Slammin’ 70’s
Remember the 70’s? A time when long hair and shaggy carpet were in, and “groovy”. Back in those days, there was no DVR or Netflix and watching TV was a family affair. Whether it was Happy Days, The Brady Bunch, What’s Happening or Good Times, every family had a favorite. You probably remember the child stars in these popular series, too. Keep reading to see who some of these actors and actresses are, and what’s keeping them busy these days!
Slammin’ 70’s
David Cassidy – Then
David was Keith Partridge on the popular series The Partridge Family. Keith was the lead singer of the family band. Actually, his good looks earned David the part. The show’s producers didn’t even care whether David could sing or not!
David Cassidy – Then
David Cassidy – Now
After he convinced the producers that he actually sings, David and The Partridge Family went on to release ten albums, each selling one million or more copies. David soon shot to superstardom, however, on November 21, 2017, he sadly died of liver failure.
David Cassidy – Now
Helen Hunt – Then
Helen has been acting since she was only eight years old. She enjoyed an incredible career in television and film through her teens. She appeared in many shows, such as The Fitzpatricks (1977-78), Swiss Family Robinson (1975-76), and Amy Prentiss (1974-75). She also starred in the 1977 film Rollercoaster, and other movies.
Helen Hunt – Then
Helen Hunt – Now
Helen is still going strong, with regular appearances in television and films. A few of her most well-known films are As Good As It Gets, where she won an Oscar for her performance, and the 2014 comedy Ride, which she wrote, directed, and starred in. Fact: Helen saw the 9/11 attacks from her New York apartment. Three days later, she took her entire staff with her and they all flew to Connecticut for safety.
Helen Hunt – Now
The Jacksons – Then
The popular group “Jackson Five” was made up of Tito, Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael. Their first four singles (“I’ll Be There,” “The Love You Save,” “ABC,” and “I Want You Back”) reached the number one spot on the Billboard charts. This was a record in music-business history back in 1970. The singles were released within a nine-month period and “I’ll Be There” was at the number one spot for five weeks.
The Jacksons – Then
The Jacksons – Now
After a hiatus of seventeen years, the Jacksons reunited in 2011 to celebrate the solo career of their brother (the late Michael Jackson). As part of the group’s Unity Tour, they also performed. Their brother Randy retired a while ago, but the rest of the Jacksons remain active, performing at various events and venues, and touring throughout the world.
The Jacksons – Now
Janet – Then
Janet is the Jackson family’s youngest member. She may have performed with her older brothers at times on variety shows, but Janet preferred acting more than singing. One of the biggest roles she played when she was a little girl was on the sitcom Good Times, where she played the frightened and battered child named Penny who lived in the same neighborhood as the Evans family. Other hit shows where Janet appeared are Fame and Diff’rent Strokes. She also managed to have her own singing career.
Janet – Then
Janet – Now
Only her brother Michael is more popular than Janet, and she remains one of the most celebrated musicians in recording industry, having sold millions of records, having multi-platinum albums, selling out performances, and starring in hit films. She married billionaire Wissam Al Mana, and her wish to start a family was the reason for the cancellation of her most recent tour.
Janet – Now
Kim Richards – Then
One of the most well-known child actors around, Kim starred in many television shows and films in the ‘70s. From shows like James at Sixteen and Nanny and the Professor to headlining movies like Escape to Witch Mountain and the sequel Return from Witch Mountain, Kim appeared to be everywhere.
Kim Richards – Then
Kim Richards – Now
In 2010, Kim once again entered the spotlight when she joined the hit reality TV show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills with her sister Kyle. However, shortly after Kim started appearing in the series, rumors of a possible alcohol and drug problem started to spread, partly due to the erratic behavior she showed on camera. She has been in rehab a few times and has claimed sobriety, but in 2015, she was arrested for public intoxication, trespassing, battery on an officer, and resisting an officer at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The series immediately let her go, but Kim returns every now and then as a guest star.
Kim Richards – Now
Mindy Cohn – Then
Many remember Mindy Cohn playing the irrepressible student Natalie on the television show Facts of Life between 1979 and 1988. Sincere but sarcastic, her character Natalie was an essential part of the success of the show. In a way, the role became a curse to Cohn because she was typecast as a “nice girl.” Afterwards, it became hard for her to land more substantial roles on television.
Mindy Cohn – Then
Mindy Cohn – Now
Cohn was working as an actor when she earned a cultural anthropology degree. She later helped to establish the weSPARK Cancer Support Center. She guest stars on television, but her talents have led her to do more voiceover work. For many years now, she has been voicing “Velma” in the animated series Scooby-Doo, and her work even got her nominated for an Emmy.
