“From Stardom to Obscurity: Uncover the 25 Child Actors Who Vanished from the Spotlight!”
Jonathan Lipnicki
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Jonathan Lipnicki made his entertainment debut at just five years old, when he starred in Jerry Maguire alongside Tom Cruise and Renée Zellweger. Lipnicki’s adorable voice, mannerisms and blond hair made him an instant scene-stealer, which led to him starring in a whole spate of movies, from Little Vampires to Stuart Little.
After the early 2000s, Lipnicki stepped away from blockbuster family films, and instead switched his focus to voice roles and short films. He has also spent time training extensively in mixed martial arts, purely as a hobby and not with a mind to go professional, but he has said in interviews that he is “not saying no” to the idea of competing in MMA fights in the future.
Danica McKellar
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Starting from the age of 13, Danica McKellar starred in The Wonder Years as girl-next-door Winnie Cooper, Kevin’s love interest and literal next-door neighbour for six seasons. When the show ended in 1993, McKellar, then aged 18, enrolled at the University of California, ultimately leaving with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, and only returned to acting as an adult.
Though she later said that she found the transition “difficult”, McKellar has had a steady and varied acting career since, getting a regular part on The West Wing, taking numerous voice acting jobs for Marvel and even starring in various Hallmark movies. McKellar has also published four educational books aimed at helping adolescents conquer the study of maths, the first of which became a New York Times bestseller.
