Photos: Popular child actors through the years
Photos of child star Shirley Temple have made us remember other child actors. Here are some who grew up in the business and are still successful, some who went on to a private life away from the cameras, and some who came to an early, tragic end. Of course, this is just a partial list of children who entertained us.
Popular child actors through the years
Popular child actors through the years
Six youngsters who only recently met line up outside a Los Angeles, Ca. courtroom June 18, 1969 to await approval of contracts calling for them to play brothers and sisters on a new television series. The series, called "The Brady Bunch," is about a widower with three boys who marries a widow with three girls and will premiere on ABC-TV in September. Left to right: Susan Olsen, 8; Michael Lookinland, 8 1/2; Eve Plumb, 11; Christopher Knight, 11; Maureen McCormick, 12; Barry Williams, 14. (AP Photo)
Popular child actors through the years
Ron Howard is shown in character as Opie on "The Andy Griffith Show" in the premiere episode in the series' fall season, Sept. 20, 1962. (AP Photo)
Popular child actors through the years
Danny Bonaduce who used to be tired of the recognition he received from his role as Danny Patridge on the television show "The Partridge Family", is enjoying being back in the public eye in his new role as a disc jockey in Bala Cynwyd on Feb 20, 1989. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Popular child actors through the years
FILE - In this Aug. 3, 2010 file photo, Butch Patrick, who played boy vampire Eddie Munster in the mid-60s sitcom "The Munsters" is shown in West Chester, Pa. Patrick's agent said Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010 that the 57-year-old former child star is in a private drug and alcohol treatment facility in New Jersey. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
Popular child actors through the years
U.S. movie star Leonardo DiCaprio poses for a photograph at Samkond temple in Phuket province, 690 kilometers (428 miles) southwest of Bangkok, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 1999. (AP Photo/Handout)
Popular child actors through the years
The cast of "Father Knows Best' poses in this undated file photo. Robert Young, center with "wife" Jane Wyatt, top right, clockwise are their "children" Billy Gray, Lauren Chapin and Elinor Donahue. Young, loved by millions of viewers as television's all-knowing dad Jim Anderson and compassionate doctor Marcus Welby, has died. Young died Tuesday evening, July 21, 1998, at his home. He was 91 (AP Photo/Movie Star News)
Popular child actors through the years
Christian Bale poses for photographers during the presentation of the British film "Metroland" at the 54th Venice Film Festival, Saturday, August 30, 1997. (AP Photo/Luigi Costantini)
Popular child actors through the years
Sara Gilbert after taping was completed on the 221st and final episode of "Roseanne," Friday, April 4, 1997, at Radford Studios in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Popular child actors through the years
Kristen Johnston and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, left, on the set of "3rd Rock from the Sun" Thursday, Aug. 8, 1996, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Susan Sterner)
Popular child actors through the years
Keith Thibodeaux, who played Little Ricky in the classic television sitcom "I Love Lucy," participates in a panel discussion of former cast members at the first annual "Loving Lucy" convention in Burbank, Calif., on Saturday, July 20, 1996. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Popular child actors through the years
Actor Fred Savage sits at JerryĂs Deli in the Encino section of Los Angeles on Saturday, March 30, 1996. Savage, the wide-eyed innocent Kevin Arnold in ìThe Wonder Years,Ă® is now a strapping 19-year-old, a sophomore at Stanford University and about to change his television image in a star. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Popular child actors through the years
Crew from the original cast of the television series "Lost in Space" pose for a group portrait with the shows' robot in Boston Saturday, Dec. 2, 1995. The cast, who greeted fans and signed autographs, were reunited for the 30th anniversary of the premiere of the show. From left in the back row are: Bob May, Bill Mumy, Mark Goddard, Jonathan Harris; in the front row from left: June Lockhart, Marta Kristen, Angela Cartwright. Guy Williams, not seen, who played professor John Robinson, died in 1989. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Popular child actors through the years
Elle Fanning arrives at The Twilight Saga: New Moon premiere on Monday, Nov. 16, 2009, in Westwood, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Popular child actors through the years
In this photo taken on Sept. 29, 2008, Corey Haim sings during a Lost Boys reunion event at the Viper Room in West Hollywood, Calif. During a performance by G Tom Mac, who originally sang "Cry Little Sister" in the Lost Boys movie, Haim went up on stage and sang along with other cast members. Haim, a 1980s teen heartthrob for his roles in "Lucas" and "The Lost Boys" whose career was blighted by drug abuse, died Wednesday March 10, 2010. He was 38. (AP Photo/Nathan Nowack) MANDATORY CREDIT
Popular child actors through the years
Actress Melissa Gilbert of "Little House on the Prairie" poses in October 1976. (AP Photo)
Popular child actors through the years
