The Lucky Few: How Much Do You Know About Child Actors Who Became Stars?
Written by Susanna Henke
Last updated · 9 min play time
Try this quiz to see how much you know about these stars who managed to survive a childhood acting career!
Quiz written by
Susanna Henke: Child Actors Quiz Questions
20 Questions · 693 Plays · No comments
Question 1
Pictured here with fellow '80s wild child Corey Feldman, Drew Barrymore was born with a Hollywood royalty pedigree and experienced massive fame at the tender age of seven—in other words, a recipe for a child star crash and burn. What was the title of Barrymore's 1991 autobiography?
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AChildhood Lost
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BGet Lost
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CLittle Girl Lost
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DInnocence Lost
Little Girl Lost
Add to the mix an alcoholic dad and a Studio 54 party girl mom, and it's no wonder that Drew had enough real life fodder for a first memoir at age 16. Her autobiography details how she developed a drinking problem at age 11, had a coke problem at age 12, exhibited suicidal inclinations in her early teens and successfully petitioned for legal emancipation at age 14. Rockily but happily, Barrymore rehabilitated herself and her image throughout the subsequent decade and is now a successful producer with multiple mega-hit acting roles under her belt to boot.
Question 2
This Oscar-winning actor was just 13 when he made his big screen debut in a Steven Spielberg film. Who is it?
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ATom Cruise
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BHugh Jackman
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CChristian Bale
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DJames Brolin
Christian Bale
Although Bale turned in an acclaimed performance in Spielberg's <i>Empire of the Sun</i> (1987), the film's massive success and his sudden fame were so challenging that Bale considered giving up acting. Thankfully, Kenneth Branagh was able to convince the young actor to accept a role in Branagh's 1989 film adaptation of <i>Henry V</i>, and Bale never looked back.
Question 3
True Blood star Anna Paquin was just 11 years old when she won Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance in which film?
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ATerms of Endearment
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BBecause of Winn-Dixie
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CThe Piano
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DFly Away Home
The Piano
Paquin, who had no acting experience when she was cast in the film at age nine, is the second youngest actor ever to win an Oscar.
Question 4
Long before Sex and the City, Sarah Jessica Parker made her TV debut at age 17 in which short-lived but fondly remembered sitcom about high school ('n stuff)?
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ADouble Trouble
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BSquare Pegs
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CFacts of Life
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DIt's A Living
Square Pegs
<i>Square Pegs</i> lasted only one season (1982-83), but helped launch multiple careers. In addition to Sarah Jessica Parker, the show's cast included Jami Gertz (<i>Less than Zero</i>, <i>Twister</i>) and Tracy Nelson (<i>Down and Out in Beverly Hills</i>).
Question 5
Leonardo DiCaprio was just 19 when he earned his first Oscar nom, for What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1994). How many years later did Leo actually win the prized accolade?
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A25
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B2
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C22
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D10
22
Leo finally won in 2016, for his portrayal of über woodsman Hugh Glass in Iñárritu's <i>The Revenant</i>.
Question 6
About which of his early films did Robert Downey Jr. say that his character was like playing "the ghost of Christmas future"?
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AChaplin
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BThe Pick-up Artist
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CLess than Zero
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DWeird Science
Less than Zero
Downey traces the origins of his well-documented struggle with substance abuse as far back as age 8, when his father first introduced him to drugs. But the actor also points to his experience playing the charismatic, drug-addicted Julian Wells in <i>Less than Zero</i> (1987) as a crucial point in his downward trajectory towards full-blown addiction: "The character was an exaggeration of myself. Then things changed and, in some ways, I became an exaggeration of the character." Thankfully, Downey pulled himself back up and off of that grim course, and went on to become one of the most respected (and highly paid) actors in the world.
Question 7
On which classic children's TV program did Russian Doll star Natasha Lyonne have a recurring role?
