The 1970s were a time of groovy music and hilarious sitcoms such as The Brady Bunch, The Partridge Family and Swiss Family Robinson, but where did the stars of those shows end up? Some went on to have wildly successful careers, while others made it their one and only role. Read on to see where your favorite kids of the decade ended up years later…
Mindy Cohn
Audiences knew Mindy Cohn from her appearances in the sitcom The Facts of Life. She also appeared on Diff’rent Strokes and The Boy Who Could Fly.
Mindy Cohn Today
Today, Mindy lives in Beverly Hills and is still involved in show business. She has appeared in shows like The Middle, Bones, Long Island Medium, and The Secret Life of the American Teenager.
David Cassidy
Only 70s kids will remember seeing David Cassidy as Keith Partridge on the musical sitcom The Partridge Family. The role made him a teen idol for the era.
David Cassidy Today
Sadly, David passed away in 2017 due to a liver disease impacted by his lifelong addiction to alcohol. He was 67 years old.
Johnny Whitaker
Johnny Whitaker made waves as the redheaded Jody Davis on Family Affair. He also portrayed Scotty Baldwin on General Hospital and the titular character in the musical adaptation of Tom Sawyer.
Johnny Whitaker Today
After years of substance abuse, Whitaker finally got clean. Today, he has been sober for 13 years. Apart from a few small cameos, Whitaker has largely left the industry.
Helen Hunt
With roles on the Mary Tyler Moore Show, Swiss Family Robinson, It Takes Two, and much more, Helen Hunt was a face to be recognized throughout the era.
Helen Hunt Today
Hunt is still deeply involved with acting, appearing in films like As Good As It Gets and television shows like Mad About You.
Mike Lookinland
Best known for his role in The Brady Bunch sitcom as Bobby Brady, Mike Lookinland is one of the most recognizable faces from the 1970s.
Mike Lookinland Today
You might have noticed that apart from a few reunion specials, Bobby Brady is Mike’s only real role. He left show business and now makes decorative concrete.
The Jackson 5
The singers of hit singles like “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” and “I’ll Be There” these kids were the soundtrack of the 1970s.
The Jackson 5 Today
The group only had one reunion, 17 years after disbanding. The group reunited to honor their passed brother, Michael Jackson. They reportedly have new music on the way.
Robbie Rist
Known for playing cousin Oliver on The Brady Bunch, Martin on Grady, and David on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, he also appeared in the cult classic film Revenge of the Nerds.
Robbie Rist Today
Robbie is now more involved in voiceover and music work for television. He is credited in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as well as work on soundtracks like Sharknado.
Janet Jackson
As a member of the famous Jackson family, it’s no wonder Janet rose to stardom on Good Times. She also appeared in Fame and Diff’rent Strokes, as well as a popular singing career.
Janet Jackson Today
While her brother Michael became a legend, Janet had huge success in her own life. She is mostly focused on music today, her most recent album being ‘Unbreakable” in 2016.
Robby Benson
One of his biggest films was Ice Castles, though he appeared in several shows and movies such as Happy Days and Ode to Billy Joe.
Robby Benson Today
Robby Benson suffered many difficulties with his lifelong heart murmur. He has had four open-heart surgeries and performed in an Off-Broadway play he wrote called Open Heart.
Kim Richards
Kim Richards captured hearts as Prudence Everett in Nanny and the Professor. She also starred in Escape to Witch Mountain and many more films in her youth.
Kim Richards Today
Today, Kim is a TV personality on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. She was recently arrested for shoplifting at a Target department store, released on a $5,000 bail.
Ron Howard
Ron made waves as Opie Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show and Richie Cunningham on Happy Days. He played starring roles in each of the shows, which were both huge at the time.
Ron Howard Today
Ron Howard has continued a life of success, directing Solo: A Star Wars Story, A Beautiful Mind, The Da Vinci Code, and more. He has four children, one of whom is actress Bryce Dallas Howard.
Scott Baio
Chachi Arcola from Happy Days is one of the most iconic characters of the time. Scott Baio also appeared in Bugsy Malone.
Scott Baio Today
These days, Scott makes his money in some Nickelodeon ventures like Sam & Cat, A Fairly Odd Summer, and See Dad Run. He has a few allegations against him for assault and sexual misconduct.
Ron Paolillo
Ron, one of the Sweathogs from Welcome Back Kotter, played a class clown in a group of high schoolers. He was always a bit dim-witted, but loveable nonetheless.
Ron Paolillo Today
Ron went on to direct plays and musicals as well as writing children’s books. Sadly, he passed away at age 63 due to a heart attack. He is survived by his partner of 41 years, Joseph Gramm.
Barry Williams
Best known as Greg Brady from The Brady Bunch, he was one of the teen heartthrobs of the 70s and 80s. He also recorded 4 albums.
Barry Williams Today
Nowadays, Barry participates in the live-action acting of theater. He has performed in productions of “Grease,” “West Side Story,” and “The Sound of Music.”
Susan Dey
Susan met America as Laurie Partridge on The Partridge Family. Actors David Cassidy and Shirley Jones co-starred on the show. Dey also modeled for a time.
