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Lists about unforgettable child actors who nabbed the spotlight and how they have navigated life after fame at such vulnerable stages in their development.

Rowan Blanchard

Before we know it, all the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-actors?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword" target="_blank">great actors</a> and actresses from this generation will all be old and receiving Lifetime Achievement Awards instead of Oscars and Emmys... Who is going to fill their shoes? Here&#39;s a list of up and coming young <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-film-actors-and-actresses-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword" target="_blank">actors and actresses</a> that have the potential to be the next big stars. This list includes the best teenage male and female stars under 20 - new celebrities already recognized for their work in television and film.

Many of the rising stars at the top of the list are from popular series Stranger Things. Celebs like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/how-much-is-cast-of-stranger-things-worth/jonathan-kantor" target="_blank">Millie Bobby Brown</a>, Finn Wolfhard, and Sadie Sink. This list of young actors and actresses has much more variety than that, though. There are also famous teenage girls like Mia Talerico&nbsp;and Jenna Ortega. Mackenzie Foy, Willow Shields, and Natalie Alyn Lind are a few of the popular 20 year old actresses you will find below.&nbsp;

If you think that any up and coming stars of film and TV will become big celebrities, make sure to add them to the list.&nbsp;Also check out the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/hot-actress-under-30" target="_blank">hottest actresses under 30 (but over 18)</a> and the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/cool-teens-2019/celebrity-lists" target="_blank">coolest teen actors and musicians of 2019</a>.

Sometimes child actors portray&nbsp;roles that deal with adult subject matter. Some of the most mature roles taken by <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/greatest-former-child-stars/carlybobarly" target="_blank">child stars</a>, however, may leave some questioning the director’s artistic intent.&nbsp;Of course, directors often take&nbsp;steps to limit children’s exposure to sexual and violent scenarios, but sometimes the age of the actors involved and the intensity of the subject matter can cause&nbsp;concern among audiences. We need to remember, though, when examining the controversy over children playing these parts the most important perspective is that of the young actors themselves.&nbsp;

Some of them may not be old enough to drink - or even drive - but the top young actors of the 2010s have managed to accomplish a lot in their short lives thus far.

Millie Bobby Brown is obviously one of the best young actors of the decade - but who are the others? Jacob Tremblay and Kiernan Shipka certainly secure spots on our greatest young actors of the 2010s list.&nbsp;And stars like Zendaya have been blowing up the past 10 years, with star-turning roles in Euphoria, The Greatest Showman, and Spider-Man: Far From Home. Vote her up if you believe she deserves to be one of the best young actors of the 2010s.

Marsai Martin is another of the top 10 young actors of the 2010s. By the age of 15, she already had a starring role in Little - for which she was also an executive producer! Read through our picks for best 2010s young actors, and be sure to vote your favorites to the top.&nbsp;

poll

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

List of Hollywood kids: actors who grew up on the big screen and child stars you recognize working today. While there are many child stars, it takes someone special to make it from kid to adult in the entertainment industry. There are lots of pitfalls a former child star can succumb to, like drug use, gambling, and other addictions. It&#39;s also hard to overcome the fact that, in many cases, you simply cannot just &#39;get by&#39; on your cute kid looks.

Who are the most successful <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/child-actors-who-work-behind-the-scenes-now/eric-vega" target="_blank">former child stars</a>? Some young actors actually do make the crossover into adulthood. These former child stars are some of the few that have made it over the hurdle of adolescence and into adulthood in tact - people like Jason Bateman, Natalie Portman, <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/neil-patrick-harris-facts/jacob-shelton?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Neil Patrick Harris</a> and even Ron Howard. They not only made it out of the former child star pit unscathed, but have florished as adult working actors, writers and directors.

Lifestyle

Dorothy Gale

List of the greatest kid characters in film. These <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/childrens-movies-main-characters-who-should-be-grounded/tracey-graham" target="_blank">onscreen children</a> were the best movie personalities in the history of cinema. Here we have ranked those film characters that we would rather hide from our own children (for the most part) but watch onscreen any day of the week. Of course, if Harry Potter came over for a playdate, a child might want to hang out. 

