13 Nickelodeon Child Stars All Grown Up (And Unrecognizable)
Fact: We have all spent the better years of our lives glued to Nickelodeon. If you didn't grow-up watching Rugrats and Kenan and Kel, then some would question if you even had a childhood. Though we may blossom into grownups who pop out the occasional baby and have work desk jobs that we loathe (some would call it being an adult), we will always have a special place in our hearts for the people and station that brought us such good things like Hey Arnold and Cat Dog. Which I now realize was a total lie and have since resorted to getting a hamster because they are less deceitful.
Whether it is SNICK or Nick at Nite, we all want Nickelodeon to stay exactly the same. But sadly things change, and sometimes with change comes a whole new attitude. Some of Nickelodeon's beloved stars look entirely different from the characters they have played that we have come to know and love. It's hard to believe they'll be no more Kel to devote his days to orange soda and no more “Moody's point”. But all great things must come to an end. It's amazing what a little make up and puberty will do. Little Nickelodeon is still Nick, but the stars we've come to adore who weren't drawn on have bloomed into something much bigger. Here is a list of 13 Nickelodeon stars that are unrecognizable now.
13 Alisa Reyes of All That
The actress first made her debut on All That in 1994. But before that, she was no stranger to being in front of the big screen, having a childhood modeling career at the age of eight and appearing in Mariah Carey's “Make it Happen” video. Since the show ended, Reyes has been spotted in other programs, such as HBO's Six Feet Under, Lifetime's Strong Medicine, PBS' The American Family, NYPD Blue, and Boston Public. But even though Reyes had moved on from Nickelodeon, she didn't hesitate to turn back to her child star roots, going on to then provide the voice of LaCienega Boulevardez in the Disney Channel animated series The Proud Family. But after that, no more, Reyes threw caution to the wind and rejected her squeaky image by doing some work for Playboy. Alisa definitely doesn't look anything like she did back then, but if you look closely into those faint dimples, you'll start seeing the resemblance.
12 Larissa Oleynick of The Secret World of Alex Mack
If you have amazing tastes in movies and are bound to be my new best friend, then you know actress Larissa Oleynick from 10 things I hate about you. But that wasn't the title that first gave Larissa a name in the business. It was her role on Nickelodeon's The Secret World of Alex Mack that really put her on the map. Larisa's years as a teen idol earned her the title of “one of America's favorite 15-year-olds” (her good looks also earned her the moniker “the proverbial girl next door”) and it seemed like the actress would have trouble topping her success. But said teen went on to do so much more and is presently still working in TV and film. She appeared in an episode of Law and Order SVU in 2016 and is currently acting in two films that are in production as we speak.
11 Michelle Trachtenburg The Adventures of Pete and Pete
You may not have realized it then, but the now dark haired light-eyed beauty was once the little wide smiled brunette spotted all over Nickelodeon. From an appearance in Clarissa Explains It All to Nona Mecklenberg on The Adventures of Pete & Pete and Harriet Welsch in the first Nickelodeon Movie Harriet the Spy among a few other shows, Michelle Trachtenberg ruled Nickelodeon in the 90s. And ever since, she's been all over TV and film, appearing in two of our all-time favorite roles as Dawn Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and everyone's favorite mean girl Georgina Sparks in the adored Gossip Girl. She also showed off her comedic chops by appearing in the cult favorite EuroTrip. The starlet first made her debut at the age of 3 in a “Wisk Detergent” commercial. 28 years later, the now 31 year old has no intention of stopping.
10 Katrina Johnson of All That
We came to know and love the Californian 34 year old Katrina Johnson as everyone's favorite lemonade scammer in 1994 on the set of Nickelodeon's All That. Only then, she was a little more brunette, much younger, and one of the best impersonators our kid selves have ever known. Katrina's run on All That as one of the original cast members came to an end in 1997, but she did return to Nickelodeon for All That's 100th episode. I guess all these years of impromptu candid comedy has really taught the cast to change it up (Get it? Because they look totally different now… It was funnier in my head). Anyway, change she did. Fans would have never have seen this one coming. Whereabouts of Katrina are currently unknown, but as of 3 years ago, she could be heard on her podcast Uncensored Radio's Guilty Pleasures.
9 Nate Richert of Sabrina The Teenage Witch
Fans knew him best as “Harvey Dwight Kinkle” but most days he goes by the name Nathaniel Dwight Richert. Born on April 28th, 1878 in St. Paul Minnesota, Richert began acting in 1996 when he landed a breakthrough role in one of the 90s most popular TV shows, Sabrina the Teenage Witch. But that wouldn't be Richert's biggest role. After 123 episodes and 7 seasons, Richert would try his hardest to shake the role that made him famous. He has also made appearances in Fantasy Island and Touched by an Angel. I definitely think the shaved head and facial hair helps us to see him in a whole different light. But if you look deep into those brown eyes of his, you can totally see the face of the 90's star who once had his own Ken doll. I would know because I had one. But let's not talk about that.
8 Josh Peck of Drake and Josh
Joshua Jacob Peck, better known as “Josh” on the widely popular Drake and Josh, began acting at age 13 where he made regular appearances on Nickelodeon's The Amanda Show. It wasn't long before Josh got a co-leading role in a Nickelodeon original sitcom. Drake and Josh aired for 3 years, but it wasn't until the 4th season of Drake and Josh where Josh began to take an active role in the way his viewers saw him. Josh returned to the set looking thinner, healthier, and happier than ever before. In 2006, Josh made a statement to the public regarding his weight loss; “I made a conscious effort to lose weight,” Josh said. He went on to say, “I started by going on a diet and I got a personal trainer, but I definitely have a healthier lifestyle now.' Josh's fans couldn't be happier for him. He currently has a recurring role on the hit TV series, The Big Bang Theory.
