Hello and thank you for being a DL contributor. We are changing the login scheme for contributors for simpler login and to better support using multiple devices. Please click here to update your account with a username and password.

Hello. Some features on this site require registration. Please click here to register for free.

Hello and thank you for registering. Please complete the process by verifying your email address. If you can't find the email you can resend it here.

Hello. Some features on this site require a subscription. Please click here to get full access and no ads for $1.99 or less per month.

Whom Do You Consider The Greatest Kid Actor In Movie History? Not TV. Repeat: No TV

An outstanding, brilliant child actor with solid acting chops

My choice…..Hayley Mills. See Tiger Bay, Whistle Down The Wind .... Inherited her father's acting chops.

Who did I leave out?……..

Mickey Rooney….Jackie Coogan…….Jackie Cooper……..Freddie Bartholomew…..Shirley Temple…..Roddy McDowell…..Margaret O’Brien….Liz Taylor…….Bobby Driscoll…..Halley Mills……John Howard Davies……..Anthony Newley…….Dominic Guard……..Any kid actor from the original Our Gang…..

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 183December 8, 2023 6:09 AM

Christian Bale in [italic]Empire of the Sun[/italic] is worth seeing.

by Anonymousreply 1November 15, 2023 11:23 PM

Gary Coleman

Soliel Moon Frye

by Anonymousreply 2November 15, 2023 11:24 PM

Lindsay Lohan. I still love her performance in The Parent Trap. She lit up the screen.

by Anonymousreply 3November 15, 2023 11:26 PM

Anna Paquin

by Anonymousreply 4November 15, 2023 11:28 PM

Certainly not Tatum O’Neal

by Anonymousreply 5November 15, 2023 11:31 PM

Dakota Fanning. Probably the best at the youngest age.

by Anonymousreply 6November 15, 2023 11:31 PM

Kristen Dunst in Interview With a Vampire

by Anonymousreply 7November 15, 2023 11:32 PM

Roddy McDowall. Not just a beautiful sweet boy but had a great lifetime career. It's maybe unfortunate his most known role is Cornelius, but he gave that chimp his all and sold that franchise.

by Anonymousreply 8November 15, 2023 11:32 PM

R1

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 9November 15, 2023 11:33 PM

Coogan and McDowall.

Honorable mention to Haley Joel Osmet. All three more sophisticated than most child actors.

Coogan's money was stolen by his mother and stepfather, resulting in Coogan's law, to protect future child actors. I'm still mad at Roddy for shelving his memoirs for 100 years, r8, but I agree with you you completely on every count.

by Anonymousreply 10November 15, 2023 11:35 PM

Haley Joel Osment.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 11November 15, 2023 11:40 PM

Had zero interest in seeing "Pollyanna" but Hayley Mills was coming to CHILLER in Jersey and she won the Oscar for it so I bought and had her sign it. A few weeks later I decided to give it a try but surprise, not only is it a terrific movie, she truly did give a great performance

Last week I met Patty McCormack and had "The Bad Seed" signed.

But I have to vote for Patty Duke who I also met and have "The Miracle Worker" signed.

by Anonymousreply 12November 15, 2023 11:48 PM

Dean Stockwell was great in "The Boy with Green Hair" and "The Secret Garden." I think he was 11: both were big, interesting roles and he never seemed like an cloying Hollywood brat. Butch Jenkins had a narrow range, but was a natural, especially good in "Our Vines Have Tender Grapes." Sarah Pickering was unforgettable in the title role of "Little Dorrit"; she never made another movie.

by Anonymousreply 13November 16, 2023 12:09 AM

Mason Reese - without question

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 14November 16, 2023 12:15 AM

Lauren Chapin

by Anonymousreply 15November 16, 2023 12:21 AM

I would think Kristy MacNichol on FAMILY.

Or DL icon Anissa Jones?

by Anonymousreply 16November 16, 2023 12:40 AM

There's actually been quite a few.

by Anonymousreply 17November 16, 2023 12:50 AM

Came to say Christian Bale, like r1, but I'm not 87 years old, so this thread is probably not for me.

by Anonymousreply 18November 16, 2023 12:53 AM

Also the kid in Bicycle Thieves, don't know his name.

by Anonymousreply 19November 16, 2023 12:54 AM

Hayley, Patty D, and Tatum

by Anonymousreply 20November 16, 2023 12:55 AM

Mickey Rooney

by Anonymousreply 21November 16, 2023 1:01 AM

Hayley for sure. Still love her, but also Freddie Bartholomew.

by Anonymousreply 22November 16, 2023 1:02 AM

Connie Marshall is my all-time favorite. Outsanding child actress with a natural line delivery and gift for sensitive expression. Her sad eyes remind me a bit of Gail Russell. She was touching in Daisy Kenyon as the little girl whose upper-middle class mother beats her in secret.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 23November 16, 2023 1:19 AM