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AThe Muppets
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BPee-Wee's Playhouse
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CSesame Street
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DReading Rainbow
Pee-Wee's Playhouse
Cult favorite <i>Pee-Wee's Playhouse</i> (1986-90) was a veritable magnet for performers, both up and coming like Lyonne and already well-known celebrities. In addition to Lyonne, Pee-Wee's regular on-screen posse included Sandra Bernhard, Laurence Fishburne, and Jimmy Smits. The Season 3 Christmas special featured megastars Oprah Winfrey, Magic Johnson, Joan Rivers, Whoopi Goldberg and more. Rising stars even worked behind the camera: rocker Rob Zombie was a production assistant and a pre-<i>Boyz n the Hood</i> John Singleton worked as a security guard.
Question 8
Like Britney, Justin and Xtina, Ryan Gosling has the Mickey Mouse Club to thank for launching him toward superstardom. What nationality is Gosling?
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ANorwegian
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BAmerican
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CCanadian
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DBritish
Canadian
Gosling joined the <i>Mickey Mouse Club</i> cast in 1993, reportedly beating out as many as 17,000 other tween hopefuls to win the coveted spot.
Question 9
Shown here with frequent co-star Judy Garland, this young fellow went on to have one of the longest film careers in Hollywood history. What was his name?
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AJimmy Durante
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BFred Astaire
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CMickey Rooney
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DJames Cagney
Mickey Rooney
Rooney's film career stretched over 10 decades, from 1926 to 2015. His 339 films include cherished classics like <i>National Velvet</i>, <i>Breakfast at Tiffany's</i>, and <i>The Black Stallion</i>.
Question 10
Winona Ryder's big screen debut was in Tim Burton's Beetlejuice (1988). How many films has she made with the director in total?
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A2
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B3
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C10
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D1
3
Ryder was just 15 years old when she filmed her star-making turn in Tim Burton's <i>Beetlejuice</i>. Two years later, the duo reunited for <i>Edward Scissorhands</i> (1990) and then a third time for <i>Frankenweenie</i> (2012).
Question 11
Although best known for his portrayal of Marty McFly in the Back to the Future films, Michael J. Fox was a star of the small screen first. What was the name of his hit TV show?
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AWelcome Back, Kotter
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BFamily Ties
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CNight Court
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DSilver Spoons
Family Ties
Although Fox was their first choice, the <i>Back to the Future</i> filmmakers ended up hiring actor Eric Stoltz due to the restrictions of Fox's <i>Family Ties</i> contract. When Stoltz didn't work out, they went back and successfully secured Fox for the role. According to the actor, he got about three hours of sleep each night while he worked both jobs over the next few months. Given the film's success, it was well worth the lost ZZZZs!
Question 12
Interview magazine once called this '90s child/teen star "a Hayley Mills for misfits." What's her name?
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AWinona Ryder
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BEmma Watson
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CChristina Ricci
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DAnna Paquin
Christina Ricci
With her tiny frame, enormous eyes and solemn resting face, Ricci was seemingly made for the macabre—fittingly, her best known roles are in the <i>Addams Family</i> films and Tim Burton's <i>Sleepy Hollow</i>.
Question 13
Arrested Development star Jason Bateman was just a tween when he made his TV debut on Little House on the Prairie (1974-83) in 1982. On which show was his next recurring role?
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AFamily Ties
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BCharlie's Angels
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CSilver Spoons
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DWho's the Boss
Silver Spoons
Apparently, Bateman's pre-teen star rocketed so high following his debut as Derek Taylor on <i>Silver Spoons</i> that the show's producers worried he'd upstage the lead, Ricky Schroder. So they yanked him after one season. The next year, Bateman would star in his own sitcom, <i>It's Your Move</i> (1984-85).
Question 14
Dakota Fanning's breakout performance at age 8 in the film I am Sam (2001) earned her major accolades, including an acting nomination for which major award?
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AGolden Globe
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BOscar
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CScreen Actors Guild
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DEmmy
Screen Actors Guild
More recently, Fanning has appeared in the Twilight films as well as <i>Once Upon a Time in Hollywood</i> (2019).
