If you were born in the 80s and 90s, you’re lucky as you have a great childhood the current generation is far cry from that. Although the internet and technology were not developed at this time, we somehow can enjoy movies and music better just from DVDs or CDs. Even now, many people tend to prefer Entertainment products at this time and search for them to fill their free time with joy.
There was a popular sentiment making the rounds this time: people have the soft spot for child stars. Although they are at a very young age, their talent is second to none. In particular, they have charisma and natural cuteness that make audiences go gaga over them.
The 1990s were a long time ago. Some of those child actors are now Hollywood superstars with many massively impressive roles, so their once famous cuteness as children is tarnished. Besides, some quit the spotlight to live and work with other passions or just enjoy a normal life. No matter what they are doing now, we want to jog your memory of your good ol’ time by listing these famous 90s child actors and actresses in this post. Dive into them now!
He started the Da Poetry Lounge in Los Angeles in 1998, which is the largest weekly open mic poetry performance location in the United States. Currently, he landed the voice for Prince Zuko on Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway.
However, this did not spell the end of her career. Porter began her long and successful career in musical theatre when she was in her late teens. She also began to pursue a career in recording. When Porter participated in the TV singing competition The Voice, which she ultimately won, she re-entered the public consciousness.
Saviano became a lawyer after studying political science at Yale, and he co-founded Spotlight Advisory Group in 2018. Nonetheless, Saviano hasn't fully retired from acting, having appeared in a few episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit between 2014 and 2016.
Oliver's career was interrupted when his mother (also his manager) was sued on extortion charges by Universal after she threatened to withdraw her son from Problem Child 2 unless they paid him $500,000. Oliver ceased performing soon after and stated in 2015 that he had no regrets: “After having been thrust into the spotlight as a child, I appreciate some peace. I am grateful and always will be for the experiences.”
But he is still in Hollywood and working behind the scenes. He’s now 32 years old and worked as a transportation coordinator on film and television.
After that, Bagley's acting career cooled off, and since the 2015 horror flick Gnome Alone, he hasn't appeared in any more movies. He holds a degree from California State University, worked as an intern for a business run by Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, and, judging by his Instagram, is also a DJ and realtor.
She appeared in niche projects like the horror podcast Welcome to Nightvale, in which she landed her voice for the Faceless Old Woman Who Lives in Your Home. In addition, she published her autobiography Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame in 2016.
Korsmo chose a legal career after receiving a physics degree from the esteemed Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He attended Yale Law School and worked for the Republican Party and the Environmental Protection Agency. He returned to acting in more recent years and may be seen in the 2018 movie Chained for Life.
Even if Pierce's adult appearance might not be as recognizable, he has never ceased acting. He has, however, mostly shunned live-action work in favor of doing voiceovers for animated television shows and video games. In the wake of the passing of his former co-star Robin Williams, Pierce, a divorced father of three, has talked frankly about his struggles with depression since he was a teenager.
As a young actor in the 2000s, Lipnicki starred in films such as The Little Vampire, Like Mike, Stuart Little 2, and When Zachary Beaver Came to Town. Last year, he made his appearance in several reality television shows such as Drop the Mic, Celebs Go Dating, and Worst Cooks in America. He continues to act in multiple films.
In 2010, Birch was fired from a Dracula stage production because another actor allegedly felt threatened by her manager's father, who was said to be an unnervingly persistent presence at his daughter's rehearsals. In 2012, Birch took a vacation from performing, which he kept up until 2016. After appearing in The Walking Dead, a return appeared to be in the works, but Birch ran into difficulty once more when she abruptly quit the set of Netflix's Wednesday in 2021.
Tatyana Ali continued to enroll in Harvard, a decision that would have made her Fresh Prince persona quite happy. She earned a degree in African-American studies and governance from the university in 2002. She is still active as an actress, and her current roles at CBS’s The Young and the Restless and BET’s Second Generation Wayans are highly appreciated.
Hocus Pocus was a failure upon release, but ever since, it's become a yearly Halloween tradition for families. However, it ended up being Katz's final picture. He stopped acting in the early 2000s after accepting some more TV parts, and currently supports himself in Los Angeles by managing a cannabis business.
Orlando Brown rose to fame on the Disney Channel in the 2000s because of the television series That's So Raven, which ran from 2003 to 2007. The animated sitcom The Proud Family, which ran from 2001 to 2005, also included his voice. Brown was arrested in the 2010s on some occasions, including suspicion of DUI and failing to show up for a domestic violence case.
Since Sister, Sister, the Mowry sisters have reunited on television, first with the Twitches movies for the Disney Channel, and then with the reality TV series Tia and Tamera. Tamera appeared on The Masked Singer in recent years, and Tia has written a series of cookbooks.
There was a popular sentiment making the rounds this time: people have the soft spot for child stars. Although they are at a very young age, their talent is second to none. In particular, they have charisma and natural cuteness that make audiences go gaga over them.
The 1990s were a long time ago. Some of those child actors are now Hollywood superstars with many massively impressive roles, so their once famous cuteness as children is tarnished. Besides, some quit the spotlight to live and work with other passions or just enjoy a normal life. No matter what they are doing now, we want to jog your memory of your good ol’ time by listing these famous 90s child actors and actresses in this post. Dive into them now!
