Famous Celebrities Of The ’70s: Then And Now
Are you ready to go on a time-traveling journey? Let's take a step back into the 1970s, an era of long hair, shaggy carpets and groovy lingo. Before streaming services and PVRs were even thought of, families gathered around their TVs to watch classic shows. If you're someone who grew up in this decade, we bet you can still recite every line from each episode as if it was yesterday! But what happened to those stars after they left our screens? Continue reading to see what Melissa Gilbert has been up to since Little House on the Prairie...
Susan Olsen - Then
Susan Olsen gained fame in the '60s and '70s as Cindy Brady. Born in 1961 in Santa Monica, California, she was the youngest of four children.
Before playing the littlest Brady kid at age 8, she had an acting role in The Trouble With Girls (1968), starring Elvis Presley. Her natural charm and innocence made her a star.
Follow us for more great content
Susan Olsen - Now
Olsen chose to stay away from the public eye after The Brady Bunch ended. However, she had a role in all of the reunion movies.
She has tried her hand at many professions including graphic design, marketing glow-in-the-dark Converse sneakers, and hosting a radio show called "Two Chicks Talkin' Politics".
Quinn Cummings - Then
Quinn Cummings is a retired child actress who achieved fame for her performance in Goodbye Girl and Family. Born in 1967, she began acting at the young age of 8, earning an Academy Award nomination - an impressive accomplishment for someone so young!
She likely realized that to remain successful, she would have to continually maintain a high standard of work. Thus, after achieving success early on in her career, she chose to retire while still relatively young.
Quinn Cummings - Now
Quinn Cummings has retired from acting and now devotes her time to other projects. The HipHugger, a stylish baby carrier, was the first of these; inspired by the birth of her child.
She also runs The QC Report, a blog that provides insight into motherhood and life in your thirties. In addition to this, she has written a book titled "Notes From the Underwire: Adventures from My Awkward and Lovely Life" which was released in July 2009.
Chris Knight - Then
Christopher Knight has changed significantly since he was born in 1957 in Manhattan, NY. His father's acting career meant that Christopher was destined for stardom. At three, his dad auditioned him and one of his brothers to save money for college tuition.
In 1969, Christopher achieved fame when he became Peter Brady on The Brady Bunch which only gained popularity after it ended in 1974; the show has been a TV staple for over 30 years.
Chris Knight - Now
Chris Knight never liked the spotlight, but his love of machines and science led him to a successful career in computers. In 18 months he logged the company's first million-dollar sale.
In 2003, he took on Casting Networks Inc., revolutionizing casting processes with the internet. Now, after years away from his beginnings, he is ready to re-enter the business and recognizes its potential for success.
Ron Howard - Then
Ron Howard has been gracing our screens since the swinging sixties, starting off with a bang in "The Andy Griffith Show." But it was "Happy Days" that truly launched him into the stratosphere, where he played the iconic role of Richie Cunningham, the level-headed and affable teenager, who navigated the ups and downs of adolescence with his gang of buddies in Milwaukee.
The show was a massive hit and ran for an impressive number of seasons, that is until one character's infamous jet ski jump over a shark, marked the end of an era.
Ron Howard - Now
Ron Howard is a true Hollywood heavyweight, a veritable titan of the entertainment industry. Describing him as a successful actor, producer, or director is like calling the sun warm - it's simply a given.
He has amassed an impressive body of work throughout his career, with over 27 films under his belt as an actor, 28 films as a director and 20 films as a producer. Ron Howard is living proof that with hard work and determination, one can achieve anything they set their mind to.
Maureen McCormick - Then
"Hold on to your perms, folks, because we're about to talk about one of the leading ladies of "The Brady Bunch"! Maureen McCormick, who played the eldest Brady sister, Marcia, from 1969 to 1974, is a household name for any fan of the show. As Marcia, Maureen embodied the perfect blend of beauty, brains, and confidence.
She was the popular girl at school and the apple of her family's eye. Even at a young age of 12, she brought depth to the character with her interest in politics and her concerns about her appearance. Maureen McCormick's portrayal of Marcia Brady has become an enduring symbol of nostalgia and pop culture.
