Child Stars Then and Now: What 10 of Our Favorite Celebs Are Doing Today

It's always so fun when we get to watch an actor essentially grow up on screen, as we have with many of our favorite '80s and '90s, and early '00s stars. Being a child star isn't easy, though. Not everyone stays in the industry as they grow up, with many preferring to step back more permanently — like Matilda's Mara Wilson — and others simply taking breaks while they go off to college — like Dylan and Cole Sprouse did for several years. However, these 10 child actors kept working in the industry even after they were no longer children, and they've really taken no breaks in between projects.

Some of them are even more famous and successful now than they were as children (or at least equally so), while others have seen their stars dim a bit as they became adults. But all of them have continued to make a go of acting from childhood through to adulthood. To catch up with them and their professional and personal lives, keep reading.

Candace Cameron Bure: Then

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Warner Bros. Television

We watched Candace Cameron Bure grow up on eight seasons of Full House beginning in 1987, when she was 11. But she started her TV career long before then, appearing on the show St. Elsewhere in 1982, when Candace was just 6 years old. And she hasn't left the industry since.

Candace Cameron Bure: Now

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Hallmark Channel/Crown Media

These days, Candace Cameron Bure is mostly known for her work in Hallmark's TV movies — particularly their Christmas films. Catch her this year in If I Only Had Christmas. Candace also appeared in five seasons of the Full House revival Fuller House, which just concluded earlier this year. It must have been wild for her to return to the character of D.J. Tanner 20 years later, after it became her signature childhood role.

On the personal side, Candace is still married to her husband of 24 years, and they share three children.

Tia & Tamera Mowry: Then

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ABC

Twin sisters Tia and Tamera Mowry both began their acting careers with smaller projects in 1991, but it was their 1994 show Sister, Sister that gave them their big break. They were 16 at the time, and they went on to star together in similarly high-profile projects, like Twitches on Disney Channel.

Tia & Tamera Mowry: Now

The sisters are both still in the acting and entertainment industry, although they rarely appear together in projects anymore. They're both frequent TV holiday movie stars (catch Tamera in Christmas Comes Twice on Hallmark this year), and Tamera recently wrapped up her time as cohost on The Real. They're also both moms now, with two children each.

Ben Savage: Then

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ABC

Ben Savage was just 13 when he stole our hearts (and Topanga's) as Cory Matthews on Boy Meets World. He'd begun acting even earlier than that, though, with projects beginning in 1989, when he was just nine. Like many of his fellow child stars, Ben stayed in the industry — even as he grew up.

Ben Savage: Now

Ben has continued to act in numerous projects over the years. He can soon be seen in Love, Lights, Hanukkah! on Hallmark, and he recently finished up a three-season stint on the Boy Meets World spin-off Girl Meets World, where he and Danielle Fishel repreised their beloved roles.

Macaulay Culkin: Then

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Twentieth Century Fox

Young Macaulay Culkin was one of the most popular child actors of the late '80s and '90s. He'll forever be known for hits like Uncle Buck, Home Alone, My Girl, Richie Rich, and more. Macaulay started his acting career in 1985, at five years old. (He was 10 when he appeared in Home Alone.)

Macaulay Culkin: Now

Macaulay Culkin And Brenda Song Attend The Game Between The Los Angeles Rams And The Arizona Cardinals
Splash News

Macaulay Culkin's career has slowed down as he's gotten older, but he is still acting fairly consistently. Most recently, it was announced that he'll be in the new season of American Horror Story. As for his love life, he's reportedly dating Brenda Song of Suite Life of Zack & Cody fame.

Drew Barrymore: Then

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Universal Studios

Drew Barrymore was seven when she screamed her way into the hearts of viewers as a young and frightened child who met an alien in E.T. However, her first role came in 1978, when she was just three. It's unsurprising that Drew became an actress at a young age, because both her parents were actors, as were many other members of her family.

Drew Barrymore: Now

As she's grown up, Drew has appeared in iconic movies — like Never Been Kissed, 50 First Dates, The Wedding Singer, and so many more. She's also a talk show host now, with her self-titled Drew Barrymore Show launching earlier this year. To promote the series, Drew mashed up footage of her as a child with footage of her now to create a funny segment where adult Drew interviewed younger Drew.

Check it out above.

Hilary Duff: Then

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Disney+

Before she played Lizzie McGuire in 2001, Hilary had already hit a burst of fame in 1998, as Wendy in the film Casper Meets Wendy. She was 11 at the time, and then went on to play Lizzie on the Disney Channel when she was 14. Hilary also starred in movies, like Cadet Kelly and Cheaper by the Dozen around the same time.

Hilary Duff: Now

These days Hilary is known for starring in the TV series Younger since 2015, and she's also slated to reprise her Lizzie McGuire role for Disney+ at some point in the near future. In her personal life, she's since had two children and is currently expecting her third with husband Matthew Koma.

Josh Peck: Then

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Will McGarry/Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Many fans know Josh Peck from his days on Drake and Josh, but even before that, he rose to fame on The Amanda Show in 2000, when he was only 14. He also starred in some films as a younger actor — like Snow Day in 2000, and Max Keeble Big Move in 2001. Then came Drake and Josh in 2004, when he was 18.

Josh Peck: Now

In recent years, Josh has been doing more voice work for shows — like Lego Star Wars: All-Stars and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He also briefly starred in a show called Grandfathered with Full House's John Stamos. The two formed a bond that ended up netting Josh a guest-star role on Fuller House. In his personal life, Josh married Paige O'Brien in 2017, and the two share a son.

Kristen Stewart: Then

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Columbia Pictures

Long before her days as Bella Swan in Twilight, Kristen Stewart was already acting in prestigious films like Panic Room, alongside Jodie Foster. Kristen was 12 when she starred in that movie, but she appeared in projects even before that, like The Thirteenth Year in 1999, when she was 9.

Kristen Stewart: Now

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Columbia Pictures

In the years since her acting career started, Kristen Stewart has come out as gay and will be starring in a lesbian holiday rom-com for Hulu this year called Happiest Season. She also recently appeared in the 2019 Charlie's Angels reboot and is slated to play Princess Diana in the upcoming film Spencer.

Ryan Gosling: Then

Ryan Gosling began his career in 1993 as part of The All New Mickey Mouse Club, alongside other youngsters like Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, and Christina Aguilera. He was just 13 at the time, and already charming a nation, like in his rendition of "Cry for You" above.

Ryan Gosling: Now

Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy attending the 'First Man' premiere during the 66th San Sebastian International Film Festival
Splash News

Ryan is now an Oscar-nominated actor known for his movies like The Notebook, La La Land, Drive, and more. He's also a family man now, dating fellow actor Eva Mendes since 2011. (The couple shares two daughters. He's notoriously private about his personal life, and Ryan shields his children from media attention — perhaps as a result of growing up in the spotlight himself.

Daryl Sabara: Then

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Miramax

Most people know Daryl Sabara from the 2001 movie Spy Kids, where he played Juni Cortez. But he actually started acting even earlier. In 1992, when he was still a baby, Daryl appeared in three episodes of Murphy Brown. He then went on to book an episode of Roswell in 1999, and an episode of Will & Grace in 2000, before going on to Spy Kids the next year at age 9.

Daryl Sabara: Now

Daryl has been acting ever since he made it big in Spy Kids. Notably, he appeared in several episodes of Weeds, and has voice characters in Ben 10 and Ultimate Spider-Man. He's also known for being Meghan Trainor's husband, and the two are expecting their first child early next year.