The 7 most surprising Where Are They Nows

　　For most celebrities, the limelight is a fickle beast. When the casting agents stop calling and TMZ stops reporting, the majority of Hollywood’s has-beens tend to fall into one of two categories – struggling actor or drug addict (and often, both). However, many previous child stars and musicians successfully avoid these uncreative career paths and create a life after fame that can only be described as surprising. Seven of these surprises – some good, some bad – are listed below:
　　Jenny Lewis
　　
　　Child actor Jenny Lewis appeared in a number of TV shows and movies throughout the 1980s. She is perhaps best known as the red-headed teen who starred opposite Fred Savage in “The Wizard.” After giving up on acting around 1998, Jenny Lewis dove into the indie rock scene with her band, Rilo Kiley. The band found success with the 2004 release of their album, More Adventurous. Since then, Jenny has released two solo albums and has become a rock celebrity of sorts within the world of indie music. Given her striking good looks and affection for country and folk music, she is often compared to similar actor-turned-singer Zooey Deschanel.
　　Taran Noah Smith
　　
　　Better known as Mark Taylor (a.k.a. the one that went through the Goth phase) on the 1990s show Home Improvement, Taran Noah Smith has had an interesting trajectory since the show ended in 1999. Most surprisingly, in 2001 (at the age of 17) Smith did something few teens would ever consider doing: he got married. Even more shocking, the woman – named Heidi van Pelt – was 16 years his senior. They then promptly moved to Kansas to co-found a non-dairy cheese manufacturing company. Last year the two got divorced, and according to a few unverified reports, he’s moved back home with his parents.
　　Chris Burke
　　
　　Life Goes On was a TV show that ran from 1989 to 1993 and is notable for being the first television show to feature an individual with Down Syndrome in the starring cast. That individual was Chris Burke. Perhaps not surprisingly, Burke has gone on to become an ambassador for the National Down Syndrome Society and a spokesperson for the National Down Syndrome Congress. Less predictable, is the fact that he fronts a folk band, with which he tours extensively. Regardless of what you think of his musical stylings (video below), you’ve got to admit that Chris Burke continues to be an inspiring figure for the Down Syndrome community.
　　Jonathan Ke Quan
　　
　　Would you believe me if I told you that Short Round from the Indiana Jones movies (and Data from The Goonies) continues to be an important member of the Hollywood movie-making machine? Well, as it turns out, Jonathan Ke Quan has played a major role in a several movies from the 2000s – at least, from behind the scenes. Most notably, he used his extensive martial arts training to assist in stunt and fight coordination for Jet Li’s The One and The X-Men. He has also done sound and editorial work for The Other Side.
　　Michael C. Maronna
　　
　　Like Jonathan Ke Quan, Michael C. Maronna (Adventures of Pete and Pete) has found employment behind the cameras in Hollywood. Though Maronna occasionally still lands a small on-screen role from time to time, it’s not enough for him to quit his day job as an electrician. That’s right, the man rigging the wires for some of the biggest blockbusters in Hollywood is none other than Big Pete Wrigley. Some of his latest movies he’s worked on include Cop Out, Precious, Be Kind Rewind and Sex and the City.
　　Hanson
　　
　　Hanson burst onto the pop music scene in 1997 with their hit song MMMBop before immediately backsliding back into obscurity. Given that practically no one has heard from the three Hanson brothers (Isaac, Taylor and Zac) in over a decade, you’ll likely be very surprised to learn that these three plucky lads are still making music together. That’s right my friends, Hanson is still making records and touring the world over. Perhaps even more surprising: they actually have a fairly rabid fan base. Though no where near as large as it was in the late 90s, swooning girls continue to pack clubs and concert halls for their chance to see their favorite bros in all they’re sugary-sweet glory.
　　Kirk Cameron
　　
　　Kirk Cameron was a television and Tiger Beat staple throughout the 1980s. Best known as Growing Pains’ Mike Seaver, Cameron found God in the last years of the series and has since gone on to become one of the most vocal Christian evangelists in the United States. Perhaps you’ve heard of his post-Rapture movie series, Left Behind. More recently, he made headlines by handing out pro-creationism versions of Darwin’s On the Origin of Species. Telling the world what they should believe seems to run in the family – Kirk’s sister and fellow child star Candace Cameron also takes part in evangelical ministry.