Maureen McCormick - Now
Maureen McCormick's life has been just as exciting as her career. In 1985, she tied the knot with Michael Cummings and the couple welcomed their daughter Natalie in 1989. A decade later, she took on a new challenge, competing on and winning "VH1's Celebrity Fit Club" in 2007. In 2016, she took to the dance floor, appearing on "Dancing with the Stars" on ABC.
Though her time on the show was cut short, she put up a good fight, making it to the competition's seventh week and finishing in a respectable 8th place.
Lisa Whelchel - Then
The adorable Lisa Whelchel was born in 1963 out in Littlefield, Texas. It was at the age of eight when she found acting. She started with musical theater for several years. At 12 years old, she wrote to the Disney and asked for an audition to be on The New Mickey Mouse Club. The following year, she moved to sunny California to appear on the show for from 1977-1978.
A year after that, she had the lead student role on The Facts of Life. That particular show didn't last too long but it helped Whelchel's resume plenty.
Lisa Whelchel - Now
Lisa Whelchel still keeps active in the entertainment industry. Back in 2012, she was even on the popular show Survivor: Phillippines. While on the show, she chose to keep her past life a secret because many of the other contestants were too young to have known her from The Facts of Life.
She appeared in 14 episodes and earned the title of Sprint Player of the Season which anointed her $100k. Some controversy stirred when she announced on her Twitter she contracted the West Nile virus because she didn't make clear if she had got it while filming the show.
Revisit Gilligan's Island With These Behind-The-Scenes Facts
Erin Murphy - Then
Erin Margaret Murphy is best known as the American actress who starred in the massively popular "Bewitched" TV series which ran from 1964 to 1972. During the first season, she shared the spotlight of young Tabitha Stephens with her fraternal twin sister, Diane.
As the children grew older and looked less alike, Erin took on the role by herself. She was one of the most famous young actresses in the world thanks to her role.
Erin Murphy - Now
Murphy bounced around to various auditions after "Bewitched" ended, and she turned down various commercials and modeling gigs. Her family eventually moved to Orange County, where she entered the sixth grade with a chance of being a “normal kid.” When she turned 21-years-old she married and had her first child while living in Arizona.
Her love of acting led her to teach the craft. She also worked in production and makeup when film shoots would come to town. She even worked as a stunt double for Virginia Madsen and Melissa Leo. She returned to Los Angeles and started working on reality TV shows, in commercials, and as a celebrity judge. She also owns two companies, one of which sells frozen vodka martini ice pops.
Helen Hunt - Then
Acting since the age of eight, Helen has been in the spotlight all of her life, it seems. She enjoyed a fantastic television and film career through her teens in shows like "Amy Prentiss" (1974-75), "Swiss Family Robinson" (1975-76), and "The Fitzpatricks (1977-78)," as well as films like Rollercoaster in 1977.
"The Swiss Family Robinson" followed the survivors of the shipwreck stranded on a volcanic island. It ran for 21 episodes.
Helen Hunt - Now
Still going strong, Helen is always in television or movies. Some of her most popular modern films were her Oscar-winning performance in As Good As It Gets, and her own 2014 hit comedy Ride. She also starred in the television show "Mad About You."
Fact: Helen witnessed the 911 attacks from the rooftop of her New York apartment. She flew herself and her entire staff out of New York to safety in Connecticut three days later.
Kyle Richards - Then
Kyle Richards, Kim's older sister, was another '70s child actress that many of us recognize!
She was best known for her recurring role as Alicia on the beloved show "Little House on the Prairie." She also had appearances in some horror movies such as The Car, Eaten Alive, and Halloween.
Kyle Richards - Now
Like her little sister Kim, Kyle is also a cast member on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills." She's been on the show since 2010 and is now the last remaining original cast member on the series.
Kim also appeared in "The New Celebrity Apprentice." Her memoir, Life Is Not a Reality Show: Keeping It Real with the Housewife Who Does It All, was released in 2011. She and her husband Mauricio Umansky are major donors to the Children's Hospital Los Angeles. They have three daughters together.
Adam Rich - Then
Adam Rich is a name that will forever be associated with his iconic role as Nicholas Bradford, the lovable youngest son on the hit TV show "Eight Is Enough." The show, which ran for five seasons from 1977 to 1981, made him a household name and his distinctive bowl haircut even inspired thousands of parents to give their own children the same haircut.