Mindy Cohn – Now
Johnny Whitaker – Then
Johnny appeared in numerous television shows, including Family Affair and General Hospital. Actually, he was Jodie Foster’s first on-screen kiss when they starred in the movie Tom Sawyer. When his friend Anissa Jones died, Johnny had some extreme struggles and he took a break from acting for quite a long time. She played his sister on Family Affair.
Johnny Whitaker – Then
Johnny Whitaker – Now
Johnny had gone through a long and difficult period of substance abuse, so his family decided to hold an intervention to force the actor to get help. It was a twelve-step program that helped him to overcome his issues struggle with substance abuse and for 12 years now, he has been clean. Fact: Johnny speaks different languages fluently like Spanish and Portuguese, and American and French Sign Language.
Johnny Whitaker – Now
Mike Lookinland – Then
On the series The Brady Bunch, Mike played the youngest son in the family, Bobby Brady. The character is energetic and nice, but Lookinland surprisingly showed a range of emotion in playing Bobby in some of the show’s episodes. Fact: Mike’s hair is naturally curly and sandy brown in color. To portray the character Bobby Brady, the actor had to get his hair straightened and dyed to match the show’s other male characters. Sometimes, this caused problems because if the set lights got too hot, the hair dye ran down his face!
Mike Lookinland – Then
Mike Lookinland – Now
Mike appeared in various shows like Little House on The Prairie, different Brady Bunch specials, and films including The Towering Inferno, prior to leaving show business completely. He’s living a happy life with his wife and two children, while running his own decorative concrete business located in Utah. Mike has revealed that he is a Dead Head.
Mike Lookinland – Now
Erin Murphy – Then
American actress Erin Margaret Murphy is best known for starring in the massive hit series Bewitched which ran between 1964 and 1972. During season one of the show, she shared the spotlight with her twin sister, Diane, playing the young Tabitha Stephens. As the girls grew older, they looked less alike, so Erin played the character by herself. Thanks to her role, she became one of the world’s most famous young actresses.
Erin Murphy – Then
Erin Murphy – Now
After Bewitched ended, Murphy bounced around various auditions, turning down various modeling gigs and commercials. Her family moved to Orange County, and she got a chance to start sixth grade as a “normal kid.” At 21 years old, she got married and gave birth to her first child while she lived in Arizona. Since she loved acting, she taught the craft, and worked in makeup and production when film shoots came to town. Ten years ago, she went back to Los Angeles and started working in commercials, as a celebrity judge, and on reality TV shows. In addition, she now owns two companies, and one of them sells vodka martini ice pops.
Erin Murphy – Now
Robbie Rist – Then
Robbie joined The Brady Bunch during the last six episodes of the show. He was brought on to be an alternative to the other Brady kids who were older and to help the show’s ratings since they were seeing competition from other shows like Sanford & Son. He played eight-year-old cousin Oliver, but Rist was already nine years old at the time.
Robbie Rist – Then
Robbie Rist – Now
As an adult, Rist has been doing voiceover work in films like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and many animated shows, including Batman: The Animated Series. The talented Robbie has recently garnered notice on movie soundtracks for films like Sharknado and Sharknado 2. In addition to all these things, he performs as the lead singer, drummer, bassist and/or guitarist for several rock bands in Los Angeles.
Robbie Rist – Now
Tina Majorino- Then
Child Actress Tina Majorino starred in a hit film titled Waterworld, where she played the role of Enola. After that, she didn’t disappear at all. She stayed in Hollywood and continued to make films; as a child she was in other movies like Corrina, Corrina, and she played the role of Alice in the TV film version of Alice In Wonderland.
Tina Majorino- Then
Tina Majorino- Now
You may remember Tina from her role as Deb in Napoleon Dynamite, but she’s also been seen in hit shows like Greys Anatomy, where she was featured in 22 episodes! Recently she played Florence in 12 episodes of Scorpion. It doesn’t look like Majorino is going anywhere soon, and we’re glad to hear it.
Tina Majorino- Now
Valerie Bertinelli – Then
Born in 1960, Valerie Bertinelli was 15 years old when she started appearing on the new sitcom One Day at a Time. Out of the 209 episodes of the show, she was in 208 of them. The series ended in 1984, but the show’s cast reunited for the One Day at a Time Reunion Special in 2005. In 1981, when the TV star was 21 years old, she won a Golden Globe. It doesn’t seem like her career has slowed down in recent years.
