See What 35 Of Our Favorite Actors Who Made It Big In The Nineties Are Up To Now

Buckle up for a trip down memory lane that is guaranteed to transport you back in time to the days of dial-up internet and Sony discmans.

Stephanie

• Published in Interesting
• December 28, 2022

We all love a bit of nostalgia, and what better decade was there than the nineties? Well, okay, that will be debatable depending on your age, but you can't deny that a lot of talent came out of the 1990s.

The nineties gave us Clueless, Pulp Fiction, Father of the Bride, and Pretty Woman. Not to mention shows like Full House, Home Improvement, Sex and the City, and Friends - I mean, need we say more than Friends?

And, of course, along with the movies and TV shows that defined our adolescence, also came the actors that starred in them. They were our first crushes, we had them on our walls, and we felt like we knew them.

But that was 20 years ago. So, where are all those stars now?

Well, we have a list of 35 actors who made it big in the nineties and what they're up to now to share with you right here! So buckle up for a trip down memory lane that is guaranteed to transport you back in time to the days of dial-up internet and Sony Discmans.

From Brandy Norwood to Rachael Leigh Cook to Brendan Fraser, we have them all covered. Keep scrolling to find out what your favorite nineties actors are up to nowadays.

1. Andrew Keegan

Most 90s kids will remember Andrew Keegan for his role as Joey Donner in 10 Things I Hate About You. It's (arguably) still his most memorable performance yet.

But Andrew also starred in television shows such as Party of Five, Moesha, and 7th Heaven. So, what's Andrew up to these days?

Well, Andrew has continued to act over the years, but he has also branched out with other business ventures.

In 2014, he opened a community spiritual center called Full Circle. But sadly, it closed down in 2017.

2. Laura Linney

Laura Linney was known predominantly as a theater actress during the 90s, but when she starred in The Truman Show, she shot to mainstream fame. Laura has won several awards over the years, including Emmys and Golden Globes, and in 2020, her role in the stage show, My Name Is Lucy Barton earned her multiple award nominations.

3. Brendan Fraser

Who doesn't love Brendan Fraser? Of course, that's not a serious question because obviously, we all love him!

In the nineties, we swooned over him in Airheads, Encino Man, and George of the Jungle. And, of course, he was at his peak when cult classic The Mummy was released.

Sadly, Brendan's career declined in the 2000s due to personal problems. But Brendan is set to make a long-awaited comeback with his new film The Whale.

4. Rachael Leigh Cook

Rachael Leigh Cook had many roles in the 90s but the one we all loved her in was She’s All That. The hit teen film is still her most successful movie to date.

These days, Rachael is still acting. She has starred in several crime shows and Hallmark movies, and, of course, we loved her in the She's All That remake, He's All That.

5. Bug Hall

Younger kids probably won't recognize Bug, but if you grew up in the 90s, you will definitely be familiar with his work. Bug played the adorable Alfalfa in The Little Rascals, and had several other notable roles throughout the decade.

Since then, Bug has made multiple appearances in television shows such as Charmed and Criminal Minds. Oh, but he'll always be Alfalfa to us!

6. Robin Wright

How could we ever forget Robin Wright as Jenny in Forrest Gump? She broke Forrest’s heart and ours in the process.

Since then, Robin has become one of the highest-paid actresses in the US. She regained popularity in 2016 for her role in House of Cards.

7. Bonnie Hunt

Bonnie Hunt was famous for being the ultimate mom during the 90s. She played the perfect mother in films such as Beethoven and Cheaper By The Dozen.

In 2008 she began hosting her own talk show, The Bonnie Hunt Show, but nowadays she keeps a low profile. You may have heard her lending her voice to Disney films such as A Bug’s Life and Cars.

8. Jennifer Love Hewitt

In the 90s, J-Love was best known for her role in Party of Five. And later, she gained even more popularity for her films, I Know What You Did Last Summer and Can't Hardly Wait.

In 2005, Jennifer returned to TV in Ghost Whisperer before taking time off for her second pregnancy in 2015. More recently, she has returned to the small screen once again in the drama series 9-1-1.

9. Melissa Joan Hart

Melissa Joan Hart is undoubtedly most popular for the iconic title role in Sabrina the Teenage Witch. She later starred in several films, including Drive Me Crazy and Can't Hardly Wait.

