We seem to go through teenage superstars as we go through a bag of M&Ms. Some of them keep shining, some of them fade, some of them just disappear for a while and make us think 10 years later “hey, what happened to that girl who used to play in that show I used to watch instead of doing my homework? I never see her anymore…”
This article is all about the third kind. If you liked our previous article about Nickelodeon stars of the 90s, you are in for a treat. Who kept acting, who switched to modeling, and who started an organic clothing line? Keep reading to see where life has landed your favorite childhood stars.
Gage Golightly Then
Gage Golightly had a challenging childhood. The truth is, she was diagnosed with a motor skills problem and wasn't able to speak for the first few years of her life. Despite all of that, she worked hard and powered through in order to follow her dream of becoming an actress.
Golightly scored her first big role as Hayley in Nickelodeons's "The Troop," where her character fought monsters. Not bad at all.
Gage Now
Golightly went on to get cast in a variety of shows such as "True Jackson VP," "Teen Wolf," and "Red Oaks."
In recent years she landed the role of Grace Durkin, one of the main characters in the TV series "68 Whiskey."
Angelique Bates Then
Angelique Bates has been on camera ever since she was first cast for a commercial as a baby. At 14 years old, she became a part of the original cast of "All That" after a tedious casting process that included no less than four auditions. She was known for her hysterical Steve Urkel impression.
Bates was also the first regular cast member to leave the show, which happened after two seasons. Apparently, her leaving the show was on good terms as she came back for a reunion for the 100th episode.
Angelique Now
After her "All That" period, Bates took a four-year-long break from acting and only came back to the screen in 2000. She has been acting in small roles, mainly on TV, ever since.
Other than that, Bates also hosts "The Evening Showdown," her very own podcast that features talks with people from the entertainment industry about different topics.
Alisa Reyes Then
Alisa Reyes first stepped into the spotlight as a child model when she was eight years old. Her passion for performance art was properly fed as an art school student, which led her to appear in Maria Carey's 1992 music video for the song "Make It Happen". You might know her as a regular cast member in Nickelodeon's "All That."
Reyes played the role of Kiki "The Island Girl" for three seasons, from 1994 to 1997.
Alisa Now
After "All That," Reyes kept acting and even scored some recurring roles in shows like "One World," "Spyder Games," "The Bold and the Beautiful," and "Passions."
Reyes has also lent her voice to cartoon characters as LaCienega Boulevardez in "The Proud Family" and Momo in "Da Jamies." Her voice was also heard when she was working as DJ on Sirius XM for Playboy.
Summer Sanders Then
Summer Sanders used to host a quiz show called "Figure It Out" on Nickelodeon, where tweens could display their unique or interesting talents.
As it turns out, hosting game shows was Sander's second career. She began working on TV after making a name for herself as a world-class swimmer with four Olympic medals (all from the Olympic Games of 1992 in Barcelona)!
Summer Now
Other than hosting quiz shows for children, Sanders has been doing more on TV. She has often appeared as a sports commentator on NBC, MSNBC, and CBS.
Sanders doesn't swim competitively anymore, but she still has a competitive side, which she used when competing on "Celebrity Apprentice." Seems like her career came full circle when she became the host of the game show "Keywords."
Ashley Argota Then
Ashley Argota's acting career really kicked off when she was cast to play Lulu on "True Jackson VP." That wasn't her only role on Nickelodeon though! She also played the part of Kelly Peckinpaugh on "Bucket & Skinner's Epic Adventures."
As Lulu, Argota got to play alongside Keke Palmer and portray her best friend and assistant. On the show, her character was often loud and crazy, which is nothing like Argota in real life.
Ashley Now
After putting her Lulu duties behind, Argota kept playing different small roles on other TV shows.
While she has never quit acting altogether, she does pursue other interests as well. She has released two studio albums and attended NYU to get a nursing degree.
Soleil Moon Frye Then
Unlike many other actors on our list, Soleil Moon Frye got her big break before landing a regular role on Nickelodeon. Some of you, or some of your parents at least, might remember her as the name character from "Punky Brewster." Frye played her in 1984, when she was just seven years old.
On Nickelodeon, when Frye got older, she played the part of Roxie King in "Sabrina the Teenage Witch." Roxie was Sabrina's college roommate and friend.
Soleil Now
After "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" went off the air, Frye didn't act much apart from voice-acting gigs. Instead, she opted for a totally different direction.
Now she owns a special organic children's clothing online shop called "The Little Seed." She also has a website where she deals with parenting and women's issues.
Lindsay Sloan Then
If you've ever looked at Lindsay Sloan's face and tried to remember why it looked familiar, it should be safe to assume that you used to watch her on "Sabrina the Teenage Witch." Sloan played the role of Valerie Birkhead, Sabrina's friend, from 1997 until 1999.
Sloan's acting career started way before that! She signed with an agent when she was no more than eight years old. That would explain how she's had a cameo in nearly every successful TV show in the past three decades.
Lindsay Now
After her time as Valerie was done, Sloane got cast in one of her most memorable performances ever as Big Red in "Bring It On." Among numerous cheerleaders in cinematic history, Big Red was definitely the best.
