Strollerderby : Child Stars

Rich or Rehab: Whatever Happened to the 'Spellbound' Kids?

Jen Chaney — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:28:00 GMT

The Scripps National Spelling Bee crowned Kavya Shivashankar its new champion last week. All the media attention on the Kansas girl who clinched a victory by correctly spelling the word "Laodicean" may have reminded some observers of the 2002 documentary "Spellbound," which followed the often intense competition between several smart young wordsmiths during the 1999 bee.

Since 10 years have passed since that sharply captured showdown in Washington, D.C.'s took place, it's only natural to wonder what has happened to some of the key kids who starred in "Spellbound." Allow me to attempt to provide a few answers A-S-A-P. (That spells, um, ASAP.)

While filmmaker Jeffrey Blitz introduced us to several kids in "Spellbound," eight children played more prominent roles. Here's the rundown on what all of them are doing now, based on info I could readily track down via the World Wide Web.

Neil Kadakia went on to attend the University of California, Berkeley, enrolling as a freshman at the ripe age of 16. The sparse public information found on his Facebook page indicates that he graduated from Berkeley in 2007, but it's unclear exactly what he's doing now. (Got some intel? Please share it below in the comments.)

Emily Stagg attended Carleton College in Minnesota and, according to her Facebook page, is currently a grad student at Yale. Back in 2006, she wrote this essay for the New York Times, in which she argued that some modifications to the bee's traditional format could benefit its participants.

Ashley White has perhaps the most compelling post-"Spellbound" story. The D.C. native got pregnant and had a child at the age of 18, but managed to work part-time jobs while earning an undergraduate degree at Howard University and raising her daughter. As of last year, according to this Washington Post story, Ashley was planning to get a master's degree in social work and was even looking farther down the road at a Ph.D.

April DeGideo, whose doting, adorable mother was one of my favorite people in "Spellbound," earned a degree in journalism in 2007, according to Wikipedia. If this LinkedIn page is accurate, she currently works at Progressive Business Publications in Philadelphia.

Harry Altman, a kid who possessed an unparalleled talent for making bizarre faces, went on to major in math and computer science at the University of Chicago. He appears to be pursuing graduate studies at the University of Michigan and currently has 419 friends on Facebook.

Angela Arenivar has made her love of the Spanish language a focus of her life. Her Linked In page says she earned a B.A. in Spanish at Texas A&M University, and is following that with a master's in Spanish from the University of New Mexico, where she also acts as a teaching assistant.

Nupur Lala, who won the "Spellbound" bee, went on to attend the University of Michigan, graduating in 2007. Wikipedia says she is now a technical assistant in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT.

And lastly, the saddest of the "Spellbound" stories. Ted Brigham, a Missouri native, died in 2007 while pursuing medical school in Kansas City. It's unclear what the cause of death was, but it's certainly clear that he left this world much too soon.

Rich or Rehab: Whatever Happened to the Gummi Bear Girl?

Jen Chaney — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:58:00 GMT

Twenty-three years ago, she offered a "warm and soft" gummi bear to a defeated high school principal while riding an Illinois school bus in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." As a result, she has been dubbed the "gummi bear girl" -- or as IMDB calls her in a slight improvement, "Girl on Bus." But young actress Polly Noonan went on to do more impressive things than merely offering sweet, squishy candy to older men in John Hughes movies.

Noonan, who now lives in New York City, has remained committed to the craft of acting. Her film credits may be few; most notably, she appeared with Johnny Depp in a little-seen film called "Arizona Dream" and, later, in the Steve Martin film "Novocaine." But Noonan has made a real name for herself in the theater.

She has spent many years appearing in plays written by Sara Ruhl, including "Passion Play" and "Dead Man's Cell Phone," both of which earned her Helen Hayes Award nominations when the productions ran in Washington, D.C. This bio from her stint in Steppenwolf Theatre's production of "Dead Man's Cell Phone" in Chicago lists a number of her other extensive theater credits.

Also, in a fascinating side note, Noonan can be spotted (partially) on the cover of the Lemonheads album "It's a Shame About Ray." Her voice can be heard on the eleventh track of the Lemonheads release that preceded "Ray," "Lovey."

I wasn't able to figure out what exactly she's up to at this moment in time. (She was in a production of "Cell Phone" in Florida earlier this year.) But the fact that she went from wearing ridiculously horrendous Coke bottle specs in "Ferris Bueller" to becoming a serious, working stage actress is enough of a reason to take some time to celebrate what she's accomplished.

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Rich or Rehab: Whatever Happened to Edward Furlong?

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Rich or Rehab: Whatever Happened to Staci Keanan?

Images: 80s.com and chicagomag.com

Rich or Rehab: Whatever Happened to Edward Furlong?

Jen Chaney — Tue, 19 May 2009 15:03:00 GMT

His real name is Edward Furlong, but many people still think of him as John Connor, the kid destined to save mankind in "Terminator 2: Judgment Day." Furlong made his film debut at the age of 13 in that iconic James Cameron action flick. While those who kept track of the actor -- or just monitor movie news in general -- may know what happened to Furlong after that, others may be fuzzier on the details. So with Christian Bale set to become the adult version of John Connor in "Terminator Salvation," now seems as good a time as any to find out ... whatever happened to Edward Furlong?

This is one Rich or Rehab installment that, unfortunately, actually does involve some rehab. But first things first ... after his life-changing role in "T2," Furlong continued acting, scoring prominent roles in such films as "Little Odessa," "Pecker," "American History X" and "Detroit Rock City." But the kid was troubled.

For starters, he was tugged in multiple directions during ongoing custody battles between his mom and his aunt and uncle, who acted as his guardians for several years in the early '90s. He later was involved in a romantic relationship with his tutor, who sued him for some of his earnings after they split. Along the way, he developed addictions to drugs and alcohol, became a regular on the party circuit and even dated the Party Queen herself, Paris Hilton, for a while. He bounced in and out of rehab, and even managed to get arrested for DUI and, in a separate incident, attempting to free lobsters from a grocery store. (You gotta admit, he was creative.)

