Cummings began in commercials, then became the memorable Lucy McFadden in “The Goodbye Girl.” For her stand-out performance, she earned Golden Globe and Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actress. Cummings went on to a recurring role on “Family,” as well as a part on “Hail to the Chief.” She’s also a casting director, a business owner, and a blogger.
In fact, her writing may be the biggest part of her fandom nowadays. She’s authored three books about herself, homeschooling, and pets, and has also had her writing featured in The Wall Street Journal, Time, People, The Atlantic, Salon, Los Angeles Magazine, Huffington Post, and Good Housekeeping.
Gary Coleman
Coleman got famous and rich for his role in "Diff'rent Strokes," but it was revealed his parents were mishandling his funds, and Gary sued them, winning over a million dollars in the settlement. Coleman has had multiple issues with the law over the years. Coleman would end up marrying a twenty-two-year-old extra (he, at the time, was in his thirties), but the two divorced a year later.
Coleman died only a few years later due to complications from health problems he had his entire life. His wife attempted to make a claim on the estate but was denied.
Barry Williams
Yet another Brady child makes the list. Barry Williams was fourteen when he joined the cast as the oldest child and teenage heartthrob Greg, and would go on to win a Young Artist Foundation Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award in 1989. He's appeared in "Brady Bunch" specials, as well as "That 70's Show" and "Three's Company," among others.
His biography, "Growing Up Brady...I Was a Teenage Greg," came out in 1992, was a best-seller for three months, and would become a made-for-TV movie on NBC. Williams was an executive producer on the movie.
Paris Themmen
Another former "Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory," Themmen appeared as the television-obsessed child Mike TeeVee, but quit acting at the age of fourteen. He would later return to the screen, taking small roles in shows such as "Star Trek: Voyager." He also appeared in "The Big Lebowski."
He's appeared with other cast members for reunions as Mike TeeVee a number of times. He's dabbled in real estate, film production, Walt Disney Imagineering, retail, and a number of other business pursuits, and also directs casting sessions.
Johnny Whitaker
Johnny Whitaker began his career at the age of three in a TV commercial for a car dealership and then leaped straight to "General Hospital." He's best known as the orphan Jody Davis in "Family Affair," from 1966-71. He's also been in "The Littlest Angel," "Snowball Express," "The Biscuit Eater," "Napoleon and Samantha," and plenty more. He also had the lead role in the 1973 musical "Tom Sawyer."
Whitaker has received Young Artist Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999, and while he has had drug issues, he's on the road to recovery and remains with us today.