael Schoeffling -- Where is SHE now???

Please tell me that's a typo or you will ruin a middle-aged woman's hold-over fantasy from her mispent youth!

Posted by: NeoCleo at August 19, 2010 3:48 PM

I know a LOT of ladies who who's fantasy would be to live a quiet life in northern Pennsylvania with our husband Jake Ryan who runs a successful hand-crafted furniture business. It would be like Mermaids, but without all the statutory rape and appetizers. And Cher.

Posted by: Nicole at August 19, 2010 3:49 PM

Chiming in on Blossomwatch 2010: Mayim also guests on Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Posted by: logar at August 19, 2010 3:53 PM

My friend sent me a transcript of Crazy-Ass Whelchel on the Today Show.....and my friend is like, "oh, she makes some good points on adult friendships," and I'm like.....

Posted by: dammitjanet at August 19, 2010 3:58 PM

Josh Saviano

Where is he now? Is currently disbarred and under investigation for allegedly munching on his client's BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIINS!!

Posted by: D-Day at August 19, 2010 3:59 PM

Amanda Peterson owes my mother several boxes of tissues, a few gallons of Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion, and an oil drum full of Spray-N-Wash.

Christ, I tossed it to that flick so many times, I get a proximity boner when I hear the opening credits to Grey's Anatomy.

Posted by: Skitz at August 19, 2010 4:00 PM

Yeah, so Mayim got a degree equal to that for which I was shooting (but ran out of money and had to drop out -- FAIL!), BUTT (and I DO mean BUTT, of the luscious bubble persuasion) what about her co-star Jenna Von Oÿ?

Posted by: Rykker at August 19, 2010 4:00 PM

Dustin, dude, you forgot Deborah Foreman's starring role in My Chauffeur a favorite of mine from my teen years. Yeah, my teen self had some horrible taste in movies. Sadly, I can, and still do, quote that movie. Unfortunately, the only people who would get what I'm quoting are my sister and her best friend. And this is why I could never be a hipster. Also? I look terribly in skinny jeans.

Posted by: tamatha at August 19, 2010 4:02 PM

Dear Ms. Elson,

I still would. Twice.

admin

Posted by: admin at August 19, 2010 4:22 PM

Huh. Deborah Foreman sort of looks like a ruddier version of our own beloved Replica. Now if I can just get Rep to say the line, "Can you hammer a 6 inch spike through a board with your penis?" I'll be all set.

Posted by: Tracer Bullet at August 19, 2010 4:22 PM

"The Church of the Way"? That's not one of them crazy churches, is it?

Posted by: Todd at August 19, 2010 4:24 PM

Jenna van Oy:
Cheesecake model, country singer, and hanging from the ample tit of Mo'Nique on The Parkers.

Posted by: Jerry at August 19, 2010 4:24 PM

I read Lisa Whelchel's WISN as: Right-wing, birther, dittohead.

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at August 19, 2010 4:27 PM

Does anyone remember that rumor that was going around for awhile that Marilyn Manson was Josh Saviano? That makes me laugh still.

Posted by: Katie at August 19, 2010 4:30 PM

Todd:

She home schools. Doesn't that give you enough information right there?

Posted by: PaddyDog at August 19, 2010 4:31 PM

Last year I found myself in a room with Mayim Bialik and most of the crew of the Adam Carolla podcast talking about neuroscience and homemade soap for twenty minutes while I was waiting to do an interview with Carolla.

It was surreal to say the least.

Posted by: James K. at August 19, 2010 4:44 PM

I couldn't resist looking at Lisa Whelchel's website -

Cyber Prayer Warriors

I desperately need your prayers. I love to spend time with the Lord in the morning, reading my Bible and praying, but I know my strengths and weaknesses – and I’m not what you would call a “Prayer Warrior.” I believe the Lord calls certain people to tarry and travail in intercessory prayer. If you feel like the Lord has gifted you in this area, would you consider adding me to your prayer list?

