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Joseph Gordon-Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didn’t Crash and Burn

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FotoFlexer Photo2 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn

A golf-clap is in order for Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The road to stardom is littered with has-beens, and by has-beens, we mean kid-stars—tykes who got the money, fame, and power before they even had a chance to use it to make bad decisions. Staying above the D-list for an actor as they get older and lose their bankable cuteness isn’t an exact science. Sometimes it’s just not meant to be, whether it’s drugs (River Phoenix), over-saturation (Macaulay Culkin), or just plain bad luck (Jonathan Brandis). With 500 Days of Summer destined to be a subversive rom-com classic, and Inception still dominating the box office, Levitt has officially circumvented the acting Gods and earned himself a place at the A-list, grown-up roundtable.

But he’s not alone. Going from kid-star to just star is far from impossible. It’s been done before. Before we continue, though, let’s verify something: getting your own reality show, losing a lot of weight, or clinging to the spotlight based on your own ironic craziness doesn’t count. That means Danny Bonaduce, Corey Feldman, Melissa Joan Hart, and Valerie Bertinelli are still lame. Here are ten former child-stars who, in one way or another, refused to let the man get them/keep them down.

10. Shia Labeouf

Then: Louis from Even Stevens

shia labeaof then Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn

Shia Labeouf on Even Stevens 31 8 10 kc 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn Shia Labeouf on Freaks and Geeks 31 8 10 kc 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn Shia Labeouf on The X Files 31 8 10 kc 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn

Now: Transformers I-III, Indiana Jones (probably not something to be proud of, but still)

shia labeouf now3 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn

Still something of a fresh-faced boy-wonder, but at age 24, it’s safe to say Labeouf is over the hump. Labeouf was somewhat fortunate in that he was popular in his formative years, but not popular to the point where he had to extend himself and risk over-saturation. He really didn’t break into the mainstream until after he had hair on his balls.

9. Alyssa Milano

Then: Everybody’s favorite daughter on Who’s The Boss?

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Bottom right corner.

Alyssa Milano at 13 31 8 10 kc 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn Whos the Boss Cast 31 8 10 kc 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn Whos the Boss Cast 2 31 8 10 kc 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn

Now: The hottest baseball fan you know

alyssa milano now Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn

Milano was catapulted into fame during the mid-80s as the preteen counterpart to Tony Danza. She was (and still is) also pretty enough to be some dude’s illegal fantasy. That’s two elements right there that had all the trappings of a Lohanesque debacle. But alas, she abstained, and worked her way toward professional respectability with roles on Melrose Place and Charmed.

8. Kirsten Dunst

Then: Brad Pitt’s pedo-vampire dilemma in Interview with the Vampire

kirsten dunst then4 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn

Kirsten Dunst in Jumanji 31 8 10 kc 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn Kirsten Dunst in Interview With a Vampire 31 8 10 kc 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn Kirsten Dunst in 2995 31 8 10 kc 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn

Now: Spider-Man I-III, Marie Antoinette

kirsten dunst now Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn

Dunst, like our next entry, benefitted nicely from getting nominated for an Academy Award for Interview With A Vampire. But Academy Awards don’t always grant child-stars exemption status from eventual loserdom (just ask Tatum O’Neal). Dunst navigated the perilous waters in a wise and time-tested manner—balancing the bubble gum (Bring It On) with the artsy independent (The Virgin Suicides).

7. Anna Paquin

Then: Second-youngest Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actress for The Piano

anna paquin then4 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn

Anna Paquin A Walk on the Moon 31 8 10 kc 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn Anna Paquin A Walk on the Moon 2 31 8 10 kc 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn Anna Paquin as a Teenager 21 8 10 kc 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn

Now: Sookie Stackhouse, supernatural telepath on True Blood

anna paquin now3 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn

They grow up so fast. And naked.

If anybody should pen an instruction manual on how to grow up on-screen, it’s Paquin. She decided to take the low-key approach by agreeing to supporting roles in critically lauded projects like Almost Famous, X-Men, and Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee to build up some momentum before finally being rewarded with HBO’s True Blood.

