Top 10 Child Stars Who Became Hollywood Icons

From a hitman’s protégée to the Oscar stage, Natalie Portman has been in our lives for the better part of three decades. Portman began acting at the ripe age of 12, and from the moment she hit the screen, we knew there was something different about this kid. While she took a bit of time off during her high school years to star on Broadway, she came back in a big way with the “Star Wars” prequels starting in 1999. Since then, she’s appeared in a number of films, won numerous awards, and has even found time to direct. Amid all that work, she also graduated from Harvard University. Where does she find the time?

When it comes to child acting, Mickey Rooney set the template we know today. As a child, he starred as Mickey McGuire in a series of short films before moving to MGM where his career really picked up. There, along with his partner in crime Judy Garland, he became one of the most famous child stars of his day in the Andy Hardy films. As Rooney came into adulthood, his star faded from its heights but he still maintained his icon status. That status has come with a few missteps over the years, such as his role as Mr. Yunioshi in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” But not many stars can claim a career spanning 90 years, and Rooney is one of the few.

Nowadays, we know Leonardo DiCaprio as the star of films like “Titanic,” “Wolf of Wall Street,” and the like. But some of you younger folks might not remember his child star days. During his teenage years, he made appearances on sitcoms like “Roseanne” and “Growing Pains.” His film breakouts came later, with career-making roles in “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” and “This Boy’s Life.” With these early years, DiCaprio proved that even as a young man, he had acting chops beyond his years. Looking back at these early performances, it’s easy to see how DiCaprio became one of the most important actors of his generation.

Many child stars continue on the acting track. But this one decided to pivot towards filmmaking itself. As a kid, director Ron Howard guest starred on television shows, including a turn on “The Twilight Zone.” However, his star really took off when he landed the role of Opie on “The Andy Griffith Show.” Later, his star only grew when he played Richie Cunningham on “Happy Days.” As he grew into adulthood, Howard decided to make a change and focus on directing. It turned out to be a great decision. Howard has made such classics as “Apollo 13,” “Parenthood,” “A Beautiful Mind,” and so many others. With Oscars and more under his belt, there’s no doubt Howard is one of the most important figures in Hollywood.

In the last few years, this Hollywood icon has had her second wind on television. From the start, Drew Barrymore has had acting in her veins. The Barrymore family is one of Hollywood’s most prominent, and young Drew got her start at a mere 11 months old. But her real break came with Steven Spielberg’s 1982 classic “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” as Gertie. After that, Barrymore hit some personal lows, but in the late 1990s started to turn things around with films like “Ever After.” Nowadays, Barrymore has once again returned to the public eye with her talk show “The Drew Barrymore Show.” She’s funny, empathetic, and one of our most beloved celebs.

Not many actors can say they’ve gone toe to toe with Robert De Niro. And even fewer can say that they did it at the ripe old age of 12. But Jodie Foster is not your typical child star or Hollywood icon. Before she appeared in “Taxi Driver” alongside De Niro, Foster was a Disney star, popping up in “Freaky Friday” later that same year. But her amazing performance in “Taxi Driver,” as a young sex worker named Iris, changed everything. Foster was nominated for an Academy Award and hasn’t slowed down from there. She’s won Oscars, produced and directed films, and given us too many classic movies to count.

When it comes to classic movies, Natalie Wood has been a part of so many of them. The actress began acting at the age of four. But her career really began when she landed the role of Susan in the Christmas classic “Miracle on 34th Street.” Though she was only eight years old at the time, Wood showed she had chops beyond her years. When she finally graduated to adult roles in films like “Splendor in the Grass” and “West Side Story,” she proved it wasn’t a fluke. Wood tragically passed away much too soon before her time, and we’ll always wonder what else she could have done with her amazing talent.

Most of the icons on this list were famous as children and stayed famous in their later years. But this one was so famous as a child, it didn’t even matter that her star fizzled out in later years. Shirley Temple is perhaps one of the most well-known child actors of all time. As a youngster, she was the biggest box office draw of the late 1930s and her likeness on merchandise made the Hollywood system a lot of money. Temple started so young that she had already been in the industry for decades when she retired at age 22. While she later returned to acting in the 50s, she mostly pivoted to other endeavors. Still, her star lived on as a legend.

Elizabeth Taylor is one of the most recognizable actors and celebrities of her generation. But before the tabloids were losing their minds over relationships, she was a child actress. As a youngster in the 1940s, Taylor began acting in films like “There’s One Born Every Minute” and “Lassie Come Home.” Her big break came at the age of 12 in “National Velvet,” where she played a female jockey. After that, Taylor grew into an adult and one of the highest-paid actresses of the 1950s. Her roles in “Cleopatra,” “A Place in the Sun,” and so many others live on as legendary.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Home Alone” Made Him a Legend

From Child Actor to Bruce Wayne

A ‘90s Child Star Who Made the Pivot to Adult Roles Successfully

From a Beloved Sitcom to Oscar Winner

Before Carrie was Carrie, She Was a Child Star

From her collaborations with Mickey Rooney to the classic “The Wizard of Oz,” Judy Garland had one of the most prolific child acting careers in history. When you’re that famous as a child, it can be hard to pivot and make audiences view you as an adult. But, starting with her first adult role in 1942’s “For Me and My Gal,” Garland managed to do just that. Though she was plagued by personal troubles, Garland’s film career flourished even after she became an adult. Her iconic roles span her lifetime, culminating in a stunning performance in 1954’s “A Star is Born.” In her case, one really was.