After that, she went on to play smaller roles including the character of Billie in "Endings, Beginnings" alongside Shailene Woodley and Sebastian Stan.
Chelsea Tavares Then
Tavares was born in 1991 in Los Angeles as Chelsea Royce Tavares and became passionate about acting at 10 years old. She had small roles in the TV shows "The Practice" and "The District" prior to being cast as Cranberry St. Claire in "Unfabulous."
Cranberry's character was friends with Maris, the designated mean girl of the show. Tavares played that ditsy role from 2004 until 2007.
Chelsea Now
After "Unfabulous," Tavares went on to maintain a prolific acting career which includes major roles in TV shows such as "Just Jordan," "Make It or Break It," and "All American."
She has also voiced two video games and released a few singles. However, she's yet to release a full album.
Emma Degerstedt Then
Emma Degerstedt was born in Los Angeles in 1992, which means she is one of the few people who didn't need to move there in order to pursue an acting career. Degerstedt's first role on TV was also her breakthrough role as Maris in "Unfabulous."
It is almost as if high school shows throughout the years have taught us that the 'mean girl' trope is not going anywhere.
Emma Now
Unfabulous ended in 2007, taking the role of Maris with it, but that doesn't mean Degerstedt stopped acting. She has guest starred in a few TV shows, but her main focus in the last few years has been theater.
She has performed in Broadway touring productions as Ariel in "The Little Mermaid" and as Elle Woods in the "Legally Blonde" Musical.
Allison Scagliotti Then
Allison Scagliotti (the G is silent, thank you for asking) went to a regular school until the age of 11, which is also when she started taking acting lessons and switch from a regular school to home-schooling.
Before landing the role of Mindy Crenshaw in "Drake & Josh" in 2014, she played a score of small roles in TV movies and TV shows.
Allison Now
After putting the role of Mindy Crenshaw behind, Scagliotti kept booking small acting jobs, until landing recurring characters in different shows such as "Warehouse 13," "The Vampire Diaries," and "Stitchers."
Scagliotti is also a trained ballerina and a musician. In fact, she was even in a band called Nice Enough People with a fellow Nickelodeon actor Jerry Trainor.
Abby Wilde Then
If you were an avid watcher of "Zoey 101," you might recognize Abby Wilde's face as Stacey Dillsen, the somewhat off-beat girl with a signature speech impediment. As a teenager, she was involved in a small number of theater productions before being cast as Stacey.
Before "Zoey 101' came along, Wilde didn't really have any on-screen experience, but her portrayal of Stacey was so good it got her several cameos in other shows such as "Drake & Josh" and "Sam & Cat."
Abby Now
Abby hasn't been acting much in film or TV since she finished playing Stacey. Instead, she has been focusing more on local theater.
Abby makes sure to pass her knowledge on to the younger generation through coaching sessions and acting classes.
Erin Sanders Then
Nick alum Erin Sanders was known for playing the role of Quinn Pensky, the science enthusiast on "Zoey 101."
She originally auditioned to play Nicole (eventually portrayed by Alexa Nikolas), but she made such an impression, that the creator wrote Quinn just for her. Quite impressive when you learn she was only 14 at the time.
Erin Now
After her "Zoey 101" ended, Erin didn't show any signs of slowing down. She went on to star or guest-star in other productions such as "Mad Men," "Big Time Rush," "Melissa & Joey," and "CSI Miami."
Other than acting, Erin is also passionate about yoga, rock climbing, and posting swimsuit pictures of herself on Instagram.
Kristin Herrera Then
Kristin Herrera is no stranger to a camera. Her acting career started when she was only six years old acting in commercials. She performed in an array of small roles on TV before getting her first recurring role as Lourdes Del Torro in "General Hospital."
In 2005, Kristin scored another recurring role, this time it was that of Dana Cruz in "Zoey 101."
Kristin Now
After leaving "Zoey 101," Kristin participated in a small number of productions, and in 2008 she announced that she is quitting acting altogether.
Despite her retirement, she reunited with her Nickelodeon castmates on the "All That" reboot in 2020.
Daniella Monet Zuvic
Daniella Monet Zuvic was born in 1989 in Los Angeles. She started acting in commercials when she was seven years old. Daniella is a Nickelodeon veteran. While her acting career includes many productions, her most memorable parts are from various Nick shows including "Zoey 101" and "Victorious."
In "Victorious," Daniella played the part of Trina Vega, Tori's less-talented sister who refuses to acknowledge her lack of talent and keeps insisting on acting and singing as a career.
Daniella Now
Daniella has done all but fade into the background after her "Victorious" days. She must feel completely at home with Nickelodeon as she kept participating in many other Nickelodeon productions.
She has a child named Gio with her fiancé Andrew Gardner. She appeared in fellow Nickelodeon-alum Arian Grande's hit music video for "Thank U, Next."
Elizabeth Gillies Then
Elizabeth Gillies was born in 1993 in Hawthorn, New Jersey. She has been acting since she was 21 years old. Much like many familiar faces on TV, Gillies's first gigs were in commercials. She made the decision to become a full-time actress at 15 years old when she quit regular high school for an online high school program that wouldn't interfere with her career.