Henry Thomas

by Anonymousreply 24November 16, 2023 1:27 AM

Mary Badham’s best scene—at her most natural with Gregory Peck

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 25November 16, 2023 1:30 AM

Tatum O’Neal in Paper Moon .

by Anonymousreply 26November 16, 2023 1:34 AM

Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver.

by Anonymousreply 27November 16, 2023 1:40 AM

Daniel Radcliffe.

by Anonymousreply 28November 16, 2023 1:47 AM

Greatest? Shirley Temple, hands down. There will never be another child who could repeat lines and learn dance steps at age 3.

by Anonymousreply 29November 16, 2023 1:49 AM

Didn’t her parents shave a year off her age?

by Anonymousreply 30November 16, 2023 1:51 AM

Mickey Rooney was great in "The Human Comedy".

by Anonymousreply 31November 16, 2023 1:55 AM

[quote]Greatest? Shirley Temple, hands down. There will never be another child who could repeat lines and learn dance steps at age 3.

She was a very fine performer, r29, but not a great actress.

by Anonymousreply 32November 16, 2023 2:02 AM

As much as I hate to say it, Leonardo in, "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?". Then it all went downhill from there.

by Anonymousreply 33November 16, 2023 2:02 AM

It is Shirley Temple. In one of those dreadful "past Oscar winner" things they used to do, the audience roars for only one star: Shirley Temple at around 10:10.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 34November 16, 2023 2:04 AM

Another vote for Mickey Rooney.

by Anonymousreply 35November 16, 2023 2:08 AM
Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 36November 16, 2023 2:08 AM

R32 Good point,

by Anonymousreply 37November 16, 2023 2:11 AM

That doesn't take anything away from her remarkable skills, r37, regardless of whether her parents shaved off a year or two. She was a seriously talented little tyke.

I'm r10 as well, but I have to agree with those who mentioned Jodie Foster and Tatum O'Neal.

I have never been impressed by Mickey Rooney.

Good thread topic, OP, thanks!

by Anonymousreply 38November 16, 2023 2:53 AM

Fun Fact:: Elle Fanning played sister Dakota's younger character in 'I Am Sam.'

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 39November 16, 2023 2:55 AM

Shirley Temple.

Her success, long career until puberty and her not being able to adapt her style, Her being the biggest thing in the industry, and for her knowing when to do other things.

She did a TV show, Shirley Temple's Storybook, 1958-1961, which I loved as a kid.

by Anonymousreply 40November 16, 2023 3:03 AM

Don't know who is the greatest, but Virginia Weidler is great in 'The Philadelphia Story,' stealing every scene she's in with Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart. She was in 46 (!) other movies before retiring at age 16 (!!),

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 41November 16, 2023 3:19 AM

R31. I have always been a fan of Mickey Rooney and think he is underrated as an actor, but my favorite performances of his were ones he gave as an adult—The Human Comedy the best among them. It’s really a wonderful film. Sentimental, yes, but real and earned sentiment.

by Anonymousreply 42November 16, 2023 3:45 AM

Add Milo Machado Graner to the list. He’s amazing in Anatomy of a Fall.

by Anonymousreply 43November 16, 2023 4:21 AM

Freddie Highmore. Hayden Panettiere was also a fantastic child actress.

by Anonymousreply 44November 16, 2023 4:53 AM

Hugh O'Conor gave a wonderful performance as the young Christy Brown in My Left Foot, he didn't have the screen time that Danile Day Lewis did, but he was equally as effective in her performance as DDL. O'Conor was also in a little seen Irish film released a couple years before that with Liam Neeson about an Irish borstal school called Lamb, where he was also impressive.

Cannot believe no one has mentioned Jodie Foster's performance in Taxi Driver. One of the greatest performances by an actor (adult or child, male or female) on film. I have been pretty underwhelmed with Jodie's performances as an adult, if for no other reason than she lacks warmth and hasn't the slightest hint of sexual chemistry with any co-star male or female (I haven't seen Nyad, yet) but she could be quite poignant as a child.

by Anonymousreply 45November 16, 2023 6:53 AM

Freddie Bartholomew - brilliant in Captains Courageous, David Copperfield, and Anna Karenina. Became an executive and lived in Leonia, New Jersey.

Dean Stockwell - this kid was amazing. Especially in Gentlemen’s Agreement and a kind of western remake of Captains Courageous called Cattle Drive, or something.

Ivan Jandl in The Search, with Montgomery Clift.

Elizabeth Taylor in National Velvet, and her bit in Jane Eyre.

Judy Garland in her early movies.