7 Nathan Kress of iCarly
Nathan Kress had been spotted on the big screen before, but it was his role as Freddie Benson in the popular teen sitcom iCarly that made us love him. It's kind of hard to see Nathan as anything else other than the adorable love sick Freddie, and luckily we don't really have to. Strip Nathan of all the facial hair and cover the chiseled jaw line and he's the same sweet baby faced boy he always was. Not much has changed with Nathan except for the new edition of the ring on his ring finger. Yep, Kress got engaged in May of 2015. He later tied the knot in November to love, actress, and stunt performer London Elise Moore. The now 24 year old has ended his run on Nickelodeon, but he hasn't stopped acting, and something tells me he won't be anytime soon.
6 Ross Hull Are you Afraid of the Dark?
Canadian actor and television star Ross Hull starred in a few different films and TV series in the 90s, including Eric's World, Ready or Not, and an appearance in Haute Tension among others. But it was his role as Gary, the leader of the Midnight Society on the television series Are You Afraid of the Dark?, that really made us remember him. Hull was part of the first generation of the Midnight Society where he played the founder. Hull definitely came a long way from those glasses and boyish 90's bangs. The 41 year old now gives us matured anchorman sexiness. You wouldn't recognize him now, but puberty and that 5 o clock shadow sure did him justice. Hull has since taken a break from series and films and now spends the rest of his days as a meteorologist for Global News Halifax.
5 Sean O'Neal of Clarissa Explains It All
Is Clarissa still explaining it all? Well, Melissa Joan Hart is having a much easier time explaining life these days, having been a working gal since 1985, gaining notice and fame with her leading role in Clarissa Explains It All. But what ever happened to her best friend Sam played by actor Sean O' Neal? Much isn't said about the actor these days, but he has done a few voice-overs for some well-known anime's post Clarissa days. The last thing fans have heard about O'Neal is that he worked as a background actor on a 2013 web series about a production company. O'Neal worked on the show from 1991 to 1994. The now 41 year old doesn't quite resemble the young boy who played opposite Melissa Joan Hart. But regardless of his age, he is still as adorable as we remember.
4 Josh Server of All That
Joshua Aaron Server auditioned for Nickelodeon's All That several times before landing a spot as one of the original cast members of the show along with costars Angelique Bates, Katrina Johnson, and Alisa Reyes, among a few others. Server started acting on the show when he was 15 and was best known for playing characters, such as Detective Dan and Ear Boy. And if he wasn't adored enough, in 1997 Server starred in the movie “Good Burger”. After All That, Server made a few Nickelodeon guest appearances on shows like Drake and Josh, Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide and Sam and Cat. Server hasn't changed much since his All That days. I mean if you strip away the mustache, muscles, six-pack, the stubble, the dark hair, etc., okay, maybe a lot has changed. The whole getting older thing definitely worked in Server's favor because he's serving up something good.
3 Christine Taylor of Hey Dude
Christine's first ever-acting debut was in 1989 when she played lifeguard Melody Hanson on Nickelodeon's children's television show Hey Dude. She continued with the role until 1991. Though it was her breakout role, Taylor didn't quite breakthrough mainstream until her second role. In 1995, Taylor was cast to play Marcia in The Brady Brunch Movie and then again in 1996 for A Very Brady Sequel, which definitely put Taylor on the map. Her acting career didn't stop there and out of that project came yet another. In 2000, Taylor married actor Ben Stiller, who met one another on the set of the TV series Heat, Vision, and Jack. The two live in Westchester County, New York and have two kids. Taylor, along with her family, have adopted a vegan diet for health reasons, which would explain why she looks so amazing.
2 Angelique Bates of All That
Angelique Bates is another one of All That's original cast members to have gone through a few changes. Bates was only on the show for two seasons before she left. Fans were confused by the abrupt departure. There were speculations that her sudden exit was the result of recent abuse allegations while on the set. Not exactly the story we all wanted to hear. Angelique is healing and says she is ready for the next opportunity. Angelique in an interview after leaving All That said, “I was the first black female they had on that show… There weren't that many black shows on or black actors. When I left, it opened up more for black female comedians… Black girls were coming up to me, parents are just like, 'Thank you so much for what you've done.' I was like wow. It feels surreal.”
1 Amanda Bynes of The Amanda Show
She was one of Nickelodeon's biggest child stars and one of the funniest young ladies of her time. Bynes' made appearances sporadically, playing various roles on All That. But she really got our attention in 1999 when she was given her own sketch comedy show. Amanda has stepped away from the TV sets but hasn't shielded away from the cameras one bit, which isn't as good of a thing as you would think. Battling legal issues, an uncanny new look, and addiction, Bynes's mug shot was plastered all over tabloids and newspapers. Bynes has since been in and out of psychiatric facilities. Before her scuffles, Bynes told “People” magazine that she was merely taking “time off”. But lately fans have only seen the parts of her that we would rather not. We are hoping for a speedy recovery. Comedy definitely misses the starlet.
