The 1980s gave film fans an array of new stars to fall in love with. And, frankly, it probably did so even better than any other decade (meaning stars who are both more likable and possessed a greater range). Sure, the '90s made half the United States very familiar with every character's name in Boy Meets World, but the '80s were something else entirely.
Why? There was a greater emphasis on roles written for children, for one. And it seems Hollywood had really figured out how to hire young performers who could capture the hearts of viewers through their cuteness and ability to sell a line organically in equal measure. These are 10 of the very best child stars from the '80s, with the only caveat being they were under the age of 18 when they made their debut (or, more often than not here, when they both made their debut and made it big).
10 Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore started acting at five years old, and made her way into viewers hearts across the globe in a big way two years later with her role as little Gertie in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. But that wasn't all she did in the '80s, as there was also Stephen King adaptations Firestarter and Cat's Eye. Then things slowed down for about a decade, though there were high points like her role in Poison Ivy and Batman Forever before she ultimately hit the A-list again through her brief but unforgettable performance as Casey Becker in Scream.
What's She Doing Now?
The late '90s and aughts were great for Barrymore, with roles in hits like Never Been Kissed and Charlie's Angels, as well as increased clout behind the camera (for the aforementioned Charlie's Angels and Donnie Darko). Then, after a decade of rom-coms as well as the memorable zombie series Santa Clarita Diet, she started The Drew Barrymore Show in 2020. And, in spite of a misstep during the writers strike, her show is doing fairly well.
9 Neil Patrick Harris
A consummate performer, Neil Patrick Harris was leading a major network sitcom by the age of 16 with Doogie Howser, M.D., which ran for nearly 100 episodes. But that's not all that consumed his late '90s and aughts, as there was also an episode of Blossom, a crossover episode between Doogie Howser and Roseanne, as well as a major role in Paul Verhoeven's Starship Troopers.
Then in 2004, Harris again revealed himself as a major presence in the comedy world via Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle and then cemented that presence the following year with the long-running sitcom How I Met Your Mother, where he played the flirtatious "bro" Barney Stinson.
What's He Doing Now?
HIMYM opened a lot of doors for Harris, and while not all of the projects were high art (e.g. The Smurfs) he's had a major role in them all, especially when he headlined the villain of the Netflix show A Series of Unfortunate Events. And that's continuing to this day, considering he's playing the villainous Celestial Toymaker in 2023's Doctor Who specials.
8 Christian Slater
With a host of favorites released throughout the late '80s to the mid '90s, Christian Slater had a solid streak in Hollywood as a young actor, starting at eight years old in the soap opera One Life to Live. Heathers put him on the map, while Tales from the Darkside: The Movie, Pump Up the Volume, and Kuffs kept him there.
As the '90s progressed, there were fewer hits like Interview with the Vampire and Broken Arrow,and more bombs like Hard Rain (which, while underrated, was absolutely the high-budget film that did some damage to how the industry viewed Slater's financial viability).
What's He Doing Now?
Hard Rain led to Slater's lead roles going to the wind, at least in studio projects. So, what he was left with throughout the aughts and 2010s was supporting roles in terrible studio pictures such as 3000 Miles to Graceland and leading roles in direct-to-video movies such as Hard Cash.
But then in 2015, Mr. Robot came along, showcasing Slater as the powerhouse actor he always was. The role gave him the clout needed to lead to a role in the arthouse film The Wife (2017), a major role in Disney's spin-off series of The Lion King, The Lion Guard, and a recurring role on the well-received miniseries Dr. Death. In other words, it seems that Slater's star is on the rise again, not unlike Travolta's in the mid-'90s, and here's hoping it's a resurgence for the long haul.
7 Jennifer Connelly
When it comes to performers who started young, Jennifer Connelly's career has been one of the more consistent. She started in modeling at 10 years old, before transitioning to film at 11 with the movie Once Upon a Time in America. She never fell back into television after that (back when that was considered a bad thing), nor has she ever been in a direct-to-video movie.
What's She Doing Now?
Just as Connelly's career put her in lead roles back in the '80s via Phenomena and Labyrinth, she's still securing forefront roles now. For instance, she had consistent hits in films like Requiem For a Dream, A Beautiful Mind, and the underrated noir sci-fi film Dark City, and most recently she was an effective co-lead Top Gun: Maverick with Tom Cruise. In other words, Connelly's never gone anywhere.
6 Ethan Hawke
One of the most eclectic talents of his generation and a commanding presence regardless of what character he's playing, Ethan Hawke made his debut in Joe Dante's 1985 Explorers at age 15, and from there he was a pretty consistent presence in Hollywood via films like Dead Poets Society, Dad, White Fang, and Reality Bites. Speaking of Reality Bites, what came after (AKA the late '90s) were terrific for Hawke and film fans, with both Before Sunrise and Gattaca holding substantial fanbases to this day.
What's He Doing Now?