#1 Dante Basco
Source: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Hawai’i International Film Festival
He started the Da Poetry Lounge in Los Angeles in 1998, which is the largest weekly open mic poetry performance location in the United States. Currently, he landed the voice for Prince Zuko on Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway.
#2 Alisan Porter
Source: Justin Higuchi via Wikimedia Commons
However, this did not spell the end of her career. Porter began her long and successful career in musical theatre when she was in her late teens. She also began to pursue a career in recording. When Porter participated in the TV singing competition The Voice, which she ultimately won, she re-entered the public consciousness.
#3 Josh Saviano
Source: Lars Niki/Getty Images for Saks Fifth Avenue
Saviano became a lawyer after studying political science at Yale, and he co-founded Spotlight Advisory Group in 2018. Nonetheless, Saviano hasn't fully retired from acting, having appeared in a few episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit between 2014 and 2016.
#4 Michael Oliver
Source: Barnorama
Oliver's career was interrupted when his mother (also his manager) was sued on extortion charges by Universal after she threatened to withdraw her son from Problem Child 2 unless they paid him $500,000. Oliver ceased performing soon after and stated in 2015 that he had no regrets: “After having been thrust into the spotlight as a child, I appreciate some peace. I am grateful and always will be for the experiences.”
#5 Jimmy Workman
Source: Greg2600/Wikimedia Commons
But he is still in Hollywood and working behind the scenes. He’s now 32 years old and worked as a transportation coordinator on film and television.
#6 Ross Bagley
Source: Ross Bagley Instagram
After that, Bagley's acting career cooled off, and since the 2015 horror flick Gnome Alone, he hasn't appeared in any more movies. He holds a degree from California State University, worked as an intern for a business run by Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, and, judging by his Instagram, is also a DJ and realtor.
#7 Mara Wilson
Source: Insider
She appeared in niche projects like the horror podcast Welcome to Nightvale, in which she landed her voice for the Faceless Old Woman Who Lives in Your Home. In addition, she published her autobiography Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame in 2016.
#8 Charlie Korsmo
Source: The FW
Korsmo chose a legal career after receiving a physics degree from the esteemed Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He attended Yale Law School and worked for the Republican Party and the Environmental Protection Agency. He returned to acting in more recent years and may be seen in the 2018 movie Chained for Life.
#9 Bradley Pierce
Source: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
Even if Pierce's adult appearance might not be as recognizable, he has never ceased acting. He has, however, mostly shunned live-action work in favor of doing voiceovers for animated television shows and video games. In the wake of the passing of his former co-star Robin Williams, Pierce, a divorced father of three, has talked frankly about his struggles with depression since he was a teenager.
#10 Melissa Joan Hart
Source: The Mirror
#11 Ariana Richards
Source: Hollywood Life
#12 Jonathan Lipnicki
Source: Rich Fury via Getty
As a young actor in the 2000s, Lipnicki starred in films such as The Little Vampire, Like Mike, Stuart Little 2, and When Zachary Beaver Came to Town. Last year, he made his appearance in several reality television shows such as Drop the Mic, Celebs Go Dating, and Worst Cooks in America. He continues to act in multiple films.
#13 Thora Birch
Source: Donmike10 via Wikipedia Commons
In 2010, Birch was fired from a Dracula stage production because another actor allegedly felt threatened by her manager's father, who was said to be an unnervingly persistent presence at his daughter's rehearsals. In 2012, Birch took a vacation from performing, which he kept up until 2016. After appearing in The Walking Dead, a return appeared to be in the works, but Birch ran into difficulty once more when she abruptly quit the set of Netflix's Wednesday in 2021.
#14 Tatyana Ali
Source: Pinterest
Tatyana Ali continued to enroll in Harvard, a decision that would have made her Fresh Prince persona quite happy. She earned a degree in African-American studies and governance from the university in 2002. She is still active as an actress, and her current roles at CBS’s The Young and the Restless and BET’s Second Generation Wayans are highly appreciated.
#15 Omri Katz
Source: Shutterstock/Courtesy of Vinessa Shaw/Instagram
Hocus Pocus was a failure upon release, but ever since, it's become a yearly Halloween tradition for families. However, it ended up being Katz's final picture. He stopped acting in the early 2000s after accepting some more TV parts, and currently supports himself in Los Angeles by managing a cannabis business.
#16 Danica McKellar
Source: Rachel Luna via Getty
#17 Jonathan Taylor Thomas
Source: Eightieskids
#18 Orlando Brown
Source: Hollywood Life
Orlando Brown rose to fame on the Disney Channel in the 2000s because of the television series That's So Raven, which ran from 2003 to 2007. The animated sitcom The Proud Family, which ran from 2001 to 2005, also included his voice. Brown was arrested in the 2010s on some occasions, including suspicion of DUI and failing to show up for a domestic violence case.
#19, #20 Tia and Tamera Mowry
Source: Amy Sussman/Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
Since Sister, Sister, the Mowry sisters have reunited on television, first with the Twitches movies for the Disney Channel, and then with the reality TV series Tia and Tamera. Tamera appeared on The Masked Singer in recent years, and Tia has written a series of cookbooks.