Celebs Who Got Their Start On Children's Shows

It’s hard to catch a break in show business but these stars got a head start by launching their careers on children’s shows.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Many think Leonardo DiCaprio got his start on the hit sitcom “Growing Pains” but before he played homeless Luke Brower that was taken in by the Seaver family, a five-year-old DiCaprio appeared on “Romper Room.” But his time on the children’s show didn’t last that long. The precocious tyke was removed from the set for his disruptive behavior.

Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato might be known as a Disney kid but before she was starring in “Camp Rock,” she was Angela on “Barney & Friends.” Lovato remained on the show for two seasons before moving on. The same year she became a Disney star, Lovato released her debut album. Six years later, the “Don’t Forget” singer successfully battled with a drug and alcohol addiction before dropping her fourth album.

Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato have been friends long before they were Disney stars. That’s because they met back when they both starred on “Barney & Friends” back in 2002. Like Lovato, Gomez remained on the show for two seasons. Gomez made several guest appearances on “Hannah Montana” before she was given her own show. These days, Gomez is known more for her on-again, off-again relationship with pop star Justin Bieber.

Shia LeBeouf

These days Shia LeBeouf makes more headlines for his bar brawls, wild red carpet behavior and arrests than for his acting work. Cast in the first three “Transformers” blockbuster movies, LeBeouf became an international star. But before he was Sam Witwicky, LeBeouf’s young fans knew him as Louis Stevens in the Disney show “Even Stevens.” Totally ditching his wholesome child star image, LeBeouf was recently arrested for disorderly conduct and reportedly spat at the arresting officers.

Jennifer Love Hewitt

It seems like Jennifer Love Hewitt has been acting forever. That’s because she started appearing on camera when she was just a little girl. With a few commercial roles under her belt, the “I Know What You Did Last Summer” star landed her first television show with “Kids Incorporated.” Back then she was simply known as Love Hewitt.

Fergie

Before she became famous as the sole female in the group Black Eyed Peas, singer Fergie was actually a member of an all-female pop group. But even before that, a young Fergie starred in a television show. For five years, the California native used her real name Stacy on “Kids Incorporated.” The future diva in training also voiced the character Sally Brown in numerous “Charlie Brown” movies and television shows.

Jessica Alba

Long before she became a sex symbol and voted the most desirable woman by AskMen.com, Jessica Alba was getting her start on children’s television. Alba appeared on the Nickelodeon show “The Secret World of Alex Mack” back in 1994. She was also a regular on the television show “Flipper” and appeared on an ABC afterschool special. In 2000, Alba was cast in the lead role of “Dark Angel” and her career took off from there.

Ryan Gosling

Early on in his career, Ryan Gosling made a name for himself starring in children and family friendly projects. After starring in Disney’s “Mickey Mouse Club” for three seasons, the Canadian star appeared in “Goosebumps,” “Breaker High,” “Young Hercules” and “Are You Afraid Of The Dark?” In 2004 he got his big break and was cast in “The Notebook” alongside Rachel McAdams. Gosling is set to make his directorial debut this year with “Lost River.”

Julia Stiles

Actress Julia Stiles has a lot of movie and television roles under her belt. She made her film debut in 1996 but several years before that, Stiles was the nose ring wearing, crime-solving friend on the PBS show “Ghostwriter.” Stiles appeared on the show for six episodes. Stiles’ big break came several years later with the film “10 Things I Hate About You.”

Ben Affleck

By the time Ben Affleck hooked up with pal Matt Damon to write the screenplay for the 1997 film “Good Will Hunting,” he was already a star. Affleck had several movie roles under his belt but he first got his start on the television show “The Voyage of the Mimi.” Affleck appeared on the show for 13 episodes back in 1984. He also starred in an ABC afterschool special before reprising his role as C.T. Granville in “The Second Voyage of the Mimi.”

Alanis Morissette

Alanis Morissette is a Grammy winning singer/songwriter but long before she released her debut album in 1991, the Canadian star was getting slimed on Nickelodeon. Back in 1986, Morissette appeared on five episodes of “You Can’t Do That On Television.” Thirteen years later she returned to her acting roots and appeared in Kevin Smith’s 1999 film “Dogma.” Better known for her guitar playing and singing abilities, Morissette has won seven Grammy Awards.

Britney Spears

From a young age, Britney Spears knew she wanted to be a star. At the age of eight, she traveled from Louisiana to Atlanta with her mother to audition for “The Mickey Mouse Club.” The future pop diva was rejected because she was too young but not giving up, she auditioned again a couple years later and got the part. She remained on the show until it was cancelled several years later.

Christina Aguilera

Britney Spears isn’t the only pop diva that got her start on “The Mickey Mouse Club.” Aguilera was also eight years old when she auditioned for the show and she too was told that she was too young. However, two years later she was old enough and joined the cast, which included Britney Spears and Ryan Gosling. The “Stronger” singer remained on the show until it was cancelled freeing her up to focus on her singing career.

Hayden Christensen

Long before he was cast as the young Anakin Skywalker and had to choose between the light and dark side of the Force in the “Star Wars” franchise, Hayden Christensen, he was spooked beyond belief by two creepy dolls in a two-part episode of “Goosebumps.” The Canadian star also appeared on “Are You Afraid Of The Dark?” and “The Famous Jett Jackson” before moving on from children’s shows. Up next for the heartthrob is the action flick “American Heist.”