These days, Furlong seems to have straightened himself out. He married actress Rachael Bella in 2006 and is now the father of a two-year-old son named Ethan. He's also still working steadily even if his movie projects aren't exactly high-profile. He has recently starred in "Kingshighway" and several horror flicks, including "Night of the Demons" and the reportedly soon-to-shoot "Forever," opposite Dennis Hopper. Hopefully these are all signs that he'll stay on the right track.

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Rich or Rehab: Whatever Happened to the 'Young Tom Hanks' From 'Big'?

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Images:Artisan Entertainment, celebrity-moms.blogspot.com

Rich or Rehab: Whatever Happened to the 'Young Tom Hanks' From 'Big'?

Jen Chaney — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:02:00 GMT

Before Tom Hanks ever tried to solve Vatican mysteries in "Angels & Demons," he played a boy trapped in a grown man's body in another summer movie hit, 1988's "Big." But in the scenes prior to Hanks's takeover of the life of young Josh Baskin, the character was portrayed by a genuinely young actor, a kid named David Moscow.

And that leads me to the question you know I'm just waiting to ask: whatever happened to that boy?

The aforementioned pivotal role in "Big" kickstarted the career of the then 13-year-old New York City native, leading Moscow to parts in TV movies like "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and theatrical films like "Newsies." His resume was a bit spotty in the '90s perhaps because, according to Wikipedia, he attended Hampshire College during a portion of that decade.

He eventually resumed his acting career, though, picking up an appearance in an episode of "Seinfeld," a regular part on the sitcom "Zoe, Duncan, Jack and Jane" and roles in movies like "Riding in Cars with Boys," "Just Married" and the Jessica Alba instant classic, "Honey."

During the past two years, Moscow has been particularly busy, appearing in a string of independent and direct-to-DVD films, including the Corbin Bernsen-directed effort "Dead Air." Based on the information I was able to find, he is not married and does not have kids; he was engaged to actress Kerry Washington for a few years but the relationship ended.

If he ever does have children, I have to assume that Moscow will be the first one to tell them not to rush into growing up. After all, if anyone knows that skipping over childhood isn't a good idea, it's this "Big" star.

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Rich or Rehab: Whatever Happened to Staci Keanan?

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Rich or Rehab: Whatever Happened to Staci Keanan?

Jen Chaney — Tue, 05 May 2009 14:58:00 GMT

Children of the '80s, surely you remember the girl who had "My Two Dads." Her name was Staci Keanan and for three seasons on NBC, she played sitcom daughter to Paul Reiser and Greg Evigan. Presumably, many of you have spent many sleepless nights wondering what happened to the young actress. Well, here's the update. Consider your insomnia cured.

After her stint on "My Two Dads," Keanan popped up on a few other series here and there until she landed a more permanent gig on that other sitcom that made her famous, "Step by Step." After that comedy ended its run in 1998, the Pennsylvania native's bio gets a bit ... vague.

According to imdb, she majored in art history at UCLA. But I coudn't dig up any information about when she graduated. What is apparent is that Keanan eventually returned to acting. She appears to have done some theater and, in recent years, a few more movie credits have appeared on her resume. Among them: a pair of recent roles in Christian-themed films slated for release this year: the comedy "Holyman Undercover," scheduled to come to DVD in September, and a film that ChristianCinema.com describes as "pro-life", "Sarah's Choice."

It's unclear what's on tap next for Keanan, but she seems to be working semi-steadily. Meanwhile, "My Two Dads" made its DVD debut earlier this year. You can catch her reminiscing about the experience on the box set's special features. Who knows? Perhaps a "My Two Dads" renaissance is just around the corner.

Here's a semi-recent picture of Keanan, proof that the 33-year-old has aged pretty well.

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Rich or Rehab: Whatever Happened to the 'Small Wonder'?

Rich or Rehab: What Happened to Millie From 'Freaks and Geeks'?

Rich or Rehab: Whatever Happened to the Banks Children?

Jen Chaney — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:58:00 GMT

They were the children with enough candor to ask for a nanny with "rosy cheeks, no warts!" They were ("sincere-lyyyy") Jane and Michael Banks, the delightful British tots who had the good fortune to be left in the care of the umbrella-wielding, bottomless bag-carrying Mary Poppins. So whatever happened to Karen Dotrice and Matthew Garber, the two young actors who starred alongside Julie Andrews in that 1964 Disney classic?

Let's start with the story of Garber, since his tale is the more tragic of the two. After "Mary Poppins," Garber appeared in one additional Disney feature, 1967's "The Gnome-Mobile," also with Dotrice. His acting career ended there. Sadly, Garber died a mere decade later, at the age of 21. According to information on the Reel Classics Web site, the circumstances surrounding Garber's death were unknown for many years; no obituary was published and even the people at Disney Studios weren't sure what had caused his untimely death. In 2004, Fergus Garber, Matthew's younger brother, confirmed in an interview that his sibling died of pancreatitis, which he apparently contracted after eating "bad" meat while visiting India.

The story of Garber's "Mary Poppins" sister, Karen Dotrice, is thankfully less upsetting. She continued to pursue an acting career post-"Poppins," landing her highest-profile parts in the British series "Upstairs, Downstairs" and a 1978 remake of Alfred Hitchcock's "The Thirty Nine Steps." Although she did some voice work and theater and made an occasional TV appearance in the years that followed, Dotrice more or less retired from acting in the early 1980s.

She got married twice, first to Alex Hyde-White (they divorced in 1992), then in 1994 to her current spouse, Ned Nalle, a man who has previously served as an executive for Universal Studios and the Playboy Entertainment Group. According to Wikipedia, she has three children, one from her marriage to Hyde-White and three with Nalle.

Back in 2004, she was named a Disney Legend by the studio. It was an honor she shared with her co-star, Garber, who received the designation posthumously.