Nowadays, she’s back on our screens, mostly starring in Lifetime and Hallmark films. She’s also a mama to three boys.

10. Laura Dern

Laura Dern first rose to fame in the 1980s thanks to her roles in Blue Velvet and Mask. But it was her role in the nineties hit Jurassic Park that really cemented her career in Hollywood.

Most recently, Laura starred in the music video for Taylor Swift's Bejeweled. She also appeared in the most recent Jurassic Park installments, World Evolution and Dominion.

11. Sarah Michelle Gellar

We all remember SMJ as Buffy Summers the vampire slayer in the cult show. But she was also a huge movie star in the 90s, starring in beloved horror films I Know What You Did Last Summer and Scream 2.

Since then, Sarah has starred as Daphne in the Scooby-Doo movies, and most recently in the Netflix film, Do Revenge.

12. Denise Richards

Denise Richards first appeared on the big screen in Starship Troopers. After winning audiences over with her talent and good looks, she went on to star in several other hit films.

In 2019, Denise joined the cast of Real Housewives of Beverley Hills. The ex-wife of Charlie Sheen still looks stunning today at the age of 51.

13. Alicia Silverstone

For anyone who grew up in the 90s, Alicia Silverstone needs no introduction. Her role as Cher Horowitz in Clueless was (and still is) iconic to say the least.

These days, Alicia is still acting. But her favorite role is being a mother to her son, Bear.

14. Thora Birch

Thora Birch first appeared as a child star in films such as Hocus Pocus in the early 90s. Later on in the decade, she starred in American Beauty which won her a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Thora was only 17 when she got her big break. These days she is still acting, appearing in television movies and shows such as The Walking Dead.

15. Stacey Dash

Stacey Dash is best known for her role as Dionne in Clueless. She also starred in the TV adaptation of the cult film throughout the nineties.

Stacey is still acting somewhat today, but in recent years she is better known for her controversial and political views. The 55-year-old doesn't appear to have aged one bit!

16. Julia Stiles

Stiles played Heath Ledger’s love interest in the hit film 10 Things I Hate About You. That's when we became obsessed with her portrayal of the feminist icon Kat Stratford.

23 years later, Stiles has barely changed at all. She is currently starring in the drama series, Riviera.

17. Claire Danes

We fell in love with Claire in Baz Luhrmann’s famous adaptation of Romeo + Juliet, starring alongside Leo DiCaprio. Claire was just 16 at the time!

Claire is still acting today. You may have seen her in television shows such as Homeland and Fleishman Is In Trouble.

18. The Sprouse Twins

Dylan and Cole Sprouse's careers launched when they starred in Big Daddy alongside Adam Sandler in 1999. They also notably appeared in Friends as Ross's son Ben.

These days, the twins are still acting. Dylan most recently appeared in My Fake Boyfriend, and Cole starred in the hit show Riverdale.

19. Tommy Lee Jones

Academy Award nominee Tommy Lee Jones has appeared in too many incredible films to mention. He has played every type of character you can possibly imagine!

Of course, one of his most iconic roles was that of Agent K in the Men In Black films. More recently he starred in Wander and The Comeback Trail.

20. Larisa Oleynik

If you were a 90s kid, you absolutely would have watched Larisa in The Secret World of Alex Mack. You also would have been obsessed with her as Bianca Stratford in 10 Things I Hate About You.

More recently, Larisa can be seen in television shows such as The Healing Powers of Dude and Trinkets.

21. Jason Biggs

He was the guy who made us cringe in American Pie with his X-rated antics. Jason Biggs was a lovable goof throughout the nineties.

Since then he starred in Orange Is The New Black and Law & Order: SVU. But Jason will always be Jim Levenstein to us!

22. Gaby Hoffmann

Gaby Hoffmann initially shot to fame as a child actress starring in films like Sleepless in Seattle and Now and Then. In the early 2000s, she took a break from acting to finish studying, and then she made a gradual return to film acting in 2007.

Since then, Gaby has starred in films such as Wild with Reese Witherspoon and C’mon C’mon alongside Joaquin Phoenix. This year she is starring in the TV series, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.

