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.