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Images: Wikipedia and superiorpics.com

Rich or Rehab: Whatever Happened to Skippy From 'Family Ties'?

Jen Chaney — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:02:00 GMT

He was the nerdy kid next-door who worshipped at the altar of Mallory and tagged along after Alex like an adorable, bespectacled puppy. He was Skippy Handleman, the resident dork on TV's "Family Ties," and he was portrayed by actor Marc Price.

Of course, after seven years of playing second fiddle to various members of the beloved Keaton family, Price grew up and eventually moved on to other things. Not sure what those other things were? Then read on and find out exactly where Price is now.

For starters, let's just say Price did not have the world's most sizzling acting career outside of "Family Ties." His resume -- courtesy of imdb -- features such highlights as the ridiculous rock 'n' roll horror flick "Trick or Treat"(co-starring Gene Simmons, Ozzy Osbourne and "Desperate Housewives" star Doug Savant!), an afterschool special and "Killer Tomatoes Eat France!," which apparently was released on video solely in Japan.

Fortunately, Price -- who is now 41 -- hasn't relied exclusively on acting credits to pay his bills. For several years, he hosted "Teen Win, Lose or Draw" on the Disney Channel. He has produced shows such as E!'s "Star Dates" and the game show "National Lampoon's Funny Money." These days, according to this recent profile in the Calgary Herald, he still lives in the L.A. area and co-runs a production company called Say Something. But above all else, he continues to work as a stand-up comedia n, a profession he inherited from his funnyman father, Al Bernie.

Just last week, in fact, he did a series of dates in Calgary. And this weekend, he brings the funny to the Washington D.C. region. Price acknowledges that some people may view him as washed-up, but he isn't so sure that he needs to be a celebrity. "There is this obsession that people have, " he told the Herald. "They want you to want to be famous. You ask yourself if 15 more minutes is that important. I grapple with that, but people don't. They are sure of it. They're sure I should want to be really famous and upset that I'm not."

Regardless of how you perceive him, Price certainly seems to be doing what he loves. I suspect even Mallory, in her aloof way, would be impressed by that.

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Images: sitcomsonline.com and superiorpics.com

12 Year Old Knocks Em Dead On Britain's Got Talent

Brett Singer — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:30:00 GMT

Allow me to lapse into nitwit entertainment reporter speak for a moment:

Move over Susan Boyle! That's right, there's a new kid on Britain's Got Talent. And when I say kid – I really mean it. Shaheen Jafargholi is only 12 years old. But his performance of Michael Jackson's "Who's Loving You" knocked Simon's socks off.

"This is how one song can change your life," the typically cantankerous Cowell told the little Welsh boy. "And this may be the start of something special for you, young man."

OK, I'm back now. Wasn't that fun? If I looked like that guy from Sugar Ray, I could've been an on-camera entertainment nudnik. Ah well.

For those who don't know (or care), Susan Boyle was the woman who sang the heck out of a song from "Les Miserables" on Britain's Got Talent, which is basically American Idol but they call elevators "lifts" and stuff like that. The show features talents other than singing, but its the singing that seems to capture the most attention. (Personally I prefer Darth Jackson, a guy who moonwalks like Michael Jackson while dressed as Darth Vader. A somewhat limiting act, I suppose.)

So Shaheen is the latest to get the Brits all hopped up. Unlike Susan Boyle, he's had stage experience; according to WalesOnline, the boy "has been singing since the age of five and played a young Michael Jackson in stage musical Thriller Live. Appeared alongside Gary Lineker in a Walkers advert and had bit parts in Casualty and Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood." (For the record, the song that Shaheen sang was written by Smokey Robinson and was performed by the Jackson 5. It's hard to be specific when using nitwit entertainment reporter speak.)

Susan Boyle's youtube video has been viewed over 30 million times, whereas Shaheen's is still under 500,000. But that could change quickly.

Simon Cowell doesn''t like the embedding of these videos for some reason, so click here to watch Shaheen sing. There is one good moment of semi-drama where Simon stops the kid from singing his first number, something by Amy Winehouse. Then he moves on "Who's Loving You", getting a positive reaction. It does look somewhat staged, although I don't care enough to try and figure out if it is.

My one problem with all of this is that every time a kid has success like this, it inspires hundreds of parents to think that they can do the same with their children. Which they can't. Shaheen can really sing. If your kid can sing too, go for it. If not, don't put them on TV.

Then again, maybe they don't need to be on TV at all, no matter how well they sing.

There's a question: if you had a kid who could sing like this, would you push them to be in show business?

Image/Souce: CNN

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Rich or Rehab: Whatever Happened to the 'Small Wonder'?

Jen Chaney — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:02:00 GMT

Here at Strollerderby, we've been bringing you Rich or Rehab for more than a year. But clearly we have been remiss since it's taken more than 365 days for us to pose the following question: exa ctly what is up with Tiffany Brissette, the '80s child star who played Vicki (or V.I.C.I.) the robot on the sitcom we all knew and loved (okay, at least knew), "Small Wonder"? With absolutely no assistance from any robots, here is the info we managed to dig up.

After perfecting her signature staccato line delivery during four seasons of "Small Wonder," Brissette snagged a handful of small TV parts after the show folded in 1989, including one appearance opposite previous Rich or Rehab subject, Corin Nemec, on "Parker Lewis Can't Lose." But by the early 1990s, the acting prospects dried up.

At that point, and here I quote from the Tiffany Brissette Fan Club Web site, "In 1990 Tiffany appeared in a Christmas videotape, Why Christmas Trees Aren't Perfect. In autumn 1991 she was a co-hostess on The 700 Club where she sang 'Say Yes (to Jesus).'"

A follow-up question on my part: After "Say Yes (to Jesus)," shouldn't Tiffany have sung another song, "Jesus, Why Aren't Christmas Trees Perfect?" I mean, it kind of seems like the obvious question to ask under the circumstances. Just wonderin'.