Gillies's breakthrough role was in the Nickelodeon series "Victorious," where she played the unpredictable Jade West. That role is when she showed the world she can sing as well as act and gave her the opportunity to work with Victoria Justice and Ariana Grande.
Elizabeth Now
Unlike other people on this list, Gillies never went of the grid after wrapping up the set of her breakthrough role. She was involved in many other acting and music projects as well as musical collaboration with former castmate Ariana Grande.
These days Gillies is most well known for her role as Fallon Carrington in the series "Dynasty." Her next big goal in life is to win an Oscar, and something tells us it won't take long until she does.
Jordan Todosey Then
Jordan Todosey started her career as a child actor. First, she has two small roles in the films "The Pacifier" and "The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio." Her breakthrough came in 2005 with her role as Lizzie McDonald in "Life with Derek."
She is most famous for playing the transgender character Adam Torres in Degrassi. Her performance there won her A Gemini Award.
Jordan Now
Jordan's acting career has encompassed film, TV, and voice acting, and she is highly appreciated in her field.
Today, she keeps on acting, although none of her other roles has been as impactful as the ones previously mentioned.
Ashley Leggat Then
You might remember Ashley's face from the TV show "Life With Derek," where she played the annoying-yet-loving Casey McDonald. That breakthrough role on TV came on when she was 19 years old, but she has been enjoying a prolific acting career even before that.
Leggat's other great passion is dance. She is a professionally trained dancer who has danced competitively for many years.
Ashley Now
In 2011, Leggat married Hokey player Jeremy Williams, and the couple have two children together.
Leggat is a well-established Canadian actor with an impressive record including roles in "The Good Witch" and "Day Player."
Allie DiMeco Then
Allie DiMeco made her Nickelodeon debut as Rosalina in the musical comedy TV show "The Naked Brothers Band." Yes, that same Rosalina Nat Wolff was in love with. That all happened when she was 15 but the truth is that she took her first steps in show business at just five years old as an actress and model.
Other than acting, DiMeco is a trained musician and she can play numerous instruments such as cello, violin, bass guitar, and drums.
Allie Now
After The Naked Brothers Band was finished, Allie hasn't been involved in many acting projects. Instead, she went to college, after which she focused more on modeling.
In the last few years, she has appeared in a Jordan Fernandez music video as well as in two reality TV shows, including "Ex on the Beach: Peak of Love."
Jenna Leigh Green Then
California-born Jenna Leigh Green is beloved as Libby on "Sabrina the Teenage Witch." She started acting at 12 in community theater and appeared in many commercials before making it on the ABC kids program. On Nickelodeon, she appeared on "The Big Help" and the game show "Figure It Out."
Before she made it to TV, Jenna starred in many LA theater productions like "The Wizard of Oz," "West Side Story," and "Romeo and Juliet."
Jenna Now
Transitioning to adult roles, Jenna landed a part in the musical "Wicked."
She's since landed roles in the TV show "The Loudest Voice" and "Gossip Girl."
Emily Ratajkowski Then
This American model was born in London, but she was raised in San Diego. Her first gig was a role on Nickelodeon’s hit show "iCarly" from 2009 to 2010 playing Tasha.
In 2009, she moved into modeling full-time.
Emily Now
By 2012, Emily Ratajkowski posed for and made the "cover of treats!", a fine arts and erotica magazine. Soon after, she scored high profile music video roles in hit songs like Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines.”
Ratajkowski has since moved on to become a critically acclaimed author with the relase of her candid and compelling novel "My Body."
Lily Collins Then
Daughter of British rock musician Phil Collins, Lily Collins moved to LA from Surrey when she was eight to act and model. In 2008, she hosted Nickelodeon’s "Kids Pick the President" series and she won a Young Hollywood Award for Newest Red Carpet Correspondent.
She did, however, begin acting much earlier than that at the age of two when she appeared in the BBC series "Growing Pains."
Lily Now
Now, she’s a published author. At USC, she earned a degree in broadcast journalism. Her first book "Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me" was released in 2017 to critical acclaim. As a teen, she began writing columns for the British magazine "Elle Girl," as well as "Teen Vogue," and "Seventeen."
However, she's now most well known for her leading role in the (love to hate it ) Netflix show "Emily In Paris."
Keke Palmer Then
Keke Palmer was 15 when she starred on the Nick show "True Jackson, VP." The show proved to get her foot in the door with her music career. She wrote and performed the show’s theme song, “How I Do.”
She first started her acting career at nine when she auditioned for "The Lion King." However hr breakout role was as Queen Latifah’s niece in "Barbershop 2: Back in Business."
Keke Now
The actress shifted to music in 2003 with a performance on "American Idol’s" spin-off, "American Juniors." In 2005, she kicked off her recording ambitions with an Atlantic Records contract releasing the single “All My Girlz.” Her name is also in the showbiz history books as she was the first black woman to play Cinderella on Broadway.
