Though there are some good examples of child actors who continued to have successful careers into their adulthood, such as Jodie Foster or Joseph Gordon-Levitt, a great number of them end up fizzling out. That's probably why these seven actors turned to music once they reached adulthood.
1. Danny Tamberelli
Music was an integral part of the Nickelodeon show The Adventures of Pete & Pete, which featured songs by Magnetic Fields frontman Stephin Merritt and appearances by Iggy Pop, Debbie Harry, David Johansen, and Michael Stipe, so it's no surprise that the show's preteen star Danny Tamberelli was inspired to become a musician himself. While attending college in Massachusetts the early '00s, Tamberelli formed Jounce, serving as the band's bassist and vocalist. Jounce eventually relocated to New York and is still active to this day.
2. Frankie Muniz
There's really no part of Frankie Muniz's career that would suggest he was bound for a career in music. In the early '00s, he was the star of Malcolm in the Middle and was one of the most successful child actors in Hollywood, but eventually turned to racecar driving, of all things. However, his career took another left turn in 2010 when he joined a band called You Hang Up from Phoenix as their drummer, and in 2012, he joined the Pennsylvania indie rock band Kingsfoil. He has since left Kingsfoil to apparently pursue golf, at least according to Wikipedia.
3. Drake
The most successful child actor-turned-musician on this list by far is Drake, who originally rose to fame for his role on the Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation. After leaving Degrassi in 2009, however, Drake turned to hip-hop, and has gone on to become one of the world's biggest rappers.
4 & 5. Jenny Lewis & Blake Sennett
Not just one, but two members of L.A. indie rock band Rilo Kiley are former child actors. The band's primary songwriters, Jenny Lewis and Blake Sennett, made appearances in some popular sitcoms during the '90s, with Lewis appearing in Roseanne and Sennett appearing in Boy Meets World, though neither has acted much since forming Rilo Kiley in 1998.
6. Alexis Krauss
Though these days Alexis Krauss is best known as the lead singer of Brooklyn noise pop duo Sleigh Bells, as a child she pursued a career in acting. She may not have appeared in any movies or television shows, but she did appear in one thing that pretty much every American kid born in the '90s will recognize: the commercial for Nickelodeon Magazine.
7. Will Oldham
Alt-country musician Will Oldham, also known as Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, has appeared in quite a few films over the years, such as Junebug, Old Joy, and even R. Kelly's Trapped in the Closet series, but his acting career actually predates his music career. He began acting at age 17, but quickly grew tired of the film industry and moved back home to Louisville to start his music career, making his full-length debut with 1993's There is No-One What Will Take Care of You, released under the named Palace Brothers.
Who are some other child actors who turned to music? Let us know in the comments section!
