Some child stars, you immediately recognize from their roles in some of the biggest movies over the last 40–50 years, and then one day, they just vanished from our TV screens. For a lot of them, they completely walked away from the entertainment industry, and for others, they found new ways to entertain outside of acting. These are some of the former child stars who walked away from the industry and now have different careers.
1.
Hallie Kate Eisenberg, aka “The Pepsi Girl,” had the late ’90s and early 2000s on lock with her commercials alongside A-list celebrities, and starring in movies like Paulie (1998), Beautiful (2000), and How to Eat Fried Worms (2006).
In 2010, Hallie left the industry to study at the American University School of Public Affairs in Washington, D.C., graduated with a degree in International Studies in 2014, and she has remained out of the spotlight since.
In 2018, Jennette quit acting and explained on a now-deleted Feb. 2021 episode of her Empty Inside podcast that she “quit a few years ago to try [her] hand at writing and directing. I quit…because I initially didn’t want to do it.”
3.
Ashley Olsen, along with her twin sister Mary-Kate, were the ultimate child actors starring in Full House (1987—1995) since they were babies, and building an entertainment empire well into adulthood that included a production company, TV shows, movies, and other media.
When Ashley turned 18, she quit acting and moved to New York City with her sister, starting the luxury fashion label, The Row. Today, the sisters serve as members of the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
4.
Peter Ostrum played Charlie Bucket in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) and was set to portray the character in two subsequent films based on Roald Dahl’s children’s novel.
Peter didn’t sign on for the following movies, quit acting, and eventually earned a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine. For years, he worked primarily with cows and horses until his retirement in 2023.
5.
Ilan Mitchell-Smith was mostly known for his role as Wyatt Donnelly in John Hughes’ 1985 film, Weird Science, a handful of nostalgic ’80s films, and the TV series Superboy (1988—1992).
Aside from 1-2 small roles in the last thirty years, Ilan ultimately left Hollywood, earning a degree in Medieval Studies and became a professor at California State University Long Beach.
6.
Jeff Cohen is most known for playing Lawrence “Chunk” in the 1985 Richard Donner adventure movie The Goonies.
After a few roles in TV shows and movies, he stepped away from acting as he aged. He went on to earn a law degree and became an entertainment lawyer in Los Angeles, founding the Cohen & Gardner firm in Beverly Hills.
7.
Mara Wilson was a very recognizable face in the ’90s, starring in movies like Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Miracle on 34th Street (1994), Matilda (1996), and A Simple Wish (1997).
Mara began to leave acting behind after being placed in an uncomfortable position on the set of Thomas and the Magic Railroad after puberty. Now, she’s an author, journalist, and playwright.
8.
Kay Panabaker acted in several movies, including Disney Channel Original movie Read It and Weep (2006), Fame (2009), and the TV show Summerland.
Kay retired from acting after she lost her love for the craft, went on to study zoology at UCLA, and became a zookeeper.
9.
Ross Bagley was a child actor known for his roles as Nicky Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1994—1996), Buckwheat in The Little Rascals (1994), and Independence Day (1996).
Ross hasn’t appeared in anything since 2015, but according to his Instagram, he works as an L.A.-based realtor and DJ.
10.
Charlie Korsmo is mainly known for his role as Jack Banning in Hook (1991), but some might remember him also as the Kid in Dick Tracy (1990).
After starring in Can’t Hardly Wait, Charlie left acting, earned a physics degree from MIT, and a law degree from Yale Law, and he’s now a corporate law and corporate finance professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
11.
Everybody knows Omri Katz as Max Dennison from Hocus Pocus (1993), Marshall Teller in Eerie, Indiana (1991—1993), and John Ross Ewing III in Dallas (1983—1991), if you go further back.
After Hocus Pocus, Omri began to take a step back from acting, save a few appearances, and as of 2024, he was working with a cannabis company called The Mary Danksters.
12.
Barret Oliver was riding on back Falcor as Bastian in 1984’s The NeverEnding Story, talking like a robot in D.A.R.Y.L., and reprising his role as David in the Cocoon movies.
Right before the ’90s hit, Barret stopped acting. As of today, he’s a professional photographer, specializing in 19th-century processes like Woodburytype.
13.
Liesel Matthews only had three roles, including President James Marshall’s (Harrison Ford) daughter in Air Force One (1997) and the lead role as Sara Crewe in A Little Princess (1995).
Liesel left acting behind and is an impact investor following in the footsteps of her wealthy family, the Pritzkers, who collectively founded the Hyatt Hotel chain, control the TransUnion Credit Bureau, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and more.
14.
Angus T. Jones first made appearances in movies like The Rookie (2002) and Bringing Down the House (2003) before he was known as Jake Harper in Two and a Half Men (2003—2013; 2015) for an entire decade of his life.
Angus left the sitcom in the second-to-last season and went on to the University of Colorado at Boulder and has remained relatively out of the spotlight, save a cameo in the Max comedy series Bookie in 2023.
15.
Jeremy Suarez is mainly known for his role in The Bernie Mac Show (2001—2006) and the voice of Koda in Disney’s Brother Bear (2003).
Jeremy struggled to find more roles as he grew up and eventually began working gigs like construction, retail, and “regular jobs” instead of acting.
16.
Taylor Momsen made her feature debut as Cindy Lou Who in the 2000 film How the Grinch Stole Christmas before becoming Jenny Humphrey in Gossip Girl (2007—2012).
Taylor’s role as Jenny was put on hiatus when she switched focus to being the frontwoman for her band The Pretty Reckless, eventually leaving acting behind altogether.
17.
Like her brother, Jaden, Willow Smith made her acting debut alongside her dad, Will Smith in I Am Legend (2007).
But after starring in I Am Legend, she passed up on the opportunity to star in the 2014 remake of Annie, and Willow opted out of acting to continue pursuing music.
