Child stars are the pint-sized actors we've watched grow up on screen. These talented actors began their careers and traversed the triumphs and pitfalls of fame at an early age. While some child stars, like Sarah Jessica Parker and Natalie Portman, have continued their success into adulthood, others have been plagued by troubles following their early fame. Here's a look at some of the actors who made it big when they were kids.
Meet famous people who were born in June. Russell Brand, Peter Dinklage, Paula Abdul, Johnny Depp, Marilyn Monroe, Alfred Kinsey, Anna Kournikova, Suze Orman, Michael Phelps, Dr. Ruth, and many more folks all share a June birthday.
Twin stars Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen made their acting debut more than two decades ago, taking turns playing Michelle on the popular TV series Full House when they were only 6 months old. The show led to a crazed film career for the sisters, who starred together in dozens of family friendly films in the 1990s and early 2000s, including It Takes Two and New York Minute. They also returned to TV in 1998, with the series Two of a Kind.
Following years of dual stardom, the Olsens have branched out in recent years, asking to be viewed individually in the media, rather than as a pair. However, they could never completely separate from each other: together, they bought out a movie production company in 2004, and co-founded two fashion lines soon after. Though no longer pursuing acting gigs, the Olsens—worth an estimated, combined $100 million—have maintained thousands of die-hard fans worldwide, who are eager to find out what the famous duo will do next.
The American Dream is the notion that, with hard work, any individual can emerge from poor circumstances to a life of wealth and security. Despite the economic ups and downs of modern times, the notion of lifting one's self up is still ingrained in our mindset. Some of our most famous celebrities are, in fact, people who came from nothing. Talent, hard work, and good fortune aligned to make these individuals successful business leaders, actors, athletes and more.