Top 10 Child Stars

Jackie Evancho

Jacqueline Marie "Jackie" Evancho is an American classical crossover singer who gained wide recognition at an early age. Since 2009, she has issued nine studio albums and three EPs, including a platinum-selling EP and a gold-certified album, while three of her releases debuted in the Billboard 200 top... read more

When other former child stars are forgotten, there will still be Jackie.

Once-in-a-lifetime vocalist from age 10 to 14 now, and she's humble about it.

Youngest child to go platinum!

Daniel Radcliffe

Daniel Jacob Radcliffe (born July 23, 1989) is an English actor. He rose to prominence by portraying the title character in the Harry Potter film series from 2001 to 2011.

Since then, he has taken on a variety of roles in stage, film, and television, including The Woman in Black, Swiss Army Man... read more

Put glasses on his face and people around the globe will recognize him.

Shirley Temple

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 also... read more

When it comes to child stars, NOBODY can beat Shirley Temple.

Macaulay Culkin

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

How in the world is he not #1? He was awesome in Home Alone and Richie Rich, and he's way better than Miley Cyrus. Scratch that, better than everybody else on this list (except Emily Osment, I like her).

Who is more of a child star than he? He was literally only a child star.

Heather O'Rourke

Heather Michele O'Rourke (December 27, 1975 - February 1, 1988) was an American child actress. She gained fame for her role as Carol Anne Freeling in the supernatural horror film Poltergeist (1982), which received critical acclaim and became a landmark in the genre. O'Rourke reprised the role in Poltergeist... read more

Really sad that she died so young. She was terrific in the Poltergeist series.

Miley Cyrus

Miley Ray Cyrus, born Destiny Hope Cyrus and known professionally as Miley Cyrus, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She was born on November 23, 1992, in Franklin, Tennessee, to Tish Cyrus and Billy Ray Cyrus. Her voice is widely recognized for its low, raspy quality.... read more

She has really, really changed.

Lindsay Lohan

Too bad she turned out crazy. She was actually a good actress.
Proof that childhood stardom often makes people become drunk, out-of-control brats.

I would send Lohan to rehab and get her career revived.

Drew Barrymore

Drew Blythe Barrymore is an American actress, producer, director, author, model, and entrepreneur. She is a member of the Barrymore family of actors and the granddaughter of legendary actor John Barrymore. She became widely known as a child actress for her role in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

Michael Jackson

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009) was an American singer, dancer, and songwriter. He passed away from cardiac arrest caused by acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication, which was ruled a homicide. Jackson is widely regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures... read more

Perhaps the biggest name on this list, yet nobody thought to add him. I guess most people don't think Michael Jackson when they hear child star.

Jake T. Austin

Jake Austin Szymanski (born December 3, 1994), known professionally as Jake T. Austin, is an American actor. Beginning his career as a child actor at the age of seven, Austin is a five-time Young Artist Award nominee. He is best known for his role as Max Russo on the Disney Channel series Wizards of... read more

?

Margaret O'Brien

?

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, baptized as Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era, born in Salzburg. He composed more than 600 works, including symphonies, operas, chamber music, and choral pieces. His most famous compositions include... read more

Raven-Symoné

Raven-Symoné Christina Pearman, sometimes credited as Raven, is an American actress, singer, songwriter, television personality, and producer. She gained prominence as a child actress on The Cosby Show and later starred in the Disney Channel series That's So Raven. Raven-Symoné has also co-hosted the... read more

She's awesome!

Emma Watson

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

She played such a major role in the Harry Potter movies and deserves a higher spot on this list.
Although I will respect other people's opinions even if I disagree with them.

Judith Barsi

Judith Eva Barsi (June 6, 1978 - July 25, 1988) was an American child actress. She began her career in television, making appearances in commercials and series, and also appeared in the film Jaws: The Revenge.

She provided voices for animated characters in The Land Before Time and All Dogs Go... read more

JoJo Siwa

Joelle JoJo Siwa is an American dancer, singer, actress, and YouTuber. She gained fame through reality television and her strong presence on social media platforms. She is known for appearing on Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition and Dance Moms, and in 2020, she competed as T-Rex on the reality singing... read more

Will be bigger than MJ.

Jackie Coogan

The laws that protect child stars these days are called "Jackie Coogan Laws." Coogan was a big star in the 1930s, including in the "Our Gang" series, and his parents stole all of his money.
His most famous role as an adult actor was as Uncle Fester in The Addams Family TV series.

Emily Osment

Emily Jordan Osment is an American actress, singer, and songwriter born in Los Angeles, California. She began her career as a child actress, gaining recognition for her role in the Spy Kids series. She later starred as Lilly Truscott in the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana and has since appeared... read more

If you've seen Young & Hungry, you'll understand why she's on this list.

Gary Coleman

Gary Wayne Coleman was an American actor best known for his role as Arnold Jackson in the television sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, which aired from 1978 to 1986. His catchphrase, Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Willis? became a cultural phenomenon. Despite a challenging personal life and health issues, Coleman remained... read more

River Phoenix

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. Phoenix earned critical acclaim for his performances in films such as Stand by... read more

Carl Switzer

Dakota Fanning

Hannah Dakota Fanning is an American actress and model. She gained early recognition for her performance in the 2001 film I Am Sam, which earned her a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination in 2002 at the age of eight. This made her the youngest nominee in the history of the awards.... read more

Chloë Moretz

Justin Bieber

Justin Drew Bieber (born March 1, 1994) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and record producer. He currently resides in Ontario, Canada, and is Christian. He is the son of Pattie Mallette, an author.

Justin Bieber is best known for his songs "Baby" and "What Do You Mean?" As of mid 2025, 11 of... read more

Bobby Driscoll

Abigail Breslin

Abigail Kathleen Breslin is an American actress and singer. She appeared in her first commercial at the age of three and made her film debut in Signs at age five. Since then, she has starred in several films, including No Reservations, Nim's Island, and Definitely, Maybe.