Valerie Bertinelli – Then
Valerie Bertinelli – Now
Bertinelli may have achieved early success, but she didn’t stop acting and starred in two 1990s sitcoms, Café Americain and Sydney. She joined Touched by an Angel in 2001, though the show only ran for two seasons. She struggled with her weight for years, but she eventually overcame her issues and became a spokesperson for the diet company Jenny Craig, appearing in different commercials. In 2010, she joined Jane Leeves, Wendie Malick, and Betty White on the hit series Hot in Cleveland on TV Land. After six really hilarious seasons, the show’s final episode aired on June 3, 2015.
Valerie Bertinelli – Now
Robby Benson – Then
Best known for his work in movies, Robby was also a television star, appearing in shows like the soap opera Search for Tomorrow. Some of his films are Jory, Jeremy and the popular Ode to Billy Joe. He learned how to skate for his role in Ice Castles, one of the biggest films he appeared in.
Robby Benson – Then
Robby Benson – Now
These days, Benson’s best known work is lending his voice to the “Beast” in the Disney animated film Beauty and The Beast. He has been happily married since 1982 and worked as a professor at different universities in Utah, South Carolina, New York, and currently, Indiana. Fact: Robby had suffered from heart problems, which he never mentioned to directors and producers since he thought they wouldn’t cast him in anything. Benson has had more than four heart surgeries.
Robby Benson – Now
Ron Howard – Then
Since the sixties, Ron has been acting, starting out as a child actor. One of his prominent roles was on The Andy Griffith Show, but his most successful role came later, when he starred on Happy Days. He played the main character Richie Cunningham, who was the centered and mild-mannered teenager that grew up with his friends in Milwaukee.
Ron Howard – Then
Ron Howard – Now
Ron Howard is definitely a successful actor, director, and producer. Today, he is one of the world’s most successful people involved with TV and film in Hollywood history. He’s starred in more than 27 films, directed roughly 28 movies, and produced more than 20 films. Ron Howard shows everyone what a guy can do if he’s given the right chances.
Ron Howard – Now
Ron Paolillo – Then
Those who have watched Welcome Back Kotter are familiar with Arnold Horshack. He was the class clown of the Sweathogs, a crew of high school kids. The character was expertly portrayed by Ron Paolillo. The actor even perfected his character’s hyena-like laugh.
Ron Paolillo – Then
Ron Paolillo – Now
During his adult life, Ron was in demand as well. He played a wide variety of characters in television shows and movies like Friday The Thirteenth, Laverne and Shirley in The Army, and many others. In addition, he was a fashion designer, directed a number of Broadway musicals and plays, and even wrote some children’s books. On August 14, 2012, Ron Paolillo died at home from a heart attack.
Ron Paolillo – Now
Scott Baio – Then
Former teen heart-throb Baio is best known for his time on the sitcom Happy Days, where he played Chachi, Joanie Cunningham’s (Erin Moran) love interest. However, years before, he was also the lead in the musical gangster film Bugsy Malone, which was based on how 1920’s gangsters like Bugs Moran and Al Capone lived during prohibition. The film’s twist was that only child actors starred in it. One of them was Jodie Foster, the future Oscar winner. Fact: There were more than two thousand other kids who auditioned for Baio’s part.
Scott Baio – Then
Scott Baio – Now
After Happy Days, Scott went on to star on the spin-off sitcom Joanie Loves Chachi. He also had parts in several films like Skatetown USA, Zapped, and Foxes. His most recent projects include starring in his own reality shows and producing a number of shows for Nick at Nite. Baio is a registered Republican, and in 2016, it was reported that he got into an altercation with a barista since she refused to say Trump’s name, who was still the Republican presumptive nominee at the time.
Scott Baio – Now
Susan Dey – Then
Susan Dey (pictured left) was on the hit series The Partridge Family as Laurie Partridge. She joined the show’s cast with big names like mega-talented David Cassidy and acclaimed star Shirley Jones. Before Dey was cast on the show, she was a fashion model. Fact: Then seventeen-year-old Dey had no acting experience prior to joining the show.
Susan Dey – Then
Susan Dey – Now
Dey went on to appear in several films, such as Skyjacked, Disappearance and Little Women, and television series, including the massively popular L.A. Law. The actress refuses to join the reunion shows of The Partridge Family. After the end of the show, she and co-star David Cassidy briefly dated but things didn’t work out, and to this day the two do not speak to each other.
