Moviefone Ranks the Top 25 Child Stars of All Time
With all of the little tykes and tots who have hit the big screen over the years, one would think that it might be one heck of a daunting challenge to narrow the list down to a top 25, but I think Moviefone may have done it. They've posted a list of the Top 25 Child Stars of All Time, and they've hit just about every child star I can think of, including a few I forgot about. The list starts with Kirsten Dunst. She might not have had a lot of movie gigs in her early days, but she certainly wowed audiences with her portrayal of Claudia in Interview with the Vampire. I, for one, was so impressed that I had a much different vision of her future career, and am still waiting for the day that she can tap into what made her shine all those years ago. From there, we've got a collection of old and new names, moms and sons, and all the biggies.
The queen of children's entertainment Shirley Temple meets up with newer talent like Anna Paquin and Christian Bale (remember Empire of the Sun?). There's also some funky trivia tidbits as well. Growing up, I was a rabid fan of Hayley Mills, from her classic In Search of the Castaways, to her brief stint in the first incarnation of Saved by the Bell. But did you know that she was cast to be Stanley Kubrick's Lolita before Disney got her out of the deal?
Check out the list, and weigh in below. Do you think they got it right, and is anyone missing?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
4-09-2008 @ 3:27PM
Peggy said...
your list was excellent, but you left off someone who should definitely be on that list....MARGARET O'BRIEN....she was such a good little actress....and she could bring tears to your eyes if it called for sadness. Why not make it 26 instead of 25????
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4-09-2008 @ 3:42PM
BootStrap Boon said...
Pretty good list.
Two more I thought of was Jamie Bell and Dakota Fanning (war of the worlds).
4-11-2008 @ 4:40PM
Annadee said...
I agree with Peggy, except Margaret O'Brien should be No. 1. I don't see Patty McCormack. She gave such a chilling performance in The Bad Seed, I couldn't look at an 8-year-old girl without getting chills!
5-14-2008 @ 7:26PM
MrsAsh said...
Lets not forget that #7 Jackie Cooper also directed many episodes of the classic tv series M*A*S*H...
4-10-2008 @ 11:59AM
LKizziar said...
Yes, Margaret O'Brien and Roddy McDowell (How Green Was My Valley and the Lassie movies just to name a few) are conspiciously missing from this list.
I guess I have a problem with a child being included who only made one movie, no matter how good it was, over children who consistantly made quality films.
I don't think it's a fair comparison to relate today's formittable acting styles, of these admittedly very talented young people, against the way children were required to preform in past years. After all, there will never be another Shirley Temple, whom we all loved, but no children actually talked like that, did they?
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4-09-2008 @ 6:04PM
Mike said...
Kurt Russell. Glaring ommission.
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4-09-2008 @ 8:09PM
Barbara Payne said...
I love the Home Alone movies with Macaulay Culkin in them. I am 64 and I still watch them when they come on TV . He was the best person the movie people could of picked for the movie. He is so sweet.
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4-09-2008 @ 10:16PM
Bob Anderson said...
What happened to Ricky Schroder in the Champ.
Wonderful tear jerker.
Then also Margaret O'Brien and Jane Withers
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4-10-2008 @ 2:46AM
Paralegal said...
The list was horrible. Many of the people listed on it are unknowns by today's television watchers. Also, what happened to all of the Black child stars such as: the Cosby Kids, the Fresh Prince kids, Kennan and Kel, JJ, Brandy, Raven, Kim Fields, and Janet? How could you not have listed Keisha Knight Pulliam and Kim Fields? U-r-g-h!
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4-11-2008 @ 3:30AM
Anna bell said...
I was a little offended, as well, that ethnic actors weren't included. However, when I think of it, I understand why. This ranking queued the most prominent child stars. None of the more colorful child stars we remember held major acclaim for their careers, and those who did, began a little older than what would have warranted them a title of 'child' star, such as Will Smith or his significant other. Yet, even non-ethnic favorites were left out, like Reese Witherspoon and Winona Ryder.
4-13-2008 @ 11:20AM
Officer Friendly said...
I am glad I read the comments before I posted my comment, because I agree with you 100%. I was wondering the same thing, What happen to the African American Child Stars. I think this list should be done again.
5-10-2008 @ 9:20PM
NUMBER1FANOFTHESOAPOPERAGENERALHOSPITAL said...
I can't believe that you put Shirley Temple as the number one child star in Hollywood.I have hated her since I saw my first Shirley Temple movie at age six.This list was a good list until I saw who was number one.What were you thinking?Making Shirley Temple number one.You could have done better.Jodi Foster should have been in that number one spot.She earned it.Shirley Temple has not.And how about John Provost and Tom Reddig both television and film stars I was shocked that they were not in your list.
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5-09-2008 @ 10:36PM
wil said...
Reddigs first name was Timmy.
4-10-2008 @ 2:11PM
Nanette said...
I'd love to see a Top 50 so that you could include at least one of the kids from the "Harry Potter" series. They may not have made the jump (yet) to adult roles but I'll guarantee that many of us will be watching their Potter films for decades.
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4-10-2008 @ 7:41PM
Mrs Peel said...
Your list was highly skewed toward current stars and thus left out some of the most talented child stars of the past. I cannot believe you left out Roddy McDowell (How Green Was My Valley, My Friend Flicka) and Ron Howard (The Music Man, The Courtship of Eddie's Father).
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4-10-2008 @ 8:24PM
Janet said...
Yes, Ron Howard and Kurt Russell are glaring omissions. You list singles who have played twins, but what about twins who play singles (do I hear the word "Olsen" bandied about)? But Shirley Temple IS the consummate child actor and would be first in this or any other parallel universe. Perhaps you should have gone to a "Top 50" list in order to more fully complete the list. In ANY event, Shirley Temple will always hold the No. 1 spot!!
I too am wondering when the Harry Potter actors will start bringing in more than money; they all are long due for awards and recognition.
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4-10-2008 @ 9:02PM
primmy_b said...
I think you should have added award-winning film director Ron Howard (Opie Taylor on "The Andy Griffith Show" and later Richie Cunningham on "Happy Days") and Melissa Gilbert (Laura Ingalls on "Little House on the Prairie".) And yes, Margaret O'Brian whom someone mentioned earlier. "Our Gang's" Spanky McFarland was adorable, and little silent-film-star Jackie Coogan, who played "The Kid" opposite Charlie Chaplin, was excellent. Wil Wheaton and River Phoenix were especially good in 1986's "Stand By Me." Ricky Schroder delivered great scenes in the 1979 remake of "The Champ" and went on to a TV career afterwards. Drew Barrymore's co-star Henry Thomas ("Elliot") continued to make films after ET, as did Lukas Haas, who is most remembered playing the Amish boy in "Witness" with Harrison Ford.
But you got some good ones in there. Maybe you should have made a list of the 25 *current* most famous child stars, or the 25 most famous *former* child stars, or the 25 most famous child stars of the movies, or the 25 most famous child stars of TV.
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4-10-2008 @ 10:06PM
BONNIE CARRUTH said...
What about Jackie Coogan?He did wonderful work with Charlie Chaplin.
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4-14-2008 @ 8:12PM
Walter said...
Agreed...Jackie Coogan was the movies 1st child star!
4-12-2008 @ 10:12PM
Patricia said...
Margaret O'Brien, to me one of the most talented actresses in Hollywood, you should have mentioned her.
I don't agree with Lindsey Lohan or Christian Bale (Jackie Coogan and River Phoenix should be on the list instead)
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