Where Are They Now? 19 Child Stars of the '90s

For those who grew up in the '90s, these faces were as familiar as the rectangular pizza and plain lettuce salads served in school cafeterias. But could you identify them today? Find out what they’re doing now and how they’ve changed over the years.

1. Ross Malinger

He’s best known as: Jonah Baldwin, the hopelessly romantic young boy from Sleepless in Seattle.

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Following a stint in Hollywood with roles in series such as Party of Five and Recess (where he voiced T.J.), Malinger transitioned to managing an auto repair shop in Malibu. After its closure in 2009, his current activities remain a mystery.

2. Mason Gamble

He’s best remembered as: Dennis the Menace.

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Mr. Wilson would undoubtedly be impressed. Gamble excelled as a National Merit Scholar Finalist in high school and showcased remarkable talent as a pole vaulter. After graduating from UCLA’s Dentistry School, he pursued marine biology studies as of 2011. Alongside his academic achievements, Gamble has maintained a presence in acting, with his latest film being the 2010 release Golf in the Kingdom, featuring Malcolm McDowell and Frances Fisher.

3. Tina Majorino

She’s best known as: Corrina from Corrina, Corrina.

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Following a seven-year hiatus from her thriving childhood acting career, which included roles in Corrina, Corrina; Waterworld; Andre; and When a Man Loves a Woman, Majorino made a comeback in 2004 as Deb in Napoleon Dynamite. Since then, she has remained active in the industry, appearing in popular shows like Veronica Mars, Grey’s Anatomy, Bones, and True Blood. As for those seven years away? She focused on living a normal childhood: "I wanted to experience the simple joys of being a kid, understand myself better, and return with the strength and clarity to make wise decisions for myself and my family."

4. Austin O’Brien

He’s best remembered as: Nick Zsigmond, the charming love interest in My Girl 2.

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O’Brien remained active in acting until around 2011 but has since shifted focus to managing his own photography business in Los Angeles.

5. Bradley Pierce

He’s best known as: the younger brother in

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Pierce also lent his voice to iconic Disney characters like Chip from Beauty and the Beast and Flounder in The Little Mermaid. These roles continue to bring him opportunities, as he occasionally provides voiceovers for Kingdom Hearts and other projects requiring his unique vocal talent.

6. Jimmy Workman

He’s best remembered as: Pugsley from The Addams Family films.

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His current employment status remains unclear, though Celebuzz mentions he’s now working “behind the camera.” In 2012, he became a witness in his sister Ariel Winter’s legal battle for emancipation from their mother. Ariel, known for her role as Alex Dunphy on Modern Family, has been estranged from her mother due to abuse allegations. Workman maintains that no abuse occurred, suggesting Winter’s frustration stemmed from her mother opposing her relationship with an 18-year-old boyfriend.

Their sister Shanelle, whom Winter wished to appoint as her legal guardian, is recognized as the voice of Wendy in Wendy’s fast food commercials.

7. Ashley Peldon

She’s best remembered as: young Elizabeth in Drop Dead Fred.

Peldon continues to act occasionally, including voiceover projects, but her pursuits extend beyond acting. With a degree in child psychology and a master’s in clinical psychology, she is now pursuing a doctorate in depth psychology. If you’ve never encountered a website for an actress/voiceover artist/therapist, you might not be mingling with enough Los Angeles locals.

8. Amber Scott

She’s best remembered as: Maggie Banning from Hook.

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Scott reportedly graduated from Trinity College in Hartford in 2006 and was part of a sorority, but she has maintained a low profile since then, aside from updating her headshot on IMDB. Maggie Banning remains her sole live-action role, with her only other acting credit being voiceover work for a 1995 documentary titled The American Experience.

9. Adam Hann-Byrd

He’s best remembered as: Little Man Tate. He also appeared in Jumanji, portraying the younger version of Robin Williams’ character.

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Hann-Byrd earned degrees in psychology and film studies from Wesleyan University in Connecticut in 2004. In 2011, he was selected as a fellow in the Warner Bros. TV Writers' Workshop and later co-wrote a short film based on Slender Man.

10. Michael Oliver

He’s best known as: Junior from Problem Child. He’s happy to share what he’s up to these days:

Spoiler alert: He owns three cats and a hamster.

11. Shawna Waldron

She’s best remembered as "Icebox" from Little Giants.

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Waldron continues to act regularly, with her most recent role in the 2014 film Stitch, where she starred alongside another '90s icon, Edward Furlong.

12. Olivia Hack

She’s best remembered as: Cindy Brady from The Brady Bunch Movie.

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If Olivia Hack hasn’t appeared on your TV screen recently, you’ve likely heard her voice. Hack avoided being typecast as Cindy Brady by transitioning to voiceover work, contributing her talents to projects like Hey Arnold!, Family Guy, Care Bears: Welcome to Care-a-Lot, and Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

13 and 14. Brittany Ashton Holmes and Bug Hall.

They’re best remembered as: Darla and Alfalfa from The Little Rascals.

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Brittany Ashton Holmes, widely recognized as the wide-eyed Darla, stepped away from acting in 1996. Bug Hall, on the other hand, has remained active in the industry since his Alfalfa days, appearing in numerous TV shows like The O.C., Nikita, Saving Grace, Criminal Minds, and 90210. He also starred in SyFy’s Arachnoquake last year, a film that surprisingly didn’t spark a Sharknado-level buzz. (The plot: "Deadly fire-breathing spiders emerge after a massive earthquake in New Orleans.") Beyond acting, Hall is a musician, acting coach, and an entertaining presence on Twitter. The 2010 photo above captures a Little Rascals reunion.

15. Travis Tedford

He’s best remembered as: Spanky from The Little Rascals.

16. Miko Hughes

He’s best remembered as the child with the OB/GYN father in Kindergarten Cop, as well as Gage from Pet Sematary (though the latter role was actually from 1989).

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17. Lisa Jakub

She’s best remembered as: the older sister in Mrs. Doubtfire.

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What has she been doing over the past decade? In her own words:

"At 22, I realized there had to be more to life than red carpets and playing other people. I left the film industry, ostensibly to follow the man I loved to Virginia. Fortunately, he was actually there, and everything fell into place, leading to our own version of a Hollywood happily-ever-after. While learning how to live a normal life, I’ve focused on my lifelong passion for writing and my deep appreciation for compelling storytelling. I’m now a writer, traveler, dedicated yogi, wife, and dog mom. I also make fantastic spinach gnocchi."

18. Jonathan Lipnicki

He’s best remembered as: the adorable kid from Jerry Maguire.

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Today, the boy who famously declared that the human head weighs eight pounds could likely hold his own in a fight. Lipnicki trains MMA fighters. He’s continued acting and, yes, he still keeps in touch with Tom Cruise.

19. Ariana Richards

Following her leading role in Jurassic Park, Richards played a pregnant teenager in Ben Folds’ music video for "Brick." While she occasionally acts, she now primarily works as a portrait artist. One of her notable clients? Steven Spielberg.

This story originally appeared in 2013.