How Are They Doing? Celebrities Then And Now

If there’s one thing we all want to experience now and then, it’s to be entertained. Through the years, the medium of entertainment has undergone varying degrees of change. What started as people telling stories or singing songs in front of an audience by the bonfire eventually evolved to artists performing on stage or in front of a camera. Of course, along with these developments, this line of business has also introduced us to numerous stars; and suffice to say, we won’t be running out of star-studded figures anytime soon.

With that said, today, we’ll be taking a look at some of the entertainment industry’s well-known figures and what they’re up to nowadays. Some may still be active under the bright lights, working on a new movie, show, or even music album, while others have transitioned to a more low-key lifestyle. One thing’s for sure though, there’s no denying the mark they’ve left in entertainment history. Now, with that out of the way, let’s get on with the article, shall we?

Beverley Mitchell | 41 Years Old

At this point, we’re all aware that a career in the entertainment industry can begin at any point in one’s life. It could start later in life, or they can start stepping on the gas pedal early. Well, in Beverley Mitchell’s case, that would be the latter.

Before beginning her university life as a major in film production, Mitchell started her career, debuting in 1990 with a role on the TV show Big Brother Jake. After working on one acting gig after another, she got her first major role in 1996, starring as Grace in The Crow: City of Angels. While the movie wasn’t all that well-received, that didn’t stop the actress from landing the part of Lucy in the now-popular TV series 7th Heaven. Mitchell has remained pretty active in the industry, with her more recent projects being for made-for-TV movies such as 2016’s Deadly Dance Mom and 2020’s Candy Cane Christmas.

Carson Daly | 48 Years Old

More often than not, we mentally visualize our plans in a straight line that clearly shows we go through point A first before going to point B. In truth, however, that map usually goes up, down, sideways, and in other ways we least expect. Such was the case for Carson Daly, who was a member of his high school’s golf team. Initially aspiring to make it to the golf big leagues, he eventually shifted his sights to another line of work—hosting.

Some of his earlier stints in entertainment were interning for a couple of radio stations. A few years later, he landed more on-screen gigs, including his work as a VJ for MTV. Besides some other investments here and there, including founding the independent record label 456 Enterprise & Entertainment, Daly has garnered plenty of recognition for hosting shows such as Last Call with Carson Daly, Today, and The Voice.

Alyson Hannigan | 48 Years Old

Whenever we think of bright lights and red carpets, the next thing that comes to mind is usually Hollywood. The place has become near-synonymous with glitz, glamour, and of course, a career under the spotlight. Suffice to say, Alyson Hannigan thought so, too. Beginning her career in front of the cameras at four years old, appearing in commercials, she and her family then had some help from a moving company and transferred to Hollywood when she was eleven.

From that point onward, the actress has worked on plenty of projects. Even so, it’s safe to say most of us know her best for her stint on the TV shows How I Met Your Mother and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In 2016, Hannigan started her work as a host for the magic competition TV show Penn & Teller: Fool Us. Other acting gigs she has worked on since then include voice-acting in Fancy Nancy and appearing in You Might Be the Killer and Flora & Ulysses.

Alicia Silverstone | 45 Years Old

Although many movies and shows are based on original ideas made by the people behind them, there’s no denying that many of the industry’s hits are adaptations of already established materials. They could be from novels, video games, and, last but not least, comic books. With that said, one such comic book hero that takes credit for being an all-time icon would be none other than the caped crusader, Batman.

Through the years, Batman has gone through several iterations, one of which is the George Clooney-led film, Batman & Robin, with actress Alicia Silverstone starring as that movie’s Batgirl. While the film’s reception may have been mixed, she has since ventured to other notable projects, such as the psychological thriller, The Killing of a Sacred Deer. Along the way, the actress has also tried her hand in the culinary arts, having released two cookbooks.

Brandy | 43 Years Old

With the entertainment industry filled with numerous stars, it’s no secret that almost every celebrity has a feat that sets them apart from their colleagues. Well, for Brandy Norwood, that would be her unique timbre and impressive contralto vocal range. Even so, that doesn’t mean she didn’t begin her career on square one.