He was so beloved in the role that he earned the nickname "America's little brother." Unfortunately, as the 1980s rolled around, Adam faced personal struggles and ultimately retreated from the spotlight permanently.
Adam Rich - Now
Adam Rich rose to fame as a child actor, with his star shining brightly in Hollywood. However, as the new century began, his time in the limelight came to a gradual end.
The last project on his resume was the 2003 film Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, where he plays himself.
Kim Richards - Then
Kim was one of the most popular child actors around, starring in numerous television and films throughout the seventies. From shows like “Nanny and the Professor" and “James at Sixteen” to headlining films like Escape to Witch Mountain and its sequel Return from Witch Mountain, Kim seemed to be everywhere in the public eye.
Throughout the decade, Richards found herself constantly working, appearing in everything from comedies, to dramas, to horror films.
Kim Richards - Now
Kim came back into the public eye in 2010 when she joined the cast of the hit reality television series “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” along with her sister, Kyle. Shortly after starting the show, however, rumors of problems began to spread, due in part to her erratic behavior on camera.
She was let go of the series but returns occasionally as a guest star.
Robbie Rist - Then
Robbie joined "The Brady Bunch" as cousin Oliver during the show’s last six episodes. He was brought on as an alternative to the older Brady kids and to help prop up the show’s ratings as they were seeing increased competition from shows such as "Sanford & Son."
The plan by producers backfired and the show was canceled anyway. Rist spoke the last words ever of the series, "Me! Cousin Olver! Gosh, it was only a suggestion." Even though Oliver was eight, Rist was actually nine years old.
Robbie Rist - Now
Rist has been providing voiceover work as an adult in such films as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as well as many animated shows such as "Batman: The Animated Series."
Recently, the talented Robbie has garnered notice on film soundtracks for movies such as Sharknado and Sharknado 2. Along with the film's director, the recorded the B-movies theme song under the name Quint. He performs as the lead singer, guitarist, bassist and/or drummer for several Los Angeles rock bands.
Mason Reese - Then
Mason's huge talents and unique looks made him an instant child star in the seventies. He acted in more than seventy television commercials alone.
He was always on shows like "Howard Cosell" and "Mike Douglas" or just about any other talk show at the time. He was a major pop star back in the day.
Mason Reese - Now
After retiring from television, Reese went on to become a restaurateur. He's opened several restaurants, such as Paladar and Destination Bar and Grille in the Manhattan area. Recently, he raised money to make a pending television pilot called Life Interrupted.
The show featured television icons such as Dawn Wells, who played Mary Ann on Gilligan’s Island; Erin Murphy, who played Tabitha on Bewitched; Alison Arngrim, who played Nellie Oleson on Little House on the Prairie; Michael Learned, who played Olivia Walton on The Waltons; and Robbie Rist, who played Cousin Oliver on The Brady Bunch.
Johnny Whitaker - Then
John played in numerous television series, from "Family Affair” to “General Hospital.”John was the first to give Jodie Foster an on-screen kiss in the film Tom Sawyer. He was a staple on Saturday morning television on "Sigmund and the Sea Monsters."
Johnny retired from acting for a long period of time.
Johnny Whitaker - Now
After his time as a child actor, Johnny Whitakescontinued acting sporadically but has never found the same success he knew as a child.
Fact: Johnny speaks several languages fluently such as Spanish, Portuguese, as well as French, and American Sign Language.
Mike Lookinland - Then
Mike played Bobby Brady on the show "The Brady Bunch." Bobby was the youngest boy in the family and was characteristically energetic and nice. Lookinland also had a surprising range of emotion in portraying Bobby in some episodes of the show. Fact: Mike's natural hair color is a sandy brown and it's also curly.
For the part of Bobby Brady Lookinland had to have his hair dyed and straightened to more closely match the other male characters of the show. Sometimes this caused problems if the set lights were too hot; the dye would run down his face!
Mike Lookinland - Now
Mike played parts in several shows such as "Little House on The Prairie," several Brady Bunch specials and movies like the Towering Inferno before leaving show business entirely.