Susan Dey – Now
Karen Carpenter – Then
Karen Anne Carpenter became a household name as an American singer and drummer. Her skills on her instrument were quite outstanding, and she even earned the admiration of different drumming luminaries. However, what truly made her a star was her contralto vocal range. She performed with her brother, Richard, as a duo, and their 1970 album, “Close to You,” became a massive success. It featured two hit singles, “We’ve Only Just Begun” and “(They Long to Be) Close to You,” which peaked at #2 and #1 on the Hot 100.
Karen Carpenter – Then
Karen Carpenter’s Passing In 1983
In 1983, Karen Carpenter sadly passed away at the young age of 32. At her parent’s house, Karen suddenly collapsed and was taken to Downey Community Hospital, which was 25 minutes away. She was actually suffering from anorexia nervosa, which is a disorder related to compulsive dieting, and the cause of her death was cardiac arrest. Karen’s anorexia was the reason for the cancellation of The Carpenters’ 1975 performance for Queen Elizabeth as well as their concert tour in Europe and the Orient. However, she continued to perform almost until her sudden death.
Karen Carpenter’s Passing In 1983
Barry Williams – Then
At only 14 years old, Barry Williams got cast as Greg Brady, the eldest child, on the hit show The Brady Bunch . He quickly became a teen heartthrob who had millions of female fans across the United States. Aside from his acting chops, Barry also recorded four albums together with his well-known TV siblings. This helped his popularity grow even more among the female population.
Barry Williams – Then
Barry Williams – Now
In 1989, Williams received the Young Artist Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award from the Young Artist Association. In 1992, he released his autobiography titled “Growing Up Brady … I Was A Teenage Greg,” which was on the list of best-sellers for three months. In 2001, his book was adapted into a TV movie on NBC, for which he was an executive producer. In recent years, Williams has had guest roles on quite a few Brady Bunch specials, Three’s Company, and That 70’s Show, among others. In addition, he has spent several years in musical theater, and he had roles on West Side Story, Grease, and The Sound Of Music.
Barry Williams – Now
Maureen McCormick – Then
Now that we’ve mentioned some of the guys from the sitcom The Brady Bunch, it’s time we talk about one of the leading ladies of the show. From 1969 to 1974, Maureen McCormick played Marcia Brady, the oldest Brady girl. Marcia was pretty, smart, and confident, and she was incredibly popular inside her own home and at school. She may have always been worried about her appearance, but she was also really interested in politics. When Maureen started playing the iconic role, she was just 12 years old.
Maureen McCormick – Then
Maureen McCormick – Now
Maureen McCormick and Michael Cummings married in 1985, and they welcomed their daughter Natalie in 1989. After her TV show ended, McCormick struggled with drug addiction but she eventually overcame her addiction. In 2007, she appeared on VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club and became a popular contestant, ending up winning the whole thing.
Maureen McCormick – Now
Danny Bonaduce – Then
Danny Bonaduce became a popular child actor in the ‘70s thanks to his role on the hit series The Partridge Family. On the show, he was Danny Partridge, the bright (red) haired and wisecracking middle child. Danny was the bass guitar player of the fictional family band. His co-stars on the show included David Cassidy. Ever since the pilot of the show, the men have stayed close friends.
Danny Bonaduce – Then
Danny Bonaduce – Now
Bonaduce went on to wear many hats after his hit TV show ended. He became a radio/TV personality, a comedian, and even a professional wrestler. After the show, he starred in other TV series, such as the VH1 reality series Breaking Bonaduce in 2005. Also, he has been the host of several radio shows in Philadelphia and Los Angeles. Since November 2011, he has been hosting a morning talk and music show at the radio station KZOK-FM in Seattle.
Danny Bonaduce – Now
Tatum O’Neal – Then
Here’s an absolutely impressive stat — Tatum O’Neal took home an Academy Award back in 1974 — when she was just 10 years old. She won for her performance in Paper Moon, where she played Addie Loggins. In 1976, Tatum appeared in the films The Bad News Bears and Nickelodeon. Being raved about at a really young age is a rare thing to see in Hollywood.
Tatum O’Neal – Then
Tatum O’Neal – Now
Tatum O’Neal married tennis star John McEnroe in 1986, and they have three children together. However, in 1992, they decided to separate and by 1994, the two were divorced. After having a string of successful films in the ‘70s, she appeared in only five films in the next 15 years. Tatum started acting again in the 2000s, and she had guest appearances on Sex and the City, 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter, and Law and Order: Criminal Intent. In 2005, she took on a recurring role on Rescue Me and has continued to act, concentrating on her work on TV shows.
