Despite finding fame in their younger years, many of the most famous child stars from the 1970s vanished from Hollywood's sets before they reached their teenage years.
Some left to pursue a normal career and a more ordinary life, while others disappeared after the pressures of fame at a young age became too much.
From Willy Wonka's Charlie Bucket to stars from The Brady Bunch, the disco era produced some of the most well-known young actors who became part of cult classic films.
Here are five famous child stars who vanished after finding fame in the 70s…
© Getty ImagesPeter Ostrum
Peter Ostrum cemented his place in the history books after his performance as Charlie Bucket in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, a film that debuted in 1971.
Despite earning himself a three-picture deal from studio executives after he appeared alongside Gene Wilder at just 13 years old, Peter declined and decided to live a more private life.
After the film was released, he returned to his Ohio home, where his family bought a horse, a move that would inspire his future career as a veterinarian.
In 1984, he achieved a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University and proceeded to practice as a large-animal veterinarian in Lowville, New York, for decades.
Peter allegedly hid his former life as a child star from his wife, Loretta M. Lepkowski, whom he married in 1987, right before she met his mother.
He officially retired from veterinary medicine in 2023 and welcomed two children with Loretta.
© Getty ImagesMike Lookinland
Mike Lookinland spent his childhood under the spotlight while he played his character Bobby Brady on the popular ABC sitcom, The Brady Bunch.
When the programme and its spin-offs finally wrapped up in the mid-70s, Mike was craving a normal childhood experience.
Leaving acting to the side, he briefly worked behind the camera as a production assistant before changing tack completely and pursuing a passion for architectural craftsmanship in Salt Lake City.
While there, Mike founded and launched a highly successful decorative concrete business called Just Add Water, which specialised in custom, hand-pressed concrete countertops.
He married his wife, Kelly Wermuth, in 1987, and the couple welcomed two sons.
© Getty ImagesTodd Bridges
Todd Bridges found global fame playing Willis Jackson on the late-70s sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, alongside Janet Jackson.
Once the series's run came to an end, Todd struggled to find other roles due to typecasting, and through his twenties, he battled severe addiction to crack cocaine and faced numerous high-profile legal troubles.
The former child star was famously acquitted of an attempted murder charge in 1989 and managed to turn his life around, becoming sober for over 32 consecutive years.
He became the last surviving member of the sitcom following the tragic deaths of his co-stars Gary Coleman and Dana Plato.
In 2026, he works as an author and motivational speaker, warning people about the dangers of early fame and addiction.
© Getty ImagesAnissa Jones
Anissa Jones stole the hearts of millions as the sweet orphan Buffy on the hit 60s and 70s sitcom Family Affair.
The show ended in 1971, and Anissa was keen to transition into more mature film roles; however, she struggled to make the change.
She auditioned for Reagan MacNeil in The Exorcist, but her wholesome TV persona meant she was not cast in other projects after her initial rise to fame.
As a result, she dropped out of high school and fell into drug use. On 28 August 1976, just months after her 18th birthday, Anissa died from a severe drug overdose.
© Getty ImagesKristy McNichol
As a teen superstar of the late 1970s, Kristy McNichol rose to fame aged 13 when she stepped into the role of Letitia "Buddy" Lawrence on the critically acclaimed ABC drama Family.
Her performance on the show earned her two Primetime Emmy Awards before she had graduated from high school.
After her time playing Letitia, she transitioned into a major box-office hit and starred in the likes of Little Darlings and Only When I Laugh in the 80s.
However, by the early 1990s, while starring as Barbara Weston on the NBC sitcom Empty Nest, the pressures of child fame became overwhelming.
Kristy was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and she made the decision to abruptly walk away from the series and Hollywood entirely.
After life in the spotlight, she built a normal, quiet life in Los Angeles and taught acting at a private school. She has lived with her partner, Martie Allen, since the 90s.