If you choose to enlist and commit to become one of my “Cyber Prayer Warriors” would you please fill out the form below? Occasionally I will send specific requests for prayer via email. Thank you so much I will be eternally grateful.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at August 19, 2010 4:45 PM

Lisa Whelshel was an Evangelical Christian even while on the Facts of Life (she refused to have a scene with Blair fooling around with a dude.) She's in the same camp with Kirk Cameron and Candice Cameron Buhre. They do the mega-church lecture circuit, have books about homeschooling and parenting mixed in with the Jesus stuff, and she actually came under fire a few years ago for advocating putting a few drops of hot sauce on your kid's tongue when they've been bad.

Mayim is now a practicing Modern-Orthodox Jewish mom (she dresses "frum", that's why she looks so hippie/prairie), and she has a blog about being a Jewish mom.

I live in New York and one day on Wall Street during my lunch break Charlie whatever his name is who was in Hook and Can't Hardly Wait was in line behind me. He said hi and was polite, and then I went to check out his stats online and he's a lawyer that is hardcore Republican.

Posted by: scorzi at August 19, 2010 4:47 PM

Cheesecake model, country singer
Ok, ok, gotcha.
I Love Cheesecake and Country (eclectically speaking), which is quite OK, if you must rub my face in it (if I might request Tanya Tucker for the "Country" rub-my-face-in-it part. Hellz Yeah.)

Posted by: Rykker at August 19, 2010 4:57 PM

I'm glad Wyatt from Weird Science did well for himself, seems as if had a waaaay more stable life than Anthony Michael Hall. Anyway, he looks like an easy going type.


"You know Gary, for the first time in my life; I don't feel like a total dick..."


Posted by: BarbadoSlim at August 19, 2010 5:02 PM

Oh Jake Ryan, I'll never get over you. You were the perfect mix of studliness and introversion. You are timeless to me, despite the fact upon rewatching Sixteen Candles for the first time since becoming an adult I realized that it made no sense and was actually sort of surreal, in a bad way. That still doesn't take away the scene with you on the table with a cake.

Posted by: JR at August 19, 2010 5:07 PM

I LOVE that the little girl from Adventures in Babysitting grew up to be a giant gaymo in real life. I overly identified with her as a small child and thought she was the coolest. Now I know why.

Posted by: mint.jane@gmail.com at August 19, 2010 5:20 PM

DJ Tanner is from FullHouse

Think you mean DJ Conner

Posted by: sarak at August 19, 2010 5:31 PM

Michael Fishman : Signature Role: D.J. Tanner in “Roseanne”

He played D.J. Connor. D.J. Tanner is on Full House.

Posted by: ellebee at August 19, 2010 5:36 PM

So basically these people survived the Child Actor curse and went ahead and became successful in a non-Hollywood setting? Well fuck me and set me on fire, how'd they do that?!

Posted by: Joker at August 19, 2010 5:37 PM

Hey wait a cotton-pickin' minute! Amanda Petersen was also the cute girl from Explorers, I rather remember her for that.

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at August 19, 2010 5:39 PM

What, no love for Danica "Winnie Cooper" McKellar being all hot and mathy now? You can't really have a list of successful former child stars without her.

Posted by: Craig at August 19, 2010 5:54 PM

Michael Fishman : Signature Role: D.J. Tanner in “Roseanne”

He played D.J. Connor. D.J. Tanner is on Full House.

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who caught that.

And good for all of them. We get bombarded with all the abject failures that we forget that many of them just get on with life.

Posted by: Fredo at August 19, 2010 6:12 PM

Not bad....But it needed the whole THS Pissass for it to be more entertaining.

Posted by: Kahntahmp at August 19, 2010 6:29 PM

Maia Brewton of Parker Lewis Can't Lose, you mean.

