1 / 74 photos Where Are They Now

Actor and director Ron Howard got his start when he was just six years old, as Opie Taylor on the Andy Griffith show. In 1974, he played Richie Cuningham on the hit show Happy Days.

In the 1980s Howard took his hand at directing. He has gone on to direct several critically acclaimed films, most notably 2002's A Beautiful Mind, for which he earned the Academy Award for Best Director, as well as Blockbuster hits Cinderella Man (2005), The Da Vinci Code (2006), and Frost/Nixon (2008).

Actor Robert MacNaughton is best known for his role as Elliot's brother Michael, in the Spielberg classic E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982). The role won him a 1982 Young Artists Award as Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture.

The next year, MacNaughton played the lead role of Adam Farmer in the film I Am The Cheese (1983), based on the 1977 novel by Robert Cormier. After a few television appearances and work in the theater, MacNaughton retired from acting. He now lives in Arizona with his longtime girlfriend and their son Noah.

Henry Thomas played the role of lonely 10-year-old Elliot in E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982). After filming, he returned to his hometown in Texas to focus on school.

In the 90s, Thomas returned to acting in the 1994 film Legends of the Fall, alongside Brad Pitt and Aidan Quinn. The film earned critical acclaim and the Academy Award for Best Cinematography. Thomas has acted in notable films including Suicide Kings (1997), All The Pretty Horses (2000), and Gangs of New York (2002). He has also pursued musical interests, performing with the Texas group "The Blue Heelers," and the Los Angeles band "Farspeaker."

We all remember Drew Barrymore as the adorable little girl in E.T. (1982). At just seven years old, she became the youngest-ever host of Saturday Night Live.

After a troubled patch in her teens, Barrymore re-emerged onto the scene in 1995 with the creation of her own production company, Flower Films. She has proved her talents as both an actress and producer in hit films such as Charlie's Angels (2000), Fever Pitch (2005), and He's Just Not That Into You (2009).

C. Thomas Howell is another star who got his big break in 1982's E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. He played Tyler, one of Elliot's friends who helped E.T. evade authorities. The role gave him widespread media attention, and soon he landed parts in hit films alongside Patrick Swayze including The Outsiders (1983), Grandview, U.S.A. (1984), and Red Dawn (1984).

After a string of hit films in the 1990s Howell broadened his skills, taking on several acting, producing, writing and directing roles. In 2012, he was cast as Ray in the film The Amazing Spider Man (2012).

Who can forget Erika Eleniak as the adorable girl kissed by Elliot in the classroom scene, in E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982). The classic scene put the pretty, apsiring actress into the spotlight.

Years later, after a spread in playboy magazine, Erika landed a role on the hit show Baywatch (1989), and appearances on Charles in Charge (1984) and Full House (1987). Eleniak has since had roles in several independent films. In 2006, she re-emerged as a contestant on the VH1 weight loss series Celebrity Fit Club, losing almost thirty pounds.

Lindsay Lohan's career took off in 1998 with her role of twin sisters in Disney's remake of The Parent Trap. It was her starring role, however, as a teen in Tina Fey's comedy Mean Girls (2004), which turned her into a bona fide star.

As her celebrity status grew, Lindsay made headlines with numerous arrests. jail time, and a short stint in rehab. She recently re-emerged with telelvision appearances and a spread in Playboy magazine. In 2012 it was confirmed she had been cast as Elizabeth Taylor in the upcoming Lifetime biopic Liz & Dick.

Jennifer Love Hewitt first showed off her singing and acting talent on Disney's Kid Incorporated, and earned big-screen success as the petty girl-next-door on the 1995 series Party of Five.

After a string of 90s hits, Hewitt returned to telelvision on the CBS drama The Ghost Whisperer (2005). She currently stars on the lifetime series The Client List, based on the 2010 television movie of the same name, for which she earned a Golden Globe nomination.

