Nine '90s Child Stars Who've Made Big Comebacks

Anthony Faccenda

Being a child star isn’t easy. Turn on entertainment news or read any tabloid and you’re bound to see another story of a child star “gone bad.” Just last week, former Even Stevens star Shia LaBeouf was arrested in Texas for public intoxication. The incident is the most recent in a long line of bizarre behavior from Transformers star.

Although there's no shortage of examples like LaBeouf (Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Bynes, etc.), there are also many instances of successful former child/teen actors. Here's a list of nine such stars who've made recent comebacks. 

Alfonso Ribeiro

Alfonso Ribeiro a.k.a. Carlton Banks slipped into obscurity after The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ended in 1996. In 2008, Ribeiro began hosting the GSN show Catch 21, but it wasn't until 2014 that Ribeiro was back on everyone's radar after winning season 19 of Dancing with the Stars. In May, Ribeiro was announced as the new host of America's Funniest Home Videos—taking over for Tom Bergerom.

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Mario Lopez

After achieving stardom playing the handsome jock A.C. Slater on early '90s teen sitcom Saved By the Bell, Mario Lopez's career ebbed and flowed in the decade following the NBC sitcom's demise. After stints on shows like Pacific Blue and Nip Tuck, Lopez found his calling in 2007 as the co-host of the long-running entertainment news show Extra. Lopez has also authored three books and appeared on Broadway. ​

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Anna Chlumsky

The star of My Girl and its sequel, Anna Chlumsky was the object of every boy's affection in the early 1990s. Despite a successful career throughout the '90s, Chlumsky took a six-year hiatus in which she earned a BA in International Studies. She returned to acting in 2006; landing a role in the Emmy-winning comedy series Veep 2012. Chlumsky has been nominated for three straight Emmy Awards for role as Amy Brookheimer, the campaign manager of President Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus).

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Fred Savage

Fred Savage continued to work after The Wonder Years was canceled in 1993, but subsequent TV projects like the short-lived series Working were unsuccessful. The Princess Bride star ultimately found success behind the camera, directing shows like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Modern Family. Savage can currently be seen back in front of the camera in the new Fox series The Grinder, which co-stars Rob Lowe. 

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Mayim Bialik

Aside from voice acting and the occasional guest TV appearance, Mayim Bialik's career came to a halt after Blossom ended in 1995. In 2010, Bialik once again became a household name when she landed a starring role in the hit CBS comedy The Big Bang Theory. Bialik's critically lauded role as Amy has earned her four straight Emmy nominations.

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Ashley Johnson

Fans of the the sitcom Growing Pains will remember Ashley Johnson, who played the adorable Chrissy Seaver. After the show's run ended in 1992, Johnson went on to appear in movies like What Women Want. She also became a venerable voice actress and even won a BAFTA award for her role in the video game The Last of Us. Despite a steady career as a voice actress, Johnson recently made a return to television on the hit NBC drama Blindspot as FBI Forensic Specialist Patterson.

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Johnny Galecki

Despite some film roles and television work, Johnny Galecki's career was mainly non-existent after Roseanne ended in 1997. His career kicked into overdrive, however, in 2007 when he was cast as Leonard in the long-running CBS comedy. According to Forbes Magazine, Galecki was the second-highest paid actor on television in 2015; earning $27 million.

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Gaby Hoffmann

Best remembered for memorable childhood roles in the late 1980s and early 1990s, including Uncle Buck, Field of Dreams, and Sleepless in Seattle, Gaby Hoffmann slipped out of the public eye in the early 2000s, but has made a major comeback. The former child star has recently appeared in Louis C.K.'s sitcom Louie, in Showtime drama Homeland, and  earned two Emmy nominations for her work in Girls and Transparent, respectively.

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Neil Patrick Harris

Although it once seemed that Neil Patrick Harris would forever be known as Doogie Howser M.D., the actor experienced a career renaissance after playing a crazed fictional version of himself in Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. Harris went on to star as Barney on the hit sitcom How I Met Your Mother, which aired for nine seasons. He currently hosts Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris.

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