Tatum O’Neal – Now
Linda Blair – Then
Linda Blair may be best known for her head spinning around in circles before projectile vomiting pea soup. Born in 1959, she was only 14 years old when she landed the role of a possessed girl in The Exorcist. She reprised her role in the 1977 sequel The Exorcist II: The Heretic. For her first role, Blair received an Academy Award nomination and won a Golden Globe. At the age of six, she began acting and being a child model. Between 1968 and 1969, she had a short-lived role on Hidden Fences, a daytime soap opera.
Linda Blair – Then
Linda Blair – Now
Throughout the 1980s, Blair appeared in some low-budget horror as well as exploitation films, including Hell Night, Savage Streets, and Chained Heat. In the 1990 comedy Repossessed, she made fun of her roots in horror films, and she had a cameo in the well-known film Scream in 1996. In addition, she has been on the stage (via Grease) and on BBC TV for the show L.A. 7. Blair hosted the Fox Family show Scariest Places on Earth from 2000 to 2006, and she had a guest appearance on the people’s favorite Supernatural.
Linda Blair – Now
Melissa Gilbert – Then
Melissa Ellen Gilbert began her career in the late ‘60s and continued to be a child actress in the early ‘70s. She was in several commercials and had guest-starring roles on TV shows. Her big break was landing the part of Laura Ingalls Wilder on Little House on the Prairie, the hit NBC show. Melissa starred on the TV series from 1974 to 1984, and while doing this, she appeared in TV movies as well, including The Diary of Anne Frank and The Miracle Worker.
Melissa Gilbert – Then
Melissa Gilbert – Now
Gilbert hasn’t stopped acting in her adult years, though she mostly appeared on TV shows. She lent her voice to the animated show Batman: The Animated Series and also agreed to play the character Caroline “Ma” Ingalls on the Little House on the Prairie, the Musical tour. In 2012, her fans were really happy to see her on the hit NBC reality series Dancing with the Stars, where she was a contestant. Actually, she was the Screen Actors Guild President from 2001 to 2005, and in 2016, she ran for Congress as a Democrat but had to withdraw from the race in Michigan because of some health-related issues.
Melissa Gilbert – Now
Jodie Foster – Then
Born in 1962, Jodie Foster already started her acting career by 1965. Two years later, she joined the cast of the show Mayberry R.F.D. The young girl had become a regular fixture on primetime TV by the late ‘60s. She also starred in several children’s films, but her breakout roles came in her teens. She was cast in Taxi Driver, Disney’s Freaky Friday, The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane, and Candleshoe.
Jodie Foster – Then
Jodie Foster – Now
While Foster continued to enjoy a lot of success in Hollywood, she decided to go to Yale. At that time, she starred in the really controversial movie The Accused, and her performance earned her both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award. Three years later, she won a second Oscar for The Silence of the Lambs, where she played Clarice Starling. After more than five decades in Hollywood, Foster hasn’t stopped taking on lead roles and turning heads in Hollywood.
Jodie Foster – Now
Mackenzie Phillips – Then
At the young age of 12, Phillips already worked on the blockbuster American Graffiti, and she continued to make a name for herself in the ‘70s through her role on the hit TV show One Day at a Time as Julie Cooper. At that time, she was getting $50,000 a week, but by the third season, Phillips started drinking and doing drugs, causing her to regularly arrive late on the set of the show. She was made to take a break for six weeks before she got fired in 1980. After being released from her job, she had two almost fatal overdoses prior to entering the Fair Oaks Hospital for treatment. In 1981, the One Day at a Time producers invited her to come back to the show but she soon got addicted to cocaine and collapsed on set, leading them to fire her for good.
Mackenzie Phillips – Then
Mackenzie Phillips – Now
In 1992, Phillips checked into rehab where she stayed for nine months. Seven years later, she starred alongside Cara DeLizia on the Disney Channel show So Weird, where Phillips played the fictional rock star Molly Phillips. In addition, she had guest appearances on Without a Trace, ER, Cold Case, and 7th Heaven. After she managed to turn her life around, she came up with the idea of helping others in need by becoming a rehab counselor in West Hollywood’s Breathe Life Healing Center in California.
Mackenzie Phillips – Now
Kristy McNichol – Then
McNichol started her career doing commercials and making guest appearances on series like Starsky & Hutch, The Love Boat, The Bionic Woman, and Love American Style. Her first regular series was the short-lived drama Apple’s Way, where she played Patricia Apple. In 1976, her performance in the series Family earned her two Emmys for Best Supporting Actress in a Dramatic Series. McNichol soon ventured into music and recorded the album “Kristy & Jimmy McNichol,” with her biggest hit being “He’s So Fine” which climbed to the no. 70 spot.