6. IIan Mitchell-Smith

Then: Wyatt from Weird Science

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The guy on the right.

Ilan Mitchell Smith in Weird Science 1 31 8 10 kc 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn Ilan Mitchell Smith in Weird Science 2 31 8 10 kc 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn Ilan Mitchell Smith in Weird Science 3 31 8 10 kc 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn

Now: College lecturer

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This is a curious case, indeed. Remember Wyatt, from Weird Science? The guy who wasn’t Anthony Michael Hall? That’s IIan Mitchell-Smith, who played a nerd…and grew up to be a professional nerd. After dawdling a few more years in Hollywood after Weird Science, Smith decided to give up acting and get a degree in medieval literature. He’s now an assistant professor who teaches English at Cal State Long Beach. Eat it, Brat Pack.

5. Ron Howard

Then: Opie from The Andy Griffith Show

ron howard then Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn

Ron Howard on The Andy Griffith Show 21 8 10 kc 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn Ron Howard as Opie 31 8 10 kc 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn Ron Howard on Happy Days 31 8 10 kc 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn

Now: Esteemed director of Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, and Frost/Nixon

ron howard now3 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn

The art of being a child star stretches far, far back into history. Like, when TV was black and white. Howard introduced himself to JFK-era America as Opie on The Andy Griffith Show, and kept his rosy-cheeked act going all the way into colorized Happy Days. Something of a trendsetter, Howard was one of the first actors to try his hand at directing, and kick ass at it. Without him, we wouldn’t have a cache of awesome movies. Then again, also wouldn’t have everybody from Danny Devito (Duplex) to Nicholas Cage (Sonny) thinking they could do the same thing.

4. Neil Patrick Harris

Then: Doogie Howser

NPH then Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn

Neil Patrick Harris as Doogie Howser MD 1 31 8 10 kc 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn Neil Patrick Harris as Doogie Howser MD 2 31 8 10 kc 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn Neil Patrick Harris as Doogie Howser MD 3 31 8 10 kc 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn

Now: Barney Stinson

NPH now3 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn

A true revolutionary—former child star who bounced around doing some theater, some low-budget made-for-TV movies, and an awesome cameo on Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle until he became the straw that stirs the How I Met Your Mother drink as Barney Stinson, and he did it all while being totally gay. Oh, and in case you forgot the definition of sweet, sweet irony, here’s a clip of little NPH giving his friend Vinnie advice on how to deal with having a gay roommate.

3. Kurt Russell

Then: Corn-fed Disney poster boy

kurt russell then Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn

Kurt Russell McPheeters Day of Leaving 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn Kurt Russell Winter People 31 8 10 kc 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn Kurt Russell The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes 31 8 10 kc 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn

Now: Guy who kills things with his car

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Anybody under the age of 40 would probably have a hard time imagineing that the same guy who was once Snake Plissken and Stuntman Mike was also one of disney’s biggest stars back in the day. Russell found exactly the right director (John Carpenter) to extrapolate his inner badass and make everybody forget about the mouse ears.

2. Jodie Foster

Then: Travis Bickle’s unholy obsession in Taxi Driver

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Jodie Foster Very Young 31 8 10 kc 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn Jodie Foster with Johnny Whitaker 31 8 10 kc 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn Jodie Foster Freaky Friday 31 8 10 kc 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn

Now: Two-time oscar-winner; Hannibal Lecter’s unholy obsession in The Silence of the Lambs

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Foster inadvertently took the aura of child stardom to disturbing new heights when John Hinckley, Jr., figuring that flowers, cards, and stalking just weren’t doing the trick, tried to assassinate Ronald Reagan in 1981 to impress her after seeing her in Taxi Driver. That’s heavy stuff. Shirley Temple never had to worrry about Roosevelt catching one in the chest because some lonely dude thought she absolutely killed it in Curly Top.

