Dylan and Cole Honable Mention As Cutest Child Stars!!!
From the cult classics to the blockbusters, we bring you Tonic’s favorite child stars.
Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman’s new rom-com The Switch opens today and based on what we’ve seen, their cute-enough-to-eat (you know what we mean), pint-sized co-star Thomas Robinson has big-time presence. Maybe even enough to steal the spotlight away from two A-listers … which got us to thinking: Who are the cutest child film stars to ever grace the silver screen?
Here’s our top 10 … in alphabetical order.
drew_remembers_her_e.t.jpeg1. Drew Barrymore: Seven-year-old Barrymore burst onto the scene with very memorable scream as Gertie in Spielberg’s E.T. in 1982 and hasn’t taken a Hollywood hiatus since. Although she certainly struggled with many of the demons that seem to plague child-stars, Drew has established her own production company, tried her hand at directing and has emerged as one of the most relatable, likable and successful actors in the business.
2. Peter Billingsley: In the pantheon of classic holiday films, A Christmas Story certainly holds one of the top spots. Case in point: Is there any movie quote more recognizable than, “You’ll shoot your eye out?” Billingsley starred as bespectacled Ralphie Parker, who more than anything else, just wants a Red Ryder BB gun from Santa. Billingsley moved on from the world of fishnet-leg-covered lamps to production and work behind the camera (his directorial debut Couples Retreat with Vince Vaughn came out last year).
3. Thora Birch: In the early 90′s, Birch was one of the most sought after child actors after high-profile roles in All I Want For Christmas, Patriot Games and Hocus Pocus. Sharing the screen with big names such as Harrison Ford and Bette Midler never seemed to faze pre-teen Birch, who has continued to expand her resume by venturing into more provocative material with more recent roles in Ghost World and American Beauty.
file-macaulay_culkin_1991_b.jpeg4. Macaulay Culkin: The unprecedented success of Home Alone shot Culkin (aka Kevin McAllister) to worldwide fame and household name, but it was his turn as pancake-loving Miles opposite funnyman John Candy in Uncle Buck that first put him on Hollywood’s radar. He returned to the role that made him famous in the film’s popular sequel (Home Alone 2: Lost in New York), and has continued to pursue acting as well as other artistic projects.
5. Dakota Fanning: The road from ingénue to bonafide movie star can be a bumpy one, but Fanning seems incapable of hitting the potholes. Her work as Lucy, the daughter of a mentally retarded man (played by Sean Penn) in I Am Sam moved movie-goers across the country to tears and provided her with a launching pad for future work. Her list of co-stars — Tom Cruise, Denzel Washington and the aforementioned Mr. Penn, to name a few — reads like a veritable “Who’s Who” in Hollywood … and she’s only 16.
6. Jonathan Lipnicki: No list would be complete without the inclusion of Lipnicki, whose work as Ray, in Jerry Maguire almost managed to outshine his adult co-stars. The love story between Tom Cruise and Renee Zellweger and the friendship between agent (Cruise) and player (Cuba Gooding Jr.) were the predominant story-lines, but Lipnicki’s one-liners (“Do you know that the human head weighs 8 lbs.?”) and unforgettable face definitely contributed to the film’s overwhelming success.
7. Tatum O’Neal: Ten-year-old Tatum remains in Hollywood lore as the youngest competitive Oscar winner ever (Best Supporting Actress) for her work in Paper Moon as a convincing child con artist. Additionally, O’Neal starred in films such as Bad News Bears and International Velvet, but her most famous (and most highly praised) work was her first film, where she played opposite her father Ryan.
8. Haley Joel Osment: Although the subject matter was a bit heavy for an 11-year-old, Haley Joel Osment’s turn as terrified ghost-believing Cole Sears sky-rocketed him to fame in The Sixth Sense. His whispered confession (“I see dead people”) to Bruce Willis was, of course, one of the most memorable lines in the popular film. Osment actually made his big-screen debut a few years before opposite Tom Hanks playing his adorable and surprisingly bright son Little Forrest in Forrest Gump.
9. Jaden Smith: Certainly his enviable genetics (Jada & Will) deserve some of the credit, but Jaden has proved that he’s destined to be as bankable a star as his father. As the new face of The Karate Kid franchise as well as his emotional performance in The Pursuit of Happyness, Jaden’s acting chops have put him in the position to embark upon an impressive career.
10. Shirley Temple: Arguably the most popular (and cutest) child-star of all-time, Ms. Temple ruled the roost in the 1930′s. Her trademark curls and undeniable performing skills (dancing, acting and singing) cemented her as a triple threat and caused a sensation (the film Bright Eyes was created specifically for her) leading to an eventual honorary Academy Award. Shirley Temple truly defined the term “child-star”. As for her life post-Hollywood life, well, that hasn’t been too shabby either: she’s worked for the U.N. and as a US ambassador to both Ghana and Czechoslovakia.
Honorable Mention: Dylan and Cole Sprouse (Big Daddy) Lindsay Lohan (The Parent Trap), Mara Wilson (Mrs. Doubtfire, Miracle on 34th Street, Matilda), Anna Chumlsky (My Girl), Anna Paquin (The Piano), Hayden Panettiere (Remember The Titans), Christina Ricci (The Addams Family), Elizabeth Taylor (Lassie Come Home).


