10 Child TV Actors that Became Successful Adults

Child actors gone bad have surely gotten their share of headlines, reality shows and our collective attention. I think it’s time we gave some due to those who have bucked the trend, if indeed there has been one. It turns out that not every child TV actor is destined to pose for a mug shot after all, and we’ve ample proof to support our findings. Here’s a list of 10 child TV actors who went on to become successful adults:

1. Ron Howard – A notable example, known as the character Opie Taylor from the popular 60′s sitcom The Andy Griffith Show, he’s garnered huge success as a Hollywood film actor and director. His directing credits include Apollo 13, Backdraft, Cocoon, A Beautiful Mind, Splash, Far and Away, and The Da Vinci Code.
2. Jodie Foster – Her career began in commercials and with roles on various TV shows. Her film break came with the role of Iris, the child prostitute in Taxi Driver. Foster went on to appear in such movie hits as The Accused, The Silence of the Lambs, Nell, and Contact.
3. Leonardo DiCaprio – That’s right. Leo started out in television, appearing in the TV series Parenthood and Growing Pains. As an adult actor, DiCaprio has amassed a truly impressive resume, including: Romeo + Juliet, Titanic, The Basketball Diaries, Gangs of New York, The Departed, Revolutionary Road, and Inception.
4. Sarah Michelle Gellar – Gellar began her career with a part in the TV movie An Invasion of Privacy as well as doing commercials (most notably this one for Burger King, which resulted in McDonald’s filing suit). Known largely for her role as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, her other film credits include I Know What You Did Last Summer, The Grudge, Cruel Intentions, Scream 2, and Scooby-Doo.
5. Jason Bateman – You may remember Jason as Derek Taylor from the TV series Silver Spoons, or as James Cooper Ingalls from Little House on the Prairie. Later of course, he would star in the hit TV series Arrested Development, along with a number of film roles.
6. Britney Spears – Yep, Britney started in television – specifically, in The All New Mickey Mouse Club from 1993-95. Britney is seen here in a skit about bad breath. And guess who that kid is in the glasses. It’s …
7. Justin Timberlake – Another beneficiary of Disney’s iconic mouse showcase, Jason of course went on to fame and fortune via boy band ‘N Sync, as well as an enormously successful solo career. Personally, I like his Saturday Night Live skits. The boy’s got some comedic chops. And while we’re on the subject of famous former mouseketeer’s, there’s also:
8. Ryan Gosling – Gosling also got his start on that show, and has gone on to a successful Hollywood career. Credits include: Remember the Titans, The Notebook, Half Nelson, and Blue Valentine.
9. Dakota Fanning – Before War of the Worlds and Man on Fire, at the age of five, Dakota began her march toward Hollywood fame via this TV ad for Tide.
10. Alyssa Milano – Having gotten her first big break with the part of Samantha Micelli on the TV sitcom Who’s the Boss?, Ms. Milano launched a successful career in both film and television, including Casualties of Love: The Long Island Lolita Story, Poison Ivy II, and the TV series Charmed and Melrose Place.

Taken From Cable TV Providers