Aaaaand finally…

1. Drew Barrymore

Then: Little sister from E.T.

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Drew Barrymore Firestarter 31 8 10 kc 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn Drew Barrymore Black and White 31 8 10 kc 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn Drew Barrymore 6 Years Old 31 8 10 kc 150x150 Joseph Gordon Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didnt Crash and Burn

Now: Charlie’s Angels, The Wedding Singer, Grey Gardens

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World famous at age 5. Rehab at age 13. Lordy, it wasn’t easy for Barrymore to get there, but she somehow did. Would she be in a diner somewhere in West Texas serving coffee & pie if camera phones and this little thing called the internet had existed back in the 80’s? Fortunately for her, the world will never know.

That’s it. That’s the list…until somebody proves me wrong and reveals I’m an idiot. In which case, we have a nice comment section to vent your frustration on anything missed. Happy hunting.

COMMENTS

  1. Posted by Dan
    Tuesday, August 10, 2010 12:48PM

    Prepare for the big reveal. The list is fine but for one major mistake. I would argue Drew barely makes the top ten (in lieu of Milano?) and the new number one is arguably the biggest name in Hollywood today, Leonardo DiCaprio. That is a shocking omission.

  2. Posted by lateralus
    Tuesday, August 10, 2010 2:30PM

    Leo was already 16 before he got a break and anybody even knew his name.

  3. Posted by jemmye
    Tuesday, August 10, 2010 3:32PM

    Jodie Foster should be above Drew Barrymore. She went to Yale, got Oscar nominated at a young age, came back won two Academy awards, still opens films at number one over 40, kept her private life private, and directs and produces. I think Jodie Foster and Ron Howard should be in the top 2 spots.

  4. Posted by fatalfeline
    Tuesday, August 10, 2010 9:39PM

    I think Drew definately belongs on the list. She fell, sure, but she got up again & without compromising her dignity. How ’bout Robert Downry jr. ? His dad used him in his films since he was 5 yrs old & he had HUGE hurtles to conquer. He’s an incredible actor (always was) and now everyone wants him. He was robbed of the Oscar for Chaplin.

  5. Posted by Magic
    Thursday, August 26, 2010 4:46PM

    Ummm, I thought this was a list about people who didn't fall off the wagon. During Drew's teen life she fell in hardcore drugs and alcohol and if that doesn't qualify as falling of the wagon I don't know what does. I guess you can give her kudos for getting back on the damned wagon but I mean the title is "10 Kid Actors Who DIDN'T Fall Off The Wagon".

  6. Posted by @the_zorat
    Friday, August 27, 2010 7:33PM

    10 Kid Actors Who Didn't Fall Off The Wagon AND STAY OFF. Sorry, but that's what I'm seeing.

  7. Posted by fraggleroots
    Friday, August 27, 2010 7:46PM

    no, its titled "10 kid actors who didn't crash and burn"

  8. Posted by Crystal
    Friday, August 27, 2010 7:55PM

    "Who didn't fall off the wagon AND STAY OFF" The point of Drew being on the list is she got back on.

  9. Posted by dudley
    Friday, August 27, 2010 8:14PM

    I believe it says "10 Kid Actors Who Didn't Fall Off The Wagon AND STAY OFF." Drew may have fallen off, but she didn't say off.

  10. Posted by swaa
    Friday, August 27, 2010 9:04PM

    the title is 10 kid actors who didn't fall off the wagon and stay off

  11. Posted by lord xeon
    Friday, August 27, 2010 9:28PM

    Natalie Portman should be on this list somewhere, Drew Barrymore should be at the number 10 spot specifically because she fell, and Ron Howard should be moved up to 2, Jodi Foster belongs at number 1, and Shia Labeouf should be nowhere near this list.