Margaret O’Brien in that great scene in a train berth with June Allyson in Music For Millions, and in Our Vines Have tender Grapes.

by Anonymousreply 46November 16, 2023 7:10 AM

I mean, if we're looking by a single performance.. Sarah Polley was only 17 when she did The Sweet Hereafter. Scarjo was 17 in Lost in Translation.

by Anonymousreply 47November 16, 2023 7:28 AM

Anissa Jones in the first season of “Family Affair” was simply amazing. Just raw emotion. Considering how tragic her life was, I’m not sure she was acting.

Kristy McNichol was very natural and talented child actor, and Ivan Jandl in the Montgomery Clift movie “The Search” gives one of the great child performances in motion picture history. And when Opie accidentally kills a bird on “The Andy Griffith Show,” Ronny Howard breaks me up every time.

by Anonymousreply 48November 16, 2023 9:09 AM

Virginia Weidler who I adore in The Philadelphia Story; I had no idea she was in so many films and then retired at 16.

Her Wiki page includes this bit of information: After her retirement, Weidler gave no interviews for the remainder of her life. She was married to Krisel until her death at age 41 at her Los Angeles home on July 1, 1968. She had suffered from a heart ailment for many years and died of a heart attack.

Wow...

by Anonymousreply 49November 16, 2023 10:50 AM

Gary Coleman

by Anonymousreply 50November 16, 2023 12:08 PM

Rodney Allen Rippy

by Anonymousreply 51November 16, 2023 12:38 PM

R47, is 17 really a kid? I know they would have to sign a minor's contract, but I think of a child actor as 13 or under. YMMV.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 52November 16, 2023 1:58 PM

Jenna Malone - Bastard Out of Carolina

by Anonymousreply 53November 16, 2023 2:03 PM

Freddie Bartholomew. No contest, IMO.

by Anonymousreply 54November 16, 2023 2:17 PM

Child star alert, R52: Sandy Descher is in 'The Opposite Sex,' the color remake of 'The Women' in the role originated by Virginia Weidler, today (11/16) at 5:45PM on TCM. Be sure to watch the Jerry Antes dancing scene near the beginning, IIRC.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 55November 16, 2023 2:26 PM

Sarah Polley started off way younger than 17. She was roughly 10 when she appeared as the evil little girl in the premiere episode of Friday the 13th: The Series.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 56November 16, 2023 2:44 PM

Child star alert II: 'All This and Heaven, Too' is currently on TCM On Demand until Nov. 21, starring Virginia Weidler, June Lockhart and Ann E. Todd.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 57November 16, 2023 2:48 PM

I agree with almost everyone's choices here lol.

But Claude Jarman Jr. needs a mention. His performance in The Yearling is practically unwatchable it's so good. He even received a special Academy Award as outstanding child actor of 1946.

And he's still alive at 89, a totally normal guy. Somehow when I know that child actors have had a sad life it affects my enjoyment of their performances.

by Anonymousreply 58November 16, 2023 3:02 PM

Jarman Jr. was also great in Intruder in the Dust.

by Anonymousreply 59November 16, 2023 3:15 PM

Traci Lords

by Anonymousreply 60November 16, 2023 3:18 PM

R56, I think Polley was even younger when she played Beverly Cleary's iconic Ramona character on the same titled tv series which ran on PBS in the U.S. (not sure if it was originally a Canadian production), and then was on the Disney series Avonlea.

by Anonymousreply 61November 16, 2023 5:30 PM

[quote]The Greatest Kid Actor In Movie History?

[quote]Christian Bale in Empire of the Sun is worth seeing.

Was in the running, but lost points for singing and dancing.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 62November 16, 2023 5:47 PM

I though Joey King and McKenna Grace were very good child actors.

by Anonymousreply 63November 16, 2023 5:50 PM

[quote]My choice…..Hayley Mills. See Tiger Bay, Whistle Down The Wind .... Inherited her father's acting chops.

Please! She couldn't even do an American accent.

In POLLYANNA, she's supposed to be from Vermont, and in THE PARENT TRAP, she plays identical twins from Massachusetts and California, but Hayley sounds veddy Briddish.

Yet she won a Juvenile Oscar for the former. Go figure!

No wonder they discontinued that pointless award after her win.

by Anonymousreply 64November 16, 2023 5:51 PM

Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland could do it all. Comedy, drama, singing, dancing.

by Anonymousreply 65November 16, 2023 5:51 PM

Can you imagine if they weren't high?

by Anonymousreply 66November 16, 2023 7:53 PM

Macaulay Culkin is perfection in the Home Alone movies. I didn’t read the whole thread. Was Margaret O’Brien mentioned?

by Anonymousreply 67November 16, 2023 8:01 PM

The Breslins and the Fannings were great as children.

by Anonymousreply 68November 16, 2023 8:02 PM

Oh I see O’Brien was mentioned. OP is hard to read.

by Anonymousreply 69November 16, 2023 8:04 PM

Justin Henry in Kramer vs. Kramer; Alfred Lutter in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (also Jodie Foster as "Audrey"

by Anonymousreply 70November 16, 2023 8:38 PM

Anna Paquin in The Piano.

by Anonymousreply 71November 16, 2023 8:43 PM

Jacob Tremblay was very good in Room, but his big scene in Doctor Sleep was unforgettable (and not in a pleasant way). He crushed it.

