50s, 60s, 70s Child Actors — Page Adding

Pamela Sue Martin got her start in the entertainment industry as a model when she was just 17 years old. It wasn’t long, though, until she transitioned into acting as she appeared in 1972’s Poseidon Adventure.

You might recognize Martin as the teenage detective Nancy Drew on the television series The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries. She’s also known for originating the role of socialite Fallon Carrington Colby on the ABC nighttime soap opera Dynasty. Although it’s been some time since we’ve seen Martin in the spotlight, she was featured in the third Nancy Drew television series as Harriet Grosset.

We can’t possibly talk about the other members of The Brady Bunch without bringing up Bobby — played by former child star, Mike Lookinland! Now 59 years old, Lookinland played the youngest brother on the ABC sitcom from 1969 to 1974, as well as starring in its many sequels and spinoffs.

After his time as a Brady had come to an end, Lookinland continued on in the entertainment industry as a cameraman. It wasn’t long before he quit this job, though, to run his own business in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he makes custom concrete countertops.

Shaun Cassidy is an American singer, actor, writer, and producer who you may recognize as one of the stars in The Hardy Boys Mysteries. He was also a leading character in Breaking Away, and had a stint on the daytime soap General Hospital.

Throughout the ’80s and ’90s, Cassidy worked almost exclusively as a stage actor, performing on Broadway and in the West End of London. Since the mid-’90s Cassidy has been a writer and producer for television, creating and producing a number of series including American Gothic as well as Roar and Invasion.

Considering he was born and raised in sunny California, it comes as no surprise that Leif Garrett started his entertainment career at the young age of five. Garrett worked a variety of acting jobs including starring alongside his sister in the horror film Devil Times Five.

Still, the star’s more notable performances include the breakthrough role of Jimmy Henderson in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice. During the ’70s, however, Garrett gained prominence as a musician although he later returned to acting. Since then, Garrett has had a few run-ins with the law although he seems to be on a better track now.

Mackenzie Phillips was born into fame considering her father was the leading man of The Mamas & the Papas. Still, she found her way out of his shadow to become an actress in her own right. Not only did she appear in American Graffiti but she also portrayed the rebellious yet loving teen, Julie Mora Cooper Horvath, on the sitcom One Day at a Time.

Since her days as a child star, Phillips’ personal life has been the subject of much controversy. Today, though, she seems to be doing better than ever and has even appeared as Pam Valentine in the revival of One Day at a Time.

Let’s be real — it makes no difference who or how old you are because everyone knows Jodie Foster. Now 57 years old, the critically-acclaimed actress began her professional career as a child model when she was only three years old! By the time she turned six, Foster had made her acting debut in the TV sitcom Mayberry R.F.D.

After that, the acting gigs continued to roll in although Foster struggled at a point to transition into adult roles. From the looks of it, though, she found her way and has continued to star in as well as direct films!

Shaun Cassidy’s half-brother, David Cassidy, was an American actor, singer-songwriter, and guitarist. You probably recognize him as Keith Partridge, the son of Shirley Patridge — played by his real-life stepmother, Shirley Jones — in the 1970s musical-sitcom The Patridge Family.

It turns out that this role is what really catapulted Cassidy to teen idol status as a superstar pop singer. Although Cassidy remained in the spotlight after the series came to an end, he sadly passed away from liver failure in 2017 at the age of 67.

Having begun a career in acting as a child, Willie Aames has made quite a name for himself over the years. An actor, film and television director, television producer, and screenwriter, Aames is perhaps best known for portraying Tommy Bradford on the ’70s TV series Eight Is Enough, Buddy Lembeck on the ’80s sitcom Charles in Charge, and the title character in the direct-to-video series, Bibleman.

Now, at 60 years old, Aames has kept busy spending time with his family and appearing in Hallmark TV movies here and there such as Love on the Menu.

Kathy Coleman may no longer be in the spotlight but there was a period in which she was a household name. A former child actress, Coleman is known for playing Holly Marshall in the children’s television show Land of the Lost.

Now 58 years old, Coleman hasn’t acted for several years although she contributed interviews and commentary tracks on all three seasons of the now-discontinued Land of the Lost DVDs. In April of 2015, Coleman published her autobiography, “Lost Girl: The Truth and Nothing But the Truth, So Help Me Kathleen.”

Ralph Carter is an American actor and singer who is prominently remembered for portraying Michael Evans, the youngest child of Florida and James Evans, Sr., on the CBS sitcom Good Times.

What you may have not known, though, is that Carter appeared on Broadway — which is actually how he got his start at the young age of nine when he starred in The Me Nobody Knows. Today, Carter is officially retired from the spotlight and is currently working with an organization that honors Black Theater in NYC.

Most of you may recognize her as Kyle’s older and spacey sister on Bravo’s reality show, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Believe it or not, though, Kim Richards was much more than a TV personality at one point in her life.

She actually began her career as a child actress and rose to prominence from her roles in Nanny and the Professor, Escape to Witch Mountain, and its sequel — Return From Witch Mountain. Now 55 years old, Kim spends her time with family and out of the spotlight after dealing with some personal struggles.

Born and raised in California, the late Erin Moran’s first acting gig came at the age of five when she was hired for a First Federal Bank television commercial. After a number of appearances on several TV shows, Moran landed her breakthrough role as Joanie Cunningham — Richie Cunningham’s feisty younger sister — on the hit sitcom Happy Days.

After a spin-off show and filming the final season of Happy Days, Moran moved on to other acting projects. Still, the beloved actress had fallen on hard times before her passing in 2017.

Best known for his role as Eddie Corbett — a gig he landed at the young age of five — on the comedy-drama series The Courtship of Eddie’s Father. Although Brandon Cruz continued as a child actor for several years following the cancellation of the sitcom, he began turning his attention towards punk rock in the late ’70s.

In fact, he has even sung for bands including Dr. Know, Dead Kennedys, and Flipper. Cruz has also been known to do behind-the-scenes work in television as an assistant editor on the animated series South Park, among other shows.

Parker Stevenson is an American actor best known for playing Frank Hardy in the 1970s television series The Hardy Boys, as well as Craig Pomeroy on Baywatch. Although some of you may be too young to recognize him, Stevenson is still very much in the spotlight.

In fact, he currently stars in Greenhouse Academy on Netflix as Louis Osmond, Academy Director. Aside from acting, Stevenson has also done photography work since he was young. His work can be found on his photography website, ShadowWorks.

Look at those baby blue eyes and then try to tell us that Robby Benson was not the biggest teen idol of the late ’70s. Seriously — look at him! In any case, Benson rose to prominence after appearing in a number of sports films including One on One and Ice Castles.

The real fame came, though, when Benson portrayed the voice of the Beast in the Disney animated film Beauty and the Beast and its numerous sequels and spin-offs. Since then, Benson has tried his hand at directing television (including a few episodes of Friends!) and authored a memoir about his journey.