The Cutest Kids on TV Grew Up! See 13 On-Screen Little Brothers, Then and Now (2024)

Ralph Carter: Michael Evans on 'Good Times'

Ralph Carter was already a Broadway superstar by the time he signed on to play youngest Evans sibling, Michael, on Good Times in 1974. Carter's TV acting career slowed after the sitcom wrapped in 1979, though the 62-year-old has continued making music and performing on stages.

Mike Lookinland: Bobby Brady on 'The Brady Bunch'

Mike Lookinland started playing the youngest Brady Bunch son before he was 9 years old. He starred as Bobby Brady for all nine seasons and appeared in Brady Bunch spinoffs and retrospective specials following the series' ending in 1974.

More recently, Lookinland, 63, stepped onto the reality scene and competed alongside his TV brothers on The Masked Singer in 2022.

Danny Pintauro: Jonathan Bower on 'Who's the Boss?'

From 1984 to 1992, Danny Pintauro starred alongside Tony Danza in the hit show Who's the Boss?. Pintauro played Jonathan Bower for all eight seasons, then decided to pursue a life out of the spotlight. Over the years, the former child star — who went on to study at Stanford University — has reflected on his rocky experience with fame, namely when he was forced to come out by The National Enquirerin 1997.

After college, Pintauro returned to acting in New York City while working odd jobs outside of the industry. He struggled with drug use, and it was during this time that he contracted HIV, as he revealed in 2021.

Now 48, Pintauro — who married his husband Wil Tabares in 2014 — made a comeback to television in 2022, landing a role in the Lifetime holiday movie A Country Christmas Harmony.

Marcus T. Paulk: Myles Mitchell on 'Moesha'

After playing Brandy's on-screen little brother Myles in Moesha, Marcus T. Paulk continued his Hollywood career with roles on TV and in movies. His filmography includes parts in films like Another Cinderella Story, Roll Bounce and George Lucas' movie Red Rails.

On the small screen, Paulk, 37, has appeared in episodes of black-ish and The Block Trilogies, and he recently lent his voice to The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder reboot.

Luis Armand Garcia: Max Lopez on 'George Lopez'

After playing George Lopez's son Max on the actor's self-titled series from 2002 to 2007, Luis Armand Garcia pursued a private life off TV show sets. In 2022, however, the 32-year-old briefly returned to acting and made a cameo appearance as a different character on Lopez's new sitcom Lopez vs. Lopez.

Taran Noah Smith: Mark Taylor on 'Home Improvement'

Taran Noah Smith got his start playing Mark Taylor on Home Improvement, though he wrapped his acting career along with the series in 1999. According to a LinkedIn profile for the former child star, Smith, 40, is presently working as a sea recovery technician for SpaceX.

Jake Thomas: Matt McGuire on 'Lizzie McGuire'

Lizzie McGuire's pesky younger brother Matt was played by Jake Thomas, who followed up his early aughts stint on Disney Channel with several guest appearances on episodes of ER, CSI, The Secret Life of the American Teenager and more. He nabbed a recurring role on Cory in the House, another Disney series, which ran from 2007 to 2008.

In 2023, Thomas co-hosted a Lizzie McGuire rewatch podcast titled Living Lizzie with his former costar Davida Williams. Beyond the iconic Hilary Duff series, Thomas' website highlights the 34-year-old's experience as a photographer and director.

Paul Butcher: Dustin Brooks on 'Zoey 101'

Paul Butcher is best known for playing Jamie Lynn Spears' on-screen little brother, Dustin, on Zoey 101 throughout its four-season run from 2005 to 2008. After his success of the Nickelodeon series, Butcher continued acting in minor roles and guest appearances on TV shows, including as a voice actor in animated series.

The all-grown-up star, now 30, has also pursued his musical talents and has released several songs on Spotify.

Tahj Mowry: Cousin Tahj on 'Sister, Sister'

Tia and Tamera Mowry's real-life little brother, Tahj, actually played their cousin on their '90s sitcom Sister, Sister. But Tahj's child stardom is far brighter than his cameo on the series. From 1997 to 1999, he played TJ, the lead role on Smart Guy. He then shifted to animated work, providing the voice for Wade on Disney Channel's Kim Possible. He also appeared on several episodes of Full House during its run.

As an adult, Tahj, 37, is known for his main role as Tucker on the Freeform series Baby Daddy, which ran from 2012 to 2017.

Nolan Gould: Luke Dunphy on 'Modern Family'

Nolan Gould grew up in front of the camera during Modern Family's 11-year run on ABC. He played Luke Dunphy from 2009 to 2020 and also nabbed some work beyond the series during its time on air.

Gould, now 25, appeared in the 2011 flick Friends with Benefits and competed on reality shows like Hell's Kitchen and Worst Cooks in America: Celebrity Edition. In 2022 he guest-starred on a episode of Grey's Anatomy, and he held a minor role in the 2023 period drama Miranda's Victim.

Blake & Dylan Tuomy-Wilhoit: Nicky & Alex Katsopolis on 'Full House'

Between Full House and its 2016 reboot series Fuller House, Blake and Dylan Tuomy-Wilhoit's acting careers have both been limited to their portrayal of twins Nicky and Alex Katsopolis. They've not entirely left Hollywood behind, though: both brothers, 33, have experience working in sound departments on shows like Castle Rock and Game of Thrones.

Jake T. Austin: Max Russo on 'Wizards of Waverly Place'

Jake T. Austin played Selena Gomez's well-intentioned little brother, Max, on Wizards of Waverly Place throughout its five-year run on Disney Channel. He got his next main role on The Fosters, but departed after two seasons. His character, Jesus Foster, was recast with Noah Centineo.

Though his acting career slowed down in recent years, Austin, 29, competed on season 23 of Dancing with the Stars.

Tenzing Norgay Trainor: Parker Rooney on 'Liv and Maddie'

Tenzing Norgay Trainor starred on Disney Channel's Liv and Maddie as the titular twin's mischievous little brother. Since the series ended in 2017, the 22-year-old has made guest appearances in shows like The Mick and Modern Family and starred in Netflix's Freeridge in 2023.