Anyhoo, that fan club Web site also reports that sometime around the year 2000, Brissette was working as a missionary and youth counselor in the San Diego. More recently, though, she's been living in Boulder, Colo., and pursuing another noble calling: nursing.

Earlier this year she appeared on The Morning Show With Mike and Juliet where, during a somewhat rushed interview and a few awkward reunions with her "Small Wonder" co-stars, she shared a few more details about what she's been up to. Feel free to watch the embedded clip below. As far as I am concerned, anyone who can be a good sport about starring in "Small Wonder" -- and who went from playing a non-human on TV to someone who potentially saves human lives -- must be doing something right.

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Rich or Rehab: What Happened to Millie From 'Freaks and Geeks'?

Jen Chaney — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:28:00 GMT

In this week's attempt to track down child stars of yore, we turn to "Freaks and Geeks," one of the finest, truest shows about high school life to ever air on television. So, naturally, NBC canceled it in 2000, in the middle of its first season. But the freaks and the geeks have managed to get the last laugh; virtually every kid who played a student at Michigan's McKinley High has gone on to greater stardom.

James Franco. Seth Rogen. Linda Cardellini. Jason Segel. All of them have built notable TV and movie careers since the final "Freaks" flag flew back in 2000. Even "geeks" like Martin Starr ("Adventureland") and Samm Levine (soon to be seen in Quentin Tarantino's "Inglorious Basterds") have done pretty well.

Still, a few of the show's supporting players have maintained lower profiles. Which brings us to a question every "Freaks and Geeks" fan may be asking, when they're not inquiring as to the whereabouts of Mr. Rosso: Whatever happened to Millie, the perpetually ethical Mathlete who had the guts to bust out this little number in the middle of a beer bash?

That actress was Sarah Hagan, who scored a part on the Judd Apatow-produced series at the age of 15 and has stayed in the acting business ever since. Her roles have mostly remained in television, sometimes been memorable and usually qualified as small. She had a recurring gig as Amanda on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"; she also scored guest appearances on "Judging Amy," "Grey's Anatomy" and "Medium."

Now Hagan is 24 and still sticking with that acting career. She recently starred opposite Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch and Parker Posey in the comedy "Spring Breakdown," which screened earlier this year at Sundance and will release on DVD in June. It's unclear what's next on her agenda. Personally, I think she should hook up with Jason Segel and take that "Jesus Is Just Alright" routine on the road. That's pure, musical gold.

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Image: Weblo.com

Rich or Rehab: Whatever Happened to Harold From 'Harold and Maude'?

Jen Chaney — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:58:00 GMT

"Harold and Maude" didn't make a particularly huge splash at the box office when it was released back in 1971. But the quirky May-December (really May-December) love story about an elderly woman (Ruth Gordon) and a jaded teen (Bud Cort) has since become a cult classic that influenced numerous filmmakers.

Sadly, as many may recall, Gordon died in the mid-1980s. But everyone may not know what became of Cort, even though they've probably seen him in numerous other movies and TV shows over the years. TMZ recently caught up with him at an event in Hollywood, snapped his photograph and offered a brief update on his life. But surely you want more details. So what is the story with Harold?

After getting his show business start as a teenager who popped up here and there on various TV shows, Cort broke into movies in the early '70s, with roles in Robert Altman's "M*A*S*H*," "Brewster McCloud," and, of course, "Harold and Maude." (For the record, he was 22 when he played the part of Harold. So from a child star perspective, I am cheating a little in this Rich or Rehab installment. But the baby-faced Cort still assumed the role of a teen back then so, you know, that counts for something.)

After his memorable turn in that iconic film, life took an unfortunate detour. Cort nearly died in a car accident on the Hollywood Freeway in 1979 and, as TMZ noted, fully recovered after years of surgery and physical therapy.

Meanwhile, he kept acting, amassing a heap of credits during the past two-plus decades. Without even realizing it, you may have spotted Cort in "Dogma," "Coyote Ugly," "Pollock," "The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou," "Ugly Betty" or playing himself in an episode of one of TV's greatest comedies ever, "Arrested Development":

Other Cort fun facts: He lived off and on in Groucho Marx's mansion. And he provided the voice of the computer in "Electric Dreams," an '80s romantic-comedy-thriller that myself and maybe two other people on the planet probably remember.

The guy is clearly a survivor. Some of the lessons Maude taught Harold about embracing life -- lessons that, of course, were further emphasized by the sweet sounds of Cat Stevens -- must have rubbed off on Cort, too

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Images: homevideos.com and Filmwad.com

Rich or Rehab: What Happened to the Kid From 'Close Encounters'?

Jen Chaney — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:28:00 GMT

The sense of desperation and anguish that a mother feels after her child has been abducted by aliens is indescribable. I mean, we've all been there, right?

Of course, when I say "been there," what I really mean is that we've all probably seen "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," the 1977 Steven Spielberg blockbuster in which a single mom strives to get her son back after he disappears in a massive UFO. That mom was played by Melinda Dillon, an actress who would later secure her place in the Movie Mother Hall of Fame by raising Ralphie and Randy in "A Christmas Story." And young Barry, the wide-eyed little boy so entranced by the multicolored lights of a spaceship? He was played by Cary Guffey, which naturally raises the question ... whatever happened to him?

After making his movie debut at the age of 4 in "Close Encounters," Guffey spent the next few years getting roles in memorable (and not-so-memorable) TV shows and movies. The more notable additions to his resume included parts in "The Sheriff and the Satellite Kid," "Stroker Ace" and the miniseries "North and South." That miniseries marked his final acting gig; in 1985, at the age of 13, Guffey's acting career came to an end.

Naturally, he moved on with his life, finished high school, earned a marketing degree from the University of Florida and, later, an MBA from Jacksonville State University. If imdb's information remains accurate, Guffey is now married with two kids and working in Birmingham, Ala., as a financial planner. Hey, the "Close Encounters" kid went to outer space and back. Maybe now he can help each of us dig our way out of our financial sinkholes.

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Images: Columbia Pictures Via imdb.com; Filmweb

Rich or Rehab: Whatever Happened to Tia From 'Witch Mountain'?

Jen Chaney — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 23:42:00 GMT

Moms and dads who grew up in the 1970s may have fond -- or at least pleasantly fuzzy? -- memories of the "Witch Mountain" movies, the Disney flicks about a pair of orphaned siblings with extraordinary powers. This weekend, Disney -- with a little help from The Rock -- attempts to revive that franchise with "Race to Witch Mountain," an updated version that casts Alexander Ludwig as Seth (a character called Tommy in the original movies) and AnnaSophia Robb in the role of Sara (the superpowered sister formerly known as Tia).

Of course, before there was Ludwig and Robb, we '70s kids had Ike Eisenmann (a former subject in Rich or Rehab) and Kim Richards, a pretty young child star who, in addition to doing her "Witch Mountain" time, appeared in the series "James at 15" and another sitcom that stands as one of the finest of its era: "Hello, Larry." (Okay, I was exaggerating with that "finest of its era" line. But, um, I remember the theme song.) So whatever happened to Richards? And is it possible she may show up in the new "Witch Mountain"?

To answer that first question, Richards continued acting for a while, doing guest stints on TV shows like "CHIPS," "Magnum, P.I." and "The Dukes of Hazzard." In the mid '80s, she also made appearances in the films "Meatballs, Part II" and "Tuff Turf," which also starred James Spader, Robert Downey Jr., and their respective heads of moussed-up '80s hair. (Watch this totally awesome clip, and revel in Kim's fashionable headband, as well as Spader's singing talent.)

If imdb is to be believed, Richards decided to take a long hiatus from acting to raise her four children. But she made a comeback a few years ago by playing the role of Christina Ricci's mom in "Black Snake Moan." And as the above teaser implied, she and her old "Witch Mountain" bro Eisenmann do indeed pop up in this new "Witch Mountain" movie.

It's unclear if she has any other projects in the works, but I can share this fun fact that connects her to yet another previous Rich or Rehab subject: she is the sister of Kyle Richards (another former child star best known for her role in "Halloween") and Kathy Hilton, which makes her Paris Hilton's aunt. So does that mean that, by the transitive property of child stars who played people with otherworldy powers, Paris Hilton also has otherworldly powers by association? I'll let you make that call.

Images: childstarlets.com and celebritynooz.com

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Rich or Rehab: Whatever Happened to Anna Chlumsky?

Jen Chaney — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:28:00 GMT

It's okay. You can admit that you cried during "My Girl," the bittersweet 1991 story of two kids discovering the meaning of friendship and the very bad things that sometimes happen because of bee stings. You also can admit that you were thoroughly charmed by Anna Chlumsky, the young girl who played the role of Vada in the coming-of-age drama and its sequel, the creatively titled "My Girl 2."

Sometime in the mid-1990s, you may have lost track of Miss Chlumsky. So whatever happened to her and, more importantly, is she still friends with old pal Macauley Culkin?

The answer to that second question appears to be no; she told People Magazine in 2007 that she didn't have her former co-star's address. But there are plenty of good things happening to "our girl" lately.

After earning a degree in international studies from the University of Chicago in 2002, she moved to New York where she worked for Zagat and a division of Harper Collins. But after a few years, she decided to return to acting, based on advice she received from both a psychic and Roberta Flack, who she ran into at a nail salon. (Note to self: Next time a psychic AND Roberta Flack tell me to do something, I will follow their instructions to the letter.)

The decision seems to have paid off. She has since appeared in episodes of "30 Rock" and "Law & Order" and co-starred with James Gandolfini in "In the Loop," which was acquired by IFC earlier this year at Sundance. In addition to all that career success, Chlumsky, now 28, last year married an Army Reservist named Shaun So. (Feel free to view several lovely photos from their wedding.)

So the child star seems to be making a comeback. Who knows? She might even agree to do a "My Girl 3" one of these days.

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Rich or Rehab: Whatever Happened to Keisha Castle-Hughes?

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Rich or Rehab: Whatever Happened to Keisha Castle-Hughes?

Jen Chaney — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:32:00 GMT

Plenty of kids have been nominated for Academy Awards. In fact, a couple of them -- including Justin Henry and Haley Joel Osment -- have been covered right here in Rich or Rehab. With this year's Oscars just a few days away, it seemed natural to track down yet another young former Oscar nominee for your reading pleasure.

Which brings us to today's R or R subject: Keisha Castle-Hughes, who, at age 13, became the youngest Best Actress nominee in Oscar history when she earned a nod in 2004 for her role in "Whale Rider." In this weeks running up to the Academy Awards, she became something of a media darling, praised for her moving performance as a Maori girl attempting to buck tradition and become the leader of her tribe. She even got to meet one of her idols, Johnny Depp, in a live, televised moment that -- through no fault of Keisha's -- was totally awkward. (Let me put it this way: Billy Bush insisted on introducing her to Depp during the pre-Oscar show. I'll leave the rest to your imagination.)

So what happened to this Australian talent in the years after she basked in Oscar's glow? After losing the statuette to Charlize Theron, Castle-Hughes rebounded just fine, taking a small part in "Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith" and a starring role in "The Nativity Story." Ironically, shortly before the release of that biblical drama -- in which Castle-Hughes played Mary in the days leading to Jesus's birth -- the actress announced that she was pregnant.

Her daughter, Felicity-Amore, was born in April of 2007. After an understandable break from the business, Castle-Hughes has gotten back into the movie-making game. She co-starred last year alongside Toni Collette in an Australian indie called "Hey, Hey, It's Esther Blueberger."She also reunited with her "Whale Rider" director, Niki Caro, for a movie called "The Vintner's Luck," which is slated for release in the UK, Germany and France later this year.

So kudos to Keisha Castle-Hughes for taking on the challenges of motherhood and still finding the time to work. The good news for her? Since she earned her first Oscar nomination at such a young age, she has plenty of time to find a role that could earn her a second.

