Then And Now: What All Your Favorite '90s Stars Are Doing Today

By Zainab Pervez in Entertainment On 25th July 2021
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The 1990s was an amazing decade. Denim dominated the fashion world, weird catchphrases were everywhere, and teen dramas were a hit in the television world. Those dramas helped launch the careers of some of the most recognizable celebrities today.

Some celebrities from the 90s have faded from the limelight, and others have launched mega-successful careers. We’ve compiled a list of our favorites.

See your favorite stars in all of their 90s glory — and learn about what they’re up to today!

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Melissa Joan Hart

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TV queen! Hart rose to fame after starring on Clarissa Explains It All from 1991 to 1994 before becoming Sabrina Spellman on the late ‘90s series Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

Melissa Joan Hart's career continued with several TV movies, and she hit it big again in 2010 when she starred on ABC Family's "Melissa & Joey," which ran for five years. She directed the TV movie "The Watcher in the Woods" for Lifetime in 2017, and appeared as Liz on the Netflix series "No Good Nick" in 2019. 

Outside of acting, the mother of three became a spokesperson for Nutrisystem.

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Kenan Thompson

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From that success, he landed a show with fellow castmate Kel Mitchell called "Kenan & Kel," as well as a "Good Burger" movie. Thompson served as a judge for the comedy competition series "Bring the Funny" in 2019, and is set to produce the upcoming revival of "All That."

Thompson has been a featured player on "Saturday Night Live" since 2003 and is raising two children with his wife.

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Kel Mitchell

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Despite reports that he had died, Mitchell is alive and well.

Since his stint on "All That" and his role in "Good Burger," the comedic actor has landed recurring roles on several small TV series, including "Game Shakers." He brought back the infamous Ed character to interview players and report for Nickelodeon Sports at the 2017 Super Bowl media day.

Despite reports that he had died, Mitchell is alive and well.

Since his stint on "All That" and his role in "Good Burger," the comedic actor has landed recurring roles on several small TV series, including "Game Shakers." He brought back the infamous Ed character to interview players and report for Nickelodeon Sports at the 2017 Super Bowl media day.

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Amanda Bynes

Amanda Bynes joined the cast of "All That" from seasons three through six and followed that with Nickelodeon's "Figure It Out." When she was just 13, she got her own sketch comedy, "The Amanda Show." Her career continued to grow and she starred in movies like "What a Girl Wants," "She's the Man," and "Hairspray." After starring in "Easy A," she announced a hiatus from acting, but then took it back, but then didn't act again. She did enroll in fashion school, though. Bynes revealed in a 2017 interview with "The Lowdown" that she wanted to return to acting.

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Some trouble has since followed. She was busted for a DUI in 2012. A year later, she was held for a mental evaluation after setting a fire in front of a home. 

After posting increasingly erratic accusations to Twitter in 2014, Bynes revealed she'd been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She subsequently sought treatment for substance abuse problems and has been sober now for several years. 

Alyson Hannigan

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Alyson Hannigan had fairly minor roles before busting out with "Buffy." She followed it up with roles in the "American Pie" movie series and another iconic TV role as Lily on "How I Met Your Mother." She's currently the host of "Penn & Teller: Fool Us." She played Kim Possible's mom in the live-action movie, and has appeared on shows like "Pure" and "Abducted: The Mary Stauffer Story." 

She married recurring "Buffy" star Alexis Denisof and the couple has two daughters.

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Joey Lawrence

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The Blossom star reunited with Hart for four seasons of Melissa & Joey from 2010 to 2015. Three years later, Us confirmed that the actor filed for bankruptcy. The court case was settled in 2018. Lawrence and wife Chandie Lawrence (née Yawn-Nelson) split in July 2020 after 15 years of marriage.

Lawrence competed on Dancing with the Stars in 2006 and Celebrity Big Brother in 2019.

David Boreanaz

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David Boreanaz played Angel on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and even got his own spinoff series.

David Boreanaz earned another hit show when he was cast on "Bones," which ran for 12 seasons. He currently stars on "SEAL Team."

Sarah Michelle Gellar

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Sarah Michelle Gellar became famous for originating the role of Kendall on the soap opera "All My Children," but it was her title role on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" that established her as a '90s favorite.

She also starred in "Cruel Intentions" and "The Grudge." She hasn't appeared in any roles since 2016, except for a guest appearance on "The Big Bang" theory in 2019. 

Since having children of her own, she started a food-crafting company called Foodstirs, which creates and sells baking kits for kids and released a cookbook in 2017. Gellar is married to her "I Know what You Did Last Summer" costar, Freddie Prinze Jr., since 2002. 

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Freddie Prinze Jr.

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Freddie Prinze Jr., rose in popularity after the "I Know What You Did Last Summer" movies came out.

Freddie Prinze Jr. met his wife, Sarah Michelle Gellar when the two starred in "I Know What You Did Last Summer." He acted alongside her again when the two played Fred and Daphne in the live-action "Scooby-Doo." He has mostly stayed with TV roles, including short stints on "24" and "Bones. He also lent his voice to the "Star Wars Rebels" animated series, and will reportedly have a main role on the upcoming reboot of "Punky Brewster."

