Post-18 Career Paths for Former Child Actors

Many people wonder what happens to young child actors when they reach the age of 18 and can no longer play children on screen. While child protection laws impose strict limitations, the reality is that these actors often thrive in various adult careers and make significant contributions to society. This article explores the diverse careers that former child actors pursue, dispelling common misconceptions and highlighting inspiring success stories.

Common Misconceptions

It is often believed that after 14, child actors find it difficult to find work in Hollywood due to legal restrictions. In fact, many producers choose actors who appear younger to circumvent these laws, leading to the phenomenon known as 18TPY (18 years old to play younger). However, this does not necessarily predict the future careers of these actors.

Varied Adult Careers

The vast majority of former child actors do not end their careers in acting. Instead, they pursue a myriad of fields, showcasing their adaptability and resilience. Here are some examples of the diverse paths they take:

Continuing in Acting

The film Wicked features four prominent actors who started their careers at around age 8: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, and Marissa Bode. Marissa is the first actor with a disability to play the role of Nessarose. Actors like Jeff Bridges, Timothee Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Ryan Gosling were all child actors and have gone on to win Academy Awards. This list includes many other notable figures like Jodie Foster, Helen Hunt, and Daniel Day-Lewis.

Higher Education and Professional Success

Former child actors often pursue higher education and achieve remarkable success. For instance, actors like Alexander Reed (NYU and now a journalist), Ali Tatyana (Harvard and now a special effects makeup artist), and Zach Mabry (University of Oklahoma and now an accountant) are examples of this trend. A number of former child actors have also entered politics. Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who went to university in Warsaw and is now the Prime Minister of Poland, is one such example.

Military Service and Other Occupations

Some former child actors serve in the military. For example, Jerry Mathers enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and Zach Mabry is currently working as an accountant. Others follow non-entertainment careers. Glenn Close (prime producer for a major studio), Heather Langekamp (award-winning special effects makeup artist), Bruce Lee (University of Washington), and Peter Ostrum (now a veterinarian) are all notable examples.

Empirical Evidence

To provide further evidence of the successful post-18 lives of former child actors, one organization maintains a list of professionals who achieved the age of 27 without arrests or suing their parents and are considered successful adults. There are over 500 individuals on this list, disproving common stereotypes.

Understanding the 10,000-Hour Rule

Many actors develop exceptional skills due to their years in the industry. Malcolm Gladwell's 10,000-hour rule suggests that it takes about 10 years to become proficient. Therefore, child actors starting around age 10 can expect to be in their prime in their 20s, when they can pursue more diverse roles and opportunities.

Moreover, these actors often learn to read at an exceptionally young age and gain experience interacting with people in an adult environment, making them effective communicators and team players.

Conclusion

The notion that former child actors inevitably become drug addicts or struggle with mental health is a pervasive but false myth. While there are certainly exceptions, the majority of these actors go on to lead fulfilling, successful lives across various fields. The diverse paths they take and the numerous examples of their success demonstrate that professional actors can achieve great success and happiness in both the entertainment industry and beyond.