He was funny in Good Boys. He's going to be in the new Mike Flanagan movie, The Life of Chuck, based off a Stephen King book. It'll be interesting to see if he's one of those natural child actors that start to 'act' when they get older and aren't as good.

by Anonymousreply 72November 16, 2023 8:50 PM

The two standouts for me are:

Christian Bale in The Empire Of The Sun,

Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver.

by Anonymousreply 73November 16, 2023 8:58 PM

R69, Margaret O'Brien was FOUR years old when she made her debut in 'Babes on Broadway' starring Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland (and the Gumm sisters) and Virginia Weidler. O'Brien, 87 in two months, filmed 'Prepper's Grove' recently, with Tom Sizemore and Johnny 'Family Affair' Whitaker.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 74November 16, 2023 9:22 PM

[quote]Scarjo was 17 in Lost in Translation.

R47 That was in 2003. Scarjo was starred in and was excellent in Manny & Lo in 1996. She had quite a career as a kid.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 75November 16, 2023 9:43 PM

[quote]There will never be another child who could repeat lines and learn dance steps at age 3.

Ahem.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 76November 16, 2023 9:45 PM

Buckwheat owns this thread

by Anonymousreply 77November 16, 2023 9:49 PM

R76 Good one! I forgot about her. There's a great documentary about her life and her career - Wait for Your Laugh. She had friendships with gangsters as a child -- they loved and protected her! She was so much more than Sally Rodgers on the Dick VanDyke show.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 78November 16, 2023 9:50 PM

I know he grew up to be MAGA trash, but Ricky Schroeder was quite a good child actor before he was cast on Silver Spoons. Little Lord Fauntleroy, The Earthling, and The Champ, which made him the youngest Golden Globe winner ever.

by Anonymousreply 79November 16, 2023 10:01 PM

Martin Stephens' performance as Miles in THE INNOCENTS is perfectly creepy and haunting.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 80November 16, 2023 10:11 PM

Whittni Wright (who was discovered in a clog dancing class) is so good in I’LL DO ANYTHING.

She has a scene at the end where the chips are down and she’s called upon to cry that is amazing. And Nick Nolte is truly great in that scene, too.

Wright’s probably so good in this as an untrained actress because virtually all her scenes are with him.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 81November 16, 2023 10:34 PM

I haven't seen anything else she's done, but Julia Butters was amazing in 'Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood' where she played an eight-year-old Method Actor, opposite Leonardo DiCaprio.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 82November 16, 2023 11:24 PM

[quote] Whittni Wright (who was discovered in a clog dancing class) is so good in I’LL DO ANYTHING.

"I'll Do Anything" was shot as a full blown musical with original songs by Prince, Carly Simon, Carole King and choreography by Twyla Tharp. It tested awful and all the songs were cut except the short one. James L Brooks was devastated and when asked later if there would ever be a directors restored cut, I remember he said something like, no,it would be like showing your dead baby.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 83November 17, 2023 12:19 AM

The only clogging in a Helen Lawson film is with the kitchen sink.

by Anonymousreply 84November 17, 2023 12:35 AM

Yeah, right the "kitchen sink," Helen, THAT'S what you're famous for clogging...uh huh...right...whatever you need to tell yourself, but the myriad scented candles in your bathroom tell another story...

by Anonymousreply 85November 17, 2023 12:49 AM

You're thinking of Kirker, Anne.

by Anonymousreply 86November 17, 2023 12:54 AM

Edna Mae Durbin, the thinking man's Judy Garland. Hayley Mills is a close second.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 87November 17, 2023 1:17 AM

Ricky Schroeder in The Champ was outstanding. How he turned into a right-wing nutjob, I will never understand.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 88November 17, 2023 1:30 AM

Bad link, sorry - trying again

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 89November 17, 2023 1:33 AM

There must’ve been something in the air on the Champ, because Jon Voight…well..you know.

by Anonymousreply 90November 17, 2023 1:38 AM

Mary Ann Jackson

by Anonymousreply 91November 17, 2023 1:47 AM

Quinn Cummings.

Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress.

by Anonymousreply 92November 17, 2023 2:51 AM

Keisha Castle-Hughes was so good in, "Whale Rider". It's a shame she really couldn't be more successful, despite being in Star Wars movies and Game of Thrones.

by Anonymousreply 93November 17, 2023 3:12 AM

R93 Well she wasn't good in anything else

by Anonymousreply 94November 17, 2023 4:15 AM

2nd best scene

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 95November 17, 2023 4:16 AM

And Phillip Alford-he should have been better known…easily deserved his own nomination

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 96November 17, 2023 4:20 AM

[quote]r83 "I'll Do Anything" was shot as a full musical... It tested awful and all the songs were cut except the short one.

This number is disappointing.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 97November 17, 2023 5:19 AM

In Hollywood circles I'm pretty sure it's widely accepted Jodie Foster is the greatest child actor in film. Whom Gene Siskel called a genius. Somone on another thread acutely explained why he said that. And it was because as a child she understood acting and that her part in a story is an important part of of a whole thing that you had to contribute to doing right. To tell the story.

by Anonymousreply 98November 17, 2023 5:30 AM

Anna Paquin and Dean Stockwell

by Anonymousreply 99November 17, 2023 6:09 AM

Martin Short hands down.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 100November 17, 2023 6:59 AM

Agree R41, Virginia Weidler was great.

by Anonymousreply 101November 17, 2023 7:16 AM

I think you're pretty, pretty R101

by Anonymousreply 102November 17, 2023 7:23 AM

Have we named every child who ever acted yet?

by Anonymousreply 103November 17, 2023 5:14 PM

^^^uh uh noooo

Good Old Summmertime I killed

by Anonymousreply 104November 17, 2023 5:21 PM

Heather O'Rourke in Poltergeist was pretty effective, as was Drew Barrymore in Firestarter.

by Anonymousreply 105November 17, 2023 5:24 PM

No particular order, Natalie Wood, Jackie Cooper& Coogan, Elizabeth Taylor, Roddy McDowell, Patty Duke

Mickey Rooney, Maragret O'Brien.

One's who made the studio the most $$$$-Shirley Temple, Mickey Rooney

by Anonymousreply 106November 17, 2023 5:39 PM

Bobby Driscoll.

by Anonymousreply 107November 17, 2023 5:45 PM

I’ll go along with Judy Garland. She was gifted.

Honorable mention to Ke Huy Quan. He carried Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

by Anonymousreply 108November 17, 2023 6:25 PM

Garland, Garland, Garland. There would be no " Wizard of Oz" mention in everything from Coen Brothers movies to commercials if Garland's performance were not a stone cold masterpiece. I agree others have been great or good, especially Taylor in " National Velvet " , but the emotional reality of Garland as a child actor- without any cuteness or egging for the camera- has never been beaten. And I am not a fan of all her adult films. But she still moves me at the end of " Oz" when she is saying goodbye in a way few actors have ever done or could do.

by Anonymousreply 109November 17, 2023 6:43 PM

Dana Plato

by Anonymousreply 110November 17, 2023 6:48 PM

Judy was 16 in The Wizard of Oz (and looked 22), that's pushing it in terms of the category "kid actor"

by Anonymousreply 111November 17, 2023 7:54 PM

[quote]R103 Have we named every child who ever acted yet?

No.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 112November 17, 2023 8:21 PM

Brandon de Wilde

by Anonymousreply 113November 17, 2023 8:53 PM

R98 Tell us more about that Hollywood circle you run around in. You know, the one where everyone simultaneously talked about Jodie being the child actress of all time.

by Anonymousreply 114November 17, 2023 9:22 PM

Shirley Fucking Temple.

by Anonymousreply 115November 17, 2023 9:25 PM

[quote]No particular order

Which defeats ranking THE GREATEST. You fucking maroon.

by Anonymousreply 116November 17, 2023 9:46 PM

Myself

by Anonymousreply 117November 17, 2023 9:58 PM

Child Star Movies Alert: in the next month on TCM, all times Eastern.

'The Women' (1939), Virginia Weidler--6:30AM, Wed 11/22

National Velvet (1944), Elizabeth Taylor, Mickey Rooney--3:00PM, Thu 11/23

The Courtship of Andy Hardy (1942), Mickey Rooney--1:30AM Fri 11/24

Little Women (1949), Elizabeth Taylor, Margaret O'Brien--3:15AM Fri 11/24 and 2:00PM 12/16

The Canterville Ghost (1944), Margaret O'Brien--9:45AM Fri 11/24

Two Andy Hardy movies with Mickey Rooney--6:00AM Sun 11/26

The Philadelphia Story (1940), Virginia Weidler--12:00AM Sat 12/2

Imitation of Life (1959), Terry Burnham--8:00PM Sat 12/2

David Copperfield (1935), Freddie Bartholomew--8:15AM Mon 12/4 and 6:00AM 12/14

The Night of the Hunter (1955), Billy Chapin--2:00PM Sat 12/9

I Remember Mama (1948), Peggy McIntyre (OK, maybe not very well known, but very beautiful... and still alive, sez IMDb)--1:30PM Wed 12/13