Ashley, left, and Mary Kate Olsen pose for a picture at the CFDA Fashion Awards in New York, Monday, June 4, 2007. The annual gala celebrates the year's leading designers and trend setters.(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Popular child actors through the years
U.S. actor Will Smith, left, with his son Jaden Christopher Syre Smith, right, pose as they arrive before the German premiere of the film "The Pursuit of Happyness" in Berlin on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2007. (AP Photo/Franka Bruns)
Popular child actors through the years
Actress Abigail Breslin, cast member of "Little Miss Sunshine," poses in Beverly Hills, Calif., Friday, July 14, 2006. Crammed into a Volkswagen minibus, the Hoover family embark on a weekend of misery in the film, as they race across the desert to get their daughter to her Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant in California. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Popular child actors through the years
Actress Dakota Fanning poses Jan. 23, 2005, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. Fanning stars opposite Robert De Niro in the thriller "Hide and Seek." (AP Photo/Ann Johansson)
Popular child actors through the years
Rory Culkin as Sam, is a part of a group of troubled teenagers, who set out on a boat trip to celebrate the birthday of their youngest member, secretly ploting a playful payback against a local troublemaker, in Paramount Classics' "Mean Creek." (AP Photo/Sandra Johnson)
Popular child actors through the years
Actress Lindsay Lohan accepts the award for Breakthrough Female during the MTV Movie Awards on Saturday, June 5, 2004, in Culver City, Calif. The show will air on Thursday, June 10. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Popular child actors through the years
Kieran Culkin in Cannes, France Thursday, May 21, 1998. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere)
Popular child actors through the years
Anna Paquin poses with her best supporting actress Oscar for her performance in "The Piano" at the 66th annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles, Ca., Monday, March 21, 1994. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)
Popular child actors through the years
Macaulay Culkin is shown in character in this 1990 file photo from the film "Home Alone." (AP Photo)
Popular child actors through the years
Young actor Neil Patrick Harris of the television series "Doogie Howser, M.D." is shown, Aug. 10, 1989, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
Popular child actors through the years
Actor River Phoenix is shown in 1986. (AP Photo)
Popular child actors through the years
Actress Jodie Foster holds her theater program as she leaves the Sunday night performance of "Dreamgirls" in New York, Oct. 19, 1982. Foster, the object of John Hinckley's attention, drew the attention of photographers as she exited. (AP Photo/Frankie Ziths)
Popular child actors through the years
Six-year-old actress Drew Barrymore, a granddaughter of famed actor John Barrymore, Sr. and co-star in the hit film "E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial," is seen in 1982. (AP Photo/Doug Pizac)
Popular child actors through the years
Daniel Radcliffe, right, who plays Harry Potter in the new film 'Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone' stands before attending a news conference about the film with cast members Rupert Grint who plays Ron, left, and Emma Watson, center, who plays Hermione, at Knebworth House, near Stevenage, 35 miles north of London Tuesday Nov. 6, 2001. The film is to be screened for the general public on Nov.16, 2001. The film will be titled ``Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'' in the United States. (AP Photo/Adam Butler)
Popular child actors through the years
Actress Miley Cyrus appears on stage during MTV's 'Total Request Live' show at the MTV Times Square Studios, Monday, Oct. 23, 2006, in New York. (AP Photo/Jeff Christensen)
Popular child actors through the years
FILE - In this Sept. 13, 1981 photo, stars of the television show "Different Strokes," clockwise from foreground, Gary Coleman, Conrad Bain and Todd Bridges, pose at the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. (AP Photo, file)
Popular child actors through the years
Sandy Koufax, Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitcher, gives TV star Jay North some pointers on pitching on Feb. 22, 1962. Koufax is appearing briefly on the "Dennis the Menace" series in which young North has the title role. (AP Photo/David F. Smith)
Popular child actors through the years
Jerry Mathers, 13, is shown in character as Beaver Cleaver in the television show "Leave it to Beaver" in 1961. (AP Photo)
Popular child actors through the years
This undated photograph shows former child actor Carl Switzer, who starred as Alfalfa in the popular "Our Gang" comedies. (AP Photo)
Popular child actors through the years
Actress Natalie Portman arrives at Premiere Magazine's "New Power" luncheon, Wednesday, May 29, 2002, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Weeks)
Popular child actors through the years
Elijah Wood, young star of the Reiner-directed film "North " poses for a photo as they arrive at a benefit premiere of the Castle Rock entertainment movie Tuesday, July 19, 1994, in Beverly Hills, Ca. The screening at the academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science theater. (AP Photo)
Premiers, awards and fashion shows brought celebrities into the cameras' eyes this week.