With her first few experiences singing in public dating back to when she was around two years old, Norwood eventually began her professional career as a backup vocalist for teen groups, including the R&B boy band, Immature. By 1994, she finally got her very own big break with a self-titled debut album. Since then, along with landing acting gigs for titles such as Zoe Ever After and I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, Norwood released her first album as an independent artist, titled B7, in 2020. Having garnered a high degree of praise from fans and critics, it’s safe to say this singer’s journey is far from over.

Christina Applegate | 50 Years Old

With her mother being an experienced singer and actress, it’s no wonder Christina Applegate eventually followed suit. In fact, before making her way to the entertainment industry, she trained in various dance styles, including ballet and jazz. Before all that training, however, she had already made her on-screen debut, just around a year after she was born!

Born on November 25, 1971, Applegate landed her TV debut a year later alongside her mother, appearing on the show Days of Our Lives. Not long after, she garnered widespread recognition as a child actress thanks to her acting credit on the hit sitcom Married… with Children. Today, with over three decades of experience, Applegate has become quite a successful figure in the industry, having starred in movies such as Anchorman and its sequel Vacation and Crash Pad. Plus, she’s currently working on the Netflix comedy series Dead to Me, which also earned her three Primetime Emmy nominations.

Barry Watson | 48 Years Old

While his parents may have established a career in the legal side of things, with his mother a paralegal and his father an attorney, Barry Watson found his calling in the entertainment industry. His journey to the bright lights began when he was around eight years old when he started a modeling career. After seven years, he transitioned into the acting business.

Watson’s first acting gig was on the TV series Days of Our Lives, where he appeared in three episodes. Nowadays, most fans arguably know him best for his work on Samantha Who?, 7th Heaven, and What About Brian. Although the previously-mentioned titles mostly dwell on the drama and comedy side of the genre spectrum, that doesn’t mean the actor has dabbled in other projects. For one, in 2020, he starred in an episode of the horror anthology series, Into the Dark. Plus, in 2022, he landed a lead spot in the superhero series Naomi.

Alyssa Milano | 49 Years Old

Sometimes, we find help in the places we least expected. For Alyssa Milano, her journey to the entertainment industry probably wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for her childhood babysitter. When she was seven years old, her helper brought Milano to an audition for the stage production of Annie and ultimately became one of four out of 1,500 people to land the part. Suffice to say, this was just the beginning of her career.

Since then, Milano has made numerous investments in the entertainment industry, both as an actress and producer. With that said, she’s now often regarded for her work on projects such as Melrose Place, My Name Is Earl, and Who’s the Boss? Besides appearing on screen or working behind the scenes, Milano released a children’s book titled Hope: Project Middle School, and another book compiling thirty-two essays titled Sorry Not Sorry.

Cameron Diaz | 49 Years Old

To some degree, the world truly is a small place. For one, it’s quite surprising to know that Cameron Diaz and Snoop Dogg were schoolmates during their high school years. With that said, she also started her career around that time as a model. After working on one modeling gig after another, she landed her first acting project at twenty-one years old. Well, who would’ve thought it would also be her introduction to the spotlight?

Diaz got her acting debut portraying Tina Carlyle in the hit Jim Carrey-led movie The Mask. Since then, before retiring from acting in 2014, the actress has garnered widespread recognition for starring in films such as There’s Something About Mary, Charlie’s Angels and its sequel, The Green Hornet, and Gangs of New York. After retiring, she has focused more of her time as a businesswoman, notably investing in biotech and health-related businesses.

Amanda Bynes | 36 Years Old

It’s safe to say we’ve all seen more than a couple of actors on TV when we were kids. Chances are, we remember their faces but can’t really remember their names. Well, perhaps many of us share the same sentiment for Amanda Bynes. After all, she was especially popular during the late ‘90s to late 2000s.

With that said, Bynes began her career when she was seven years old, appearing in commercials and performing in stage productions. Soon after, she got her first shot at fame when she became a cast regular on Nickelodeon’s sketch comedy series All That. That popularity only rose to even greater heights when she landed the lead acting credit on her very own series, The Amanda Show. Other projects she has worked on since then include What a Girl Wants, Easy A, Hairspray, and What I Like About You. Following a hiatus that started in 2010, the actress recently announced plans to return, and her fans are surely nothing short of excited.