And Blossom Russo, there? Pfft. Mayim Bialik has never written a thesis, dissertation or presented a defense. That's a big ol' Ph.Nothing from where I sit. At least there's still Dr. Snuggles--he was legitimate.

Posted by: Jo 'Mama' Besser at August 19, 2010 6:30 PM

I was wondering what happened to D.J.

I wasn't really wondering what happened to Jake Ryan, but damn, hot and he makes stuff with his hands.

It is nice to see that not everybody turns into a Bonaduce or a Lohan.

Posted by: Slash at August 19, 2010 7:10 PM

I think Mayim Bialik is returning to Big Bang Theory in the upcoming season as Sheldon's surprisingly good online dating match. And speaking of former teen actors, I wish Sara Gilbert would return as Leslie Winkle.

Posted by: Turtle at August 19, 2010 7:11 PM

This is such a satisfying list - I love Wyatt even more now!

And thanks Tracer!

I'm pretty sure I adored Deborah in that April Fool's Movie - what a little dipnit I was, but I watched it endlessly and thought it was pretty fly back in the day.

Posted by: replica at August 19, 2010 7:12 PM

RE Jo 'Mama' Besser: " Mayim Bialik has never written a thesis, dissertation or presented a defense. That's a big ol' Ph.Nothing from where I sit."


Point of order, it doesn't say she's a Ph.D. It says she has a doctorate. Those are different things, right?

Posted by: Slash at August 19, 2010 7:12 PM

"The Church of the Way"? That's not one of them crazy churches, is it?

Unfortunately, yes. When I lived in the Valley, this was "the" church to go to. I went once and I refused to fill out a Visitor Info Card: I knew they only wanted my number so they could harass the shit out of me. These two ushers flipped. their. shit. "You HAVE to fill it out!" Um, no I don't. After a few threats ("How will we know how to pray for you if we don't know where you live?", one finally yelled, "Fine! If you are OK with going to hell, then don't fill one out!"

I responded, "You're damning me to hell because I won't fill out your stupid info card? So, Jeffery Dhalmer gets a pass, but I don't? Niiiice." and I turned on my heel and sauntered out the door.

Posted by: ceejeemcbeegee at August 19, 2010 7:14 PM

Hmmm...yep, still got a thing for Deborah Foreman. Nice. And Blossom grew up to look a hell of a lot like my sister. Weird.

Posted by: TylerDFC at August 19, 2010 8:35 PM

Posted by: The Kilted Yaksman at August 19, 2010 9:28 PM

Hell to the double Yes for Jenna Von Oy. I watched that turrible show The Parkers just to see her walk on and off-screen... Yaksman, you'll forever be a shiny golden god for that reminder!!

Posted by: Gnaius at August 19, 2010 11:43 PM


RE Jo 'Mama' Besser: " Mayim Bialik has never written a thesis, dissertation or presented a defense. That's a big ol' Ph.Nothing from where I sit."


Point of order, it doesn't say she's a Ph.D. It says she has a doctorate. Those are different things, right?

No, it pretty much means Ph.D for the field of neuroscience, since the professional degrees (like M.D. or D.N.) aren't generally referred to as "doctorates", and aren't so specialized at base level. The other kinds of non-Ph.D. doctorates wouldn't be for neuroscience.

However, the point is moot, since according to Wikipedia, her dissertation was on Prader-Willi Syndrome. So...sounds like a Ph.D. to me.

Posted by: Phaeolus at August 20, 2010 12:29 AM

San Angelo, Texas?

I have family in San Angelo.

Talk about pretty much shit nowhere.

Posted by: DeistBrawler at August 20, 2010 2:46 AM

Awesome. Such a fan of where are they now. Especially when those cute kids become normal instead of obnoxious adults we can't get away from.

Posted by: Nxx at August 20, 2010 3:53 AM

Lives in Northeastern Pennsylvania and runs a successful business building fine hand-crafted furniture.

I shouldn't have laughed.

But I did.

