Amazon recently announced thatMacaulay Culkin will joinFalloutseason 2’s castin an undisclosed role. Hopefully, Culkin will seamlessly integrate intoFallout’s ensemble cast and post-apocalyptic world, because it can be hard to see him and not think ofHome Alone’s Kevin McCallister. Culkin is part of a small tier of actors that will always have the acclaim of being aformer beloved child star, but many find it hard to break the association with their breakout role.
Former child stars each take a different path after achieving stardom at a young age.Demi Lovato’s Hulu documentaryChild Starexplores the vastly different experiences child actors go through. Some embrace the movies that made them famous, returning to the roles even decades later. Others use their financial security to chase passion projects or take obscure roles. Manychild stars use their early success to launch huge Hollywood careers.Checking in to see where these former child stars are nowcan shed interesting light on their original breakout roles.
Macaulay Culkin
Kevin McCallister in Home Alone (1990)
Macaulay Culkin became famous at age 10 for his role as Kevin McCallister inHome Alone. Culkin’s clever, mischievous Kevin is one of the most iconic child performances ever.Home Alonewas a massive box office successand is considered a Christmas classic today. He reprised his role in the 1992 sequel, althoughCulkin did not star inHome Alone 3. Culkin followed his success with several major projects, includingMy Girl(1991) andRichie Rich(1994.)
Home Alone
Cast
Home Alone tells the story of Kevin McAllister, an eight-year-old who is left behind in his Chicago home when his family flies to Paris for the holidays. Not only must Kevin keep himself safe while his mother flies back across the world, but he must protect his home from the Wet Bandits - serial burglars who are targeting the McAllister House. Kevin must use every trick in the book to keep the Wet Bandits from stealing Christmas before his mother returns.
By the mid-90s, Culkin stepped back from acting to focus on his personal life. When he returned a decade later, Culkin took more adult roles. Culkin did not pursue superstardom, instead exploring creative outlets like his satirical pop culture website, Bunny Ears.Culkin embracesHome Alone, even reprising the role for a commercial in 2018, but uses his financial security to pursue roles that interest him, like his upcoming role in season 2 ofFallout.
Mara Wilson
Matilda Wormwood in Matilda (1996)
Mara Wilson rose to prominence playing Natalie Hillard inMrs. Doubtfire, buther celebrity reached new heights when she starred as the titular character inMatilda. Wilson embodied the precocious character’s strength and vulnerability so well, especially for someone who was only nine years old.
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She made the movie feel grounded even withMatilda’s magic powersand the heightened behavior of the many adult bullies in Matilda’s life. Wilson continued to have steady work afterMatilda, but as she reached adolescence, the roles began to dry up. Wilson decided to step away from acting, especially as she was coping with the death of her mother.
Wilson shifted her energy from acting to writing and other creative pursuits. Her memoir,Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame, details the challenges of growing up in the spotlight, which has been praised as relatable and important.
Abigail Breslin
Olive Hoover in Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Abigail Breslin gained acclaim for starring as Olive Hoover inLittle Miss Sunshine. At just 10 years old, Breslin was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars. Audiences were moved by the warmth and humor she brought to Olive, andBreslin’s ability to hold her own against veteran actorslike Steve Carell and Toni Collette. Breslin used the momentum fromLittle Miss Sunshineto build quite the varied acting portfolio.
Little Miss Sunshine
Little Olive’s dream is to take part in the Little Miss Sunshine contest. To do so, she embarks on a funny and moving journey with her father, uncle, grandfather, brother and mother. The family has to race against time to ensure that Olive arrives on time and is able to give the performance created by her grandfather.
Breslin, who is only 28, continues to focus primarily on acting. Breslin has explored many genres - from family drama in Nick Cassavetes’My Sisters Keepertoaction-comedy inZombielandto horror satire inScream Queens, while avoiding major franchises. While she has not yet reached the award heights of herLittle Miss Sunshineacting days, Breslin’s willingness to dabble in different genres and work with different directors suggests that more interesting work is surely to come.
Peter Billingsley
Ralphie Parker in A Christmas Story (1983)
Peter Billingsley is best known for playing Ralphie Parker inA Christmas Storyat age 12. The movie follows Ralphie’s misadventures during a Christmas season in the 1940s.A Christmas Storywas a modest success, but Billingsley’s wide-eyed wonder captured the hearts of audiences. His delivery of lines such as “You’ll shoot your eye out!” was instantly quotable.
