We all spent a lot of time watching TV in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Whether it was Friends, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, or Full House, we knew everyone’s names and we sang along to the opening theme song. But, where are they now? Of course, some have gone on to superstardom. Others have continued working, and some have dropped out of the entertainment business altogether. Let’s take a look at what happened to our favorite TV stars.
Gillian Anderson – The X Files
Incredibly, The X Files star Gillian Anderson once vowed that she would never work in television. Thankfully, Anderson broke her vow and went on to become Dana Scully, FBI agent. At only 24 years old, Anderson auditioned for the role, feeling inspired at the “strong, independent, intelligent” lead character.
Since then, Gillian Anderson played DSU Stella Gibson in BBC crime drama The Fall, and starred as therapist Jean Milburn on a popular Netflix teen comedy. She has an Emmy, and a Golden Globe Award.
Matt LeBlanc – Friends
Until the end of time, the phrase “How you doin’?” will be attributed to Friends character Joey Tribbiani, played by Matt LeBlanc. LeBlanc played ladies’ man Joey for ten years, between 1994 and 2004. After the hugely successful sitcom wrapped, LeBlanc got his own spin-off called Joey, which ran for two years.
LeBlanc played a fictionalized version of himself in British-American comedy Episodes, and co-hosted British car show Top Gear for three years. He also played the patriarch in the sitcom, Man With a Plan.
Bob Saget – Full House
Between 1987 and 1995, Bob Saget played Danny Tanner, a widowed single father raising three young daughters in sitcom Full House. At the same time, the actor and comedian hosted America’s Funniest Home Videos, making himself a recognizable mainstream star.
Since then, Saget has played the voice of the future Ted Mosby on the sitcom, How I Met Your Mother, and reprised his role for the Netflix reboot of Fuller House. Saget has also appeared on Broadway, and has a successful stand-up comedy career.
Rider Strong – Boy Meets World
Sitcom Boy Meets World aired for seven seasons on ABC between 1993 and 2000. The show followed the life of Cory Matthews and included a cast of his nearest and dearest, including best friend Shawn Hunter — played by Rider Strong.
Strong attended Occidental college alongside Anna Paquin, Julia Stiles, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He starred in 2002 horror movie Cabin Fever and went on to write and direct Irish Twins with his brother. In 2014, Strong announced he was reprising his role as Shawn Rider in spin-off Girl Meets World.
Jerry Seinfeld – Seinfeld
Jerome Allen Seinfeld — known as Jerry — created his hugely popular sitcom alongside fellow comedian Larry David. Seinfeld played a semi-fictionalized version of himself in the show, which ran from 1989 to 1998. Seinfeld was a huge hit and became the most-watched sitcom on American TV.
Jerry Seinfeld is an acclaimed stand-up comedian. He also produced, co-wrote, and starred in the iconic Bee Movie (seriously, it’s ridiculous, but great). He is the creator and host of Netflix series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.
Ian Ziering – Beverly Hills 90210
Teen drama Beverly Hills 90210 ran for ten seasons between 1990 and 2000. The beloved show followed the trials and tribulations of a group of elite teenagers who resided in one of the USA’s most exclusive postcodes. One of those teens was Steve Sanders, played by Ian Ziering.
Since his time on the show — where he was one of a small group of castmates that featured for the entire run — Ziering has continued to act. He was in Biker Mice From Mars, Sharknado, and Swamp Thing.
Lisa Kudrow – Friends
The eccentric Phoebe Buffay was one of many reasons to tune into Friends each week. The “Smelly Cat” singing, former street-living masseuse was always a barrel of laughs, and sported some seriously kooky ensembles. While still acting in Friends, Kudrow featured in teen comedy Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion.
Kudrow created and starred in the HBO cult hit The Comeback, which has two seasons filmed almost ten years apart. She has acted in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Easy A, Booksmart, and Grace & Frankie.
Kelsey Grammer – Frasier
Purveyor of tossed salad and scrambled eggs, Dr. Frasier Crane was played by American actor Kelsey Grammer. The sitcom aired between 1993 and 2004, and followed the personal and professional life of elitist psychiatrist, Dr. Frasier Crane. Itself a spin-off of sitcom Cheers, Frasier went on to win a whopping 37 Emmy Awards.
Grammer has continued acting, with roles in 30 Rock, Modern Family, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. The breakdown of his fourth marriage was documented on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
Melissa Joan Hart – Clarissa Explains it All
Darling of ‘90s television, Melissa Joan Hart, appeared in more than one hit show. As well as playing the titular character in Clarissa Explains it All, Joan Hart also took center stage in Sabrina the Teenage Witch, playing Sabrina Spellman.
Incredibly, the actress had another lead role in a sitcom, starring in Melissa & Joey between 2010 and 2015. Joan Hart wrote about her life in the memoir — Melissa Explains it All — and continues to appear on the big and small screen.
