Top Ten Child Actors of All Time
Shirley Temple Black (April 23, 1928 – February 10, 2014) was an American actress, singer, dancer, businesswoman, and diplomat who was Hollywood's number one box-office draw as a child actress from 1935 to 1938. As an adult, she was named United States ambassador to Ghana and to Czechoslovakia and... read more Such a beautiful, inspirational person. She cheered the lives of millions during the Great Depression. Everyone loved Shirley Temple, even President Franklin Roosevelt, who said at the height of Shirley's fame: "As long as our country has Shirley Temple, we will be alright."
She was adorable and even today makes people smile. She was one of the child stars who didn't live a self-destructive life after her time as a child star. Instead, she led another successful career as an ambassador for the rest of her life.
Not only is she easily the most famous child actor of all time, but one of the most well-known actresses of the early twentieth century. She was number one as the world's biggest actor for four years, from 1935 through 1938. Such an inspiration to many. There'll never be anyone like her again.
Hannah Dakota Fanning is an American actress and model. At the age of seven, her performance in the 2001 film I Am Sam earned her a nomination for a Screen Actors Guild Award. This nomination, which came in 2002 when she was eight years old, made her the youngest nominee in history... read more She is the best! She's brilliant in every movie I have seen her in.
Absolutely beautiful young lady and is compelling in every scene and movie. Her acting skill should warrant a paycheck as big as or equal to most major A-list adults.
Beautiful, sweet, and very talented young actress. I'm a fan!
Macaulay Carson Culkin is an American actor, author, painter, podcaster, musician, and president of Bunny Ears. He became famous as a child actor for his role as Kevin McCallister in the family comedy Home Alone, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical... read more Fine, sure, Home Alone is great. I love it. Watch that and The Good Son. He was great back in the day. Both of those performances are phenomenal and combined, they show how great of an actor Culkin actually is.
Culkin is the best and most natural of all time. His skill alone tramples everyone else, never using cue cards and just memorizing lines.
No one can touch Culkin. He is the best ever and Fanning is nowhere near him. Admit it. He is number one. The whole world knows it.
Who else could it be? The only ones I can think of who are in that class are Sammy Davis Jr. and Judy Garland. All were just magical!
Daniel Jacob Radcliffe is an English actor who rose to prominence as the title character in the Harry Potter film series. Daniel Radcliffe was such an adorable child actor. Having succeeded with Harry Potter on his shoulders is an achievement. With his portrayal, Harry Potter for me became the cutest movie character ever.
He is a great actor. He is very focused on his acting career. That made him who he is today.
If he didn't play Potter, it wouldn't be my favorite series of movies.
Judy Garland, born Frances Ethel Gumm (June 10, 1922 – June 22, 1969) was an American singer, actress, and vaudevillian. The American Film Institute named her 8th greatest female star of classic American cinema. She's also the mother of actress and singer Liza Minnelli. I would have to put her and Shirley Temple tied at number one. She was a triple threat: great actress, singer, and dancer. She could do it all.
She honestly should be number one! She was in a class of her own!
Millie Bobby Brown above Judy is the definition of a joke.
Millie Bobby Brown is an English actress and model. She is known for her breakout role as Jane "Eleven" Ives in the Netflix science fiction drama series Stranger Things. Acting emotions like sorrow, misery, and abandonment, while at the same time carrying a romantic weight, is hard enough for adults. But for a child to do this in such a believable way is simply overwhelming. Millie Bobby Brown steals the show as Eleven, both figuratively and literally.
From Eleven's flashbacks when she kills some henchmen (awesome, by the way) and then passes out in Papa's arms, to that climactic moment in Mileven's innocent and short romance, Brown acts in a fantastical way. Most certainly, Brown's role as the one girl who could make fans want to shave their heads and binge-eat Eggos will go down in history as one of the best performances by a child ever recorded.
Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson is a British actress, model, and activist. Born in Paris and brought up in Oxfordshire, Watson attended the Dragon School as a child and trained as an actress at the Oxford branch of Stagecoach Theatre Arts... read more Grace and beauty combined with acting skill. You can't help but love every part she plays.
Favorite actor/actress of all time.
She's epic, not just good, but brilliant. Her being in fourth place is obvious but again potentially problematic.
I was not that familiar with Katie's work except for The New Adventures of Heidi. I just saw When Every Day Was the Fourth of July. I must say that Katie's performance in that film was as good as it gets!
Rupert Alexander Lloyd Grint is an English actor who rose to prominence playing Ron Weasley, one of the three main characters in the Harry Potter film series. Very underrated. In my opinion, he's better than both Watson and Radcliffe (and Ron is better than Hermione and Harry).
