80s Child Actors: 11 of Our Favorite TV Stars Then and Now

Alyssa Milano played Samantha Micelli on Who's the Boss? from 1984 to 1992. She'd go on to star in the '90s fantasy show Charmed and make appearances in shows like Melrose Place and My Name Is Earl. Today, at age 50, she's still in the public eye and is well-known for her activist work.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner played Theo Huxtable, the only son on The Cosby Show, from 1984 to 1992. He was nominated for an Emmy for the role. The 53-year-old is still acting today, and has appeared in Sons of Anarchy, American Crime Story and Suits. He's also directed a number of TV episodes and released albums. 

Joey Lawrence starred as Joey Donovan in Gimme a Break! from 1983 to 1987. He'd make the transition from child star to teen star when he was cast as Joey Russo in Blossom in 1990. More recently, the 47-year-old has competed on shows like Dancing With the Stars, Celebrity Big Brother and The Masked Singer.

Brice Beckham played Wesley T. Owens in Mr. Belvedere from 1985 to 1990. In 2007, he wrote, directed and starred in the short-lived sitcom I Hate My 30's. Now 47, he hasn't acted in over 10 years.

Emmanuel Lewis played the title character in Webster from 1983 to 1989. He popped up on episodes of shows like Moesha in the '90s and frequently played himself in movie and TV appearances. Now 52, he hasn't acted since 2007.

Since playing Mallory Keaton on Family Ties from 1982 to 1989, Justine Bateman has stayed active, with credits in shows like Arrested Development, Desperate Housewives and Modern Family. She's also dabbled in producing, directing and even fashion design. The 57-year-old actress is a passionate advocate for aging naturally and wrote a book about the issue in 2021.

Brian Bosnall played Andy Keaton, the youngest son on Family Ties, from 1986 to 1989. In 1992, he leapt into the world of sci-fi, with a role in Star Trek: The Next Generation. He also appeared in movies like Mikey, Blank Check and Father Hood in the early '90s. By 1995, he chose to retire from acting and since then the now 41-year-old former actor has pivoted to being a musician.

Tina Yothers played the younger daughter Jennifer Keaton on Family Ties from 1982 to 1989, and went on to act in a variety of TV movies. Now 50, she hasn't acted since the '90s, but in the '00s she appeared on reality shows like Celebrity Fit Club and What Not to Wear.

Kim Fields began her career as a child actress on Good Times in 1978. Shortly after that she began playing Tootie Ramsey in Diff'rent Strokes and its spin-off, The Facts of Life, which ran from 1979 to 1988. Now 54, Fields has kept busy as an actress. In the '90s, she starred in the sitcom Living Single, and she's directed episodes of Kenan & Kel and House of Payne. Currently, she stars in the Netflix show The Upshaws .

Soleil Moon Frye played the title character in Punky Brewster from 1984 to 1988. In 2021, she reprised the role as an adult, in a reboot that lasted just one season. Since her early Punky days, the now 47-year-old actress has done voice acting work, directed documentaries, written books on parenting and party-planning and co-founded party decor and children's brands.

By the time Tracey Gold was cast in Growing Pains, she'd already acted in many TV episodes and TV movies. She'd play Carol Seaver in the sitcom from 1985 to 1992, and continued to have a prolific career in TV movies throughout the '90s and '00s. Gold sadly struggled with an eating disorder in her youth, and devoted herself to raising awareness through making speaking engagements and writing a book on the subject. She's mostly stepped away from acting, and in 2022, she competed on Worst Cooks in America and won.