Kenan Thompson – Kenan and Kel
Many stars of the ‘90s had their start with the children’s sketch show, All That. That was the case for Kenan Thompson, as well as his future co-star, Kel Mitchell. Together, the pair appeared on Kenan and Kel, which aired on Nickelodeon between 1996 and 2000.
Following the show, Thompson and Mitchell both starred in Good Burger, which was based on an All That sketch. Since then, Kenan Thompson has become the longest-tenured cast member in the history of Saturday Night Live.
Amanda Bynes – All That
Child star Amanda Bynes joined Nickelodeon sketch show All That in 1996 and left in 2000. She then starred in Figure it Out and fronted her own comedy show The Amanda Show. After her childhood hits, Bynes transitioned into movies, starring in What a Girl Wants, She’s the Man, and Hairspray.
Bynes has struggled with addiction and mental health issues, and is a tabloid mainstay. In 2010, the actress announced a hiatus from acting — but in 2018, she expressed interest in returning to TV.
Alyson Hannigan – Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Alyson Hannigan has had a great time with popular franchises. Firstly, the actress starred as Willow in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and then she was Michelle in the American Pie series. Hannigan then landed another hit role, playing Lily in hit sitcom How I Met Your Mother.
Currently, the actress presents magic competition show Penn & Teller: Fool Us, and voices Claire Clancy in animated kid’s show, Fancy Nancy. Hannigan married fellow Buffy actor Alexis Denisof in 2003 — and together, they have two daughters.
Jennifer Love Hewitt – Party of Five
Child actress Jennifer Love Hewitt starred in TV commercials, and in Disney’s Kids Incorporated, before landing her role as Sarah Reeves in teen drama Party of Five. Hewitt was supposed to be on the show for nine episodes, but became a series regular after she impressed audiences and producers.
Following the show, Hewitt starred in horror film I Know What You Did Last Summer, and alongside Sigourney Weaver in Heartbreakers. She has also released four studio albums, and written a New York Times bestseller.
Jennifer Aniston – Friends
The fabulous Jennifer Aniston always effortlessly inhabited New York princess Rachel Green. The actress was a main character in Friends between 1994 and 2004, and went on to have a successful career afterward. Aniston starred in Along Came Polly, Bruce Almighty, Marley & Me, and more.
Aniston returned to TV in Apple+ series The Morning Show, for which she won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor. Of course, she already has an Emmy and a Golden Globe for Friends.
Brandy Norwood – Moesha
Moesha was a sitcom that aired between 1996 and 2001, starring R&B singer Brandy Norwood in the title role. During this time, Brandy’s 1998 duet with Monica, “The Boy is Mine” was one of the best-selling female duets of all time, and her second album scooped her a Grammy.
Brandy’s subsequent albums were praised by critics, and she was a judge on the first-ever season of America’s Got Talent. In 2010, she competed in Dancing With the Stars — and in 2015, she starred in Chicago on Broadway.
Mark-Paul Gosselaar – Saved by the Bell
Mark-Paul Gosselaar started modeling when he was just five years old, and appeared in various TV commercials. His big break was playing high school student Zach Morris on the sitcom, Saved by the Bell, which aired between 1989 and 2002.
Gosselaar continued acting, starring in police procedural NYPD Blue, legal comedy Franklin & Bash, thriller series The Passage, and sitcom Mixed-ish. Thankfully, a Saved by the Bell revival is on its way — with Gosselaar reprising his role as Zach. This time around, he’s the governor of California!
Mayim Bialik – Blossom
It’s not often you see a child actress with a Ph.D., but that’s exactly what Mayim Bialik has. The actress was in several TV shows and movies before starring in popular ’90s sitcom Blossom, which aired between 1991 and 1995.
After completing her Ph.D. in neuroscience, Bialik went on to play neurobiologist Amy Farrah Fowler on the sitcom, The Big Bang Theory. The actress is currently working with British comedian Miranda Hart to create a comedy series that will star Bialik in the lead role.
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen – Full House
Twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were big business in the ‘90s. The child actresses shared the role of Michelle Tanner on Full House, starting when they were just six months old. By the time they were small children, the Olsen twins had their own production company and starred in numerous films and TV series.
The sisters are fashion mavens, pioneering the “bohemian bourgeois” look. Together, they have a couture fashion label called The Row, and have released various clothing lines together.
Candace Cameron Bure – Full House
Sitcom Full House was a huge hit in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. Actress Candace Cameron Bure was with the show throughout its entire run, playing eldest daughter Donna Jo “D.J.” Tanner. After having her children, Bure took a break from acting, but returned to host several ‘80s retrospectives.
Bure finished third in Dancing With the Stars, and became a co-host on The View. She reprised her role as D.J. Tanner for the Netflix reboot Fuller House.