The pair co-starred in several other film projects, including Scooby-Doo and the animated flick Happily N’Ever After. They share two children and have since starred alongside one another in a 2020 Cascade dishwashing campaign.

Jennifer Love Hewit

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Jennifer Love Hewitt also starred in "I Know What You Did Last Summer," but it was her role on "Party of Five" a few years earlier that launched her career.

Jennifer Love Hewitt has continued to act and had another huge hit TV show on her hands when she was cast as the lead on "Ghost Whisperer." The actress has also released four albums over the years, the last in 2002, and penned a book of dating advice titled "The Day I Shot Cupid."

She didn't act for three years after "Criminal Minds" ended in 2015 and she got pregnant with her second child with husband Brian Hallisay. But she returned to TV in 2018 with a role on "9-1-1."

Jason Priestley

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The Beverly Hills, 90210 star reunited with his cast members for a quasi-revival of the ‘90s drama in 2019 titled BH90210. The show, which featured Priestley, Tori SpellingJennie GarthBrian Austen GreenShannen Doherty, and Ian Ziering playing fictionalized versions of themselves, aired for six episodes on Fox.

Priestley, who stars on the Canadian series Private Eyes, shares two kids with his wife Naomi Lowde-Priestley.

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Tiffani Thiessen

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Tiffani Thiessen starred as Zach Morris's love interest, Kelly, on "Saved by the Bell."

She played villainous Valerie on Fox's "Beverly Hills, 90210" and was later a main character on USA's "White Collar." She recently starred on the Netflix original comedy "Alexa & Katie."

Elizabeth Berkley

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Elizabeth Berkley played another popular teen on "Saved by the Bell."

Elizabeth Berkley went on to star in "Showgirls," which notoriously bombed at the box office and then turned into a cult classic. She competed on "Dancing with the Stars" season 17 and was in a 2016 episode of "New Girl."

She also published a book, "Ask Elizabeth," which draws from her cross-country self-help workshops for teenage girls.

Mayim Bialik

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Mayim Bialik got her start on "Blossom," which aired from 1991 to 1995.

Since her days in that leading role, she's graduated with a Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCLA, written three books (one that hit shelves May 2017), and starred on the hit CBS show "The Big Bang Theory" as Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler. She has even snagged two Critics' Choice Awards and four Emmy nominations.

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Alicia Silverstone

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Silverstone shot to super stardom after starring in Aerosmith’s “Cryin’” and “Amazing” music videos in the early ‘90s. She cemented herself as a Hollywood staple with the 1995 role of Cher in Clueless, followed by Batgirl in Batman & Robin.

The actress has continued to stay relevant with roles on BracefaceMiss MatchAmerican Woman and The Baby-Sitters Club. Off screen, Silverstone has been vocal about parenting and a vegan lifestyle, writing The Kind Diet and The Kind Mama and talking about her son Bear Blu.

Macaulay Culkin

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Kevin! The child star became a movie staple after playing Kevin McCallister in 1990’s Home Alone and its sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. He was also seen in My GirlThe Good Son and Richie Rich before turning 15. After taking a break from the spotlight, and making headlines for his eccentric behavior, Culkin revived his career with a recurring role on The Jim Gaffigan Show in 2015. He went on to act in Changeland in 2019 and land a gig on season 10 of American Horror Story. The New York native has been dating Brenda Song since 2017.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

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Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen shared the role of Michelle Tanner on "Full House," which was only the beginning of their childhood careers.

Before they even ended their run with "Full House," these twins were making billions doing a series of movies. Their final film together was 2004's "New York Minute." Ashley Olsen hasn't done anything since, but Mary-Kate Olsen appeared on "Weeds" and a film called "Beastly." She's since stopped acting.

These days, girls are known much more in the fashion industry. They're often spotted in the front rows during fashion week and have even started their own line, which only furthered their fashion empire.

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Candace Cameron Bure

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Candace Cameron Bure starred on the same sitcom as D.J. Tanner.

Candace Cameron Bure was on ABC Family's "Make It or Break It" and competed on season 18 of "Dancing with the Stars." She also co-hosted ABC's "The View" for two years before stepping away to focus on "Fuller House." She also appeared in multiple "Aurora Teagarden Mystery" TV films.

Additionally, the actress has written three books and is married to former NHL player Valeri Bure.

Winona Ryder

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Ryder’s late ‘80s films, including Beetlejuice and Heathers, set the tone for her ‘90s It Girl status. She appeared in Edward ScissorhandsLittle WomenReality Bites, and Girl, Interrupted before having continued to succeed in the ‘00s and beyond. Her iconic actress hype was further fueled by her high-profile romance with Johnny Depp, which ended in 1993. Beginning in 2016, Ryder, became a TV hit as Joyce Byers on Stranger Things.

