Former Nickelodeon Child Stars: Where Are They Now?
Published on March 9, 2016. Updated February 14, 2017Nickelodeon has had much success in its unique brand of television programming for children and adolescents, and many of the actors who have gotten their starts there have gone onto some pretty lucrative careers in the entertainment business. This list takes a look at Nickelodeon’s child stars and what they’ve been up to since their time on the network.
10. Kenan Thompson
Kenan Thompson has made a successful career from himself after getting his start on Nickelodeon’s sketch comedy show All That and landing the lead in the sitcom Kenan & Kel. He’s starred in films like Good Burger and Fat Albert and is considered one of VH1’s 100 Greatest Teen Stars. He also returned to his sketch comedy roots in 2003 when he joined the cast of Saturday Night Live. As a current performer, he has broken the record for being the longest-serving African American actor on the series, and the record for the most celebrity impressions. In 2016, we’ll see him in Brother in Laws and as the voice of Riff in Rock Dog!
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9. Kel Mitchell
Kel Mitchell and Kenan Thompson were a duet for Nickelodeon and teamed up for Kenan & Kel and Good Burger. Unfortunately, the partnership didn’t continue on Saturday Night Live. Kel auditioned for the show, but the role was given to Kenan. Recently you’d have been able to catch Kel in the television shows Da Jammies, Wild Grinders, and the current Nickelodeon series Game Shakers. He is also reported to be a converted Christian, and busy on the stand up scene.
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8. Michelle Trachtenberg
Back in 1992 this actress got her start on the quirky Nickelodeon show The Adventures of Pete & Pete. And once she played Buffy’s sister on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, she took to widespread stardom and never looked back. Since the millennium, Trachtenberg has starred in Eurotrip, Ice Princess, and 17 Again. She’s also been seen in the television series’ Weeds, Six Feet Under, and Gossip Girl. In 2016, we’ll be able to check her out in Sister Cities, a film about four estranged sisters who reunite after their mother’s suicide.
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7. Larisa Oleynik
Larisa Oleynik is a classic face of the 1990s and rose to fame on Nickelodeon’s The Secret World of Alex Mack in which she played a regular-girl turned superhuman. She was also in The Baby-Sitter’s Club and 10 Things I Hate About You before the end of the decade. Since then she’s remained a television staple, appearing in series’ like Pretty Little Liars, Hawaii Five-O, and Mad Men. Recently she starred in the horror flick Animal Among Us.
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6. Danny Tamberelli
Getting his start in The Mighty Ducks, Danny Tamberelli was quickly singed on by Nickelodeon to play Little Pete Wrigley in The Adventures of Pete and Pete. And while he is best known for those two roles, he has been in a substantial number of other television series including All That, Fillmore! and voicing the part of Arnold on The Magic School Bus. He’s also been involved in voice acting in the gaming world and provides the voice for Jimmy De Santa in Grand Theft Auto V.
Source: www.wikipedia.com5. Meagan Good
Many may be quick to forget that Meagan Good traces her roots back to Nickelodeon as Nina, Bobby’s love interest in Cousin Skeeter! And this girl has been busy ever since. She’s had recurring roles on My Wife and Kids, and Californication, and took up the lead in the TV series Deception. She’s been on the big screen in Stomp the Yard, the Think Like a Man series, and Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. In 2017, you’ll be able to check her out in Deuces with Larenz Tate and La La Anothony.
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4. Lindsay Sloane
Lindsay Sloane has a long history in the biz, but she really rose to prominence on Sabrina, The Teenage Witch as Sabrina’s BFF who is ridiculed by the captain of the cheer squad, Libby Chessman, right alongside Sabrina. The irony is that one of her next roles was as the bitchy cheer captain, Big Red, in Bring It On. She’s also been in hit flicks like She’s Out of My League, Horrible Bosses, and The Other Guys. She currently stars with Matthew Perry and Thomas Lennon in the TV series The Odd Couple.
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3. Noah Munck
Noah Munck was a child star with bit parts in famous primetime shows including ER, but he landed his breakthrough role as Gibby on iCarly in 2007. His popularity on the show led to discussions of a spin-off, but the plans fell through and Munck was forced to find other gigs. He’s transitioned to the big screen for roles in Bad Teacher, Just Before I Go, and Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn. Since 2012 he’s also been working on his music career and releases EDM under the name NoxiK. His single “Killjoy” has been his most successful tune to date. In the future he’s hoping to also break into writing, directing, and producing, for his own projects.
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2. Miranda Cosgrove
Miranda Cosgrove has remained on everyone’s radar since she made her film debut as the band manager in School of Rock. Around the same time, she landed the part of Josh’s little sister on Nickelodeon’s Drake & Josh, a role which eventually led to her own show iCarly and a singing career while she was at it. Her 2010 debut album reached #8 on the Billboard 200 chart. Miranda’s acting has moved beyond her days with Nickelodeon. She has done voice over work, playing Margo in the Despicable Me movies, and can currently be seen as Shea Gunn on Crowded.
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1. Drake Bell
Drake Bell actually got his start on Home Improvement but came to fame on Nickelodeon’s The Amanda Show. He was so successful in fact, that he landed his own spin-off show, Drake & Josh. Since his days with those famous Nickelodeon shows, he’s been heavily involved with voice acting, playing the role of Timmy in the Fairly Odd Parents movie trilogy, and the part of Peter Parker in Ultimate Spider-Man. He’s also been busy releasing albums including Ready Steady Go! in 2014. Lately, Bell has been faced with some tough times. In 2014, he had to declare bankruptcy and his $2 million mansion went into foreclosure. Sources have reported that Bell was $581,000 in debt. In March of 2016, Bell will also face his second DUI charge brought against him in January 2016. If found guilty, he may face up to a year in a county jail.
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