  12. Posted by Melissa
    Friday, August 27, 2010 9:40PM

    Drew Barrymore would NEVER have ended up serving coffee at a diner in West Texas. Do your research. Drew is from one of the biggest multi-generational Hollywood families. John Barrymore was her grandfather and one of her grandmothers was a Costello. Steven Spielberg is her god-father. Even without her very successful film career and production company she wouldn't have to worry about being homeless. And, in any event, if she had a hard time finding film roles, she would just create roles for herself and produce the movies herself just like she does now.

  13. Posted by paddy
    Friday, August 27, 2010 10:53PM

    barrymore hasn't exactly made it with shite like charlie's angels and the wedding singer being notable films of hers. portman should be here instead like lord xeon said. Portman has made some crap too but has barrymore done anything that can be put above portman's performance in Leon?

  14. Posted by Leonid
    Saturday, August 28, 2010 12:27AM

    Sarah Polley. As a child she was in 'The Adventures of Baron Munchausen' & 'The Road to Avonlea' among many others. As an adult she has been in 'Dawn of the Dead' & 'Splice'. She was nominated for an academy award as a writer for a film she also directed 'Away from Her'. She has also received 30 other acting, writing & directing nominations.

  15. Posted by tessa
    Sunday, August 29, 2010 7:44PM

    yeah no leo? this list is silly without DiCaprio and Portman

  16. Posted by spad
    Sunday, August 29, 2010 7:53PM

    Where is Justin Timberlake? Not that I'm a huge fan of him, but he is wildly popular and started on the Mickey Mouse Club. He's kept a "clean" image his whole career. Where is he on the list?!?!

  17. Posted by DaveRC
    Sunday, August 29, 2010 10:28PM

    I was shocked not to see Christina Ricci on the list. There's also Anne Hathaway, depending on where you draw the age line for who qualifies as a child actress. And it may be too early to tell, but it looks like Dakota Fanning has a promising career still ahead of her.

  18. Posted by bgz
    Sunday, August 29, 2010 11:42PM

    Jason Bateman?

  19. Posted by Jerry
    Monday, August 30, 2010 12:16AM

    I think you should add Scarlet Johannson She was in Home Alone 3 at 15 or 16 and now is a major star and major hottie

  20. Posted by Bee
    Monday, August 30, 2010 1:09AM

    Why do these lists always forget Jamie Bell? He beat four Oscar winners to win a Bafta at the age of fourteen for his role in Billy Elliot, and has worked steadily ever since. Okay, so many of his earlier films slipped below the public's radar (I'm thinking of indie fare like Undertow and Dear Wendy) but every one who's ever bothered to watch them agrees that they're great performances. And he's done big budget too, with a small part in Clint Eastwood's Flags of Our Fathers, a role written especially for him in King Kong, and the lead in the new Tin Tin films. He's definitely made it without falling off the wagon. And he may have been in a few less than brilliant films but he's never given a dud performance (everyone agrees he's the best thing about Jumper).

    I also agree that DiCaprio and Portman should be on there,

  21. Posted by meh
    Monday, August 30, 2010 11:46AM

    Kirsten Dunst's first appearance was i believe a small role in one of the last star trek the next generation episodes.

  22. Posted by JustinRobey
    Monday, August 30, 2010 12:44PM

    How about Christian Bale. He went from an award winning performance in Empire of the Sun to being a big Hollywood star as an adult.

  23. Posted by pimpin
    Tuesday, August 31, 2010 4:31PM

    meh. problem is, drew barrymore is still a bigger star than jodie foster. that's why she's doing TV ads and jodie foster isn't.

  24. Posted by guest
    Wednesday, September 1, 2010 5:22PM

    Natalie Portman. Leonardo Dicaprio. And next, the Fanning sisters.

  25. Posted by 1114
    Wednesday, September 1, 2010 8:35PM

    sean astin and elijah wood kind of, christian bale, leonardo dicaprio, dakota fanning'ish, christina applegate, jason bateman, josh brolin, jennifer connelly. all infinitely better choices than drew barrymore.

  26. Posted by phillydrifter
    Thursday, September 2, 2010 8:16AM

    You're all fuckin' retarded for arguing about a list, online. Don't like it? WRITE YOUR OWN FUCKING LIST.