Shifting back to acting, Keke starred in the mega-hit film "Hustlers" and the tv show "The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder." She was also a fan favourite Met Gala red carpet host!
Joanna Garcia Then
Joanna Garcia Swisher was 10 years old when she took her first lead role in community theater. She hit the big-time landing Samantha on "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" on Nickelodeon. She commuted to Montreal, Canada where the show was taped from Florida to join the cast.
She was 14 years old and played the part for all three seasons. Sadly the show was canceled in 1996. Luckily, she moved on to "Freaks and Geeks" as Vicky and joined the cast of the CW sitcom "Reba."
Joanna Now
As she tansitoned from child stardom, Joanna got the role of Bree on "Gossip Girl." She also guest-starred on "How I Met Your Mother" and lended her voice to "The Penguins of Madagascar."
What she loves best is entertaining and remodeling the backyard of her home, which includes a movie theater and a wood-fired pizza oven. Joanna told People, “It’s endless inspiration for me.” She keeps a blog called “The Happy Place” to share her latest incarnations.
Malese Jow Then
Malese Jow was just six years old when she started her acting career on "Barney." She was a popular child actress, landing roles on "iCarly," "Wizards of Wavery Place," and "Hannah Montana."
As she got older she starred on the On the popular supernatural teen drama "The Vampire Diaries."
Malese Now
Leaving her childhood roles behind, she appeared in "The Social Network."She wasalso picked up by MTV for "The Shannara Chronicles" in 2017.
Jow got the chnace to use her voal skills when she landed the the gig of vocicing the charcater of Kate in the animated show "Invincible."
Vanessa Baden Then
Vanessa Baden was a Nickelodeon staple starring on both "Gullah Gullah Island" and "Kenan & Kel."
Her career as a child actress spanned from 1994 to 2000.
Vanessa Now
Since her child acting days, she has become a writer, director, and producer. She starred, co-wrote, and co-produced "Giants," a web series on Issa Rae’s YouTube channel. She even won a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for her role in the show!
She graduated from Florida State University in Sociology and Media Productions and is a well-known community organizer staffing Brave New Films as well as other organizations. She’s worked on "Ozark," the critically acclaimed Netflix original series. And, she’s a wife and a mother, they have one son, Ryder.
Lindsey Shaw Then
This cutie is best known on Nick as “Moze” on "Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide." She appeared on the Nick fan-favorite show in 2004. It ran for three seasons.
She got her start doing commercials and was picked up by ABC Family for the series reboot "10 Things I Hate About You" in 2009.
Lindsey Now
Lindsay went on to star in the mega-hit show "Pretty Little Liars"for almost a decade!
In February of 2020, the all grown up kids from "Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide" reunited for a reunion show. She gushed over her old friends on Instagram saying, “Really excited at the possibility of creating with you all again.”
Lori Beth Denberg
Young Lori Beth Denberg got her start in showbiz doing community theater and studying comedians on TV. She scored big when Nickelodeon awarded her a starring role on the millennial-fave "All That." Her hilarious performances still leaves us in stitches.
She got the part when she was 18 and moved herself to Florida where the show was taped.
Lori Now
At 25, Lori Beth decided it was time to leave the Nick show circuit. In 2019, she’s went on the "Nostalgia Personified" tour with "All That" co-stars performing live shows. She told Vice, “It’s really exciting for the Nickelodeon fans to be hanging out with us and drinking beer, you know, very grown-up.”
She’s also shown up on Nickelodeon’s "All That" reboot and has paired with co-star Danny Tamberelli for the digital series "Tonopah Five."
Amber Montana Then
Born Amber Dawn Frank, this Nickelodeon actress was born in Tampa, Florida. When she was 14 she starred in Nick series "The Haunted Hathaways" as Taylor.
When she was eight, she starred in "She Could Be You." Her adorable look comes from Spanish and Cuban descent.
Amber Now
Amber is a big girl now at age 21. She’s the leading voice for "Spirit Riding Free," a Netflix series. Her work earned her a Daytime Emmy Award nomination in 2019.
She’s also starred in "Party Mom," a Lifetime TV film. She loves jazz music and singing.
Bailee Madison
Aww! Look at this sweetie. Bailee Madison starred in the Nickelodeon shows "The Last Day of Summer" and the TV Christmas special "Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh. " She’s been in front of the camera since she was an infant.
Fans also adored her on the Disney Channel as Maxine in "Wizards of Waverly Place" and in "Bridge to Terabithia," another Disney production.
Bailee Now
As a young actress moving into the rest of Hollywood, starring in "Lonely Hearts" kicked things off. She won accolades and a Critics Choice Movie Award nomination for her performance in "Brothers," the 2009 action-thriller film.
While she continues to act, Bailee has tried her hand at writing and producing. Bailee has her own fashion line at Macy’s and hosts a podcast. She also keeps busy with her philanthropic work to fight childhood cancer.
Brec Bassinger Then
This Nickelodeon sweetie starred as Bella in "Bella and the Bulldogs" and in "The Haunted Hathaways."
Brec got her start as a model competing in beauty pageants and cheerleading competitions.
