These 18 Former Child Actors Had Notable Roles In Classic Halloween Or Horror Films, And Here's What They're Doing Now

From Halloween and Hocus Pocus to Orphan and Us.

Halloween is just a few days away, and that means it's time for some classic spooky films. If you're wondering what the child stars of beloved movies like Hocus Pocus and The Addams Family or legendary horror flicks like Halloween and Us are doing now, continue reading on:

1. Shahadi Wright Joseph in Us (2019):

Claudette Barius / Universal / courtesy Everett Collection

Shahadi Wright Joseph now:

Arturo Holmes / Getty Images

What they're up to now: Shahadi followed up Us in 2019 by voicing Young Nala in The Lion King and had a starring role in the Amazon Prime Video horror series Them.

2. Evan Alex in Us (2019):

Claudette Barius / Universal / courtesy Everett Collection

Evan Alex now:

Rodin Eckenroth / Getty Images for Makenzie Lee-Foster / Kickin' It With Kenzie Inc

What they're up to now: Evan's acting roles since Us include the 2021 Netflix film Trees of Peace.

3. Milly Shapiro in Hereditary (2018):

A24 /Courtesy Everett Collection

Milly Shapiro now:

Jason Mendez / Getty Images

What they're up to now: In addition to her acting career, which includes appearances in the series Splitting Up Together and animated show JJ Villard's Fairy Tales, Milly is a musician, having previously been part of the band AFTERxCLASS. In 2019, she also appeared as a guest judge on the drag series The Boulet Brothers' Dragula.

4. Isabelle Fuhrman in Orphan (2009):

Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection

Isabelle Fuhrman now:

Dominique Charriau / WireImage

What they're up to now: Isabelle has continued acting in a variety of projects, including notably playing District 2 tribute Clove in the first Hunger Games film. She reprised her Orphan role as Esther in last year's prequel, Orphan: First Kill. Next year, she's set to appear in Kevin Costner's upcoming western, Horizon: An American Saga.

5. Jonathan Lipnicki in The Little Vampire (2000):

New Line Cinema / courtesy Everett Collection

Jonathan Lipnicki now:

@jonathanlipnicki/Instagram / Via instagram.com

What they're up to now: Jonathan Lipnicki, who you might also know from Jerry Maguire, the Stuart Little films, and Like Mike, has continued to appear in a variety of movies, as well as a series of competition shows, including Drop the Mic in 2018 and Worst Cooks in America in 2019.

6. Kimberly J. Brown in Halloweentown (1998):

Disney Plus / Via disneyplus.com

Kimberly J. Brown now:

Gerardo Mora / Getty Images

What they're up to now: Kimberly went on to star in two of three follow-up Halloweentown films. Her subsequent acting roles include a recurring stint on General Hospital in 2021. She also runs an Etsy shop, CraftilyCreative. Oh, and last year, she got engaged to Daniel Kountz, who you might know as her Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge costar. He played Kal!

7. J. Paul Zimmerman in Halloweentown (1998):

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J. Paul Zimmerman now:

@jpaulzim/Instagram / Via instagram.com

What they're up to now: According to IMDb, J. Paul Zimmerman was previously credited in his acting roles as Joey up until the fourth and final Halloweentown film, Return to Halloweentown, in 2006, when he started going by the name J. Paul. Since then, his credits include an appearance in the series In Plain Sight and the film Roswell FM.

8. Emily Roeske in Halloweentown (1998):

Disney Channel / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Emily Roeske now:

@officialemilyroeske/Instagram / Via instagram.com

What they're up to now: According to IMDb, Emily's most recent acting credit is the third Halloweentown film, Halloweentown High, which was released in 2004. She's currently on Cameo, and she also reunited with some of her Halloweentown castmates (including Kimberly and J. Paul) a few weeks ago.

9. Camilla Belle in Practical Magic (1998):

Hulu / Via hulu.com

Camilla Belle now:

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

What they're up to now: Since starring as the younger version of Sandra Bullock's character in Practical Magic, Camilla has continued acting in films like When a Stranger Calls, 10,000 BC, and Push. Last year, she appeared in multiple episodes of Law & Order: Organized Crime. 

