20 big-time actors you may have forgotten were first child stars

Seth Green has been a pop culture staple for so long that it's easy to forget his early days, sharing the screen with Patrick Dempsey in Can’t Buy Me Love. He successfully pivoted from recognizable kid actor to an untouchable voice-acting titan, becoming the literal voice of a generation of nerds on Family Guy and building his own empire with Robot Chicken.

Long before the Manolos, the cosmos, and Carrie Bradshaw, Sarah Jessica Parker was already a certified triple threat. She was a bona fide Broadway star, belting it out as the lead in Annie, and a quirky '80s sitcom darling in Square Pegs. The fashion icon phase was just her next brilliant evolution.

Some actors are lucky to get one iconic role in their lifetime; Wil Wheaton nabbed two before he was even 20. He first became a bona fide ‘80s icon in the classic Stand by Me, then immediately turned into sci-fi royalty as Wesley Crusher in Star Trek: The Next Generation. It's no wonder he's now the reigning king of geek culture.

Alyssa Milano basically defined the '80s kid-next-door as America's sweetheart on Who's the Boss? She then seamlessly transitioned from teen icon to a certified supernatural powerhouse on Charmed, proving her star power had serious staying power.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt accomplished one of the rarest feats in Hollywood: he grew up. After getting his start as the lanky, lovable alien-in-disguise on 3rd Rock from the Sun, JGL successfully navigated the treacherous transition from child star to serious actor and indie darling — and somehow managed to stay cool the entire time.

It’s hard to believe, but one of Hollywood's most respected actors got her start with ... a dog. Before she became a critical darling in prestige films, a young Michelle Williams was just a tween trying to keep up with a collie in a Lassie reboot. 

Let's be clear: Christina Ricci didn't just play the '90s gothic teen—she practically invented the entire vibe. From Wednesday Addams to Kat in Casper, she was the queen of spooky-cool long before it was an internet aesthetic. 

Remember Jake Gyllenhaal’s first role? He made his film debut at age 10 as Billy Crystal’s adorable, rosy-cheeked son in the comedy classic City Slickers. Flash forward to today, and become one of Hollywood's most intense actors, diving into everything from dark psychological thrillers to taking on Spider-Man.

Juliette Lewis has always understood the assignment. That wild, chaotic energy she brought as a teen actor in shows like The Wonder Years wasn't just a phase — it became her entire brand. She’s channeled that signature edge into a career full of unforgettable, rebellious roles and, of course, a career as the frontwoman of a rock band.

In the early 2000s, there were child actors, and then there was Dakota Fanning. She wasn't just in movies; she was a force of nature, going toe-to-toe with Hollywood titans like Sean Penn ( I Am Sam ) and Tom Cruise ( War of the Worlds) before she was even old enough for a middle school dance.

Milla Jovovich had already lived a full career before she ever picked up a weapon in Resident Evil. The Ukrainian-born star was a professional model at age 11 and became a ‘90s icon after starring in steamy films like Return to the Blue Lagoon.

While he’ll always be Frodo to a generation of fans, Elijah Wood’s early career was much darker than a walk to Mordor. He was the go-to child actor for heavy-hitting ‘90s dramas, from the heartbreaking Radio Flyer to the truly creepy The Good Son.

It's wild to think that Helen Hunt went from being a staple on ‘70s TV shows like The Bionic Woman to a full-blown Oscar and Emmy winner. Talk about a career glow-up!

And since we're talking about evolved careers ... decades before Ryan Reynolds was breaking the fourth wall as Deadpool, he was just another brooding teen on a Canadian soap opera called Hillside, proving that even A-list superheroes have humble, melodramatic beginnings.

Christian Bale's intense acting style didn't begin with Batman . You can trace its origins back to when Steven Spielberg cast him in Empire of the Sun at just 13, where his now-famous brooding energy was already undeniable.

Talk about starting at the top. Diane Lane made her film debut at 13, acting opposite the legendary Laurence Olivier — yes, that Olivier. She didn't just survive the pressure; she gracefully evolved from a teen star into a full-fledged Hollywood powerhouse with serious dramatic chops.

Jason Bateman was already a familiar face on TV before most of us got our driver's licenses, with a resume full of '80s classics like Silver Spoons and Little House on the Prairie. His evolution from sitcom kid to the deadpan comedy genius of Arrested Development and the gritty antihero of Ozark is a masterclass in career longevity.

Before he was Snake Plissken, Kurt Russell was the undisputed king of Disney's live-action goofball comedies in the '70s. His transformation from the clean-cut kid in The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes to one of Hollywood's most iconic tough guys is a legendary career pivot.

Jodie Foster's resume is basically untouchable. Long before she was collecting Emmys and directing prestige films, she was booking commercials as a toddler and stealing scenes in Disney movies. Oh yeah, she also casually picked up an Oscar nomination for her starring role in Taxi Driver at the age of 13. No big deal, right?

That's right, the Real Housewives star who famously feuded with Lisa Rinna was once a certified Disney icon. Kim Richards was a major child star in the '70s, starring in classics like Escape to Witch Mountain and proving her acting chops long before she ever flipped a table (or had one flipped on her).