Kristy McNichol – Then
Kristy McNichol – Now
Towards the end of the ‘70s, McNichol continued to have a rise in popularity when she landed a part in the film Little Darlings, which also starred Cynthia Dixon, Matt Dillon, and Tatum O’Neal. McNichol also appeared alongside Dennis Quaid and Mark Hamill in The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia. A year later, she appeared in Neil Simon’s Only When I Laugh, and received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress. In addition, she joined the Empty Nest cast, but left after a number of seasons, only to come back for the final episode of the show in 1995. While she stopped making on screen appearances after that, she continued to lend her voice to the animated series Invasion America and Extreme Ghostbusters.
Kristy McNichol – Now
Adam Rich – Then
Most know Adam Rich for playing the youngest son, Nicholas Bradford, on the television show Eight Is Enough, which ran from 1977 to 1981 for five seasons. His bowl haircut made him immediately recognizable and inspired many parents to get their children the same cut. His role became so iconic that he was dubbed “America’s little brother.” Sadly, going into the ‘80s, he got into a rough spot in life and was out of the spotlight for good.
Adam Rich – Then
Adam Rich – Now
Adam started to have troubles when he was only 14 years old. He began smoking marijuana and then he dropped out of school at 17. In 1989, he almost died due to a Valium overdose and in 1991, he got arrested for attempting to burglarize a pharmacy. His troubles continued to follow him in the 21st century, and he was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in 2002. He has entered and left rehab more than three times.
Adam Rich – Now
Tanya Tucker – Then
At 13 years old, this country crooner topped the country charts because of her hit song “Delta Dawn.” Discovered by Mel Tillis, the young Tucker was invited on stage by Tillis to perform due to the teen’s amazing vocal skills. In 1969, Tucker’s family moved to Las Vegas and she was soon regularly performing in the city. Eventually, she got the attention of Dolores Fuller, a songwriter, and the teenage vocalist was soon signed to Colombia Records.
Tanya Tucker – Then
Tanya Tucker – Now
In the decades after her first hit, she became one of the most successful and popular country singers in history, collecting an amazing streak of Top 40 and Top 10 hits. She released many very popular records and received numerous nominations for the Country Music Association awards. A few of her hit songs are “Blood Red and Goin’ Down” and “What’s Your Mama’s Name?” In 1975, her single, “Lizzie and the Rainman,” became another hit, and it was followed up by “Strong Enough to Bend” in 1988. She is often listed as one of the top influences for a lot of female country singers.
Tanya Tucker – Now
Danielle Spencer – Then
The character Dee Thomas on What’s Happening was portrayed by actress Danielle Spencer. Danielle landed the role as the “more than annoying little sister,” which she played with such confidence. Dee Dee’s favorite saying was, “Ooooohh, I’m tellin’ Mama!” The series was on the air from August 1976 until April 1979.
Danielle Spencer – Then
Danielle Spencer – Now
All grown up, Danielle is now a veterinarian in California. In 2014, she received a breast cancer diagnosis, but successfully beat it. Actually, no other child actor except Danielle has gotten inducted into the Smithsonian Museum to become part of a permanent African American Culture exhibition.
Danielle Spencer – Now
Erin Moran – Then
On the show Happy Days, the youngest child of the family, Joanie Cunningham, was played by Erin Moran, whose comedic skills and sense of timing were considered perfect for the character. Joanie is described as a “brat sister” to Richie Cunningham, Ron Howard’s character. Erin portrayed the character from 1974 until 1984 and from 1982 until 1983, on the spin-off Joanie Loves Chachi.
Erin Moran – Then
Erin Moran – Now
Moran acted sporadically after Happy Days, but she still fell into financial hardship. Moran’s downward spiral was apparent in 2012, when it was reported that she had gotten into a drunken brawl, was broke, had gotten evicted from her house, and had to live in a trailer with her mother-in-law and husband. Sadly, Moran died from throat cancer complications in April 2017.
Erin Moran – Now
Lance Kerwin – Then
Do Salem’s Lot, The Family Holvak, and James at Fifteen (and Sixteen) sound familiar to you? Lance Kerwin actually appeared in all of them, and played more than 20 other roles on television or film just in the 1970s. He was a very popular child star, and his first television series of that decade had been Emergency and his last one was Salem’s Lot in 1979.