As for Lora Anne Criswell, the actor who played Camilla's sister (aka the younger version of Nicole Kidman's character), she followed up the film with one more acting role in Mockingbird Don't Sing in 2001, according to IMDb.

10. Evan Rachel Wood in Practical Magic (1998):

Hulu / Via hulu.com

Evan Rachel Wood now:

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What they're up to now: In Practical Magic, Evan played one of Sandra Bullock's character's two daughters. Since then, Evan has fostered a wide-ranging acting career, with roles in critically acclaimed films like Thirteen and Across the Universe. She also starred in several series or miniseries for HBO, including Mildred Piece and Westworld. 

As for Alexandra Artrip, the actress who played Evan's sister in Practical Magic, the film is her last acting role listed on her IMDb page.

11. Devon Sawa in Casper (1995):

Universal Pictures/YouTube / Via youtube.com

Devon Sawa now:

Paul Archuleta / Getty Images

What they're up to now: Since his days as a child actor in films like Little Giants, Casper, and Now and Then, Devon has continued acting in a variety of projects, including the first Final Destination film, Eminem's "Stan" music video, and a recurring-turned-lead role in the show Nikita. He currently stars in the Syfy series Chucky, which is the latest installment in the Child's Play franchise. You can also watch the show on Peacock here.

12. Thora Birch in Hocus Pocus (1993):

Buena Vista / courtesy Everett Collection

Thora Birch now:

Emily Assiran / Getty Images for 90's Con

What they're up to now: Thora Birch has maintained an active career since her rise to fame in the '90s in films like Purple People Eater, Hocus Pocus, and American Beauty. In recent years, this has included a notable recurring role in the series The Walking Dead and appearances in the films Affairs of State and The Last Black Man in San Francisco. Last year, she directed the Lifetime film The Gabby Petito Story.

13. Christina Ricci in The Addams Family (1991):

Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection

Christina Ricci now:

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What they're up to now: Since making it big in films likeThe Addams Family and Casper in the '90s, Christina has stayed busy acting in various projects throughout the years, including Sleepy Hollow, The Matrix Resurrections, and The Lizzie Borden Chronicles. Currently, she has starring roles on two hit TV shows: Yellowjackets and Wednesday. The latter is Tim Burton's take on Wednesday Addams, the same character she played in The Addams Family. But in the new show, she plays Ms. Thornhill (a new character) instead of Wednesday.

14. Jenna Ortega in Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013):

Max / Via play.max.com

Jenna Ortega now:

Marc Piasecki / WireImage

What they're up to now: Jenna is everywhere! She starred on the Disney Channel series Stuck in the Middle for a few years before her career rose dramatically after starring as Wednesday Addams in the hit Netflix series Wednesday. She's also had a major role in the series You, starred in the Scream franchise, and will soon be seen in a sequel to Beetlejuice.

15. Jimmy Workman in The Addams Family (1991):

Melinda Sue Gordon / Paramount Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

Jimmy Workman now:

Albert L. Ortega / Getty Images

What they're up to now: Jimmy's acting debut was playing Pugsley Addams in The Addams Family. He continued acting for a few years, with his last role being in the 2005 film The Biggest Fan. According to his IMDb page, he's since found a career working as a transportation coordinator and driver for films.

16. Drew Barrymore in E.T. (1982):

Universal Pictures/Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers/YouTube / Via youtube.com

Drew Barrymore now:

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What they're up to now: Drew has done everything from win a Golden Globe (for the TV film Grey Gardens) to star in blockbuster films (Scream, Charlie's Angels), build a beauty empire (Flower Beauty), and most recently host a talk show (The Drew Barrymore Show).

17. Brian Andrews in Halloween (1978):

Compass International Pictures/Redbox / Via redbox.com

Brian Andrews now:

Albert L. Ortega / Getty Images

What they're up to now: Brian has largely stepped away from acting and the spotlight, though he appeared in 2014 at a Halloween signing, as seen in the photo above.

18. Finally, Kyle Richards in Halloween (1978):

Compass International Pictures/Redbox / Via redbox.com

Kyle Richards now:

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What they're up to now: Kyle Richards has starred on the hit Bravo reality TV show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills since 2010. She returned to her role as Lindsey Wallace in the Halloween franchise twice since the original film — first for Halloween Kills in 2021 and again for Halloween Ends in 2022.