  27. Posted by me dumb asses
    Friday, September 3, 2010 1:38PM

    drew barrymore sucks, alyssa milano sucks, shia, lib0uuuu sux, ron howard sucks, kristen dunst is crashing and every one else is cool, otherwise, dumb list

  28. Posted by Brian
    Friday, September 3, 2010 3:34PM

    MICHAEL J FOX

  29. Posted by Jenn
    Sunday, September 5, 2010 9:01PM

    Christian Bale, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Natalie Portman

  30. Posted by jonnadee
    Sunday, September 5, 2010 9:48PM

    Drew definitely deserves to be on this list, but I do agree that leaving Leonardo off may be a mistake. He's been acting since the age of five, and is clearly a star! Scarlett doesn't really count–she didn't start acting until she was in her teens, and isn't that good anyway! And who the hell is Sarah Polley? If nobody has heard of her, she's not a star, and hence doesn't meet the requirements of the list. DUH.

  31. Posted by Meg
    Thursday, September 9, 2010 2:58AM

    Ben Foster. Child actor on a disney show called "flash forward" to big budget such as The Punisher, 3:10 to Yuma, and X-Men. and a brilliant indie career at that.

  32. Posted by JayC
    Thursday, September 9, 2010 6:10AM

    CHRISTINA RICCI!!!!!!

    mmmmmm

  33. Posted by SleepyInsomniac
    Saturday, September 11, 2010 12:17AM

    Why is Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the headline but not in the top 10?

  34. Posted by ObscureCanucksFTW
    Monday, September 13, 2010 10:41PM

    I've known who Sarah Polley is for twenty years. Just because you've never heard of her doesn't mean nobody has.

  35. Posted by ricky
    Saturday, October 2, 2010 1:55PM

    Kristen Dunst wasen't nominated for an Academy Award

  36. Posted by lisi
    Friday, November 19, 2010 9:52PM

    That's funny, everyone does forget him. you're right.

  37. Posted by Jill
    Sunday, November 21, 2010 10:47AM

    Elijah Wood didn't make the cut, I see. He's a big success story, he had a HUGE career as a kid, and is still relevant and turning out great films.

  38. Posted by Biebemax
    Thursday, December 9, 2010 8:10PM

    How can Kirk Cameron not be included on this list?

  39. Posted by ScreenCrave’s Top 10 Stories of 2010
    Wednesday, December 22, 2010 8:00PM

    [...] Joseph Gordon-Levitt and 10 Other Child Actors Who Didn’t Crash and Burn [...]

  40. Posted by Theatre Tickets
    Friday, January 7, 2011 10:31PM

    It's nice to hear "Where Are They Now?" stories that aren't tragic. I guess it's good that they're the exception, though–or we wouldn't want to hear them at all!

  41. Posted by brian
    Monday, February 21, 2011 11:29AM

    Christopher Walken and Dean Stockwell were also both child actors who had very respectable careers as adults.

  42. Posted by Guest
    Thursday, March 10, 2011 10:23AM

    Horrible, Horrible list.

    I'll use the three pages bashing it as a reference to why.

  43. Posted by anonymous
    Wednesday, May 25, 2011 8:59PM

    Drew Barrymore did crash and burn, but she did recover. Pretty sure she was on drugs for awhile…

  44. Posted by Mike
    Saturday, May 28, 2011 8:37PM

    It's a top 10 list people. Maybe Leo should be on here, but some of the others you are all suggesting? Stupid!

  45. Posted by Candy
    Friday, June 3, 2011 7:56PM

    What about Brooke Shields?

  46. Posted by Ross
    Tuesday, November 1, 2011 1:50PM

    Dang… Anna Pauqin….

  47. Posted by CiCiGuidette
    Tuesday, January 17, 2012 7:53AM

    Sarah Michelle Gellar was also a child star. Most of the people listed here have done drugs at one point accept Milano.

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