Todd Bridges grew up in a family of actors, including both his parents and two older siblings. He showed off his own acting talent with a starring role on the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes.

After Diff'rent Strokes Bridges's career took a turn for the worst, as he faced several legal and substance abuse problems. He returned back to telelvision in 2005 with a recurring role on the Chris Rock sitcom Everybody Hates Chris, and made several reality show appearances.

In 1999, Haley Joel Osment received critical acclaim for M. Night Shyamalan's supernatural thriller The Sixth Sense. His performance as the haunted little boy alongside Bruce Willis, landed him an Academy Award nomination.

In 2000 Osment continued his success with roles in Pay it Forward (2000) alongside Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt, and Steven Spielberg's science fiction film A.I.: Artificial Intelligence (2001).

Award winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio played good looking teenager Luke Brower on the 1985 sitcom Growing Pains. It was his film roles in Romeo and Juliet (1996) and Titanic (1997) however, which sky rocketed him into celebrity status.

Today, DiCaprio is one of the most famous actors in the world with critically acclaimed films such as Catch Me if You Can (2002), Blood Diamond (2006), The Departed (2006) and more. He has been nominated for numerous awards including eight Golden Globe nominations, and won the Academy Award for his performance in The Aviator (2004).

Candace Cameron played DJ Tanner, the eldest of three sisters in the family sitcom Full House (1987). As a child actor she worked on several films and other sitcoms including Growing Pains, with brother actor Kirk Cameron.

Today Cameron is married with three children. In 2004, she re-entered the acting world with a role on Maked It Or Break It, a seried about aspiring Olympic gymnasts.

Macaulay Culkin became one of Hollywood's favorite child actors with his role in the 1989 comedy Uncle Buck. The following year he impressed audiences as the witty and adorable little boy in the Home Alone (1990) series.

After family and substance abuse troubles, Macaulay took a break from acting. He is noted for having a close friendship with pop icon Michael Jackson, and made headlines in 2005 when he defended the singer against allegations of child molestation.

Audiences loved to hate Shannen Doherty's devious character, Brenda Walsh, on the television series Beverly Hills, 90210. She also played teenage sorceress Prue Halliwell, on the sci-fi drama Charmed (1998).

Shannen has since played host on Sci Fi's Scare Tactics, starred in the series North Shore and can most recently be seen in Breaking Up With Shannen Doherty on the Oxygen Network.

Jodie Foster landed her breakout role when she was just twelve years old in the Martin Scorsese picture Taxi Driver (1976). She landed an Oscar nomination for the controversial role alongside actor Robert De Niro.

As an adult, Jodie turned heads with more controversial films including The Accused (1988), and The Silence of The Lambs (1991), both earning her Academy and Golden Globe awards. Today she continues to be one of the most successful, serious actresses in Hollywood.

Sara Gilbert received her big break on the 1988 sitcom Roseanne. Gilbert's role as the sharp-witted middle daughter earned her two Emmy nominations. She has since appeared on numerous television series including 24, ER, and Twins.

More recently, Gilbert had a recurring role on the hit show The Big Bang Theory. Today she produces and co-hosts her popular daytime talk show The Talk.

At fifteen, Neil Patrick Harris earned a Golden Globe nomination for his performance opposite Whoopi Goldberg in the drama Clara's Heart (1988). In 1989 he played the lead part on the show Doogie Howser, M.D., and in 2005 landed the role of womanizing Barney Stinson on the comedy series How I Met Your Mother.

In addition to the big screen, Neil Patrick Harris has also appeaed on Broadway in productions of Proof, Assassins, Rent, and Cabaret. He has enjoyed great success as a three-time host of the Tony Awards. In 2006, he became a father to twins Gideon Scott and Harper Grace with partner David Burtka.

Kirsten Dunst made her filmn debut with a small role in Woody Allen's New York Stories (1989). She got her big break as a vampire in the screen adaptation of Anne Rice's Interview With The Vampire (1994).