Movie children are the ones that say what we are really thinking, or sometimes things that no adult would ever be weird enough to think let alone say out loud. Someone like Huck Finn comes to mind, as he ranks up here against (or perhaps with) Simba from &quot;The Lion King.&quot; both of the &quot;Spy Kids&quot; themselves had to be included, of course, as did tough girls like Hit-Girl and Veruca Salt. Speaking of Miss Salt, Roald Dahl brought us more of the great kid characters in movies thanks to Matilda Wormood and Charlie Buckett.

Brooke Shields

The greatest teen stars of the '80s are well-remembered on this countdown. They were everywhere; they ruled the box office;&nbsp;they kept butts on the couch;&nbsp;and they took over the radio. The 80s <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-film-actors-and-actresses-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">actors and actresses</a> that appeared on your locker door, your lunchbox, and even as dolls are recognized for the lasting impact they left on America. So, who's your favorite teen star from the 80s?From Molly Ringwald to Matthew Broderick, this list of top <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/female-teen-stars-of-the-80s-then-and-now/elle-tharp?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">80s teen stars</a> features everyone we've all come to love so much. Whether you're talking hit TV shows or classic 80s movies, these teens truly ruled the decade. Check them all out below and vote up your favorites.

Interesting

Child star scandals are shockingly common. Whether they matured too fast or <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/child-actor-mugshots/celebrity-lists" target="_blank">got arrested</a>, once these actors stopped conforming to their networks' vision, they were kicked to the curb. Executives apparently weigh what's more important:&nbsp;the image of the TV show or the contribution of the child star. In most cases, that means young actors and actresses wind up fired from TV shows.<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/celeb-scandals-ranked-by-year/rebecca-shortall" target="_blank">Every year</a>&nbsp;is marked with celebrity gossip, and child actors who were fired for scandals often end up as more grist for the rumor mill. Jessica Biel, once one of the wholesome kids on 7th Heaven,&nbsp;caused a stir by posing for a racy photo shoot. Disney star Mitchel Musso was fired after he got slapped with a DUI. And then there's Jamie Lynn Spears, who became pregnant at the age of 16. That meant her relationship with Nickelodeon&nbsp;was over.Some actors think they're above the law, and attaining fame at a young age certainly comes with privileges. But whether they were&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/tgif-actor-scandals/jacob-shelton" target="_blank">TGIF</a>&nbsp;darlings or supposed sitcom staples, their fame ultimately didn't matter. These child&nbsp;actors&nbsp;who&nbsp;lost TV&nbsp;jobs&nbsp;over scandalous&nbsp;behavior all wound up without gigs in the end.

Christina Ricci

The greatest teen stars of the &#39;90s are well-remembered on this countdown. They were everywhere &ndash; they ruled the box office, they kept butts on couches on the small screen, and took over the radio. The stars that appeared on your locker room, your lunchbox, and even as dolls are recognized for the lasting impact they left on America.

Who are the best teen stars from the 1990s? From <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-happened-to-larisa-oleynik/megan-summers" target="_blank">Larisa Oleynik</a>&nbsp;to Leonardo DiCaprio, we&#39;ve got them all.&nbsp;Whether you had a crush on these teenage actors from the 1990s or wanted to be them, the greatest teen actors of the 90s entertained us and taught us a lot of life lessons.

Celebrities

Child actors who died young include some of the most recognizable names in entertainment. All the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-film-actors-and-actresses-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">actors and actresses</a> listed enjoyed success from an early age. Contributing factors to&nbsp;their&nbsp;casualties range&nbsp;from health issues to substance abuse to accidents. Some of the stars were former child actors from Nickelodeon and Disney Channel.&nbsp;

The untimely passing&nbsp;of a star is always a tragedy, but&nbsp;child actors who died at a young age seem&nbsp;especially tragic. Even child celebrities sometimes succumb to pressure, the rigors of fame, and a host of other&nbsp;issues that can darken a shining light much too soon. Those included on this list include many of the most&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/99-famous-people-who-died-young/james707" target="_blank">famous people who died young</a>.

Some child actors mentioned here departed this world very&nbsp;young, such as Poltergeist star Heather O&#39;Rourke. Heather was just 12 years old when she&nbsp;succumbed to complications during surgery to repair an acute bowel obstruction. Others, like actors River Phoenix and Brad Renfro, died in their early 20s after struggles with substance abuse.&nbsp;

Other child actors took their own lives. In August 2013, Lee Thompson Young, known for his role as Jett on the Disney Channel show Famous Jett Jackson&nbsp;and a star turn on the TV crime drama Rizzoli &amp; Isles,&nbsp;ended his life by suicide at the age of 29. In November 2003, seaQuest DSV star Jonathan Brandis took his own life&nbsp;at the age of 27.

