'90s Child Stars Who Absolutely Hated Fame

While getting an early start in Hollywood may pave the way for a long and successful career, that's not to say being a child star is an easy road. "I'll always look at child stardom, at what I went through, as something traumatic for me," singer and actor Demi Lovato told Spin in 2022. "No child should ever be in the limelight. It's too much pressure." Lovato, of course, is not the first former child star to open up about their experience — and they certainly won't be the last. Throughout the '90s, audiences were introduced to a number of talented young actors who stole the show in TV series and movies alike. And a number of those actors have reflected on their experiences as kids in show biz. 

Some former '90s child stars are still very much involved with the acting world. To this day, actors like Ryan Gosling, Kenan Thompson, and Kirsten Dunst stay busy building their filmographies. Others like Jimmy Workman, who played Pugsley in "The Addams Family," completely disappeared from view. Many took their careers in other directions, like Charlie Korsmo, who eventually became a lawyer; Korsmo's "Hook" co-star Amber Scott remained in the entertainment industry but found her passion behind the camera. 

Fame isn't for everyone, and the pressures that come with it can be a lot to take on — especially for a little kid. Keep reading as we take a deep dive into the '90s child stars who absolutely hated being famous.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are arguably two of the biggest child stars from the '90s and '00s. One of their most notable roles, jointly playing Michelle Tanner in "Full House," saw them acting on-screen before they were even a year old. They then went on to form their own production company, Dualstar, and the pair subsequently made millions with features like "It Takes Two" and "New York Minute."

However, their experience in the film industry was not as charmed as their young fans imagined. Behind the scenes, the Olsen twins didn't love their life in the spotlight, which all started because their mom sent their picture to a casting agent friend when they were babies. "I look at old photos of me, and I don't feel connected to them at all... I would never wish my upbringing on anyone," Mary Kate admitted to Marie Claire. "[We were] little monkey performers," she added.

So, when they were old enough to say no, they did. The Olsen twins hung up their actor hats and pursued their true passion: fashion. Nowadays, they prefer quiet life behind the scenes, attend very few major events, and only have a social media presence when it's necessary for their fashion work. There were some rumblings about whether or not they'd jump back into the fray for "Fuller House," but the twins swiftly turned down the "Full House" reboot. 

Having already starred in classics like "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "Miracle of 34th Street," Mara Wilson was basically an industry veteran when it came time to play the titular child prodigy in "Matilda." From the outside looking in, Wilson was golden, forging an impressive career for herself at such a young age. However, things were very different behind the scenes. "I was very depressed, I was very anxious, I can barely even remember 'Matilda' coming out. I only have vague memories of the premiere, and it was really hard for me," she shared with NPR's Rachel Martin. "I think that I definitely became kind of disenchanted with acting, with Hollywood, while, at the same time, it was a crutch for me." 

Being a public figure never got easier for Wilson. As she told The Guardian, "People don't realise how much constantly talking to the press as a child weighs on you." She also felt that she could never hold a candle to the fictional characters she played in movies. "I couldn't stand to disappoint people," she said. By the 2000s, Wilson's acting career was on the back burner. 

While in college, Wilson got into writing. In 2016, "Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame," her book about her life and career, was released. Aside from lending her voice to animated series like "Big Hero 6" and "BoJack Horseman," she doesn't seem interested in getting back into acting.

When you hear the name Michael Oliver, then you probably think of red-headed troublemaker Junior Healy from the 1990 comedy "Problem Child." Oliver reprised his role the following year for the sequel and it marked the start of a promising career for the young actor. However, after the 1995 film "Dillinger and Capone," a few on-off TV appearances, and an uncredited role in "Forrest Gump," Oliver disappeared from the acting scene.

While it's easy to assume that child stars want to take a break from acting for school, or they faded out of view because they'd aged out of playing cute kids, neither was the case for Oliver. He sent the record straight during a 2012 reunion for the film franchise. Per People, the "Problem Child" star admitted, "After having been thrust into the spotlight as a child, I appreciate some peace and quiet." Although he doesn't look at his acting career as a complete disaster, Oliver hated being famous. "I'm actually quite happy with my life the way it is today. I have a decent job. I work hard. I have a beautiful girlfriend. We have three cats and a hamster. It's a nice, quiet existence. I like it," he said.

Oliver now has a job working in tech and uses his family surname Ponce, according to Refinery29. We've heard very little from Oliver since the reunion, so he must be off working hard and enjoying that quiet life he's built for himself.

From "The Little Rascals" to "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air," Ross Bagley might have been one of the most adorable kids on the small screen in the '90s. Playing Nicky Barnes on the Will Smith-led series was a dream come true for Bagley, too. As he said on a 2020 episode of the "Hip Hop Uncensored" podcast, he was a diehard fan of the sitcom long before he was cast. 

However, Bagley's love of acting could not outweigh how much he hated the fame that came with it. He followed up his stint on "Fresh Prince" by playing Will Smith's stepson in "Independence Day," but it wasn't long before Bagley put his successful child acting career to bed because he hated the level of fame he'd reached. "I wanted to kind of live, like, a more normal type of life," he said on the podcast after admitting that during the height of his family he was recognized everywhere. Bagley even recalled being chased out of a mall while just trying to go about his daily life. "I lived an under-the-radar life before and generally, that's kind of how I am, more laid back and reserved," Bagley added.

Like his "My Girl" co-star, Macaulay Culkin was catapulted into fame in the early '90s. His breakout role came in 1990, after five years of acting, when he starred in the universally beloved Christmas comedy "Home Alone." He followed this up with "My Girl," "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York," and "The Nutcracker." By the time Macaulay starred in 1994 comedy "Richie Ritch," he was one of the most famous actors in the world. But off screen, his life was imploding, and he didn't want to be acting. 

"My father and my mother finally called it quits, which was one of the best things that ever happened. I was able to actually walk away from the business," Macaulay later explained on the "WTF with Marc Maron" podcast. "I'd been wanting to take a break for a while and eventually, I just was like, 'I'm done, I'm done guys. I hope you all made your money because there's no more coming from me.'"

He'd had enough of the fame at 14. Instances where Macaulay and his family were gawked at in public — and in one case, followed home by a taxi driver — were understandably huge downsides to his public status, and it was something he wasn't prepared for, as younger brother Kieran Culkin revealed to Esquire in March 2023. "He was little and having to try to accept that level of fame as reality," the "Succession" star added. "Even at that time, as a kid, I remember thinking, 'That sucks for him.'"