Drew Barrymore

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The child star came onto the Hollywood scene in the ‘80s, but by the ‘90s she was a household name thanks to ScreamThe Wedding SingerEver After: A Cinderella Story and Home Fries. The era also gave life to Barrymore’s production company, Flower Films, which began with 1999’s Never Been Kissed. The California native’s career hasn’t wavered with hits like Fever PitchWhip It and Netflix’s Santa Clarita Diet. The Flower Beauty founder’s daytime talk show, The Drew Barrymore Show, premiered in 2020. She is the mother of two daughters.

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James Van Der Beek

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"Dawson's Creek" star James Van Der Beek was a heartthrob.

The role also made him an internet sensation when the four-second clip of him crying became a meme.

He went on to act on "One Tree Hill" and "Mercy," before playing himself on "Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23." He played DJ Diplo on the Viceland series he co-created, called "What Would Diplo Do?" and was on an episode of "Modern Family." He recently starred on "Pose."

He and his wife have five children together and are currently expecting their sixth together. 

Michelle Williams

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Michelle Williams made her film debut in "Lassie," but she rose to fame on "Dawson's Creek."

Michelle Williams has been nominated for four Oscars for her roles in "Brokeback Mountain," "Blue Valentine," "My Week With Marilyn," and "Manchester by the Sea." She was recently in "The Greatest Showman" and "Venom."

She married Phil Elverum in 2018.

Jessica Biel

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Jessica Biel broke out as the oldest daughter on "7th Heaven."

Jessica Biel is also known for her roles in "The Rules of Attraction," "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," "The Illusionist," and "The A-Team."

She earned her first Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for "The Sinner" in 2018, and recently starred on the web series "Limetown." 

Biel married singer and actor Justin Timberlake in 2012, and they have one son together who was born in 2015. 

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Shannen Doherty

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Shannen Doherty made headlines for her role on "Beverly Hills, 90210."

Shannen Doherty starred on "Little House on the Prairie" as Jenny Wilder in the '80s and landed the major film "Heathers" in 1988. After she left "Beverly Hills, 90210" after its fourth season, she did smaller projects until being cast as one of the lead witches on the hit show "Charmed."

She reprised her role as Brenda on "90210," a spinoff of the original show. Doherty later competed on "Dancing With the Stars."

Doherty was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 1999 and diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. After years of battling the disease, she has been in remission since April 2017.

Luke Perry

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Doherty's costar Luke Perry was a heartthrob on "Beverly Hills, 90210."

Luke Perry only had a few minor roles before being cast in his breakthrough role. He left the show in 1995 to pursue other roles but came back after three years.

He consistently acted in projects since then and was known as hot dad Fred Andrews on The CW's hit drama "Riverdale." 

Sadly, Perry passed away in March 2019. 

Jennifer Aniston

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After stints on a few unsuccessful TV shows, Jennifer Aniston hit the jackpot as Rachel Green on "Friends."

Jennifer Aniston won a Golden Globe award and an Emmy for her portrayal as Rachel. Her transition to movie star wasn't easy, though. The actress was mainly cast in romantic comedies that weren't completely successful, but she did have hits with comedies like "Bruce Almighty" and "Horrible Bosses." Her dramatic turn in "Cake" earned her critical praise.

She married actor Justin Theroux in 2015, but the couple announced their separation in 2018. Aniston currently stars alongside Reese Witherspoon on Apple Plus' new series, "The Morning Show." 

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Lisa Kudrow

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Lisa Kudrow's big break came as the incomparable Phoebe Buffay on "Friends."

Lisa Kudrow was nominated for six Emmys during the show's run and won one. During her time on the sitcom, she was in numerous comedies, including "Romy and Michele's High School Reunion." She produced, wrote, and starred on an HBO series called "The Comeback," which was canceled after one season but revived nine years later.

She has continued acting in movies such as "Easy A," "Neighbors," and "The Girl on the Train." Her most recent role was a voiceover for "The Boss Baby." She was also on "Grace & Frankie," and had a role in the 2019 film "Booksmart." 

She gave birth to a son in 1998.

Matthew Perry

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Matthew Perry had a slew of guest appearances and roles on short-lived sitcoms before nailing it as Chandler Bing on "Friends."

Matthew Perry earned two Emmy nominations for guest appearances on "The West Wing," as well as another nomination for the TV movie "The Ron Clark Story." Perry played an older Zac Efron in the teen movie "17 Again."

Since "Friends," he has struggled to find another sitcom that worked. His comedies "Mr. Sunshine" and "Go On" were both short-lived, but "The Odd Couple" lasted three seasons. His most recent role was playing Ted Kennedy on "The Kennedys: Decline and Fall."

Gillian Anderson

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Gillian Anderson's breakout role came as Agent Dana Scully on "The X-Files," which ran for nine seasons and spawned two movies.

The show was renewed 14 years later for a 10th and an 11th season.

Her most recent projects include Starz's "American God" series, in which she appears as Media, and "The Sunlit Night." 

She's incredibly active in charity work and is a self-proclaimed feminist and women's rights activist.