Brec Now
Brec Bassinger is grown up and is still acting. She got the lead in "Stargirl," a DC Universe series on CW and she also played Maxie in the 2018 film "Status Update."
After being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, Brec has supported JDRF as a national ambassador.
Kira Kosarin Then
As a 12-year-old, Kira Kosarin set herself on a path to stardom taking acting classes and performing community theater. Just two years later, her determination paid off; she scored the lead in the Nickelodeon show "The Thundermans."
Her beloved Phoebe character continues to awe audiences. She was nominated for two Kids’ Choice Awards, and Thundermans won for Favorite TV Show in 2016.
Kira Now
The self-proclaimed musician, actress, and yoga chick is all grown up. Transitioning from child acting, she appeared in the second season of "Light as a Feather," a horror series from Hulu.
According to her Instagram bio, she’s “trying to be a good human while floating on this doomed space rock.” To keep up on Kosarin’s music efforts, she has a YouTube channel where she posts covers and original songs. She hit it big and signed with Republic Records in 2022!
Jamie Lynn Spears Then
Jamie Lynn Spears, Britney Spears's little sis, was Zoey on the Nick hit "Zoey 101." That’s where she spent her childhood. On Instagram, she shared, “I grew up on this show, so it was pretty much my childhood also.”
The show ended in 2008 when Jamie Lynn fell pregnant with her daughter Maddie. She faced lots of flak for ‘irresponsible behavior.’
Jamie Lynn Now
She married Jamie Watson in 2014, they have one daughter together whom she loves showing off on social media. Spears was briefly engaged to her boyfriend, her first daughter’s father, but it fell apart. Netflix cast Spears as a regular on "Sweet Magnolias" in 2019.
She’s also joined a reunion cast from Nickelodeon’s "All That" and "Zoey 101" as Thelma Stump. She's since been in tabloids more for her tumultuous and strained relationship with her big sister and less for her career.
Tara Strong Then
Tara Strong’s career in acting started when she was 13. The Toronto-born actress landed the lead in the Hello Kitty animated series as one of her first jobs. Moving to LA brought her many new projects such as "Party of Five," "National Lampoon’s Senior Trip," and "Sabrina the Teenage Witch."
perhaps surprisingly to fans, Tara Strong voiced Timmy Turner from "The Fairly OddParents," as well as many other animated characters. At Nickelodeon, she played Miss Collins in "Big Time Rush."
Tara Now
As a child actor, Tara won a Daytime Emmy nomination and an Annie Award. She snagged an Interactive Achievement Award for Rikku in "Final Fantasy X-2."
She's even lent her incredible vocal skills to Marvel. She voices Miss Minutes in the "Loki" series.
Olivia Holt Then
Olivia Holt got her big showbiz break in Disney Channel’s "Kickin’ It" when she was 14. She then landed the made-for-TV Disney movie "Girl vs. Monster" and the series "I Didn’t Do It."
She flexed her voice actor skills and voiced "Gnome Alone," "Tinker Bell," and "The Legend of the NeverBeast."
Olivia Now
Transitioning to adult acting, Olivia Holt joined the cast of the" Same Kind of Different as Me" with Renee Zellweger and Greg Kinnear. She was cast for the lead in "Class Rank," an independent comedy, and she was set to star in "Status Update" in 2016.
She has also been pursuing a music career and has since released a few albums! Her music hasn't stopped her acting caerre. She's since landed a starring role in the tv series "Cruel Summer."
Miranda Cosgrove Then
The other half of" iCarly" is Miranda Cosgrove. She played opposite Jennette’s Sam as Carly in the delightful duo. But it was not her first Nickelodeon show.
She was seven when she started acting and she starred in "Drake & Josh" before she got the lead in "iCarly." Cosgrove had a memorable role in the cult classic "School of Rock" in 2004. In 2012, she was paid more than any kid actor ever.
Miranda Now
After fronting one of the most popular Nick shows, it would seem a slew of adult roles would be coming her way. But since her child acting days, Miranda Cosgrove has worked on relatively few projects. She voiced Margo in the "Despicable Me" films and put out a new album.
Meanwhile, she attended USC and graduated with a psychology degree. She found her way back to her "iCarly" roots by starring in its reboot.
Christina Vidal Then
We know Christina Vidal from "Taina" on Nickelodeon where she brought the title character to life in 2001. Taina was an aspiring singer hoping to top the charts. The series ran for two seasons.
Christina also tried her hand at music in real life as a member of the all-girl band Gemstone.
Christina Now
Since then, Christina has acted in "See No Evil," "Girlfriends," and "Sabrina the Teenage Witch." She scored big roles in "Code Black" as Lucy Church and "Training Day" playing Det. Valeria Chavez.
She did try to pursue a music career, but despite signing with MCA briefly, nothing significant has panned out. She's married with kids and continues to pursue a flourishing acting career.
Jennette McCurdy Then
Lots of Nick kids will remember the clever and hilarious best friend Sam from "iCarly." Jennette McCurdy played the part from 2007 to 2012 after first getting into acting when she was only 8 years old.
After "iCarly," Jennette reprised her role as Sam and played opposite Ariana Grande in "Sam & Cat." She even tried a music career in 2009, releasing an album on Capitol Records.