Posted by: duckandcover at August 20, 2010 5:00 AM

D-Day, I read through all the comments specifically to see if there were any mentions of Zombie Pfeiffer.

Thanks for reminding me yet again why I love you.

Posted by: Jelinas at August 20, 2010 5:41 AM

Deborah Foreman: better known to me as the chick from My Chauffeur that got to hook up with Flash Gordon!

Posted by: courtney at August 20, 2010 5:50 AM

DeistBrawler ,

San Angelo isn't too bad. Ilan Mitchell-Smith used to teach in the college town where I grew up and where the George Bush Presidential Library is - College Station. The town only is on the map due to the college and football tradition. It literally empties out in the summer. It is also the college where they have a annual bonfire of up to 6 stories high burning the effigy of the UT Longhorn every year. That is until it fell during construction and killed a few students. Now it's slightly less high after a year memoriam.

He was Professor of Medieval Studies at Texas A&M for like 5 years or more. He had to start off each semester by addressing the 'Weird Science' issue. He is a lover of history and hard but fair grader, so I'm told.

Posted by: Teresa at August 20, 2010 7:31 AM

Wait...so Jake Ryan is unmarried? Excuse me...I've got some real estate to look for in Northern PA.

Posted by: Whorish Mouth at August 20, 2010 8:51 AM

So if you get famous young and spend your teen years making millions, you can retire and do whatever you want and not have to be a media whore the rest of your life?

Why didn't anyone tell Linsey Lohan? Oh, I forgot: her parents should have been killed after she was born. She would have been better off raised by either the characters in Disneyland or a pack of homeless crackheads.

nevermind.

Posted by: hater from siloam springs at August 20, 2010 9:52 AM

According to Wiki:

Rodney Allen Rippy is a partner in the film production company Bow Tie Productions, and spokesman for Hurricane Housing Relief. A resident of Carson, California, he has served as MC for the Carson Relay For Life (Rippy's mother died of cancer in 1986). As of December 2007, he is also a national director of marketing with Metro Networks.

He also worked at KABC-TV in Los Angeles.

Posted by: , at August 20, 2010 10:29 AM

Ilan Mitchell-Smith is actually at California State University Long Beach now. No word on whether he still enjoys wearing women's panties from time to time (thought that'd probably go over better in California than it would in Texas).

Posted by: ilovepanties at August 20, 2010 10:50 AM

Must've changed her focus from investigating the locus of 'talent' to P-W. I'd try to say 'no pun intended', but's I can't work around it--I wonder how a professional is able to stomach that field of study.

Posted by: Jo 'Mama' Besser at August 20, 2010 9:07 PM

Oh my GOD Jake Ryan. I bet he's still studly. And now we know he's great with his hands.

Posted by: MB at August 21, 2010 3:06 PM

Deborah Foreman, bedroom scene with the girls in their underwear. Way to start puberty, oh the memories.

Posted by: clancys_daddy at August 21, 2010 4:54 PM

The funny thing about Josh Saviano is that his life is exactly like the future his character had in The Wonder Years; life is weird isn't it?

Posted by: Radlum at August 21, 2010 9:40 PM

Disappointed to hear that Paul from The Wonder Years is not actually Marilyn Manson now. That was my favorite crazy internet rumor of the last decade.

Posted by: Mr. Teeny at August 23, 2010 9:33 AM

JAKE RYAAAAAAAAAAN! Thank god he's not married yet because he's supposed to be my husband. I still swoon over him. Where is the current picture of him?

Posted by: Wormer at August 23, 2010 11:56 PM

I'm so sad to hear that Jenna Van Oy is finally married! I used to have the biggest crush on her when she was on Blossom.

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Posted by: jade travel at January 26, 2011 6:15 PM

I LOVE that the little girl from Adventures in Babysitting grew up to be a giant gaymo in real life. I overly identified with her as a small child and thought she was the coolest. Now I know why.

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