Treasure Island (1934), Jackie Cooper (one of the VERY best)--2:15PM Thu 12/14

Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), Margaret O'Brien, Judy Garland--12:00PM 12/16

Tenth Avenue Angel (1948), Margaret O'Brien--9:00AM Mon 12/18

Bonus kid-actor-over-the-top performance in A Christmas Carol (1938)--4:30PM Sat 12/2 and 6:45PM Mon 12/18. Ira Stevens plays Fan Scrooge, Ebeneezer's little sister, in the Christmas Past sequence and gives a scenery chewing performance that would be in the Kid Actor Hall of Fame if they had one. And Ronald Sinclair as young Scrooge is especially good looking. This is my favorite version of ACC (gag) anyway(s).

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 118November 18, 2023 8:57 PM

Mickey was hardly a child in any of those movies. In fact he was 24 at the time of National Velvet.

by Anonymousreply 119November 18, 2023 10:46 PM

FORMER child stars Mickey Rooney, Elizabeth Taylor, Judy Garland...

by Anonymousreply 120November 18, 2023 11:14 PM

Martin Stephens was superb in Village of the Damned (1960) and The Innocents (1961)

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 121November 19, 2023 12:48 AM

Gigi Perreau, now famous for being Meghan Markle's acting teacher, was in a number of well-known movies before being in a number of well-known television shows before taking 30 years off and returning as a voice actor. Starting as a toddler, she was in 'God is My Co-Pilot', 'Green Dolphin Street,' Douglas Sirk's 'Has Anybody Seen My Gal' (fourth billed!) and with little sister Janine and Ann Carter in 'Song of Love' with Katharine Hepburn and Paul Henreid. She was even on 'The Brady Bunch' (at age 28 in S1.E17 "The Undergraduate").

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 122November 19, 2023 1:04 AM

These movies are also shown frequently on TCM:

The Curse of the Cat People, The Two Mrs. Carrolls: Ann Carter

Mr, Blandings Builds His Dream House: Sharyn Moffett, Connie Marshall

Them!: (screaming) Sandy Descher (also screaming very briefly in what I presume is a DL favorite, The Bad and the Beautiful). Also in The Opposite Sex, On Demand on TCM until 11/23. The Cobweb (1955) "Inmates and staff at a posh asylum clash over love and lunacy" is on Wed 11/22 at 2:30AM, directed by Vincente Minnelli, starring Richard Widmark, Lauren Bacall, Gloria Grahame and Sandy Descher.

The Last Time I Saw Paris: Sandy Descher, (adult) Elizabeth Taylor

The Boy With Green Hair: Dean Stockwell, 14-year old Dwayne Hickman and a small part for Ann Carter.

Fun Fact: Patty McCormack, Sandy Descher and Gigi Perreau are still alive.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 123November 19, 2023 1:12 AM

Can’t believe no one has said River or Joaquin (when he was still going by “Leaf”) Phoenix. They’re the obvious answers in my book. Joaquin was even better than River (he outacted an entire cast of accomplished adult actors in PARENTHOOD) and River was obviously fantastic.

by Anonymousreply 124November 19, 2023 1:31 AM

Brandon deWilde. You bitches are slipping.

by Anonymousreply 125November 19, 2023 1:42 AM

R113 I would fuck you.

by Anonymousreply 126November 19, 2023 2:01 AM

Cousin Oliver.

by Anonymousreply 127November 19, 2023 2:10 AM

Baby Peggy

by Anonymousreply 128November 19, 2023 5:02 PM

Baby Jane

by Anonymousreply 129November 19, 2023 7:25 PM

Patty Duke was certainly very accomplished

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 130November 20, 2023 4:23 AM

I realize my powers of discrimination carry little weight on this wayward website, but I have to cast my vote for Patty Duke.

by Anonymousreply 131November 20, 2023 1:37 PM

R118, I think a programmer at TCM is a DLer! I just posted on the "Psychological Thrillers" thread that TCM will be showing 3 great ones in a row this week, all of which were recently mentioned in that thread! 🤔

by Anonymousreply 132November 20, 2023 1:59 PM

[quote]Martin Stephens' performance as Miles in THE INNOCENTS is perfectly creepy and haunting.

I was going to say that too; he was also in Village of The Damned.

by Anonymousreply 133November 20, 2023 2:50 PM

Hayley was awful. She had a lot of tics on camera that should have been coached out and was really ugly though she did improve in her teens.

by Anonymousreply 134November 20, 2023 2:55 PM

[quote] he outacted an entire cast of accomplished adult actors in PARENTHOOD

Fuck you, R124!

by Anonymousreply 135November 20, 2023 3:36 PM

Maybe not the greatest child actor of all time, but arguably, Melissa Gilbert was an excellent child actor who performed some of the most memorable and touching scenes on LHOTP.

by Anonymousreply 136November 20, 2023 4:23 PM

NO Television Child stars!!!