He's happily married, has two children, and he owns a decorative concrete business in Utah. Mike is a self-confessed Dead Head. His post-Hollywood life proves that everyone is in control of their own future.
Robby Benson - Then
Robby is best known for his film work, although he also was a television star, playing in shows such as soap opera "Search for Tomorrow." His films included Jory, Jeremy and the hit Ode to Billy Joe.
During the making of Ice Castles, one of his biggest films, he had to learn how to skate for the part. He screen-tested for the role of Luke Skywalker in Star Wars but lost to Mark Hammil.
Robby Benson - Now
These days, Benson is best known as the voice of the “Beast” from the Disney film Beauty and The Beast. He’s been married since 1982 and has served as a professor at several universities in New York, Utah, South Carolina, and now Indiana.
Fact: Robby had a lot of heart problems that he never mentioned to producers and directors, thinking he wouldn’t be able to get work as an actor. he’s had at least four heart surgeries.
Mark Lester - Then
English child star Lester, best known by US fans through the character Oliver Twist, made his film debut at the age of six. At eight he took on the role of Oliver in the musical adaptation of the film.
Fact: Because he simply couldn’t sing, all of Lester’s singing was dubbed in Oliver Twist by the daughter of the musical director.
Mark Lester - Now
Lester retired from acting at the age of nineteen and later went to school to become an osteopath, specializing in sports injuries. It was quite the career change for someone who found a lot of fame as a child actor.
Lester has not appeared in a film since the 1970s!
Ron Palillo - Then
Anyone who’s ever watched even one episode of "Welcome Back Kotter" should know who Arnold Horshack is. Horshack was, of course, the class clown of a group of high school kids known as the Sweathogs.
That character was expertly played by none other than Ron Palillo, who even perfected his character’s ability to laugh like a hyena. It's hard to forget a character trait like that, but would the role pigeonhole him forever?
Ron Palillo - Now
Ron was in demand all of his adult life as well, playing a large variety of characters in different television shows and films such as "Laverne and Shirley in The Army," Friday The Thirteenth, and others.
He also directed several Broadway plays and musicals, was a fashion designer and even found time to write a few children’s books.
Barry Williams - Then
Barry Williams was just 14-years-old when he landed the role as the eldest child, Greg Brady, on the hit series "The Brady Bunch." He quickly transformed into a teen heartthrob with millions of female fans all over the United States.
Along with his acting chops, he also recorded four albums with his famous TV siblings which only helped increase his popularity among the female persuasion.
Barry Williams - Now
In 1989, Williams took home the Young Artist Foundation Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award. He followed up that honor in 1992 by releasing his autobiography, Growing Up Brady … I Was A Teenage Greg, which remained on the best-seller list for three months. His book was turned into a made-for-TV movie on NBC and he served as an executive producer for that film in 2001.
In recent years he has held guest roles on a number of "Brady Bunch" specials, "That 70’s Show," and "Three’s Company," among others. He has also spent many years in musical theater, including roles in "Grease," "West Side Story," and "The Sound Of Music."
Mindy Cohn - Then
Mindy Cohn is best known for her portrayal of Natalie, the irrepressible student from the television series “Facts of Life,” which ran from 1979 to 1988. Always sincere but sarcastic, The Natalie character was an integral part of the show’s success.
In a way it was to be her curse; becoming typecast as the “nice girl," it became difficult for Cohn to get more substantial roles to play on television.
Mindy Cohn - Now
While still working as an actor, Cohn earned a degree in cultural anthropology. She later help to found the weSPARK cancer support center. Although she makes guest appearances on television, her talents have steered her to do voiceover work.
She has been the voice of Velma from the “Scooby-Doo” animated series for several years now, even earning an Emmy nomination for her work. Cohn has also become a major advocate for the LGBTQ community.
Scott Baio - Then
Baio, a former teen heart-throb is best known for playing Chachi on the show "Happy Days" as the love interest of Joanie Cunningham (Erin Moran). Years before though, he had also played the lead in "Bugsy Malone" a musical gangster film that was based on the lives of 1920's gangsters like Al Capone and Bugs Moran during prohibition.
The twist of the film was that it starred only child actors, one of which was the future Academy Award winner Jodie Foster. Fact: Baio beat out over two-thousand other kids for this part.