In 2002, Kirsten played Mary Jane "M.J." Watson in the Blockbuster hit Spider-Man, alongside Tobey Maguire. She has continued to work on screen in films such as Mona Lisa Smile (2003), Marie Antionette (2006), and Melancholia (2011).

Frankie Muniz came to fame through his role of a child prodigy on the popular sitcom Malcolm in the Middle. From there he starred in his first feature film My Dog Skip (2000), followed by Big Fat Liar (2002) and Agent Cody Banks (2003).

In 2008, Muniz put acting on hold to pursue an open wheel racing career. He has competed in the Atlantic Championship race car series.

At just ten years old, Tatum O'Neal played alongside her father, actor Ryan O'Neal, in Paper Moon (1973). For her remarkable debut, she earned an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, the youngest-ever recipient of an Academy Award.

Despite her early success, O'Neal has not acted much in recent years. She has three children with tennis star and former husband, John McEnroe.

Actor Fred Savage is best known for his role as Kevin Arnold on the hit series The Wonder Years (1988). He has since appeared on several television shows including Boy Meets World and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and has lent his voice to many animated projects.

In 1999, Fred began his directing career with a number of television series on Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel. More recently, he has produced episodes for the hit show It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (2005).

Sarah Jessica Parker got her start on Broadway, in productions such as The Innocents, The Sound of Music, and Annie. After a supporting role in the 1982 hit Footloose, she earned big screen status alongside Helent Hunt in Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985).

In 1998 Parker landed the role of Carrie Bradshaw on Sex and the City. The series was made into an original theatrical film in 2008, with a sequel in 2010. She is married to actor Matthew Broderick, with whom she has a son and twin daughters.

We all remember Keshia Knight Pulliam as Bill Cosby's adorable daughter Rudy Huxtable, on The Cosby Show. In 1986, at the age of six, she became the youngest performer ever nominated for an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress.

After her success on The Cosby Show, Pulliam decided to teak a break from acting and focus on her education. She graduated from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia in 2001. In 2007, she landed the role of Miranda on Tyler Perry's sitcom House of Payne.

Actress Christina Ricci made her feature film debut as Cher's young daughter in Mermaids (1990). In 1991, she played Wednesday Addams in the film adaptation of The Addams Family (1991).

By the late 1990s. Ricci transitioned into more adult roles. Some of her most noteworthy performances include Gothic princess Katrina Van Tassel opposite Johnny Depp, in Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow (1999) and Selby Wall in 2003's Monster.

Jodie Sweetin is most known for her role as the adorable Stephanie Tanner on the sitcom Full House. Sweetin won over audiences with her cute and bubbly personality, and use of the classic catchphrase "How rude!"

In the early 2000s Sweetin entered an intensive rehabilitation program for substance abuse. After her recovery she re-entered the business with films such as Small Bits of Happiness (2008), Redefining Love (2009), and Port City (2009). She has two daughters, Zoie and Beatrice.

We can never forget Jaleel White as the goofy next-door neighbor Steve Urkel, on Family Matters. During that time he also made guest appearances on other sitcoms including Full House and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

White completed his studies at the University of California, Los Angeles in 2001, earning a bachelor's degree in film and television. In 2009, he appeared in the web series Race To The Altar and Fake It Till You Make It. In 2012, Jaleel competed on the reality show, Dancing With The Stars.

In 1994 Anna Paquin won rave reviews and an Academy Award for her supporting role in The Piano. Originally from New Zealand but born in Canada, Paquin finished up her schooling in Los Angeles while taking small parts in both independent and Hollywood films like Amistad and Hurly Burly.

After attending Columbia University for a year, Anna re-emerged on the big screen as the comic book superhero Rogue in the 2000 blockbuster X-Men. She now stars in the hit HBO drama True Blood.