Does no one follow Directions here on DL? Poor OP, no wonder he's Mad, Mad I tell you!!

by Anonymousreply 137November 20, 2023 5:56 PM

Yikes! Sorry, [R137]. I forgot. I’ve been following this thread and have enjoyed the discussion. Carry on.

by Anonymousreply 138November 20, 2023 6:40 PM

Once upon a time I taught a school version of "The Turn of The Screw" and showed "The Innocents" as well. But it's Deborah Kerr whom I remember most, not the children.

by Anonymousreply 139November 20, 2023 8:33 PM

Jane Withers

Thread closed

by Anonymousreply 140November 20, 2023 8:37 PM

R64 So you think the reason she was a bad actress is that she couldn't do accents? I'm sure there are people who can't act at all who can do convincing accents.

by Anonymousreply 141November 21, 2023 1:44 AM

The kid in The Night Of The Hunter was perfect.

by Anonymousreply 142November 21, 2023 1:46 AM

R118

Virginia Weidler was stunning in The Women - her crying was more natural than most experienced actors’.

by Anonymousreply 143November 21, 2023 2:11 AM

Another vote for Patty Duke Her performance in The Miracle Worker is truly extraordinary. It's remarkable that she doesn't blink or react when the adults around her are talking or arguing. She certainly gained from having originated the role on Broadway.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 144November 21, 2023 2:15 AM

R144 You're not wrong about her being on Broadway, but just FYI the role was created first by Patty McCormack. William Gibson wrote the play first for Playhouse 90, in 1957. Teresa Wright played Annie Sullivan.

by Anonymousreply 145November 21, 2023 5:29 AM

Scotty Beckett

Bobby Driscoll

Bobby Breen

by Anonymousreply 146November 21, 2023 11:47 AM

R142. This was Billy Chapin. There were three Chapin kids. Micheal, Billy then Lauren. As each child got older Momma Chapin replaced them with the next kid. As a side note. The little girl (Sally Jane Bruce) that played his sister in "Night of the Hunter" is always mentioned when bad child actors are talked about.

by Anonymousreply 147November 21, 2023 2:22 PM

To R116...HAPPY THANKSGIVING and a Big "Fuck Off" to you!! There is no "single greatest child actor or actress".

You can't pick just one, it's impossible. Let's add Deanna Durbin to the list!!

by Anonymousreply 148November 21, 2023 3:51 PM

Sandy Descher (Them!) is in 'The Space Children' with kid actor Johnny Crawford and FORMER child star Jackie Coogan, along with Adam Williams ('North by Northwest'), Russell Johnson ('Gilligan's Island') and Raymond Bailey (248 episodes of 'The Beverly Hillbillies' as Mr. Drysdale). This stellar cast wasn't enough to prevent an MST3K version, available free on YouTube.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 149November 21, 2023 10:04 PM

R145 Patty pays tribute to Patty

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 150November 22, 2023 12:00 AM

R147, I loved Sally Jane Bruce in Night of the Hunter! She's so oblivious its hilarious!

by Anonymousreply 151November 22, 2023 12:17 AM

[quote]Another vote for Patty Duke Her performance in The Miracle Worker is truly extraordinary.

Well, at least her lines were easy to learn.

by Anonymousreply 152November 22, 2023 12:41 AM

Who do I say what?

by Anonymousreply 153November 22, 2023 1:07 AM

Everyone's missed it! Angela and Veronica Cartwright....both extraordinary child actors and underrated adult actors

by Anonymousreply 154November 22, 2023 1:14 AM

Judy Garland

by Anonymousreply 155November 22, 2023 1:32 AM

Bonita Granville. Particularly in These Three (1936), the first film version of The Children's Hour.

by Anonymousreply 156November 22, 2023 2:52 AM

Thanks for the link, R150. My partner is a fan of Patty Duke, and I'm a fan of Patty McCormack. Glad they finally met.

by Anonymousreply 157November 22, 2023 3:10 AM

Slight correction: the youngest sister in 'I Remember Mama' was played by even-more-obscure-but-prettier-than-Peggy McIntyre kid actor June Hedin (holding the cat in the picture). Along with Ann Carter, she had a very small part in 'The Member of the Wedding,' starring 27-year-old Julie Harris as 12-year-old Frankie Addams and kid actor Brandon De Wilde playing a kid.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 158November 22, 2023 4:31 AM

Brandon De Wilde was great, too - forgot about him. Bobby Driscoll was very big, too. Sad end.

by Anonymousreply 159November 22, 2023 8:44 AM

Natalie Wood was pretty amazing, too.

