13 Young TV Stars: Remember When...

at .  Updated at .

Check out this list of 13 child stars of the 90s and where they landed today.

1. Justin Timberlake & Ryan Gosling (Mickey Mouse Club)

Justin and Ryan got their starts alongside other baby stars like Christina Aguilera and Brittany Spears in the popular Disney show, The Mickey Mouse Club. Who doesn't love singing and dancing children? No need to tell you what JT and Ryan are up to these days, as they never left the spotlight in the first place. They're either bringing sexy back or crushing box offices with their film careers.

2. Leonardo Dicaprio (Growing Pains)

Be still my 90s-kid heart, Leo was such a hunk as Luke, the foster child the Seavers took in during the final seasons of Growing Pains. These days he's still making waves in Hollywood, with movies like Inception and The Wolf of Wall Street, but he'll always be that adorable kid we knew back in the day.

3. Mara Wilson (Melrose Place)

You probably recognize this cutie most from her film debut as the magical brain child Matilda, but Mara actually got her start on Melrose Place back in the day. No longer an actress, Mara has transitioned into the world of writing. You can still find her tweeting about the problematic themes of 50 Shades of Grey though, like the true book nerd she is!

4. Taj Mowry (Smart Guy)

Your brother is smaaaaaart! Come on, who didn't love the genius shenangians of TJ and his high school cohorts? You've got to love a show that guest starred Destiny's Child with all four original members. Most recently, Taj took a role on ABC Family's comedy series, Baby Daddy.

5. Neal Patrick Harris (Doogie Howser)

Everyone's favorite award show host was busy even in his early years, playing the whiz-kid doctor, Doogie Howser. He's most commonly known to the younger generation as Barney from How I Met Your Mother, but some of us old folks still remember his battle to balance puberty with medicine.

6. Mary-Kate & Ashey Olsen (Full House)

Don't ever try switching the order of these twins names around, it just sounds wrong. These two started acting pretty much from birth, and they stayed in the limelight well into their teen years and beyond. After a few shaky years of eating disorders and drug rumors, both girls are now happily entrenched in the New York fashion world.

7. Jonathon Taylor Thomas (Home Improvement)

Another staple of the 90s was Jonathon Taylor Thomas, or as your doodle-filled notebook probably remembers him, JTT. Best known for his snarky attitude on Home Improvement and his voice-acting skills as Simba in The Lion King, JTT basically ruled over my childhood on a really tacky velvet throne. He left the acting world behind for the most part, choosing instead to attend a few Ivy League colleges.

8. Melissa Joan Hart (Clarissa Explains It All)

You might recognize Melissa more from her days as Sabrina the Teenage Witch (another popular 90s show), but most of us fondly remember her from her days as Clarissa, explaining it all. That girl could rock neon and side ponytails like none other. The actress is still waltzing around Hollywood, sticking to the sitcoms and keeping it classy.

9. Ross Hull (Are You Afraid of the Dark)

First of all, HOW was this show allowed on a children's television network? It scared the 7-year-old shit of me, no joke. Leader of the Midnight Society, Ross Hull, was pretty much the big kid who made sure you didn't have nightmares at the end of the story, and he was much appreciated. These days, Ross spends his time as a Canadian weather anchor in Ottawa.

10. Erik Von Detten (So Weird)

Whether you loved him from his many made-for-TV movies or from that strangely awesome children's procedural, So Weird, Erik Von Detten was another hunk of the 90s that you'll never get over. He's hopped around the acting biz a bit lately, but most recently he reprised his role as Sid, in Toy Story 3.

11. Mackenzie Rosman (7th Heaven)

Adorable little Ruthie grew up to be a knock-out, as you might have seen in the later years of 7th Heaven. Her acting chops are a little rusty, but maybe that's because she's spent too much time being a total horse enthusiast, jumping and showing the many horses she now owns.

12. Amanda Bynes (The Amanda Show)

You knew this one was coming. Amanda got her start on All That, and her popularity fuelled her own Nickleodeon sketch show. It was SNL for kids, with way more dancing lobsters. Her recent break from acting was due to some alcohol related problems and a few mental illness issues, but things have been quiet on the Bynes front for months. Hopefully one day she'll grace our screens again because that girl had AMAZING comedic timing.

13. Ben Savage (Boy Meets World)

The epitome of the 90s, the greatest show to ever air: Boy Meets World. Cory Mathews was everyone's childhood friend, and Shawn was everyone's childhood crush. Ben dropped off the radar for quite a while, but these days, he and a few of his former co-stars have taken up residence on the spin-off show, Girl Meets World, starring Cory, Topanga, and their daughter, Riley. Dreams really do come true.

Wait! There's more! Just click "Next" below:

Next
Show Comments
Tags:
Photo Galleries, Throwback Thursday
Shows:
How I Met Your Mother, Girl Meets World
Related Photos:
Photo Galleries Slideshows, Throwback Thursday Slideshows, HIMYM Slideshows, Girl Meets World Slideshows
Created by:
Published:
Modified: