Listmania! TV’s Ten Most Memorable Child Actors
The criteria? Simple.
They had to be on television and they had to be under 18 at the beginning of the series. Much to my dismay, this kicked Sally Field as Gidget right out of the running.
Soleil Moon Frye- Punky Brewster
People either loved her or hated her, but either way she managed to etch herself into the American consciousness.
Neil Patrick Harris- Dougie Howser, M.D.
A doctor who is going through puberty equals hit show. Why exactly, I’m not sure. But it did.
Frankie Muniz- Malcolm in the Middle
The brilliant, beleaguered Malcom played the quintessential middle child in a hilariously dysfunctional family.
Fred Savage- The Wonder Years
If you didn’t root for him to get together with Winnie, then you simply have no soul.
Danny Bonaduce- The Partridge Family
Even though nobody had posters up in their rooms of Danny, we all remember him better than that Cassidy guy.
To see who rounds out the list….
Gary Coleman- Diff’rent Strokes
Forever immortalized by that famous question.
Melissa Gilbert- Little House on the Prairie
Those braids! Sticking up for Almanzo! And watch out Nellie!
Ron Howard- The Andy Griffith Show
I don’t think I ever watched the show, and I know exactly who Opie is.
Carl Switzer- Our Gang/ The Little Rascals
I’m cheating a tad bit as technically the Our Gang series was made for movie theaters. However, millions grew to know and love Alfalfa and his bubble-singing through television.
Jerry Mathers- Leave it to Beaver
Even though this show aired way back in the late 50′s to early 60′s “The Beav” is still a fave.
Good list. I always like the young Rudy (Keisha Knight Pulliam) from the Cosby Show.
Ana, I was just going to say Rudy! Remember how she called Kenny, “Bud?”
I loved Little House and have the entire series on DVD, now my daughter can watch them.
My hus and I, a few years ago, watched re-runs of The Wonder Years because we like it so much.
Now we watch M.A.S.H. every night.No childhood stars there.
You know, Keisha was in the running, but the ensemble cast was so strong that I felt she didn’t really stand out as much as these others. She was a total cutie, though! I was a faithful watcher of the Cosby Show, and most of the time wished I could move in with the Huxtables because they were way cooler than my parents.
Does anyone remember Anissa Jones, who played Buffy in Family Affair way back in the 60′s? An absolutely adorable child, very talented, real and fresh. She came to a very sad end and died of overdose at the age of 18.
And of course, my personal childhood hero was Lisa Loring, who played Wednesday Addams with deadpan aplomb in The Addams Family, one of the best TV shows of all time! Lemony Snicket owes a huge debt to Wednesday Addams.
Oh yeah, Buffy! I remember her.
But what about the kid from Gentle Ben?
Raincoaster: he was Clint Howard, younger brother of Ron Howard (Opie.)
Right! All I could think of was “that guy in the Austin Powers movies!”
Did you know Billy Mumy has a band and a new CD? It’s true. And it’s very, very weird.
http://raincoaster.com/2007/08/13/fish-heads-fish-headsby-barnes-barnes/
True story: my mom played volleyball with Jerry Mathers at his fraternity when they were both at UC Berkeley.
Was he any good?
Well…he was smart!
I’m kinda late here ’cause I’m just catching up with my RSS reader, but I just had to say:
“If you didn’t root for him to get together with Winnie, then you simply have no soul.”
Truer words were n’er spoken.