Growing Pains Cast Then and Now: See How the Stars Have Changed

Although “Growing Pains” left the air in the early 1990s, its cast members have taken remarkably different paths since the beloved family sitcom ended. Some remained fixtures in television, others moved behind the camera, and one late addition became a global film icon. Here’s what happened to the stars of “Growing Pains” after the show concluded.

Leonardo DiCaprio appeared as Luke Brower only during the sitcom’s final season, but his brief run still marked the beginning of an extraordinary career. Within a year of the 1992 finale, he was earning widespread praise for “This Boy’s Life” and “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.” During Variety’s “Actors on Actors,” DiCaprio revealed that his “Growing Pains” co-stars helped make those opportunities possible. He recalled that Alan Thicke and the rest of the cast supported his decision to leave the series and pursue the films, telling producers, in effect, to let the young actor take his chance.

Those early performances launched DiCaprio into a long string of acclaimed roles, eventually turning him into one of Hollywood’s most recognizable and decorated leading men. After years of discussion about his Oscar history, he finally won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 2016. “Growing Pains” viewers may have wished he had stayed longer, but the cast’s willingness to support his ambitions helped clear the way for an even bigger future.

Joanna Kerns, who portrayed Seaver family matriarch Maggie, has also described “Growing Pains” as the starting point for an important new phase of her life. During a 2022 appearance on “A Mick A Mook and a Mic,” she called the sitcom a “gift that keeps on giving over the years.” The show provided financial security when she needed it, but it also introduced her to directing. Kerns made her directorial debut with an episode during the series’ seventh season, and that opportunity ultimately influenced the direction of her career.

Kerns continued acting after “Growing Pains,” although her most recent credited performance came in a music video in 2017. Directing, meanwhile, became her primary focus. Her television résumé includes episodes of “Chicago Med,” “The Goldbergs,” “The Good Doctor,” “Jane the Virgin,” and “Pretty Little Liars,” among many other popular series.

In a 2015 interview with Variety, Kerns said she enjoyed the creative demands of directing and remained open to acting again. Still, she explained that making a serious transition behind the camera required a clear commitment. Her agent warned that television directors had to book jobs far in advance, making it difficult to accept acting work only when no directing opportunity was available. Apart from the occasional appearance, including that music video, Kerns has firmly embraced life as a television director.

Kirk Cameron’s post-“Growing Pains” career took a sharply different turn, although his growing Christian faith was already influencing his outlook before the sitcom ended. One widely discussed moment came when he objected to filming a storyline in which Mike Seaver dreamed about being intimate with a young woman. Cameron told Chuck Swindoll’s “Insight to Living” podcast that he understood the scene was supposed to be a nightmare, but still felt uncomfortable participating for religious reasons. His concerns fueled claims that he was using his fame to pressure the writers, a characterization he rejected as a clash between differing personal values.

Cameron has said that experiences like that contributed to his decision to pursue faith-based entertainment. He went on to appear in Christian productions such as “The Birth of Jesus,” “Fire Proof,” and “The Miracle of the Cards.” He also became known for refusing to kiss co-stars on screen, making an exception for his wife and former “Growing Pains” castmate Chelsea Noble when a film required it. During a 2008 appearance on “Today,” Cameron explained that their real-life marriage allowed those scenes to reflect the values he wanted to uphold.

Beyond acting, Cameron has continued combining his public profile with his religious beliefs through “Takeaways with Kirk Cameron,” a talk show focused on faith, family, and personal values.

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Tracey Gold played Carol Seaver on “Growing Pains,” and she continued to work as an actor for many years after the show’s final episode. However, in 2025, she announced that she’d joined The Santa Clarita School of Performing Arts (SCSOPA) as an acting coach. In a video posted on the school’s Instagram account, Gold shared, “I love teaching kids acting skills for whether they wanna be professional actors, if it’s to help them get out of their comfort zone, you know, I’m always about fun first, and in the fun, you’ll learn.” Sure enough, the comments section made it pretty clear she was already making a big impact on her students, with one writing that their daughter adored working with her. “I am extremely grateful for your talent and dedication,” the mom gushed. 

Tracey Gold’s decision to work with young performers feels especially meaningful given how candidly she has discussed the pressures of being a child actor in the 1990s. Speaking on “Let’s Be Clear with Shannen Doherty,” Gold recalled feeling unable to challenge writers over jokes aimed at her character, many of which focused on weight. She said young performers were often expected to be exceptionally professional while remaining silent when uncomfortable. When she finally raised the issue, she was reportedly told that she did not understand the reality of sibling teasing because she did not have brothers.

Gold later developed a serious eating disorder, though she has emphasized that “Growing Pains” was not the sole cause. She has since used her experiences to speak openly about eating disorders and the unique pressures faced by young performers. Today, her work coaching children in the industry allows her to offer guidance and support to the next generation.

Jeremy Miller, who played the youngest Seaver son, Ben, kept acting after “Growing Pains” but eventually expanded his career in an unexpected direction: professional cooking. During the “Magic Making Mischief” podcast, Miller explained that he received classical French culinary training, studied in China, and apprenticed at restaurants in Shanghai. Rather than opening a traditional restaurant, he chose private cheffing, which gives him the freedom to design fresh menus for different clients instead of preparing the same dishes repeatedly.

Miller’s culinary career also kept him connected to his former television family. He described Alan Thicke, who played his on-screen father, as his favorite person to cook for. Thicke would invite Miller to his Santa Barbara ranch, where the actor-chef prepared meals for Thicke, his family, and other “Growing Pains” cast members including Kirk Cameron, Tracey Gold, and Joanna Kerns. The gatherings often included the entire crew and their families.

That sounds like one unforgettable “Growing Pains” reunion—and quite a memorable dinner party.

Ashley Johnson joined “Growing Pains” in 1990 as Chrissy Seaver, the youngest member of the family. During a 2019 appearance on “Today,” she admitted that people still recognize her, even if they cannot immediately remember why. Because she was so young when she appeared on the sitcom, strangers sometimes assume they knew her from school rather than television.

Since then, Johnson has built a wide-ranging career, with a particularly strong connection to video games. Players know her as the original voice of Ellie in “The Last of Us” games, while television audiences saw her take on another important role in the HBO adaptation: Anna, Ellie’s mother, played on screen by Bella Ramsey. Johnson told HBO Max that portraying Anna was especially meaningful because of her deep connection to Ellie after voicing the character in both games. Her other voice credits include “Minecraft: Story Mode,” “Lego Dimensions,” and “Lego Marvel’s Avengers.” She is also one of the founding members of the popular “Critical Role” series.

The “Growing Pains” cast ultimately followed a wide variety of creative paths, from blockbuster movies and television directing to faith-based productions, culinary arts, voice acting, and mentorship. Alan Thicke died in 2016, and Betty McGuire passed away in 2026, but the sitcom’s legacy continues through its enduring fan base and the reruns that keep the Seaver family familiar to new generations.