23. Mara Wilson

Mara Wilson was a beloved child star in the 1990s, thanks to her role as Matilda Wormwood. But, despite the success of her role in Matilda, Wilson didn’t want to pursue an acting career.

Instead, she decided to pursue writing. These days, Mara has become a popular Twitter celebrity and has been featured in several podcasts

24. Selma Blair

Selma Blair's big break came when she starred in the cult classic Cruel Intentions. Not long after, she starred alongside Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde.

Sadly, Selma was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2018. Since then, she has been an inspiration to many by speaking out about her disability and how she manages it.

Selma even competed on Dancing With the Stars recently. Nothing can keep this lady down!

25. Macaulay Culkin

Macaulay Culkin is one of the most successful child actors of all time. He first became popular as Kevin McCallister in the Home Alone films, and from there, the acting gigs kept rolling in.

By the mid-nineties, Macaulay was burnt out and decided he wanted a “normal life.” So he retired, although he did return to the industry briefly in the 2000s.

These days, he’s the CEO of a satirical pop culture website and runs a podcast called Bunny Ears. He is also a dad to his son with former Disney star Brenda Song.

26. Marla Sokoloff

Marla Sokoloff appeared as the stereotypical mean girl in films like The Baby-Sitter’s Club, and as Stephanie Tanner’s best friend in Full House. More recently, Marla starred in the Full House spin-off series, Fuller House, reprising her role as Gia alongside the original cast of the 90s hit show.

27. Laura San Giacomo

Laura San Giacomo played Kit De Luca in Pretty Woman but was most well-known for her role in the television comedy Just Shoot Me. Most recently, Laura has appeared in NCIS and Netflix series The Santa Clauses.

28. Edward Furlong

Edward Furlong was everywhere in the nineties. He starred alongside Arnie in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and had a starring role in American History X.

More recently, Edward reprised his role in Terminator: Dark Fate. While he still acts occasionally, he is most active on Instagram where he likes to connect with his fans.

29. Juliette Lewis

Juliette Lewis has been on the Hollywood scene for more than 25 years. Her career skyrocketed when she starred in Quentin Tarantino's From Dusk Til Dawn in 1996.

Of course, Juliette is still acting today. Most recently she has appeared in the television series' Yellowjackets and Welcome to Chippendales.

30. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

The Olsen twins were an absolute powerhouse in the nineties with an abundance of TV shows and movies coming out throughout the nineties and early 2000s. But the pair retired from acting to pursue their passion for fashion design, now spending their time running their brand called The Row.

31. Ryan Phillipe

Ryan Phillipe found fame when he starred in Cruel Intentions alongside Reese Witherspoon. The pair eventually married and had two children together.

Unfortunately, their relationship didn’t work out, but Ryan continued to forge a prosperous career in Hollywood. Ryan went on to star in the thriller series Shooter and the Oscar-nominated black comedy Gosford Park.

32. Skeet Ulrich

Skeet Ulrich got his big break in the 90s when he starred as Billy Loomis in Scream and Chris Hooker in The Craft. More recently he has appeared in the hit series Riverdale.

33. Billy Zane

Billy Zane is perhaps best known for playing Caledon Hockley in Titanic. But these days, Billy looks very different and has starred in various television shows and direct-to-TV movies.

34. Brandy Norwood

Brandy Norwood was one of the biggest stars of the 90s, rising to fame after the release of her debut album which sold six million records worldwide.

Later on, Brandy played the title role in the sitcom Moesha and appeared as Cinderella in the 1997 television version of the fairytale. Brandy is still acting, singing, recording, and producing today.

35. Freddie Prinze Jr.

Freddie Prinze Jr. was the ultimate teen heartthrob of the 90s. His role as the lead in She’s All That made us fall in love with him, and he only got better from there.

He met his wife, Sarah Michelle Gellar, on the set of I Know What You Did Last Summer, and the pair have both continued to act. However, Freddie has taken more of a back seat in the last few years, preferring to focus on his podcast and being a father.

So, there you have it. 35 actors who made it big in the nineties and what they're up to now.

Who was your nineties favorite? We can't go past the incredible Selma Blair and the ultimate heartthrob Freddie Prinze Jr.

We would love to hear about your fave 90s celebs. You can let us know who they are in the comment section.

Stephanie