Scott Baio - Now
After "Happy Days," Scott joined the spin-off show "Joanie Loves Chachi", and then played in several films such as Skatetown USA, Foxes, Zapped, and several others.
Scott has also more recently starred in his own reality television shows and produces several shows for Nick at Nite.
Susan Dey - Then
Susan Dey played Laurie Partridge on the hit show "The Partridge Family." She was joined by acclaimed star Shirley Jones and mega-talented David Cassidy, along with several other actors making up the show’s cast.
Dey was a fashion model before joining the cast. Fact: the seventeen-year-old had absolutely no acting experience before joining the show. Surprisingly, it's not uncommon for models with no acting experience to be hired to take on high profile roles.
Susan Dey - Now
Susan went on to play in several films like Skyjacked, Little Women and Disappearance, and television shows like the hugely popular "L.A. Law."
Dey refuses to join in Partridge Family Reunion shows. Susan and co-star David Cassidy had a brief romantic encounter after the end of "The Partridge Family" but it didn’t work out.
Janet Jackson - Then
The youngest member of the Jackson family is Janet. Sometimes performing with her older brothers on variety shows, Janet was more interested in acting than a singing career. One of her biggest roles as a child was the character Penny on the show “Good Times,” where she portrayed a frightened and battered child who was a neighbor of the Evans family.
Janet also appeared in hit shows "Fame" and "Diff'rent Strokes," and still managed to find time to start her singing career.
Janet Jackson - Now
Janet is one of the recording industry’s most celebrated musicians and has sold millions of records, been awarded multi-platinum albums, starred in hit movies, and sold out at performances.
She's now married to billionaire Wissam Al Mana, and her most recent tour was canceled due to the fact that she wishes to start a family. Her last album, "Unbreakable," came out in 2016 and was met with positive reviews.
Danny Bonaduce - Then
Danny Bonaduce rose to fame as a child actor in the 1970s thanks to his role as Danny Partridge on the popular series "The Partridge Family." He was well-known for his bright red hair and his wisecracking ways as the middle child of the family band.
Danny was the fictional pop group's bass guitar player. He co-starred on the show alongside David Cassidy. The men have remained close friends ever since the show first aired.
Danny Bonaduce - Now
Bonaduce decided to wear a lot of hats after his popular TV show ended. He’s a radio/television personality, comedian, and a professional wrestler. After the show drew to a close he starred in several TV series, including the VH1 reality show "Breaking Bonaduce" which aired in 2005.
He has also hosted radio shows in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. He has been a regular host in the mornings on a talk and music show for Seattle radio station KZOK-FM since November 2011.
Linda Blair - Then
Linda Blair is best known for spinning her head around in circles and then vomiting pea soup. She was born in 1959 and just 14 years later she accepted her role as a possessed child in The Exorcist. She revised her role for The Exorcist II: The Heretic which debuted in 1977.
For her first role. she was nominated for an Academy Award and she took home a Golden Globe. She started acting as a child model when she was just 6-years-old. From 1968 to 1969 she held a short-lived role on the daytime soap opera, "Hidden Fences."
Linda Blair - Now
Blair appeared in a number of low-budget horror and exploitation films through the 1980s. Among those films were Hell Night, Chained Heat, and Savage Streets. In 1990, she appeared in the comedy Repossessed which made fun of her horror movie roots.
She also made a cameo in the popular 1996 film Scream. She has since appeared on the stage ("Grease") and on the BBC TV show "L.A. 7". From 2000 to 2006 she hosted Fox Family’s "Scariest Places on Earth." She also had a guest role on "Supernatural."
Tatum O’Neal - Then
Here’s an incredibly impressive stat — Tatum O’Neal won an Academy Award in 1974 — at the age of 10. She took home the golden statue for her turn as Addie Loggins in Paper Moon. She also appeared in The Bad News Bears in 1976 and then Nickelodeon in 1976.
Being raved about at such a young age is still a rare thing to witness in Hollywood. But how would it affect her as she got older?
Tatum O’Neal - Now
In 1986, O'Neal and professional tennis star John McEnroe tied the knot and subsequently had three children together. They decided to separate in 1992 and by 1994 they were divorced. After her run of successful films in the 1970s, she would appear in only five films over the next 15 years.