That may all sound like Hawke's been a consistent A-lister, but that's not quite the case. He's never been one to embrace cameras and social media presence, and that mature mentality has often branched out to his role choices (he's since expressed regret for throwing the script of Independence Day out his car window).
But, Hawke stayed relevant if not the main name on the marquee, via projects such as Training Day, Assault on Precinct 13, and the incredible Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. And starting with Sinister in 2012, he's become a reliable presence in horror films, like Blumhouse's The Purge and 2021's The Black Phone. He's continued to be great in smaller films too, particularly in A24's First Reformed.
5 Ke Huy Quan
One of those big Hollywood comebacks nobody saw coming, Ke Huy Quan is an absolute joy of a human being and a welcome presence in any project in which he takes part. He was a major part of 1980s cinema, and he secured that spot with just his first two roles, as Short Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom when he was 12, and as Data in The Goonies a year later.
But, then, outside a one-episode spot on Tales from the Crypt and a role in the dreadful but popular Encino Man, Quan basically quit acting for about 20 years, though he remained in the business with work as a stunt coordinator choreographer and assistant director.
What's He Doing Now?
Everything Everywhere All at Once was incredible for Quan. Waymond Wang is such a compelling character, one that forces the actor to explore the range he hasn't utilized for years, and he not once falls short. Wanting to make sure he did well after such a long hiatus, he actually got an acting coach and worked every day to ensure his performance was top-notch — and it absolutely was.
EEAAO is a film with three perfect performances, and without even just one of them it wouldn't have scored the Oscars it did. And, of course, that led to Quan becoming a member of the MCU via Loki's second season.
4 Winona Ryder
Starting her acting career at 13 and dominating 1988 two years later with both Heathers and Beetlejuice, Winona Ryder continued her hot streak with 1990s' Edward Scissorhands and Mermaids. But it didn't stop there, as 1992's Bram Stoker's Dracula and 1994's Reality Bites were also high-profile.
But then, thanks to a shoplifting incident, the aughts slowed down considerably for Ryder (though, that said, she was still co-leading an Adam Sandler project at the height of his popularity, so she wasn't exactly off the map).
What's She Doing Now?
Ryder experienced a career resurgence in 2016 thanks to Netflix's smash hit Stranger Things, which tapped into the nostalgia of her '80s fame. Since then she's starred in The Plot Against America, led the film Destination Wedding, and had a small role in Haunted Mansion. Toss in her reprising the role of Lydia Deetz in the upcoming Beetlejuice 2 (not to mention the close of Stranger Things) and 2024 looks to be one of the most important of Ryder's career.
3 Christian Bale
Christian Bale is one of the best actors of his generation, known for his intensity and vast range. Beginning at eight years old with commercials, Bale was soon displaying his talent at 13 years old with the lead role in Empire of the Sun, and Newsies four years later.
And yet, in spite of that success, the powers-that-be couldn't see him as financially viable enough to lead American Psycho. Thankfully the director was dogged in their defense of Bale, because it marked a changing point.
What's He Doing Now?
After one-off projects of varying scope and budget, such as Reign of Fire and The Machinist, Bale officially hit the A-list via Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy. After a few Oscar nominations (and wins) via projects such as American Hustle, The Big Short, Vice, and Ford v Ferrari he returned to that subgenre (though to less successful effect) with Thor: Love and Thunder. Bale's most recent project was a voice acting role in Miyazaki's The Boy and the Heron, which debuted to the tune of highest-grossing original anime film ever at the U.S. box office.
2 Henry Thomas
Like Drew Barrymore, Henry Thomas made a name for himself in a majorway with Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (which will, thankfully, probably never receive a legacy sequel) when he was just nine years old. But, while Barrymore's career has certainly had its ups and downs, it's been far more consistent than Thomas'.
What's He Doing Now?
After years and years of forgettable projects (with the few-and-far-between highlights being Suicide Kings, All the Pretty Horses, and a brief role in Gangs of New York), Thomas seems to be firmly back in the industry. He's done particularly well in the horror genre, with The Haunting of Hill House, Doctor Sleep, and The Haunting of Bly Manor all having their fans.
1 Jason Bateman
The perfect straight-man in a screwball comedy, Jason Bateman has long been in the industry, starting at age 12, but it wasn't until the mid-aughts that he really blew up. That said, the '80s weren't unkind to Bateman, as he had over 20 episodes on Little House on the Prairie, a major role on sitcom Silver Spoons, and, of course, the dreadful Teen Wolf Too.
What's He Doing Now?
Astoundingly enough, Teen Wolf Too didn't kill his career on a permanent basis, but there's also little doubt it slowed things down for a bit. In fact, it wasn't really until 17 years later that he re-entered public consciousness via his role as Pepper Brooks in Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, which led to Juno, which led to Extract (highly underrated), which led to Paul and Horrible Bosses. Toss in his work on the acclaimed show Ozark, and Bateman's now made a big name for himself in multiple genres... though he'll always be a legend of comedy.
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