Question 15
Diane Lane (Unfaithful, The Perfect Storm) made her screen debut at age 13 in this charming '70s film about young love . . . alongside no lesser of a thespian than Sir Laurence Olivier.
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AA Sweet Serenade
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BAdolescent Daydream
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CA Little Romance
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DThe Passion of Youth
A Little Romance
Lane's terrific performance in the French New Wave-inspired <i>A Little Romance</i> (1979) prompted <i>Time</i> magazine to declare her an “acting sensation" and co-star Olivier to crown her the "new Grace Kelly".
Question 16
Kieran Culkin got his big break at age 8 playing a cousin of real life big brother Macaulay's character in Home Alone (1990). In 2020, he received a Golden Globe nom for his portrayal of Roman Roy on which hit TV drama?
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AThe Crown
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BSuccession
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CBig Little Lies
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DMr. Robot
Succession
Culkin's awesome portrayal of the spoiled, snarky little brother in the deliciously despicable Roy family earned the actor Golden Globe nominations in 2019 and 2020; he was previously nominated for his lead role in <i>Igby Goes Down</i> (2002).
Question 17
Doogie Howser, MD, Count Olaf, Great White Way headliner, awards show host extraordinaire. . . multi-talented Neil Patrick Harris is known for many projects. But long before becoming a household name, he made his professional debut alongside Whoopi Goldberg in which of these films?
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AGhost
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BThe Color Purple
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CJumpin' Jack Flash
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DClara's Heart
Clara's Heart
While <i>Clara's Heart</i> (1988) was neither a critical nor a commercial success, Harris won a Golden Globe nomination for his performance . . . not bad for a 15-year-old on his first go round!
Question 18
The musical Midas known as Drake actually first rose to fame as a child actor, best known for performing in what type of production?
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ABack to School Special
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BTV show
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CFeature film
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DLocal theater
TV show
Aubrey Graham, aka Drake, left his Toronto high school at age 15 in 2000 to play Jimmy Brooks on the Canadian television show <i>Degrassi: The Next Generation</i>. When his eight-year run ended, Jimmy had earned a high school diploma but Aubrey had not. Several platinum records and one Grammy later, Aubrey (now Drake) knew there was one award he still lacked. Drake worked with a tutor for several months during 2012 to satisfy the Ontario Secondary School Diploma requirements. On October 17th, 2012, Drizzy tweeted his proud news: "As of tonight I have graduated high school!"
Question 19
In which classic 1970s film can you spot a teenaged Laurence Fishburne?
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AJaws
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BApocalypse Now
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CDog Day Afternoon
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DThe Rocky Horror Picture Show
Apocalypse Now
Fishburne has admitted to lying about his true age (14) to get the part in Francis Ford Coppola's 1979 masterpiece <i>Apocalypse Now</i>. Remorseful? Not a chance. "I haven't had another film top it," says the actor, whose resume includes <i>Boyz n the Hood</i>, <i>The Matrix</i> and numerous other highly successful films.
Question 20
Jodie Foster, arguably the leading child actor of the 1970s, had no fewer than five feature films released in 1976 when she was just 13 years old. For which of these movies did she receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress?
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AThe Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane
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BBugsy Malone
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CTaxi Driver
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DFreaky Friday
Taxi Driver
Foster's remarkable performance as a child prostitute opposite Robert De Niro in Scorsese's <i>Taxi Driver</i> (1976) earned her major accolades, including an Oscar nom and multiple prestigious acting awards. The film also garnered Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and Best Actor and took home the coveted Palme D'Or at Cannes that year. But <i>Taxi Driver</i> wasn't Foster's only successful 1976 project—in fact, <i>Bugsy Malone</i> (1976) nabbed a Golden Globes Best Picture nom and was also up for the Palme D'Or that year! Just to top it all off, Foster was honored with a Golden Globe nom for her performance in <i>Freaky Friday</i> (you guessed it: 1976).
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