Susan Dey Today
Susan refuses to participate in any of the show’s reunions, and rumors say it’s because of the failed romance with David Cassidy. She still acts in small roles.
Karen Carpenter
As a drummer and singer, she and her brother Richard earned massive music industry success during the 1970s. Her album “Close To You” had two chart-topping singles.
Karen Carpenter Today
Sadly, Karen passed away in 1983 at age 32. Her struggle with anorexia caused cardiac arrest. She performed up until her death.
Erin Murphy
The Bewitched star captured America’s hearts for years. She took on the role for several years, kicking out her twin sister.
Erin Murphy Today
After Bewitched ended, she left acting to be a normal kid. After having children and teaching for a time, she returned to star in reality shows and television hosting.
Maureen McCormick
Marcia Brady was one of the most iconic characters from The Brady Bunch. She was only 12 when she took on the role of the oldest and often wisest Brady sibling.
Maureen McCormick Today
Maureen struggled with drug addiction for several years, but she’s now sober. She participated in Dancing with the Stars on ABC in 2016.
Tatum O’Neal
Addie Loggins in Paper Moon won the then 10-year-old an Academy Award. She also starred in The Bad News Bears and Nickelodeon.
Tatum O’Neal Today
She’s since appeared in only 5 films. Her most recent credit is a recurring role in Rescue Me in 2005. She was briefly married to celebrity tennis player John McEnroe.
Danny Bonaduce
Danny played another Danny on The Partridge Family. Known as being a comical kid, he played the bass in the fake family band. He and David Cassidy remain friends.
Danny Bonaduce Today
Now, Danny Bonaduce is a radio show host in Philadelphia and Los Angeles starting in 2011. He had a brief VH1 reality show about his life, though it was short-lived.
Linda Blair
She made her mark as the child in The Exorcist and the follow-up film The Exorcist II: The Heretic. She earned a Golden Globe for the role.
Linda Blair Today
She guest-starred on the show Supernatural as well as hosting Scariest Places on Earth. She works closely with animal rights activists and PETA. She is vegan.
Jodie Foster
Jodie was one of the most successful child stars, appearing in Taxi Driver, The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane, Freaky Friday, Candleshoe, Bugsy Malone, Tom Sawyer, and much, much more.
Jodie Foster Today
Jodie has received widespread success in Hollywood. She starred in Silence of the Lambs but made waves directing episodes of House of Cards, Orange Is the New Black and Black Mirror.
Mackenzie Phillips
Filming American Graffiti, Phillips was only 12 at the time. Due to filming laws, she was briefly legally guarded by her producer. She starred in One Day at a Time as a teenager.
Mackenzie Phillips Today
After a battle with cocaine addiction, Mackenzie finally got clean, though it’s a continuous struggle. She has appeared on Orange Is the New Black and Hot in Cleveland.
Valerie Bertinelli
Starting on One Day at a Time, Valerie Bertinelli didn’t have many other roles after this first appearance. She was in 208 of the 209 episodes of the show.
Valerie Bertinelli Today
Later, Valerie grew up to star in Hot in Cleveland on TV Land with Betty White and Jane Leeves. She also hosted the Family Food Showdown show. She has struggled with weight throughout her life.
Adam Rich
Eight is Enough ran for five full seasons, and Nicholas Bradford was in every episode. He is credited with inspiring a generation of pageboy haircuts.
Adam Rich Today
Adam left the industry after his role. He dropped out of high school and battled drug addiction for many years before being arrested. He has been in and out of rehab since.
Melissa Gilbert
Melissa starred as Laura Ingalls Wilder in Little House on the Prarie and played the titular character in the movie adaptation of The Diary of Anne Frank.
Melissa Gilbert Today
Melissa ran for Michigans 8th congressional district during the 2016 election, but she dropped out of the race due to unnamed health issues. She was a presumptive Democratic nominee.
Danielle Spencer
Danielle starred in What’s Happening!! during the late 1970s. She reprised the central role in the sequel series, What’s Happening Now!!
Danielle Spencer Today
After the success of the show, Danielle became a veterinarian. She occasionally acts but does not consider herself an actress as she only really does it for fun.
Kristy McNichol
Kristy is famous for roles in shows like Starsky & Hutch, The Bionic Woman, American Style, and The Love Boat. She also won two Emmy awards for her role in Family.
Kristy McNichol Today
Kristy retired from acting after 24 years. In a statement, she said, “My feeling was that it was time to play my biggest part – myself!” She is very involved in charity work today.
Erin Moran
Erin played Joanie Cunningham on Happy Days and even got her own spin-off, starring as the character again in Joanie Loves Chachi. She also had roles in The Love Boat and Murder, She Wrote.
Erin Moran Today
Erin appeared in small roles up to her death in 2017. She participated in a lawsuit against CBS after her and her co-stars claimed they had not been paid for use of their likeness.
Tanya Tucker
Tanya had her first big hit, Delta Dawn, at age 13. She had a long list of hit singles such a “What’s Your Mama’s Name?” and “Lizzie and the Rainman.”
Tanya Tucker Today
Tanya continues to make country music, releasing “While I’m Livin'” in 2019. She has an off-and-on relationship with fellow country musician Jerry Laseter.