David Copperfield and Harry Potter. That is a lot of main roles for a child. He is amazing!
His expressions in Harry Potter were priceless!
The Newcomers
Jacob Benjamin "Jake" Gyllenhaal (born December 19, 1980) is an American actor, known for his work in films like "Donnie Darko", "Brokeback Mountain", "Prisoners" and "Nightcrawler". He is the son of director Stephen Gyllenhaal and producer/screenwriter Naomi Foner. Jake and his sister Maggie have been... read more
Corey Haim was born on December 23 1971, in Toronto Ontario. He grew up in the Toronto suburbs of Thornhill and Willowdale, and attended such schools as Pineway Public School, Baythorn Public School, Royal Orchard Public School, German Mills Public School, and Zion Heights Junior High School... read more Love Lost Boys and Silver Bullet. Too bad he died in 2010.
Haley Joel Osment is an American actor. After a series of roles in television and film during the 1990s, including a small part in Forrest Gump playing the title character’s son, Osment rose to fame for his performance as a young unwilling medium in The Sixth Sense.. The most attractive, cutest boy I've ever seen. His performance made me cry in A.I. (Artificial Intelligence). Adorable, amiably slanting blue eyes with a mouth like a charming red ring. I wish him all happiness in this life and the next.
There's not a bad movie he's been in. The good news is that, unlike other child actors, he's still making good movies.
Try watching Pay It Forward with a dry eye.
Pay It Forward is completely underrated and The Sixth Sense was perfect. Anyone who thinks there has been a better child actor is crazy.
For me, I think Cole is more talented. He was the one that really moved on in acting, while Dylan just stayed a kid actor.
I love The Suite Life of Zack and Cody! I mean, they were so cute! They still are.
River Jude Phoenix, born River Jude Bottom (August 23, 1970 – October 31, 1993) was an American actor, musician, and activist. He was the older brother of Rain Phoenix, Joaquin Phoenix, Liberty Phoenix and Summer Phoenix. I cannot believe people like Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen or Frankie Muniz are on this list. I understand that sadly much of the world has forgotten River, but just check out some of his work - Stand by Me or Running on Empty perhaps - and you will see what I mean. These guys don't stand a chance against the actor he was. Read up on him too. He's the most inspiring person in the whole world.
One of the best actors I've ever seen. His best three performances are Stand by Me, Running on Empty, and My Own Private Idaho. I cannot believe he didn't receive an Oscar nod for Stand by Me.
There was no one quite like River. His brother Joaquin is pretty damn good too.
R.I.P. River!
Corey Scott Feldman is an American actor and singer. He became well known during the 1980s, with roles as a youth in films such as The Fox and the Hound, Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, The Goonies, Stand by Me, The Lost Boys, Gremlins and The 'Burbs. The Fox and the Hound, The Goonies, Stand by Me (coolest movie ever), and much more!
He is my favorite actor on Stranger Things and an amazing person in real life!
All their TV shows and books were way cooler than any other teen entertainment things.
Amazing performers. They have pure talent. They were the most famous kids of their time. They made Full House the show it is.
Selena Marie Gomez is an American actress and singer. She is best known for songs like "Come & Get It", "Good For You", "Same Old Love", and "It Ain't Me". Selena Gomez's voice is mezzo-soprano but she usually sings in alto. She is best known for her role as Alex Russo in Wizards of Waverly Place. She is a very good singer and I love her acting. That's why everyone likes her. There is nothing to hate about her. So, I love you forever, Jelena.
Not only gorgeous, bubbly, pretty, and hot, but also she has all the qualities of a good actor and a well-known singer.
Jake Short (born May 30, 1997 in Indiana is an American actor,known for his roles as Fletcher Quimby in Disney Channel's comedy series A.N.T. Farm and as Oliver in the Disney XD original series Mighty Med and Lab Rats: Elite Force.
Joshua Ryan "Josh" Hutcherson is an American actor. A native of Kentucky, Hutcherson began his acting career in the early 2000s and appeared in several commercials and minor film and television roles before landing his first major role in 2002 in the pilot episode of House Blend. Josh was a very cute boy (he's still cute now). He appeared in different movies and always succeeded in making an impact.
AnnaSophia Robb is an American actress and model. She has starred in such films as Because of Winn-Dixie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Bridge to Terabithia, Race to Witch Mountain, Soul Surfer, and The Way, Way Back. Bridge to Terabithia and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Great movies, if you haven't seen them. Both, obviously, had AnnaSophia Robb.