She returned to acting in the 2000s when she made guest appearances on "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter," "Law and Order: Criminal Intent," and "Sex and the City." In 2005, she began a recurring role on the hit series "Rescue Me." She has continued to act, focusing most of her work on TV shows.
Melissa Gilbert - Then
Melissa Ellen Gilbert started her career as a child actress in the late 1960s and early 1970s. She appeared in a handful of commercials and then played in guest-starring TV roles. Her big break came from 1974 to 1984 when she played Laura Ingalls Wilder on the hit NBC series "Little House on the Prairie."
While starring on the TV show she also appeared in some TV movies, including The Miracle Worker and The Diary of Anne Frank.
Melissa Gilbert - Now
Gilbert has continued to act into her adult years, mostly appearing on TV programs. You may recognize her voice from the animated cartoon "Batman: The Animated Series." She also served as the President of the Screen Actors Guild from 2001 to 2005. She also agreed to play Caroline "Ma" Ingalls in the touring production of "Little House on the Prairie, the Musical."
Her fans were thrilled to see her appear in 2012 as a contestant on the hit reality TV show, "Dancing with the Stars" on NBC. She ran for US Congress as a Democrat in 2016 but was forced to drop out of the race in Michigan due to some health-related issues.
Haywood Nelson - Then
Nelson is best known for his role as Dwayne Nelson on the series "What’s Happening!!" which aired from 1976-1979. He also starred in the spin-off series "What’s Happening Now!!" from 1985-1988. He was a child star when she appeared in several national commercials and then in the movie Mixed Company.
Starting in 1974 he appeared on Broadway in Thieves alongside Mario Thomas. When he was just 14-years-old he guest starred on "Sanford and Son" as Grady's grandson before starring in the spin-off of "Sanford and Son" called "Grady."
Haywood Nelson - Now
While Nelson never landed another nationally syndicated TV show, he continued to work in TV after his teen idol days ended.
He guest-starred on an episode of "Kojak" before deciding to work behind the scenes. In recent years his work has been mostly focused on working with
Jodie Foster - Then
Jodie Foster was born in 1962 and by 1965 she was already starting her acting career. Two years later the child model made her way to the TV series "Mayberry R.F.D." By the late 1960s, the young girl was a regular fixture of primetime TV while starring in various children’s films.
Her breakout roles started in her teens when she appeared in Taxi Driver, The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane, Disney’s Freaky Friday, and Candleshoe.
Jodie Foster - Now
While she continued to enjoy much success in Hollywood, Foster decided to attend Yale, at which time she appeared in the highly controversial film The Accused for which she won an Academy Award and Golden Globe. She took home a second Oscar three years later for her role as Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs.
After more than 50 years in Hollywood, she continues to take leading roles and turn heads in Hollywood.
Mackenzie Phillips - Then
Phillips was just 12-years-old when she worked on the massive hit American Graffiti. She continued to gain stardom in the 1970s thanks to her role as Julie Cooper on the hit TV series "One Day at a Time." At the time of her success, she was earning $50,000 a week.
She was forced to take a six-week break and was then fired in 1980. In 1981 the producers at "One Day at a Time" invited her to return to the show. She was soon fired for good.
Mackenzie Phillips - Now
In 1999, Mackenzie Phillips co-starred with Cara DeLizia in the Disney Channel series "So Weird," playing a fictional rock star named Molly Phillips.
She also guest-starred on episodes of "ER," "Without a Trace," "7th Heaven," and "Cold Case." Phillips also became a rehab counselor at the Breathe Life Healing Center in West Hollywood, California.
Kristy McNichol - Then
McNichol started her young career in commercials and followed up those spots with guest appearances on such other series as "Starsky & Hutch," "The Bionic Woman," "Love American Style," and "The Love Boat." Her first regular series job was as Patricia Apple in the short-lived scripted series "Apple’s Way."
In 1976, she appeared in the drama series "Family" where she earned two Emmy Awards for Best Supporting Actress in a Dramatic Series. She soon made her foray into music, recording the album Kristy & Jimmy McNichol for RCA Records. Her biggest hit was “He’s So Fine” which peaked at #70.