To learn more about famous people who died young, check out <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/members-of-the-27-club/famous-celebrity-deaths-list" target="_blank">Members Of The 27 Club</a>&nbsp;(celebrities who died at age 27) and <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-most-depressing-celebrity-trainwrecks-of-all-time/celebrity-lists" target="_blank">The Most Depressing Celebrity Trainwrecks&nbsp;Of All Time</a>.

1990s

What are your favorite &#39;90s <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/list-of-famous-child-actors/reference" target="_blank">child actors</a> up to today? There&#39;s always that moment, usually right before you&#39;re about to fall asleep, when the thought hits you out of nowhere: &quot;Whatever happened to that actor? I loved them.&quot; Invariably you&#39;re thinking of a star you really liked while growing up in the &#39;90s. Whether you wonder about that sitcom fan favorite who dropped off the face of the earth, or the film princess who seemed to have a great career ahead of her but gave it all up, this list as all the info on what these &#39;90s stars who quit acting have been doing to fill their days.&nbsp;

Amélie Poulain in Amelie

Sometimes casting directors just flat out nail it when it comes to kid versions of adult actors. They're the choices that make you say, “Woah! That kid looks just like ____!”&nbsp; Now here’s your chance to cast your own vote for kid actors who actually grew up to look like the adults the played in movies. A casting director has their work cut out for them when they work on movies with flashback scenes. It comes down to casting not only a young actor who’s believable-looking, but also one who can act and personify the older actor they are portraying. That’s why it’s so awesome when you see flashback movies like the ones on this list.Christa B. Allen played a young Jennifer Garner in 13 Going on 30, and was so believable that she was cast for a second time as Jennifer Garner’s younger version in Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. Some <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-film-actors-and-actresses-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">actors and actresses</a> got their biggest starts playing “younger versions,” including Dakota Fanning in Sweet Home Alabama (she played a young version of Reese Witherspoon’s character) and Mila Kunis (as a younger Angelina Jolie) in Gia.So take a look at this list and compare how the “younger versions” stacked up to the “older versions” of themselves. Vote up <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/full-cast-of-pat-garrett-and-billy-the-kid-actors-and-actresses/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">the kid actors</a> who actually grew up to look like the adults the played in movies.

Film Trivia

To what extent are child actors in horror movies exposed to the macabre material they're working with?&nbsp;As it turns out, they're often (and surprisingly)&nbsp;barely exposed to anything bloodcurdling at all.&nbsp;Film editing is a remarkable&nbsp;art that, when done right, can make an IRL walk in the park look like a cinematic walk through&nbsp;a human slaughterhouse. As you'll learn from this list, many quintessentially creepy horror movie kids had no idea they were even being ominous.Encountering&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/the-creepiest-kids-in-horror-movies/ron-mexico" target="_blank">horror movie children</a>&nbsp;who didn't realize they were in horror movies isn't unusual; Danny Lloyd&nbsp;in The Shining famously had no clue he was starring in one of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/scariest-horror-movies-ever-made?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">scariest films of all time</a>, and Linda Blair mostly had a lot of fun <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/kids-of-horror-movies-where-are-they-now-/tyler-doupe" target="_blank">playing the fearsomely possessed Regan MacNeil&nbsp;</a>in The Exorcist. If you've ever wondered how kids in inappropriately adult films were sheltered from the proverbial storm filming around them, read on: the Freddy Kruegers and murderous dolls that have always scared you may be cuddlier than you think.

Child Stars

Often, we think of child actors as being part of a cautionary tale from the dark side of Hollywood, where young kids attained high levels of&nbsp;fame and money&nbsp;only to grow up and lose it all. But, thankfully, that&rsquo;s not always the case -&nbsp;there are plenty of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/greatest-former-child-stars/carlybobarly" target="_blank">child stars who actually went on to&nbsp;became famous adult actors</a>. We already know of celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio and Jodie Foster, who are among the&nbsp;many actors who started young, but this&nbsp;list instead looks at more under the radar television and movie stars who were once child actors in big movies and shows.