A Christmas Story’s popularity grew over time due to television reruns and is considered a holiday classic today.
A Christmas Story’s popularity grew over time due to television reruns and is considered a holiday classic today. Billingsley continued to act, but never outgrew his association with the role of Ralph. Billingsley never found the same success as an actor again, and eventually, he pivoted into producing and writing.
He had a small cameo as a scientist inIron Man, which he also executive-produced. Billingsley has good cheer about the role that made him famous.Billingsley has a small cameo inElfas an Ming Ming, one of the elves. In 2022,Billingsley reprized his role as an adult Ralphie inA Christmas Story Christmasfor HBO Max, which he also produced and helped write.
Linda Blair
Regan MacNeil in The Exorcist (1973)
Linda Blair was 13 years old when she starred inThe Exorcistas Regan MacNeil, the possessed child. Blair’s physicality is one of the most enduring images from the movie.Blair’s performance was controversial but did earn her an Oscar nominationfor Best Supporting Actress. Blair became synonymous with Regan. However,Blair had such a difficult time makingThe Exorcistthat haunted her even after the premiere.
The Exorcist
The Exorcist is a supernatural horror film based on the novel released in 1971 and was directed by William Friedkin. When a young girl is passed by a powerful demon, two Catholic priests are brought to her home to attempt an exorcism to expunge the demon.
Blair was a sought-after actress followingThe Exorcist, butshe was typecast in horror films. She frequently appeared in lower-budget horror films in the ’70s and ’80, includingHell Night(1981) andChained Heat(1983.) Blair was never able to branch out of her association with the horror genre, even reprising her role as Regan inExorcist II: The Heretic(1977) and again inThe Exorcist: Believer(2023.)
Chloë Grace Moretz
Mindy Macready aka Hit-Girl in Kick-Ass (2010)
Chloë Grace Moretz gained widespread fame for her role as Hit-Girlin the superhero black comedyKick-Ass. At age 13, Moretz brought a vulnerability and grounding to a character that also swore and kicked ass.Kick-Assgot a sequel three years later, with Moretz reprising her role.
Kick-Ass
When average teen Dave Lizewski (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) is mugged, he decides to take matters into his own hands and becomes the vigilante Kick-Ass. Armed with little more than a can-do attitude and nerve damage that makes him resistant to pain, the adolescent hero stumbles into a serious criminal organization. Teaming up with Hit Girl (Chloe Grace Moretz) and Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage), Kick-Ass works to take them down, despite the fact that he’s in over his head.
Today,Moretz is 27 and continues to act in a variety of projects. Moretz played the classic villain Carrie in Stephen King’s 2013 horror movieCarrie, teenaged sex worker Alina inThe Equalizer(2014,) and car accident victim Mia in teen dramaIf I Stay(2014.) Moretz is respected as an actress but has yet to have her breakout role in her transition from child star to adult star. MaybeMatthew Vaugh’s plans for aKick-Assrebootwill have Moretz reprise her role of Hit-Girl.
Jaleel White
Steve Urkel in Family Matters (1989-1997)
Steve Urkel was only supposed to be in one episode ofFamily Matters, butthe audience loved Jaleel White’s character so much, he was given a starring role and stayed for over 200 episodes. Urkel’s unapologetic nerdiness, catchphrases including “Did I do that?”, and physical comedy made him a fan-favorite character. White even got the opportunity to write two episodes ofFamily Matters.
Family Matters
Family Matters is a classic sitcom that follows the Winslow family, a middle-class family living in Chicago that engages in several misadventures while sharing heartfelt experiences with one another. The show tackles several major real-world issues while keeping the core of the show light at heart, and also featured the breakout role of Jaleel White as the super nerd Steve Urkel.
Family Matters’ success was a double-edged sword for White. He owes his career to Urkel, but his career never quite got beyond Urkel, either.White was 12 when the show began and 21 when it ended, so people conflated White with the character he played. He has carved out a career in voice acting, television guest roles, and his podcast,World’s Most Dangerous, but to most people, White will always be Urkel first.