Kristy McNichol - Now
Heading out of the 1970s she continued to make a name for herself with a role in the movie Little Darlings which co-starred Tatum O’Neal, Matt Dillon, and Cynthia Dixon. She also appeared alongside Mark Hamill and Dennis Quaid in The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia. One year later she would appear in Neil Simon's Only When I Laugh, and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress.
She eventually joined the cast of "Empty Nest" but left after several seasons, only to return for the show’s final episode in 1995. She stopped appearing on screen after that role but continued to voice characters in the animated TV series "Extreme Ghostbusters" and "Invasion America."
Tanya Tucker - Then
This country crooner flew to the top of the country charts at just 13-years-old thanks to her hit "Delta Dawn." She was first discovered by Mel Tillis, who invited her on stage to perform because of her amazing vocal skills.
Her family moved to Las Vegas in 1969 and she was soon performing regularly in the city. She eventually gained the attention of songwriter Dolores Fuller. The teenage vocalist soon signed to Colombia Records.
Tanya Tucker - Now
In the decades following her first hit, Tanya Tucker became one of most popular and successful country singers of all time, collecting an impressive streak of Top 10 and Top 40 hits. She released several very popular albums and was nominated for numerous Country Music Association awards. Her hit songs included 1973's "What's Your Mama's Name?" and "Blood Red and Goin' Down."
In 1975 her song "Lizzie and the Rainman," brought her another hit. That song was followed up by 1988's "Strong Enough to Bend.” She was one of the few artists to take her childhood fans along for the ride into adulthood. She is often listed among the top influences for many female country singers.
Valerie Bertinelli - Then
Valerie Bertinelli was born in 1960 and by 1975 she was already appearing in a new sitcom called "One Day at a Time." She would appear on 208 of the shows 209 episodes before it ended in 1984. She reunited with the show’s cast in 2005 for the "One Day at a Time Reunion Special."
She took home a Golden Globe in 1981 — not bad for a 21-year-old TV star. Her career hasn’t shown any signs of slowing in recent years either.
Valerie Bertinelli - Now
Following her early success, Bertinelli continued to act, starring in two 1990s sitcoms "Sydney" and "Café Americain." In 2001, she joined "Touched by an Angel" — the show lasted only two seasons. After struggling with her weight for a number of years she eventually became a spokesperson for Jenny Craig — appearing in various commercials for the diet company.
In 2010, she joined Betty White, Wendie Malick, and Jane Leeves on the hit TV Land series "Hot in Cleveland." After six hilarious seasons the final episode of "Hot In Cleveland" aired on June 3, 2015.
Danielle Spencer - Then
The part of Dee Thomas from television’s "What’s Happening" was played by actress Danielle Spencer. She was cast as the “more than annoying little sister,” a part she played with aplomb.
Dee Dee had a favorite saying: "Ooooohh, I'm tellin' Mama!”. The show ran from August 1976 to April 1979.
Danielle Spencer - Now
All grown up, Spencer is a doctor of veterinary medicine in California. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, but successfully beat it.
Fact: Spencer is the only child actor who has been inducted into the Smithsonian Museum as part of a permanent exhibition on African American Culture.
Lance Kerwin - Then
Do “James at Fifteen (and Sixteen),” “The Family Holvak,” and Salem’s Lot sound familiar to anyone? They should, because Lance Kerwin played in all of them, plus at least 20 more roles in film or television just in the seventies.
A highly popular child star, his first television show of that decade was "Emergency" and his last was Salem’s Lot in 1979.
Lance Kerwin - Now
Lance continued his acting career through 1995 when he retired. But it seems as though he is doing alright for himself.
Lance is married to Yvonne Kerwin and the couple lives on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, where he sells timeshares with Diamond Resorts.
Leif Garrett - Then
Much like David Cassidy, Leif was a child actor, singer, and television personality. Starting the seventies with the film Walking Tall and ending the decade with Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, he appeared in at least ten films and television shows.
Leif impressed everyone he worked with.
Leif Garrett - Now
Leif Garrett has continued making music throughout the years, including a collaboration with punk rock artist and songwriter Craig Else. Together, they released a cover of Neil Young's song "Old Man."
In 2019, Garrett released an autobiography, Idol Truth, where he discusses his music career.
