The 1990s introduced an abundance of young talent who starred in notable movies and TV shows at the time, with the child actors’ careers taking off in various directions in the decades that followed. Actors like Macaulay Culkin and Jaleel White portrayed TV and movie characters that defined the ’90s, with the charming and comedic performances of Kevin McCallister and Steve Urkel, respectively. The two have continued to work in the industry and have earned a positive reputation outside of those established during their childhood roles.

Other actors have retired from acting or taken a step back from Hollywood as adults, but are still working and making a name for themselves as public figures, like Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen and Jonathan Lipnicki. Young actors from the ’90s were cast alongside veterans in the industry, with many holding their own on screen despite it being so early on in their careers. It’s fascinating to see where the actors who delivered some of the decade’s most memorable performances wound up years later.

12

Tahj Mowry

Starred In Smart Guy

Though he is also known as the younger brother of twin actresses Tia and Tamera Mowry, Tahj Mowry made a name for himself as a child actor in the ’90s, too. Leading the 1997 sitcom, Smart Guy, Mowry portrayed the child prodigy T.J. Henderson. Mowry has had more TV roles throughout his career, but appeared in a handful of comedy films as well, including Are We Done Yet? in 2007 and Me Time in 2022. However, Mowry’s biggest role after his time as a child actor was as Tucker in the ABC Family sitcom Baby Daddy.

11

Jonathan Lipnicki

Starred In Jerry Maguire & Stuart Little

Known for delivering one of the best quotes in Jerry Maguire, a fun factoid about the weight of a human head, Jonathan Lipnicki made his film debut in the late ’90s sports dramedy as Ray Boyd, the son of Renée Zellweger’s Dorothy. In recent years, Lipnicki has stepped away from big projects and has made several appearances on reality shows, and has also consistently starred in several B-movies since the early 2010s. The actor’s latest project is the 2024 slasher film Camp Pleasant Lake.

10

Tatyana Ali

Starred In The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

By 1985, a six-year-old Tatyana Ali had already established herself as a regular performer on PBS’ Sesame Street. A few years later, Ali earned what would eventually be her breakthrough role as Ashley Banks in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The actor remained a part of the series’ main cast throughout its entire run, growing up on the show and making a name for herself as an actor and singer. Ali has taken on minor roles in a variety of TV shows, but was part of the reimagined Fresh Prince series, Bel-Air, in season 2.

9

Anna Chlumsky

Starred In My Girl

Anna Chlumsky first earned attention as an actress when she was a child, portraying My Girl‘s Vada Sultenfuss opposite Macaulay Culkin. By the end of the decade, Chlumsky went on a hiatus to prioritize her education and returned to Hollywood in 2005, leading the 2007 comedy film Blood Car. Throughout the 2010s, Chlumsky found success on HBO’s Veep, earning a handful of Emmy nominations for Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series during the series’ run. This summer, Chlumsky is set to star alongside Rebel Wilson and Anna Camp in the action comedy film, Bride Hard.

8

Mara Wilson

Starred In Matilda & Miracle on 34th Street

During the ’90s, Mara Wilson’s career as a child actor had her starring alongside beloved comedic legends like Martin Short in A Simple Wish and Robin Williams in Mrs. Doubtfire. However, it’s her role as the тιтle character in Matilda that stands out the most in Wilson’s filmography. Throughout the years, Wilson has been open about her struggles in the industry. After a 12-year hiatus, Wilson returned to acting, mainly through voice acting roles (BoJack Horseman and Big Hero 6: The Series) and web series, such as Helluva Boss and Ollie & Scoops.

7

Lindsay Lohan

Starred In The Parent Trap

Lindsay Lohan’s most notable role as a young actor is undeniably that of the twins Hallie and Annie in the 1998 remake of The Parent Trap. During the early 2000s, Lohan starred in the comedies Freaky Friday and Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, before cementing her status as a teen icon in Mean Girls. Though personal struggles led Lohan to take a break from acting for a few years, she made a satisfying comeback in a series of Netflix rom-coms. Lohan will also be reprising her Freaky Friday role in the sequel, Freakier Friday, this summer.

6

Haley Joel Osment

Starred In The Sixth Sense & Forrest Gump

Holding his own alongside Bruce Willis and delivering one of the horror genre’s greatest quotes, a young Haley Joel Osment was nominated for numerous Best Supporting Actor awards for his performance in The Sixth Sense, including an Academy Award. The actor had starred in Forrest Gump a few years prior and was an undeniable force among the decade’s greatest child actors. Osment continues to work consistently as an actor. Recently, Osment took on a supporting role in the psychological thriller Blink Twice and had minor appearances in the TV series The Boys and What We Do In the Shadows.

5

Christina Ricci

Starred In The Addams Family & Casper

Christina Ricci made her film debut in 1990’s Mermaids, but earned her breakout role as Wednesday Addams the following year. In The Addams Family and its sequel, Ricci impressed audiences with her dry comedic talent, perfectly capturing the essence of the Wednesday seen in earlier iterations, while simultaneously making the character her own. As an adult, Ricci dabbled in both film and TV productions, but has gained more attention in the latter, notably in The Lizzie Borden Chronicles and Yellowjackets. Ricci has also recently somewhat reunited with Wednesday, taking on a supporting role in Netflix’s series with Jenna Ortega.

4

Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen

Starred In Full House

Though the sister duo of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen made their acting debut in the late ’80s as Michelle Tanner on Full House, the twins worked throughout the following decade in a variety of video series and TV movies. When the Olsens weren’t included among the reprised roles in Fuller House in 2016, fans may have been disappointed, but their absence isn’t too surprising. The twins have expressed a greater interest in fashion in more recent years, launching a fashion label, The Row, and gaining recognition from the CFDA for their work in the industry.

3

Raven-Symoné

Starred In The Cosby Show & Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper

For those who grew up on Disney Channel sitcoms, Raven-Symoné’s most notable role is that of the тιтular psychic in That’s So Raven. However, the actor got her start in Hollywood at a young age, earning recognition for her role as Olivia Kendall in The Cosby Show‘s later seasons. In recent years, though, Raven-Symoné has made her way back to Disney Channel, reprising the тιтle role in the 2017 spinoff series Raven’s Home. Raven-Symoné directed a handful of the series’ episodes, as well as those of other Disney shows, including Sydney to the Max and Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.