Television programs like Kids Incorporated and The Mickey Mouse Club were breeding grounds for young talent. Sure, we may remember that stars like&nbsp;Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears got their start as Mouseketeers; however, you may be surprised to learn which current Academy Award nominated actor and which small screen Russian spy also started out on those programs. And did you know that <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-christian-bale-movies-list/reference" target="_blank">Christian Bale</a> and Seth Green once&nbsp;starred in big movies as children? You may be amazed to learn just how many actors&nbsp;got their start on daytime soap operas.

Read about all the young stars who somehow avoided most of Hollywood&#39;s pitfalls to <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/child-actors-turned-musicians/crystal-brackett" target="_blank">make it in show business&nbsp;as adults</a>. Some of these early roles performed by&nbsp;famous actors will totally surprise you, while others will make perfect sense.

Puberty is a rough time for everyone. Thankfully, most people emerge on the other side pretty much unscathed and more or less intact. But for some, puberty is a major transformative process that turns ugly ducklings into swans. This is certainly the case for nerdy child actors who grew up to be hot adults.There's a temptation to pass these transformations off as merely the byproducts of being a celebrity. After all, these onetime child actors had lucrative careers, and they could likely afford all the personal trainers, nutritionists, chefs, stylists, and makeup artists money could buy. But that explanation is too dismissive. With changes as major as the ones on display here, there had to be some amount of work and dedication involved – and at least a little bit of personal reflection and awakening.Though the public is used to hearing stories about <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/greatest-former-child-stars/carlybobarly" target="_blank">great child stars</a> struggling or falling on hard times, these stories prove that the opposite can also be true. These are instances when puberty helped child actors instead of hurting them, and buoyed them instead of sinking their prospects for a happy, successful life. Look at these nerdy child actors then and now, and judge their transformations for yourself.

Though child actors are a dime a dozen, a true <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/greatest-former-child-stars/carlybobarly">child star</a> can steal a scene - and even an entire movie. This list is a list of children nominated for Oscars, loosely ranked by fame and popularity. Several great <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-film-actors-and-actresses-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">actors and actresses</a> have been nominated for Academy Awards when they were still under the age of 18. A few of these young thespians even took home the golden statue. Some of these children with Oscars were nominated for lead roles, while other stole scenes with supporting parts. Whether these talented kids continued acting for their whole lives or stopped shortly after their Academy Award nominations, their performances are forever remembered as the best of the best.Who is the most famous child actor who was nominated for an Oscar? Anna Paquin tops our list. At just 11 years old, Paquin&nbsp;won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in the 1993 film The Piano. She has since gone on to have a successful acting career as an adult, most notably playing the role of Sookie Stackhouse on True Blood. Six-year-old Shirley Temple took home an Honorary Juvenile Academy Award in 1935. At the time, she already had dozens of films under her belt, including the famous Bright Eyes. She holds the record for the youngest person to ever win an Oscar. 11-year old <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/haley-joel-osment-facts/jonathan-kantor?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Haley Joel Osment</a> was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in the 1999 film The Sixth Sense.Which Oscar-nominated child actor do you think showed the most talent in their youth? Take a look at this list and get in on the conversation in the comments section.

Celebrity Facts

Don't let ample hair dye and <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-magic-tv-shows/ranker-tv?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">the magic of television</a> fool you. Your favorite male stars from the '80s and '90s are getting older, and there's nothing we can do about it. While some have aged quite well, others haven't been so fortunate. Although it doesn't seem that long ago that your favorite teen stars were demanding your attention on the small screen, quite a long time has passed since then, and a lot of your favorites have started going gray. There are likely more gray-haired, former teen stars out there, but they prove tough to find when Hollywood demands you take sips from the fountain of youth on a regular basis. Since that's not possible, most resort to cosmetics&nbsp;to hide the fact that they're aging.Teen actors and child stars often bare the brunt of criticism, as they are already on Hollywood's watchful radar, as audiences wait for their moment to slip from the limelight. But many <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/18-celebrities-who_ve-aged-horribly?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">celebrities who have aged</a>, since you last remember them, have embraced their age, allowing glimpse of their silver hair to grace the camera. Albeit not easy to find, this list is compiled of former teen stars from the '80s and '90s who often let their true gray-haired faces show. Brave? Or just over Hollywood's scrutiny? Regardless, these guys aren't afraid to let their silver fox fly. Here is a <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/45-greatest-90_s-teen-stars?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">list of teen stars</a> from your childhood who have gray hair now.