Jennette Now
Jennette McCurdy decided to retire from acting and instead is more interested in writing and directing films.
She’s also been very open and candid on her podcast "Empty Inside" about her difficult experiences as a child actor. She's gone on write on the topic of health struggles for Huffington Post. She also writes for the Wall Street Journal, as a series writer and has been a columnist for Seventeen.
Alexa Nikolas Then
This Nickelodeon starlet made her debut on "Zoey 101" as a 12-year-old. Alexa Nikolas starred on the kid-favorite Nick show for two seasons. She played Nicole Bristow and won two honors for her work. She also guest-starred on "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody," "Judging Amy," and "That’s Life."
After landing the role of young Carrie in "King of Queens" her transition to adult roles was seamless!
Alexa Now
Alexa Nikolas proved her chops as an adult actress joining the cast of "Ghost Whisperer" and the CW’s "Supernatural."
Most notably, however, she made appearances in "The Walking Dead" and played Wendy in "Mad Men." In 2012, she married Canadian musician Mike Milosh and in 2013 she retired from acting. Sadly after a rocky romance, the two divorced just four years later.
Ariana Grande Then
The teen idol was born in Florida in 1993 and by 2008 she kickstarted her showbiz ambitions with a Broadway musical.
Ariana Grande was a huge hit on the kids' show "Victorious" in the role of Cat Valentine. She showed off her lungs on the Nickelodeon TV show and it turned into a singing career.
Ariana Now
Grande eventually released "Yours Truly", her first solo album in 2013, and it climbed the charts. Her third album "Dangerous Woman" came out in 2016 and catapulted her to international stardom.
Her music videos have been viewed nine billion times on YouTube and other video channels. To the surprise of her fans, she wed a relatively unknown real estate agent, Dalton Gomez in 2021. With a slew of music awards and massive social media following, the showbiz world is Grande's oyster.
Alanis Morissette Then
It probably comes as a surprise that Alanis Morissette was a child actor. Yup, her very first gig was on the Nickelodeon TV series "You Can’t Do That On Television."
The young Canadian was in middle school when she made an appearance on five episodes of the show.
Alanis Now
Her true calling turned out to be music. As an adult, Alanis Morissette broke into the music industry with her first album "Alanis" featuring her distinctive mezzo-soprano. It’s a rare feat for women to make in the male-dominated rock business. And in 1995, with "Jagged Little Pill "she went platinum, twelve times over. “You Oughta Know” playing on KROQ in LA started things out.
Hits “Hand in My Pocket,” “Ironic,” and “All I Really Want” continued the trend. International success and sold-out tours catapulted her fame. Since then she's continued to make albums and tour the world.
Shannon Woodward Then
A young Shannon Woodward made it to TV by playing Missy, a little girl who lost a kitten in the Nick hit "Clarissa Explains It All" when she was just seven! That was in 1991.
Next, she appeared in two TV movies, "Family Reunion: A Relative Nightmare (1995)" and "Tornado! (1996)"and made guest appearances in several TV shows.
Shannon Now
Today, Shannon is best known for her roles in the FOX sitcom "Raising Hope." She appeared in Katy Perry’s music video “Hot n Cold.” Katy Perry guest-starred in two episodes of Raising Hope. You guessed it, the two are BFFs.
Woodward is also famous for playing programming whiz Elsie Hughes on HBO’s sci-fi thriller Westworld. She's since tried her hand at voice acting in the podcasts " Hot White Heist" and "The Division: Hearts on Fire."
Brenda Song Then
At 10 years old, Brenda Song made it to TV landing a role on the zany Nickelodeon sitcom "101 Deeds for Eddie McDowd." The adorable actress was courted by Disney and starred in The Ultimate Christmas Present television movie on Disney Channel.
She became a household name and fan favorite when she appeared as lovable socialite London Tipton on the Disney series "The Suite Life" and "The Suite Life On Deck."
Brenda Now
All grown up, Brenda Song played Christy on "The Social Network," portraying the girlfriend of Facebook CFO Eduardo Saverin played by Andrew Garfield. She also appeared in popular series like "Scandal" and "New Girl. She really hoped to get screened for the massive hit film "Crazy Rich Asians," but she wasn’t even able to get an audition.
Her managers approached the film’s producers, but they told them Song did not look Asian enough. It was a big disappointment, but, since, she’s been a busy little bee taking the lead in both the Netflix film "Secret Obsession" and the Hulu series "Dollface." Song coupled up with fellow child star Macaulay Culkin and welcomed a child together in 2021. Since then rumors continue to swirl that the two are engaged!
Jessica Alba Then
Jessica Alba played... Jessica (that's convenient) on "The Secret World of Alex Mack" when she was just 13. The Nickelodeon show got her foot in the door for some serious Hollywood action in "Dark Angel" as Max. Her depiction of modern female empowerment was loved by all.
She also made appearances in hits like "Beverly Hills 90210" and "Never Been Kissed."