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Images: people.com

RIP, Shirley Jean Rickert, Star of "Our Gang"

Kate Tuttle — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:02:00 GMT

This obituary first caught my attention because I grew up watching old, old reruns of the "Our Gang" movies and shorts (both because our local station alternate them with the Three Stooges and because my father pressed me to watch them, in his never-ending quest for his children to understand his own Depression-era childhood). Unlike Spanky, Alfalfa and Buckwheat, or even the pre-murderous Robert Blake, little Shirley Jean never made a huge impact on me. I wouldn't have remembered her face (that's her on the far right), much less her name.

But reading her obit provides a fresh glimpse into how little the lives of Hollywood's child stars have really changed. Discovered in a "beautiful baby" contest at 18 months, Rickert was pushed into show business by her mother, eventually landing a role in the "Our Gang" crew at age four. She acted in five of the Hal Roach-produced comedies in 1931, before the big stars joined the troupe (her fellow rascals included Wheezer, Chubby, and Stymie). She went on to star with Mickey Rooney in the Mickey McGuire series, playing a character named Tomboy Taylor.

When the movies fizzled for her, she found work as a burlesque dancer, billed as Gilda and Her Crowning Glory for her long blonde hair. She told fans that she "would appear on a kiddie TV show on Saturday morning as Shirley Jean of the Our Gang/Little Rascals and disrobe on stage at night for the little kiddies' parents."

Today's former child stars, when they flame out, end up on one of VH1's celebreality shows, or perhaps on the Sober Living House. In the 1950s, options were more limited. After stripping, Rickert worked as a bartender and a hardware salesperson. Of her life in show business, she told a 1999 interviewer, it was never her idea.

"We had fun," she said. "The mothers on the other hand, were awful. Stage mothers are just vile women, including my own."

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Rich or Rehab: Whatever Happened to Jonah From 'Sleepless in Seattle'?

Jen Chaney — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:02:00 GMT

It's Valentine's Week, otherwise known as prime time for viewing chick flicks. And in that spirit, we devote this week's Rich or Rehab to a young boy who appeared in one of the chickiest flicks of all time, "Sleepless in Seattle."

For those of you who have erased the details of this gooey Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan charmer from your memory, here's a quick summary: Tom Hanks loses wife to cancer. Meg Ryan gets engaged to blatantly boring guy. Meg Ryan hears Tom Hanks on a radio show, which his young son called because he wants Dad to find a new wife. Meg Ryan is touched by Tom Hanks' love for his deceased wife, writes him a letter, obsesses about him for roughly two hours and ultimately meets Tom Hanks on top of the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day, where the two of them fall in love at first sight, even though they should really know better after starring together in "Joe Versus the Volcano."

But let's back-up a second and talk about the young son I mentioned earlier. His name in the movie was Jonah and he was played by 9-year-old actor Ross Malinger, a kid who had previously made appearances in the movie "Kindergarten Cop" and on TV shows such as "Who's the Boss?" and "Roseanne." After "Sleepless" became a big hit, Malinger continued to work steadily, mostly in television and the occasional movie. He showed up in the Jean-Claude Van Damme vehicle "Sudden Death," the "Serenity Now" episode of "Seinfeld," several installments of "Party of Five" and as the voice of T.J. in the cartoon "Recess."

The most recent credit on his acting resume, at least according to IMDb, is a guest spot on "Without a Trace" from back in 2006. So where is Ross Malinger today?

Reportedly he owns Automotive Legends, a Malibu, Calif., Porsche dealership that specializes in rebuilding classic luxury cars. With a business like that, one would imagine that young Jonah is doing pretty well for himself cash-wise. Unfortunately, I couldn't find much other information about him, but I did stumble upon this photo of a guy who looks a lot like Malinger on the Automotive Legends Web site. It's too bad he didn't own this business back in 1993. He could have driven to New York in style to track down Meg Ryan on Tom Hanks's behalf instead of having to fly.

Image: Daily Mail and Automotive Legends

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Rich or Rehab: Whatever Happened to Parker Lewis?

Jen Chaney — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:58:00 GMT

You remember that Fox TV show, "Parker Lewis Can't Lose"? No? You sure?

It aired in the early 1990s, was clearly a rip-off of "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and starred the young man you see pictured here, an actor named Corin Nemec, who earlier made his mark as a child star with a series of appearances on "Webster."

As Lewis, Nemec was cute, kind of funny in a Matthew Broderick sort of way and, for a brief while, somewhat popular with the preteen and teen TV viewing set. So whatever happened to Nemec?

He's still an actor and has worked steadily in the industry, appearing before the cameras and behind them as a producer and, occasionally, a writer. Most of his roles have consisted of bits parts in minor movies and on TV shows, including "Stargate," "CSIs" of both the "NY" and "Miami" variety and "Ghost Whisperer."

Lately, though, it's his friendship with another former child star -- David Faustino of "Married With Children" -- that has garnered him a little more attention. The two have paired up to appear in an online series called "Star-Ving," a comedy based exceedingly loosely on Faustino's real life. You can catch short episodes -- featuring cameos by Coolio and Christina Applegate -- at crackle.com.

Clearly both of these guys have a sense of humor about their status as formerly famous dudes. As the intro to the series says of Nemec, he's the former star of TV's "Parker Lewis Can't Lose" who "did lose." Hey, the guy's still working and he can laugh at himself. Sounds to me like he didn't lose at all.

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Sasha and Malia See Hogwarts with Harry

JeanneSager — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:34:00 GMT

Money can't buy happiness, but your dad getting to be president?

Oh, come on, don't tell me that the scrutiny of every American matters much to Sasha and Malia this week. They just got an offer to tour Hogwarts with Harry Potter himself.

Apparently Brit Daniel Radcliffe is as taken with the first kids as those of us on this side of the pond.

It helps that he's a fan of their dad. Radcliffe told the Daily Beast, the new president represents "everything the rest of the world liked about America and now likes again.”