Matthew Broderick
Ferries Bueller in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Ferris Bueller’s Day Offmade Matthew Broderick an overnight star. John Hughes knew Broderick from afar through his work on Broadway and his role inWarGames(1983) and sensed Broderick had the irreverence but good-natured charm to bring Ferris to life. Althoughother actors almost played Ferris Bueller, Matthew Broderick became synonymous with the character.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Offbecame one of the definitive teen comedies of the 80s.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Offbecame one of the definitive teen comedies of the 80s. Broderick built quite an eclectic career after the success ofFerris Bueller’s Day Off. Broderick bounced between theater and movies. The success of his Broadway musical,The Producers, even led to a Hollywood adaptation starring him and Nathan Lane.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
John Hughes' comedy classic Ferris Bueler’s Day off follows the titular high schooler, a self-assured, charming young man who wants a day off. Going to unheard-of lengths to secure that day for himself, his girlfriend, and his best friend, he conjures up the ultimate scheme to get them out of school. However, his sister and principal are confident he’s up to no good, and his principal will embark on an equally overblown quest to expose Ferris' truancy.
Broderick’s movie choices are interesting and varied: historical war dramaGlory(1989,) voicing Simba in Disney’sThe Lion King(1994), and the black comedyElection(1999.) Lately, Broderick has cameoed as himself, showing his sense of humor, inOnly Murders in the Buildingseason 3 andTrainwreck(2015.) Broderick parlayed early success in a long career where he can cherry-pick projects that interest him.
Haley Joel Osment
Cole Sear in The Sixth Sense (1999)
11-year-old Haley Joel Osment became a household name after his role as Cole Sear in M. Night Shyamalan’s psychological thrillerThe Sixth Sense. Osment embodied Cole’s fear and loneliness, bringing a sophistication to the role.His famous line “I see dead people” has become one of the most iconic and chilling lines in movie history.
Osment even received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Immediately followingThe Sixth Sense, Osment starred in more high-profile movies, notably Steven Spielberg’sA.I. Artificial Intelligence. Since 2002, Osment has voiced Sora in the popular video game franchiseKingdom Hearts
The Sixth Sense
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, The Sixth Sense is a psychological thriller about a young boy who can see and communicate with ghosts. Bruce Willis as Dr. Malcolm Crowe, a child psychologist who tries to help Cole, played by Haley Joel Osment, while grappling with his own personal demons. The movie features a twist ending that has become iconic in pop culture.
As Osment aged, his career slowed andhe pivoted away from mainstream blockbusters to independent movies. Eventually, Osment found his niche in independent films and television. Osment seems to be drawn to off-beat comedies, having guest-starred inSilicon Valley,Future Man,The Boys, andWhat We Do In The Shadows. Osment has transitioned gracefully from child star to versatile adult actor, finding his own way to shine.
Daniel Radcliffe / Rupert Grint / Emma Watson
Harry Potter / Ron Weasley / Hermione Granger in The Harry Potter Franchise (2001-2011)
Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson will forever be synonymous with their characters from theHarry Pottermovies: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger. Radcliffe and Grint were 11 when filming began, while Watson was only 9. Because eight movies were shot over 10 years, the three did not have much opportunity to pursue other projects at the time.
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The actors were chosen because they embodied the characters to a certain degree, making the association even harder to shake. Post-Potter,Radcliffe is drawn to strange movies that allow him to show off his range. He played a nonverbal corpse in Swiss Army Man and comedic villains in Now You See Me 2 and The Lost City.
Harry Potter
Harry Potter is a multimedia franchise about an orphaned boy who enrolls at Hogwarts School of Wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family, and the terrible evil that haunts the magical world. Adapted from the novels, Harry Potter is an eight-episode film saga that follows the journey of Harry Potter and his friends, Hermoine Granger and Ron Weasley, as they navigate the tricky world of growing up, school life, and magic. Starting from year one and moving to their seventh year, the films chronicle the students' time at Hogwarts while unfurling a sinister plot that centers around the unsuspecting Harry. With the return of the dark wizard, Voldemort, the students and professors at Hogwarts will fight to carry on as the world around them may change forever. Harry Potter has expanded beyond the world of its films and novels with several video games, a spin-off film series titled Fantastic Beasts, and even attractions at Universal Studios.
He has also done four seasons Miracle Workers and Broadway theater.Grint has acted in some television, most recently as Julian Pearce in Servant.Watson got an education at Brown University. Since then, Watson has been selective in her acting roles, tackling the role of Belle in Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast and Meg March in Greta Gerwig’s Little Women.