Anthony Michael Hall rose to fame playing geeks in a string of John Hughes films about teen angst, and earned himself a place in the in the 1980s' 'Brat Pack'. He joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 1985 at the age of 17.

Audiences began to see Hall in a more serious light when played the villain in 1990's Edward Scissorhands. In 1999 his portrayal of Bill Gates in the TV movie Pirates of Silicon Valley led to critical praise, and an Emmy.

Corey Feldman played the oddball in some of the most popular 80s films featuring groups of kids causing mischief— Stand By Me, , Lost Boys, and Goonies. He teamed up with Corey Haim on-screen and on the Hollywood scene and were often referred to as 'the two Coreys'.

In July 2007, 20 years after they first appeared together in Lost Boys, Corey Haim and Corey Feldman reunited in an A&E reality show called The Two Coreys.

Corey Haim was a child actor who found fame in the mid-80s with a string of teenage-themed films, alongside his off-screen friend Corey Feldman.

Haim made low budget films in the 90s, before briefly reuniting with Corey Feldman for two seasons of The Two Coreys. Haim struggled with drug addiction, and died of pneumonia in March 2010.

Teen pop star Debbie Gibson's mall tours spoke to the mall youth of the 80s. She was cute, bubbly and talented, and penned all of the songs on her platinum-selling, debut album Out of the Blue.

Gibson dropped the nickname Debbie and returned to her stage roots, playing in a string of productions on the American and British stage during the nineties. After a Playboy spread in 2005, Gibson united with fellow 80s teen singer Tiffany for a 2011 tour.

The diminutive child star was the toast of TV at age 10 when he starred in Diff'rent Strokes from 1978 to 1986. Born with a congenital kidney disease, he underwent two kidney transplants and never grew past 4'8.

After Diff'rent Strokes Coleman faded from the public eye, leaving behind the beloved one-liner "Whatchu talkin' bout Willis?" He did a stint as a mall security guard before filing for bankruptcy in 1999. On May 28, 2010, Coleman passed away after suffering an intracranial hemorrhage.

Judd Nelson enjoyed success in the 80s as a member of the 'Brat Pack', starring in two of the most popular coming of age films— The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo's Fire, with many of the same co-stars.

Nelson left teen angst behind for urban crime dramas, starring in 1991's New Jack City and 1999's Light It Up. He had a successful run co-starring with Brooke Shields on Suddenly Susan from 1996 to 2000, and makes appearances on shows like CSI.

Kirk Cameron gained fame and became a teen idol in the late 80s as the mischievous Mike Seaver on Growing Pains. His sister, Candace Cameron Bure, starred as DJ Tanner on Full House.

Kirk is now married with six children, and spearheads a evangelical ministry. He's starred in the Left Behind movie series, based on the best-selling Christian novels.

Soleil Moon Frye is best known for playing the precocious and colorful Punky Brewster when she was eight years old. In the nineties Frye made appearances in The Wonder Years, Saved by the Bell, and Friends. At just 19 years old, Frye directed the film Wild Horses.

At age 22, Soleil Moon Frye married actor/producer Jason Goldberg. The couple has two daughters, Poet Sienna Rose Goldberg and Jagger Joseph Blue Goldberg.

The cheerful Valerie Bertinelli played the good daughter on One Day at a Time for six years during her late teens. She met rock guitarist Eddie Van Halen at his concert backstage in 1980 and married him the next year

Since the finale of One Day at a Time, Valerie has starred in a steady stream of television movies. She had a son with Eddie Van Halen in 1991, and filed for divorce in 2005, after over 20 years of marriage.

Justine Bateman turned heads in 1982 as the gorgeous but airheaded sister of Alex P. Keaton (played by Michael J. Fox) on the popular sitcom Family Ties.

Bateman proved she was anything but a ditz in 2000, when she began her own fashion line. She also made a cameo across from her brother in the hit comedy, Arrested Development, and stars on USA's Psych.