Jessica Now
Jessica's career really rocketed off when she scored the lead in "Sin City" in 2005. The MTV Movie Awards honored her for the role. She then landed a part in Marvel’s film empire playing The Invisible Woman in "Fantastic Four. " However she soon became disenchanted with Hollywood.
Now she’s a family girl with her husband and children and runs The Honest Company selling a toxin-free lifestyle. She is involved with many charities and is a Baby2Baby ambassador.
Lisa Folies Then
Lisa Folies grew up as a kid watching the original Nickelodeon smash hit "All That." Imagine her excitement when she was cast for the program in 1994! The cast at "All That" became her family, especially since she was homeschooled and missed out on the high school teenage thing.
She made the big time with a role in "Malcolm in the Middle" and was well on her way to becoming an actress in the grown-up world of showbiz.
Lisa Now
Lisa wears many hats! She's an actress, video game journalist, model, and YouTuber. She hooked up with GameSpot and began hosting gaming events. Her work in the gaming industry has made her a frequent face at L.A. Comic-Con. She is married to producer Shawn Cloninger.
The couple has a daughter and a son, and they call Las Vegas home.
Nathalia Ramos Then
Born in Spain in 1992, Nathalia Ramos moved to the U.S. when she was four. She starred in Nickelodeon’s first kid soap and the network’s first international production, "House of Anubis."
She played the lead, Nina Martin, a girl sent to boarding school in England. She even won a Kids Choice Award. for her role! However, she eventually wanted to pursue college and dropped out of the third season.
Nathalia Now
Nathalia, who has triple citizenship, Spain, Australia and US., graduated from USC with a political science degree in 2018. She continues to act and was in "The Damned" as Jill in 2013 and "Wildflower" in 2016.
She’s also appeared in "Arrested Development," "Bratz: The Movie," and "Seoul Searching." In 2021 she tied the knot with long-time lover Derek An.
Elisha Cuthbert Then
If you’re a 90s kid, you’re a Nick kid, so you must remember Elisha Cuthbert from "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" the ghost story show that featured many up-and-coming stars.
Elisha was 14 years old at the time, and it launched the Canadian actress’s career. Her later debut film was "Dancing on the Moon."
Elisha Now
International recognition came to Elisha with her role as Kim Bauer in the mega-hit 2001 series "24." She was also adored as Danielle in "The Girl Next Door." Her success made her a bombshell, and widely known as one of the world’s most beautiful people.
She married star hockey player Dion Phaneuf. They have one daughter. Her career has slowed down some, but in 2015 she joined the cast of Netflix’s "The Ranch," and landed a role in the 2020 film "Eat Wheaties!"
Christine Taylor Then
Christine Joan Taylor was born in 1971. As an old-school Nickelodeon kid star, she starred in the 1989 comedy series "Hey Dude" playing a lifeguard.
As a child actress, she played Marcia in "The Brady Bunch Movie" and made appearances on "Ellen."
Christine Now
Taylor met her future hubby, actor, and comedian Ben Stiller on the set of a failed pilot "Heat Vision and Jack."
They tied the knot in 2000 and welcomed two children into the world. They went on to appear in several projects together such as "Zoolander," "Tropic Thunder," and "DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story." While their marriage fell apart in 2017, the tides of love changed for the pair as they officially rekindled their union in 2022!
Michelle Trachtenberg Then
Born in 1985, Michelle Trachtenberg debuted on Nickelodeon with a part in just one episode of "Clarissa Explains It All." Soon, she won the role of Nona Mecklenberg in Nick’s "The Adventures of Pete & Pete" which ran until 1996. She was nine when she scored that gig! Next, she starred as Harriet in the very first Nickelodeon TV movie, "Harriet the Spy."
Trachtenberg was a Nick star for years until she moved on up to adult showbiz. Playing Buffy’s sister in the fifth season of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" was the role responsible for transitioning her career.
Michelle Now
Michelle cemented her place in teen idol history by starring as Georgina Sparks in the cult classic early series "Gossip Girl" and as Casey Carlyle in the figure-skating drama "Ice Princess."
Reflecting on her career, she said, “I don’t necessarily believe that I will act and be a lead forever, but I want to continue to act for a long time. I love to do what I do.” While her acting career has since slowed down, she's been romantically linked to rapper Kid Cudi.
Melissa Joan Hart Then
Melissa Joan Hart was a Nickelodeon sweetheart starring on the network’s popular show "Clarissa Explains It All." She was one of the first Nick kid stars. She played Clarissa Darling for the entire run, 1991 to 1994. Out of six nominations, she won favorite actress at the Kids’ Choice Awards once.
Moving on to television movies, Hart starred in ABC’s "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" and the network’s series "Melissa & Joey."
Melissa Now
While Melissa continues to act and has landed roles in several TV shows and movies like " No Good Nick" and "The Casagrandes" she's expanded her skill set!
She tried her hand at fashion in 2015 opening up a line called King of Harts with her husband. She's also come a long way as a director and producer for projects like "iCarly," "Young Sheldon," and "The Goldbergs."