"What you love about England is all the old buildings and such. The traditions. I love that, too. But this is what we want from you," he said, before issuing his formal invitation to Sasha and Malia to act as their personal tourguide on a walk-through of Hogwarts.

As the school for witchcraft and wizardry doesn't exist (at least not as far as we Muggles know), the girls will be treated to a tour of the set of the newest movie in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which begins filming in a few weeks.

Once they get over the thrill of meeting Harry, sitting down with Radcliffe could be good for the girls. He too became famous at a young age - almost overnight. And unlike their most recent visitors - the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus - Radcliffe has weathered the storm to become an equally famous adult. Christened the world's most famous boy wizard at thirteen, Radcliffe has developed both his acting chops and his public face; even weathered the "controversy" of stripping down for Equus.

Pointing to the almost reclusive life of Amy Carter today and the cruel jokes made at Chelsea Clinton's expense, some have warned the Obama girls are in for a tough road ahead. With their shining personalities (and as far as we can tell two parents with good heads on their shoulders), I think they can weather the storm. But the advantages they have - the meetings with some of the stars that shine in their still young eyes - might just be what's best for them right now. Who better to let them know how to handle the life changes of the next four years than the kinds of kids who have been there, done that?

By the way - check out the interview with Daniel for a peek at the next installment in the Harry Potter series, due in June!

Image: People

Rich or Rehab: Whatever Happened to That Kid From 'About a Boy'?

Jen Chaney — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:02:00 GMT

If your movie taste is anything like mine, then you were a big fan of "About a Boy." The wry romantic comedy -- based on the equally excellent book by Nick Hornby -- was released back in 2002 and starred Hugh Grant as a less-than-ethical bachelor who finally learns to be a grown up by hanging out with a 12-year-old boy. (Um, it's much more innocent than it sounds.)

That 12-year-old boy was played by Nicholas Hoult, a young British actor who got to play the part of clueless preteen social outcast in the film. Nicholas held his own quite nicely opposite Grant, in what I believe was the best role of his career. So nicely, in fact, that one had to assume back in '02 that Hoult was destined for even bigger and better big-screen things. So whatever happened to that "About a Boy" kid?

Turns out he was destined to continue his career in acting. In the years following "About a Boy's" release, Hoult appeared in some other notable movies, including "The Weather Man" (starring Nicolas Cage) and "Wah-Wah" (starring Gabriel Byrne and Emily Watson). But he's best known for his role as the arrogant, popular and handsome Tony on the British teen TV series, "Skins," which was recently released in the U.S. for the first time on DVD. If you have not seen it, I highly recommend it, assuming you don't mind a bit of foul language, teen sex and drug use. (Ah, British TV. Is there anything it won't show?)

Yes, Hoult has gone from nerd to hottie. And the 19-year-old should have an exciting year ahead, since the movie "A Single Man" is slated to be released sometime in the 2009. That film -- in which Hoult co-stars with Colin Firth, Julianne Moore and Ginnifer Goodwin -- was directed by Tom Ford (yes, that Tom Ford) and should bring Hoult some attention again here in the States. He's also scheduled to make his London stage debut this year in a production of "New Boy."

So let this story be a lesson to you, kids. Even if you play a total geek in a Hugh Grant movie, you can still grow up and become a Big Man on the Acting Campus.

Images: PGAOL.blogspot.com and livejournal.com

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Rich or Rehab: Year in Review

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Jen Chaney — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:28:00 GMT

In today's Rich or Rehab, we flash back to the early 1990s, a time when the original "90210" was hot, a "Batman" sequel dominated the box office and the Bumblebee Girl -- the goofy, adorably pudgy young lady who appeared in the Blind Melon video for "No Rain" -- became a pop culture icon.

Surely you remember the way Bumblebee Girl let her freak flag fly in that popular video, capturing the hears of fellow social outcasts everywhere. If you don't, allow this to refresh your memory:

Naturally, the Bee Girl has a real name. It's Heather DeLoach, and she was 10-years-old when she appeared in that memorable clip. Most of us would assume that dancing around in a funny outfit in a hugely popular music video would pretty much ruin the rest of your life. But fortunately for Heather, that's not the case.

Since her colloaboration with Blind Melon, she has earned an undergraduate degree from California State University Fullerton and is currently an aspiring actress. Her parts so far have been on the smaller side. Still, you may have spotted her in guest appearances on "Reno 911!" or "ER," or in movies such as "Balls of Fury" and "Anywhere But Here."

Heather told the New York Daily News a couple of months ago that she would love to own her own production company. She also expressed her gratitude for the opportunities that fateful music video has brought her. "This is the best thing that happened to me," she said. "At 80 years old, people are still going to be wondering what I'm doing."

If we're still doing Rich or Rehab 80 years from now, we promise to do a follow-up. In the meantime, here is what Heather looks like now:

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Rich or Rehab: Year in Review

Jen Chaney — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:02:00 GMT

Back in late March, Strollerderby launched Rich or Rehab, a weekly feature devoted to tracking down the whereabouts of child stars both well known and obscure. During the past nine months or so, I've covered the lives of almost 30 formerly fresh-faced young actors. With the year coming to a close, I perused the list of people profiled and compiled the following list of fascinating (okay, semi-interesting) factoids.

None of this year's Rich or Rehab subjects is currently in rehab, and few have ever spent time in such a facility. This could be a byproduct of the actors I usually chose to cover -- after all, most of the child stars who travel the addiction route are already well known for their troubles and therefore never struck me as worth covering in Rich or Rehab. Nevertheless, this little nugget still proves that it is quite possible to get famous, lose that fame and still go on to live a very normal life.

For whatever reason, an inordinate number of former child stars have provided voices for cartoons and/or video games.

Several Rich or Rehab-ites are either making it in the movie business -- see Peter Billingsley and Robby Benson -- or still committed to a career in the industry (Jonathan Lipnicki and Jonathan Ke-Quan, aka Data from "The Goonies").