Lance Kerwin – Then
Lance Kerwin – Now
Lance continued acting until the year 1995, when he retired. He then served as a minister in Hawaii, where he lives to this day. Fact: Lance admitted that he smoked pot before he turned 10, and became a crack user during his twenties. After he hit rock bottom and went through several stints in rehab, his faith finally helped him get clean and sober. Along with his wife, Lance pleaded guilty to fraud in 2010. Turns out he falsified paperwork to get food stamps, but it was found that he owned at least three houses in mainland USA.
Lance Kerwin – Now
Leif Garrett – Then
Leif was a singer, child actor, and television personality, much like David Cassidy. Leif started the ‘70s with the movie Walking Tall and ended it with Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Leif appeared in more than ten television shows and films, and impressed everyone that he worked with. In the late ‘70s, however, he started having personal difficulties.
Leif Garrett – Then
Leif Garrett – Now
The lifestyle of a celebrity, partying, and drugs were Leif’s downfall. In 1979, at 17 years old, he crashed a rented Porsche which caused his friend to become paraplegic. Leif has run into drug and legal troubles repeatedly, from attempting to buy cocaine from undercover police in the ‘80s to getting arrested for possession of heroin. Leif’s adult life hasn’t been very productive, but hopefully, the court-ordered rehab helps.
Leif Garrett – Now
Mason Reese – Then
Mason’s big talent and unique looks turned him into an instant child star. He acted in over seventy TV commercials alone. He was on shows like Mike Douglas and Howard Cosell a lot, and he was on other talk shows as well. Back in the day, he was a huge pop star.
Mason Reese – Then
Mason Reese – Now
After retiring from TV, Reese became a restaurateur, opening several restaurants like Destination Bar and Grille, and Paladar. Recently, he raised some money to make a television pilot titled Life Interrupted. It featured TV icons, such as Erin Murphy (who was Tabitha on Bewitched), Dawn Wells (who was on Gilligan’s Island as Mary Ann), Michael Learned (who was Olivia Walton on The Waltons), Alison Arngrim (who portrayed Nellie Oleson on Little House on the Prairie), and Robbie Rist (who was on The Brady Bunch as Cousin Oliver).
Mason Reese – Now
Mark Lester – Then
English child star Lester made his film debut when he was six years old. US fans know him best through the character Oliver Twist. At the age of eight, he played the character in the film adaptation of the musical. Fact: He couldn’t really sing, so all of Lester’s singing in Oliver Twist was dubbed by the musical director’s daughter.
Mark Lester – Then
Mark Lester – Now
At the age of 19, Lester retired from acting, went to school, and became an osteopath. He is best friends with Michael Jackson, and they are godfather to each others’ kids. Lester has made claims that he had given sperm to Jackson in order to conceive children and that Jackson’s children might be his biologically.
Mark Lester – Now
Haywood Nelson – Then
Many remember Nelson for playing the character Dwayne Nelson on the show What’s Happening!!, which ran from 1976 to 1979, and on the spin-off, What’s Happening Now!!, which aired from 1985 until 1988. He became a child star when he appeared in national commercials and in the film Mixed Company. In 1974, he started appearing on the Broadway play Thieves, alongside Mario Thomas. 14-year-old Nelson also guest starred as Grady’s grandson on Sanford and Son prior to starring in the spin-off called Grady.
Haywood Nelson – Then
Haywood Nelson – Now
Nelson wasn’t cast in another nationally syndicated show, but he didn’t stop working in television after the end of his teen idol days. He guest starred in one episode of Kojak before he decided to do work behind the scenes. Recently, his work has been mainly focused on being part of the crew of different talk shows, interview programs, and TV shows. Many think of him as one of the African American teen idols who were first nationally-recognized.
Haywood Nelson – Now
Gary Coleman – Then
Born in 1968, the funny Gary Coleman ended up getting adopted a few days after he was born. In case you were wondering about his height, he had stunted growth due to the two kidney transplants and dialysis he had for a weak kidney as well as his other atrophied kidney. Because of his on screen comedy skills, he was already starring in his own sitcom at ten years old. His breakout role was on Diff’rent Strokes, a show about a pair of African-American boys in Harlem that got adopted by a rich Caucasian man.
Gary Coleman – Then
Gary Coleman – Now
Unfortunately, towards the end of Gary Coleman’s career, his life crumbled down as well. He had many run-ins with the court, and that included suing his adoptive parents for taking money from his fortune that he acquired in his youth. Even though his parents took $3.8 million, Coleman was able to recover $1.28 million when he won the case. In 2007, he tied the knot but got into domestic violence trouble, and three years later, he died from a brain hemorrhage.