by Anonymousreply 160November 22, 2023 12:51 PM

Natalie with Orson Welles

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 161November 24, 2023 3:28 AM

Jerry Mathers

by Anonymousreply 162November 24, 2023 3:55 AM

Love Natalie in Miracle on 34th Street, nothing cutesy or contrived about her.

by Anonymousreply 163November 24, 2023 4:15 AM

Oscar-winner Patty Duke for 'The Miracle Worker." Brilliant.

by Anonymousreply 164November 24, 2023 4:19 AM

Not TV, R162. Repeat: NO TV!!

by Anonymousreply 165November 24, 2023 4:20 AM

Jerry Mathers has to be a joke, Beaver seemed like he could barely feed and dress himself.

by Anonymousreply 166November 24, 2023 4:43 AM

R166 = Eddie Haskell

by Anonymousreply 167November 24, 2023 2:35 PM

The eternally young Corey Feldman. In fact, he could still play one of the molested kids in a Michael Jackson biopic... Oh, here's an idea! Let's make it happen!

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 168November 24, 2023 2:51 PM

[quote]Not TV, [R162]. Repeat: NO TV!!

For the ALL-CAPS idiot: Jerry Mathers appeared in a number of films including one directed by Hitchcock.

by Anonymousreply 169November 24, 2023 8:12 PM

All caps = shouting, right? It was intentional, R169

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 170November 24, 2023 8:52 PM

....

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 171November 24, 2023 8:59 PM

'The Miracle Worker,' starring 15=year-old Patty Duke, is on TCM Sunday, 11/26 at 6:00PM Eastern. Haven't seen it in many years.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 172November 24, 2023 10:03 PM

R165 Yes Jerry Mathers was in movies like The Trouble With Harry, and had a big part in The Certain Feeling (1956) - with Bob Hope and Eva Marie Saint - movie version of the play by Jean Kerr, King Of Hearts.

by Anonymousreply 173November 25, 2023 6:12 PM

In all of which he was just awful.

Does anyone else have a soft spot for That Certain Feeling? I think it's really funny but it always gets poor reviews.

by Anonymousreply 174November 27, 2023 5:32 AM

Sharyn Moffett was in a couple of memorable films. Her scene with Boris Karloff in 'The Body Snatcher' (1945) is very sweet until you realize what "Cabman Gray" is capable of. Moffett was also in 'Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House' with Cary Grant, Myrna Loy and the aforementioned Connie Marshall. She received top billing in 'Child of Divorce' (1946) co-starring Ann Carter ('The Curse of the Cat People') (1944) and was in 'Her First Romance' (1951) starring Margaret O'Brien and 14-year-old Elinor Donahue (who was also in 'Tenth Avenue Angel' (1948) with O'Brien). Donahue was in a number of movies before 'Father Knows Best' and was in DL favorite 'Imitation of Life' (1959) as "Lora's friend." Man, I love IMDb.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 175December 7, 2023 3:35 AM

Weidler had a part in a film that starred John Barrymore. He complained to the director about the little bitch taking away the focus in his scenes with her. Apparently, she was sitting in his lap and playing with his tie while he delivered a monologue. He threatened to throw her across the set!

by Anonymousreply 176December 7, 2023 4:09 AM

Judy.

by Anonymousreply 177December 7, 2023 5:40 AM

If nobody's mentioned him yet, here's a shoutout to Terry Kilburn, who starred as Tiny Tim in the 1938 Christmas Carol, and was also wonderful in Good Mister Chips and They Shall Have Music. His partner of 50 years was Charles Nolte, who died in 2010. He's still alive at the age of 97!

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 178December 7, 2023 6:14 AM

That Woody Norman kid in the new horror movie Cobweb was pretty good. His performance made me think of Haley Joel Osment in Sixth Sense.

by Anonymousreply 179December 7, 2023 8:06 PM

R174 Yes, I like it. I posted about it.

by Anonymousreply 180December 8, 2023 3:53 AM

The two girls who played the leads in The World Of Henry Orient (1964) - Tippy Walker and Merrie Spaeth. (The ‘stars’ were Peter Sellers, Paula Prentiss, Angela Lansbury, Phyllis Thaxter, Tom Bosley and Dodie Goodman.)

by Anonymousreply 181December 8, 2023 3:57 AM

I second the great, the incomparable, Pamelyn Ferdin.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 182December 8, 2023 4:34 AM

^^wrong thread!

by Anonymousreply 183December 8, 2023 6:09 AM
Loading
Need more help? Click Here.

Yes indeed, we too use "cookies." Take a look at our privacy/terms or if you just want to see the damn site without all this bureaucratic nonsense, click ACCEPT. Otherwise, you'll just have to find some other site for your pointless bitchery needs.

×

Become a contributor - post when you want with no ads!