Tia and Tamera Mowry – Sister Sister
Identical twin sisters Tia and Tamera played identical twin sisters in the ‘90s sitcom, Sister, Sister. The siblings continued to work together, starring in reality series Tia & Tamera from 2011 until 2013, and writing a young adult book series, Twintuition: Double Vision. Tia has featured in various movies and TV shows including Bratz, The Game, and Family Reunion.
Tamera starred in Strong Medicine, and was a co-host on The Real. Excitingly, there has been mention of a revival of Sister, Sister.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Seinfeld
The incredible Julia Louis-Dreyfus is one of the most award-winning actresses in American TV history. Seriously, this amazing woman has eleven Emmys alone. Louis-Dreyfus reached mainstream success playing Elaine Benes in Seinfeld — one of the most popular sitcoms of all time.
From there, she played the lead role in The New Adventures of Old Christine, and then portrayed the inimitable Selina Meyer in Veep. Louis-Dreyfus also has a successful movie career — starring in A Bug’s Life and Onward, among others.
Courteney Cox – Friends
Courteney Cox was the most famous cast member of Friends before they started shooting, and the actress has continued to do well since the show wrapped in 2004. While Friends was still airing, Cox starred in the horror film franchise, Scream. She then appeared in a drama series called Dirt, and led the sitcom known as Cougar Town.
Cox is also a successful director — directing Cougar Town, TalhotBlond, and Just Before I Go. Cox is in a relationship with Snow Patrol member Johnny McDaid.
Sarah Michelle Geller – Buffy the Vampire Slayer
The star of beloved teen supernatural drama Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sarah Michelle Geller is an iconic ‘90s star. The actress was spotted at the tender age of four, and starred in soap opera All My Children as a teenager.
Michelle Geller met her future husband, Freddie Prinze Jr., while they both filmed horror movie I Know What You Did Last Summer. The couple worked together again on the live-action Scooby-Doo movie. Geller also has a cookbook, and a food-crafting brand.
Lark Voorhies – Saved by the Bell
We already know what happened to Zach Morris from Saved by the Bell, but what about Lisa Turtle? Well, Lark Voorhies starred as Lisa Turtle in teen sitcom Good Morning, Miss Bliss.
Voorhies retained the character for her role on Saved by the Bell — and then went on to star in soaps Days of Our Lives, as well as The Bold and the Beautiful. Voorhies is reportedly hurt that she wasn’t asked to return for the Saved by the Bell revival.
Jane Leeves – Frasier
On the sitcom, Frasier, Jane Leeves played Daphne Moon — loving caregiver to Martin, Niles, and Frasier Crane. For this role, Leeves became the highest-paid British actress in Hollywood. Leeves has continued to work, starring in James and the Giant Peach, as well as appearing in Cabaret on Broadway.
Leeves played Joy Scroggs in sitcom Hot in Cleveland between 2010 and 2015. In 2018, she was cast as a series regular in the medical drama, The Resident. The actress has two children with TV executive husband, Marshall Coben.
Joey Lawrence – Blossom
We’ve followed up on Blossom lead Mayim Bialik, but what about jock baseball player Joey? Well, Joey Lawrence has continued to use his real first name in his acting jobs, going on to star alongside fellow ‘90s child star Melissa Joan Hart in sitcom Melissa & Joey.
Following Blossom, Lawrence was in a sitcom called Brotherly Love, which featured his real brothers. Guess what? His character’s name was Joe there, too. Lawrence starred on Dancing With the Stars, and performed as Billy Flynn in Chicago on Broadway.
Kel Mitchell – Kenan and Kel
We know that Kenan Thompson went on to become Saturday Night Live’s longest-running cast member, but what about his partner in crime, Kel Mitchell? The orange soda-loving Kel started off on sketch show All That, and went on to play Kel Kimble on Kenan & Kel.
The pair starred in Good Burger together, and Mitchell has appeared in Game Shakers, Like Mike, and Motorcity. As with many throwback TV stars, Kel appeared on Dancing With the Stars. Impressively, he reached second place.
Matthew Perry – Friends
And what about Mr. Matthew Perry? Also known as data processor turned advertising man — Chandler Bing — from Friends. Well, following the show’s wrap, Perry directed an episode of the medical sitcom that we know as Scrubs and starred in a guest role on the show.
The actor appeared in Aaron Sorkin shows several times — including in The West Wing, and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Perry also appeared in multiple sitcoms, such as Mr. Sunshine, Go On, and The Odd Couple. Sadly, the actor passed away on October 28th, 2023. He will be forever missed.