Breakups

This list contains information about celebrities who divorced their parents, loosely ranked by fame and popularity. Several famous actors, actresses, and musicians have legally emancipated from their parents. Some of these celebrities divorced their parents to avoid child labor laws, while others wanted to have control over their own finances.Who is the most famous person who divorced their parents? Drew Barrymore tops our list. Drew Barrymore successfully filed for emancipation from her parents when she was 15 years old. Barrymore has been estranged from her mother for most of her life. In 2014 she said, "It's the hardest subject in my life. I've never just been angry with her. I've always felt guilt and empathy and utter sensitivity. But we can’t really be in each other's lives at this point." Juliette Lewis legally emancipated from her parents, Geoffrey Lewis and Glenis Duggan Batley, to avoid slowing her career down to accommodate child labor laws. She considers her parents to be "the best."Macaulay Culkin became legally emancipated from his parents when he was 14 years old. Around the same time, in 1995, his parents got divorced, and Culkin has been estranged from his father, Kit, ever since. With the support of her parents, Dawson's Creek star Michelle Williams filed for emancipation when she was 15 years old so that she could avoid adhering to child labor laws.Are you surprised that so many child stars divorced their parents? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

Hollywood is not always great for child actors, but there are occasions in which child actors end up leveraging their stardom into solid, lifelong careers. Child stars&nbsp;don&#39;t always stick with acting, either. In fact, some of the most celebrated writers and directors in Hollywood began as child actors. Using the skills they picked up from the professionals around them and their own ingenuity, they were able to transcend the trap of child stardom and become Hollywood powerhouses of their own.&nbsp;

They may look different now, but these Hollywood professionals have been in show business since their early years. Now they&#39;re directing Star Wars movies and winning Oscars left and right. Whether they are in front of the camera or behind it, these people have solidified themselves as true filmmakers.&nbsp;

The life of a child actor&nbsp;might seem like a dream come true. They have fame, fortune, and way more interesting summer vacations than other kids their age. But the transition from younger years marked by superstardom into adulthood can be difficult. Fame can fade, and Hollywood is a difficult place to succeed. Perhaps it's not surprising that there are some <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/greatest-former-child-stars/carlybobarly">former child actors</a> who committed crimes as they got older.Sometimes, these former stars who broke the law struggled with&nbsp;drug and alcohol problems brought on by their unconventional upbringing in the spotlight. At other times, their criminal records seemed to stem from deep-seated mental illness. True, a few of these celebs may have <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/celebrities-who-got-off-easy-for-crimes/vicky-choy">gotten off easy</a> compared to everyday members of the public. But the fact they all sat for <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/full-list-of-all-celebrity-mug-shots/celebrity-insider">mug shots</a> and were charged with crimes proves that even celebrity kids turned criminals can’t escape the law.

The catch of being a child actor on <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/funniest-tv-shows-ever" target="_blank">TV shows</a> is the world watches you grow up. (That includes any awkward years.)&nbsp;There have been a whole lot of cases, with actors starting out either before they were teenagers or growing up from being teenagers to adulthood. While it&#39;s not completely apparent while watching the shows at a stretch, jumping from the first season to the last one shows just how dramatically transformed these child actors became by the series&#39; finales.

Here are <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/greatest-former-child-stars/carlybobarly" target="_blank">child actors</a> who basically grew up in front of our eyes.&nbsp;

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Kim So-Hyun

Kim So-hyun is a South Korean actress. She began her career as a child actress when she was seven years old, and initially became best known for playing a villainous young queen-to-be in period drama Moon Embracing the Sun, and a girl who falls into tragedy in melodrama Missing You. Other notable series include black comedy The Suspicious Housekeeper, mystery thriller Reset, and teen drama Who Are You: School 2015.

Yeo Jin-goo

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Kim Ji Hoon

Park Gun Tae

Noh Tae Yub

Park Ji Bin

Ha Yi An

myheartiswatching

List of The Most Talented Korean Child Actors Under 20 Yo., ranked by the combined opinions of 3218 people as of March 2021. Add your votes to this ultimate ...