On the flip side, many left the Hollywood scene entirely and have found their calling in roles that vary from college professor (Ilan Mitchell-Smith from "Weird Science") to U.S. Postal Service employee ("E.T.'s" Robert MacNaughton) to corporate lawyer (Josh Saviano of "The Wonder Years" ... and no, for the last time, he's not Marilyn Manson!).

If you're wondering who the most popular Rich or Rehab subjects are thus far, your three favorites (at least based on page views) are: Miss "Punky Brewster," Soleil Moon Frye; Mara Wilson; and young Darth Vader himself, "Phantom Menace" star Jake Lloyd.

The year isn't over yet, but I am already thinking about which child stars merit attention in the Rich or Rehabs of 2009. Got a suggestion? Please post it in the comments. And may your new year be filled with riches and devoid of rehab.

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Jen Chaney — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:33:00 GMT

In need of a good Christmas cry? Grab a box of tissues and watch this:

Of course, that's the famous scene from "Meet Me in St. Louis" that gave us one of the most enduring holiday tunes of all time, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." But that's only part of the reason that scene is so wrenching. A lot of its sadness emanates from the performance by the talented Margarent O'Brien, who plays young, trouble-making Tootie in the film and more than holds her own opposite Judy Garland and every other adult star in the picture. So whatever happened to O'Brien, one of the most famous and well-regarded child stars in cinema history?

First, a little background. In the 1940s, O'Brien was one of the best known young actors in Hollywood. She appeared in numerous films, from "Journey for Margaret" to "Jane Eyre" to "Tenth Avenue Angels" to "Little Women." But her work in "Meet Me in St. Louis" was undeniably her most outstanding, and it won her a juvenile Academy Award, back when the Oscars honored the performances of child stars.

But like many young actors, once she got older, the movie roles dried up. In the '50s and '60s, she turned her attention to television, guest starring on a wide variety of shows, including "Studio One," "Rawhide" and "Perry Mason." During the '70s, '80s and '90s, she acted on television only occasionally, reportedly worked the dinner theater circuit and, according to several Web sites, served as a civilian aide for Southern California to Secretary of the Army Clifford Alexander.

O'Brien, a close friend of fellow child star Elizabeth Taylor, married twice and has one daughter. Next month, she turns 72. And apparently, she has made a small scale return to movies, recently appearing in two independent efforts: "Dead in Love" and "Frankenstein Rising." I think it's safe to say that neither of those will reach Turner Classic Movie status, but it's heartening to know that O'Brien is still working and making use of the talent that was so evident 64 years ago, when Garland urged her to "have a merry little Christmas now."

Image: Fest21.com

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Jen Chaney — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:32:00 GMT

Every year, most of us watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas." Every year, we hear good 'ol Chuck ask the timeless question, "Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?" But do we ever stop to ask who provided the voice for that animated bald-headed kid?

Well, in this week's Rich or Rehab, I do. Here's the story of Peter Robbins, a guy who can accurately be described this way: Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, he's the Charlie Browniest.

Robbins got his start in show business at age 7, playing small roles mostly in television shows ranging from "Rawhide" to "The Munsters." In 1965, when he was 9, he got the role of a lifetime: He signed on to voice Charlie Brown in "A Charlie Brown Christmas." Clearly he was good at the gig. He spoke on behalf of the unpopular kid in the zig-zag shirt in four more animated specials -- including 1966's "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" -- and the movie "A Boy Named Charlie Brown."

Meanwhile, he was still popping up occasionally in other TV series, like "F Troop" and "Get Smart." But Robbins ultimately had to abandon his lucrative blockhead job in 1969 because his voice broke. (Damn you confounded puberty!)

It's unclear exactly what happened to Robbins immediately thereafter, but NPR reported a couple of years ago that he now works in the real estate business, managing several apartment buildings in Van Nuys, Calif. I find that kind of hilarious given what Lucy says she really wants during "A Charlie Brown Christmas":

Lucy Van Pelt: I know how you feel about all this Christmas business, getting depressed and all that. It happens to me every year. I never get what I really want. I always get a lot of stupid toys or a bicycle or clothes or something like that.

Charlie Brown: What is it you want?

Lucy Van Pelt: Real estate.

Robbins is now 52 and reportedly single (you know, in case any of you are lookin'). He made an appearance at San Diego's Comic-Con earlier this year; you can see an interview he recorded at the pop culture festival here. Maybe it's just me, but I find it comforting to know that Charlie Brown's life has turned out to be mostly good and, seemingly, rarely associated with grief.

Images: twelveone. geeky.music; NPR.org

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Jen Chaney — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:02:00 GMT

We already know what became of Peter Billingsley, the actor who played Ralphie in "A Christmas Story." (And by the way, you can see yet another of his frequent cameo appearances in "Four Christmases," the No. 1 movie in America and a comedy he also produced.) But what about Ralphie's little brother Randy, the kid who snorted all over a plate of meatloaf and mashed potatoes in his role as "Mommy's Little Piggy"? Whatever happened to him?

That young actor's name was Ian Petrella, and he was only 9-years-old when the Red Ryder BB gun tale released in theaters. It was his first role, but not his last. Petrella went on to appear in several TV shows, including "Diff'rent Strokes," "Who's the Boss" and "Beverly Hills, 90210," in which he played the much sought-after role of "Kid." (At least that's how imdb tells it.)

After that, the California native left acting behind. Details on his early adult life are vague, but my friend the Internet, who's in really tight with Wikipedia, tells me that Petrella currently works as an animator and puppeteer. Some of his creations can be seen on the Web site Mas Kapital, where a short bio pays homage to his alter ego Randy, the little boy who can never put his arms down while wearing a snowsuit.

Petrella included his e-mail address on the page, so technically I suppose you could shoot him a note if you've always to correspond with Randy Parker. (And who hasn't?) Actually, you may want to wish him a happy birthday since next week, he turns 34.

Sure, he may not roll with Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau like his onscreen older brother. But it sounds like Ralphie's baby bro is doing just fine.

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