Tiffani Thiessen – Saved by the Bell
Though Mark-Paul Gosselaar was actually dating Lark Voorhies (a.k.a. Lisa Turtle) in real life, in Saved by the Bell, Zach Morris was head over heels for Kelly Kapowski. After that successful role, Thiessen started playing Valerie Malone on Beverly Hills 90210, and then appeared in TV series Fastlane, What About Brian, and White Collar.
Thiessen plays Lori on the Netflix sitcom, Alexa & Katie — plus, she’ll rejoin some of her old castmates in the Saved by the Bell revival.
David Boreanaz – Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Animated show Bojack Horseman has a prolonged gag in its final season about Buffy the Vampire Slayer alumni David Boreanaz. But, what else has the actor been up to since he played vampire-turned-investigator Angel on the hit show? Well, he continued playing his character for spin-off Angel, and then starred as an FBI agent in crime procedural Bones.
Boreanaz currently stars in the military drama, SEAL Team. The actor is married to model Jamie Bergman, with whom he has two children.
Jodie Sweetin – Full House
Actress Jodie Sweetin played adorable Stephanie Tanner on Full House between 1987 and 1995. Since then, Sweetin has acted in several independent films, TV movies, and episodes of web series. Since 2015, the actress has reprised her role as Tanner in the Netflix spin-off Fuller House. In 2016, she competed in Dancing With the Stars. Then, in 2019, she started a parenting podcast.
Sweetin has struggled with addiction issues, which she wrote about in her 2009 memoir UnSweetined. She now works as an addiction counselor.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas – Home Improvement
In the hit ’90s sitcom, Home Improvement, Tim Allen played the father of three sons and the host of the haphazard Tool Time. Middle son Randy was played by Jonathan Taylor Thomas, who also played the voice of young Simba in 1994’s The Lion King. Thomas also starred in the sitcom, 8 Simple Rules — and teen noir drama Veronica Mars.
Years later, the actor returned to ABC sitcoms by starring alongside his former onscreen father in Last Man Standing. He told People, “I never took the fame too seriously.”
Andrea Barber – Full House
In Full House, Andrew Barber played Kimmy Gibbler — D.J.’s best friend and the Tanner family’s irritating but well-intentioned next door neighbor. Before this role, Barber originated the part of Carrie Brady on Days of Our Lives, and was a guest star in various TV shows and movies.
Following her time on Full House, Barber retired from acting, taking a break until Fuller House arrived on Netflix in 2016. Barber has two children with her ex-husband, Jeremy Rytky.
Mario Lopez – Saved by the Bell
Out of all of the cast members on Saved By the Bell, Mario Lopez has perhaps remained the most well-known. Following his five years on the show, Lopez acted in various projects and then went on to star in his own reality show, Mario Lopez: Saved by the Baby.
Lopez hosted tabloid show Extra, dance show America’s Best Dance Crew, talent show MTV’s Top Pop Group — and currently, the entertainment show known as Access Hollywood. He finished second on Dancing With the Stars, and has performed on Broadway.
David Schwimmer – Friends
Friends actor David Schwimmer actually directed several episodes of the sitcom, and continued to direct after the show had wrapped. Schwimmer also landed some leading roles while he was still filming Friends including movies Six Days, Seven Nights, and The Pallbearer.
Post Friends, Schwimmer voiced Melman the giraffe in the Madagascar films, starred on Broadway, and made his directorial debut with Run Fatboy Run. In 2016, he played Robert Kardashian in The People v. O.J. Simpson.
Alfonso Ribeiro – The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Alfonso Ribeiro has been a busy man since his time playing stuffy Carlton Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Ribeiro has hosted numerous reality and game shows, including America’s Funniest Home Videos, and Catch 21.
The actor appeared in British reality show I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! and impressively won Dancing With the Stars. Clearly, all those years dancing as Carlton had some pay-off! Ribeiro is known to bust out his iconic moves, including alongside former castmate Will Smith.
Gabrielle Carteris – Beverly Hills 90210
Gabrielle Carteris played Andrea Zuckerman, editor of the West Beverly Blaze, in the early seasons of ‘90s hit show Beverly Hills 90210. At the time, Carteris was 29 years old, making her the oldest cast member to play a 15-year-old. After leaving the show, Carteris continued to act and even briefly hosted her own TV show.
Carteris has appeared in N.C.I.S, NYPD Blue, King of the Hill, and many other network TV shows. She is the executive vice president of a trade union that represents actors.
Jaleel White – Family Matters
Even people that have never seen the sitcom, Family Matters, have heard of the infamous character, Steve Urkel. Incredibly, the character was only supposed to make a one-time appearance but became a series regular based on the audience’s enthusiastic response. Amazingly, Jaleel White was also the first-ever voice of Sonic the Hedgehog.
White was featured in Dreamgirls, starred in Bones, hosted Total Blackout, and participated in Dancing With the Stars. The actor is currently in the cast of Netflix sitcom The Big Show Show.