Gary Coleman – Now
Chris Knight – Then
Born in 1957 in Manhattan, New York, Christopher Knight was only three when his actor father started auditioning him, along with one of his brothers, in order to save up for college tuition. Knight’s biggest role came in 1969, when he got cast to play Peter Brady on The Brady Bunch. Even though the show was not very popular while it aired, once it ended it got instant syndication and for over 30 years now, it has been a TV staple.
Chris Knight – Then
Chris Knight – Now
Chris Knight did not really care for the spotlight that much. He had a love for sciences and machines which led him to the computer industry. He pursued a career in it, and in Knight’s first 18 months, he impressively logged the first million-dollar sales order of the company. In 2003, he began getting more involved with Casting Networks Inc., a web-based talent exchange which revolutionized the casting process, making handling clients more efficient using the internet.
Chris Knight – Now
Michael Jackson – Then
Michael Jackson was destined to be the star who had transcending talent. We might not have known that then, but the youngest Jackson 5 member showed flashes of brilliance. Although the group had classics such as “I Want You Back” and “ABC,” Michael really stood out and was able to show his skills in “The Love You Save.” In 1972, he released a solo single about some killer rodent, and only Michael could definitely pull off singing passionately about Ben the rat and make the song sound good.
Michael Jackson – Then
Michael Jackson – Now
Michael Jackson steadily became the undisputed King of Pop, who had electrifying dance moves and equally amazing singing skills. From his Thriller album to the Moonwalk, it seemed like he could do no wrong, until he started getting legal troubles. Except for the allegations or trouble the media shot at him, the massive celebrity of Jackson was still undeniable and he had become a living legend. But even legends die, and Jackson passed away in 2009. In spite of all the unusual behavior he had, his talent was truly unrivaled.
Michael Jackson – Now
Lisa Whelchel – Then
The adorable Lisa Whelchel found acting at eight years old. She did musical theater for many years, and when she was 12, she wrote to Disney asking for an audition to become part of The New Mickey Mouse Club. She then moved to California the following year to appear on the said show from 1977 to 1978. A year after, she landed the lead role on The Facts of Life, which didn’t really last long but still helped Whelchel’s resume a lot.
Lisa Whelchel – Then
Lisa Whelchel – Now
Today, Lisa Whelchel is still active in the industry. In 2012, she joined the popular reality show Survivor: Phillippines. While she appeared on the show, she kept her past a secret since the other contestants were not old enough to know her from The Facts of Life. Whelchel appeared in 14 episodes as well as earned the Sprint Player of the Season title, which gave her $100k.
Lisa Whelchel – Now
Quinn Cummings – Then
Quinn Cummings is remembered for her role in Goodbye Girl, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award, and for starring in the TV series Family. Born in 1967, Cummings got her start at the young age of eight but still did an amazing job. In case you didn’t know, not a lot of actors under ten years old receive an Academy Award nomination. That probably had something to do with the reason she retired so young.
Quinn Cummings – Then
Quinn Cummings – Now
Done with acting, Cummings invests her time in other ventures. For example, after having her first child, she created the HipHugger, which is basically a sling-type device for carrying babies that has some added style. One of her other ventures is The QC Report, which is her blog talking about the ironies of life in the modern world from the view of a thirty-something mom who has a career. She is also a writer and release her first book in July 2009 titled “Notes From the Underwire: Adventures from My Awkward and Lovely Life”.
Quinn Cummings – Now
Susan Olsen – Then
Susan Olsen shot to fame during the late 1960s with her puppy dog eyes and blonde pigtails as the youngest Brady kid, Cindy. Born in 1961, Susan is the youngest in her family and she has three older siblings, which must have helped her for her role. However, before she landed the role at the age of eight, she already had some acting experience, with a small role in The Trouble With Girls the 1968 Elvis Presley movie.
Susan Olsen – Then
Susan Olsen – Now
After the end of The Brady Bunch, Olsen mainly chose not to stay in the limelight, though she did appear in nearly all of the reunion movies for The Brady Bunch. She’s had different careers, including working in graphic design, marketing glow-in-the-dark sneakers with Converse, and having her own show on the radio called Two Chicks Talkin’ Politics. However, she has recently made headlines for controversial reasons. In 2016, Olsen was in a feud with actor Leon Acord-Whiting and Olsen was accused of saying homophobic slurs against Acord-Whiting.
Susan Olsen – Now