Meagan Good Then
Meagan Good was just four years old when she started acting. Born in 1981, she says she grew up, “super nerdy, super skinny, buckteeth, big ol’ afro, and yet I had a sense of confidence about myself, like, ‘they just don’t get it yet.’” Getting into television, she appeared on "Doogie Howser M.D."
Things were going well when she landed a spot on Nick’s "Cousin Skeeter" which ran from 1998 to 2001. She says the show was a big part of her childhood. As a child actress, she landed many roles, but her career really took off as an adult.
Meagan Now
She grew up and hit sex symbol status by playing leading lady roles in "Biker Boyz" and "Deliver Us from Eva." 2003 was a good year for her. She also played Vanessa on the TV series "My Wife and Kids."
Meagan Good has been featured in several hip-hop music videos by 50 Cent and Will Smith, among others. She starred in "Venom," "You Got Served," and "Brick. " She also launched a production company, Freedom Bridge Entertainment with fellow actors Tamara Bass and Ty Hodges.
Meagan Good’s Photo Scandal
When Meagan Good was 34, she was the victim of an internet hack scheme. Someone had released private photos of hers on the internet in attempt to shame her. It was discovered that the images had been taken by her husband and were never intended to be shared outside their marriage.
“For everyone who’s reposting the leaked nudes? You should be ashamed of yourself… You have a blessed day now.” That’s a lot of poise for such a mortifying experience.
Emma Roberts Then
Emma Roberts’ childhood dream came true when she landed her own fabulous "Unfabulous" show on Nickelodeon. Hanging out with her auntie Julia Roberts on movie sets as a child sparked that dream.
The show about life at junior high school ran for three years until it was canceled in 2007. Her role as Addie Singer catapulted Emma into a film career with lead roles in teen cult classics like "Aquamarine" and, "Nancy Drew" and "Wild Child."
Emma Now
All grown up, Ms. Roberts is still pursuing an acting career. She played Jess in "Who We Are Now" in 2017" and also starred in the ninth season of "American Horror Story: 1984."
In March 2019 Emma hooked up with fellow actor Garret Hedland of "TRON: Legacy" fame. The two welcomed a child into the world together in December of 2020. Sadly, the two lovebirds announced their split in January 2022.
Victoria Justice Then
Victoria Justice was only 8 years old when she decided to start a career in showbiz. Her family moved out to Hollywood from Florida. Immediately she started modeling and doing commercials. The half-Puerto Rican beauty got her foot in the door by starring on Nickelodeon’s "Zoey 101" in 2005 when she was just 12.
That led to her biggest gig as Tori Vega on the Nick sitcom "Victorious." Starring alongside(the now-famous pop icon) Ariana Grande, Victoria tried her hand as a musical act. Three of the songs from the "Victorious" soundtrack hit the charts. She seemed set for a stellar solo career but sadly her debut track tanked.
Victoria Now
Victoria Justice’s career in the spotlight as a teen idol and actress fizzled after "Victorious" was canceled and her solo venture flopped. During her superstardom height, in the two years before Victorious was canceled, she starred in three films, "The Boy Who Cried Werewolf," "Fun Size," and "The First Time."
Since then, she hasn’t found much work as an adult actress besides starring in the MTV thriller "Eye Candy," as well as the Netflix Films, " A Perfect Pairing," and "The Afterlife of the Party."
Amanda Bynes Then
Child actress Amanda Bynes hosted her very own comedy show, "The Amanda Show," on Nickelodeon when she was just 13 years old! She starred in "All That" when she was 10. Starting with commercials and stage work, the adorable actress became an influential teen star in the 90s, raking in Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards right and left.
In the 2000s, she starred in big blockbuster hits like"Big Fat Liar" and "She’s The Man." But in 2010, she abruptly ended her showbiz career with the tweet " I don't love acting anymore, so I've stopped doing it.”
Amanda Now
Amanda sadly dealt with various substance abuse problems for several years after her untimely retirement. However, she started to get her life back on track! In an interview with "Paper Magazine" in 2018, she announced her intention to start a designer clothing label and get back into acting.
She also announced her engagement on Instagram in February 2020 to Paul Michael. Sadly the two broke it off in 2021. Fingers crossed that Bynes bounces back soon!
Larisa Oleynik Then
Nickelodeon star Larisa Oleynik captured kids’ imaginations as a girl named Alex with superpowers on "The Secret World of Alex Mack." As a teen idol, she made American youngsters all over wonder how awesome it would be to be a famous TV star.
But Larisa wanted to know how it would be to be a regular teen in high school. She left the show after four seasons and went back to high school. Guess what? She got bored. Most kids could have told her that!
Larisa Now
Larisa Oleynik is now all grown up. She is a beautiful woman with a busy career. After high school, she went back to acting and landed roles in the cult classic "10 Things I Hate About You" and the hit show "3rd Rock from the Sun." But she wasn’t done with school. Oleynik finished oof her education at Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers, New, York. She said it was “the best decision she ever made.”
A few years later she was cast as a recurring character, Cynthis Cosgrove on "Mad Men" which made her feel like she truly made it. She's continued to prove herself as a formidable force with roles in"Half-Life," "The Healing Powers of Dude," and "Trinkets."