In the ‘80s and ‘90s, we all watched a lot of TV. From Friends, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Full House, we knew everyone’s names, and we had all the opening theme songs memorized. everyone’s names and we sang along to the opening theme song. But, where are they now? Of course, some of them have gone to superstardom. Some have carried on working, others have dropped out of the entertainment business. But let’s see what happened to our favorite TV stars.
Gillian Anderson – The X Files
The X Files star Gillian Anderson vowed she would never work in television, incredibly. Thankfully, Anderson broke her vow and went on to become Dana Scully, an FBI agent. Anderson auditioned for the role when she was just 24 years old, after being inspired by the “strong, independent, intelligent” lead character.
Gillian Anderson played DSU Stella Gibson in BBC crime drama The Fall and starred as therapist Jean Milburn in a popular Netflix teen comedy. She has an Emmy and a Golden Globe.
Matt LeBlanc – Friends
Until the end of time, the phrase “How you doin’?” will be attributed to Friends character Joey Tribbiani, played by Matt LeBlanc. LeBlanc played ladies’ man Joey for ten years, between 1994 and 2004. After the hugely successful sitcom wrapped, LeBlanc got his own spin-off called Joey, which ran for two years.
LeBlanc played a fictionalized version of himself in British-American comedy Episodes, and co-hosted British car show Top Gear for three years. He also played the patriarch in the sitcom, Man With a Plan.
Bob Saget – Full House
Between 1987 and 1995, Bob Saget played Danny Tanner, a widowed single father raising three young daughters in sitcom Full House. At the same time, the actor and comedian hosted America’s Funniest Home Videos, making himself a recognizable mainstream star.
Since then, Saget has played the voice of the future Ted Mosby on the sitcom, How I Met Your Mother, and reprised his role for the Netflix reboot of Fuller House. Saget has also appeared on Broadway, and has a successful stand-up comedy career.
Rider Strong – Boy Meets World
Sitcom Boy Meets World aired for seven seasons on ABC between 1993 and 2000. The show followed the life of Cory Matthews and included a cast of his nearest and dearest, including best friend Shawn Hunter — played by Rider Strong.
Strong attended Occidental college alongside Anna Paquin, Julia Stiles, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He starred in 2002 horror movie Cabin Fever and went on to write and direct Irish Twins with his brother. In 2014, Strong announced he was reprising his role as Shawn Rider in spin-off Girl Meets World.
Jerry Seinfeld – Seinfeld
Jerome Allen Seinfeld — known as Jerry — created his hugely popular sitcom alongside fellow comedian Larry David. Seinfeld played a semi-fictionalized version of himself in the show, which ran from 1989 to 1998. Seinfeld was a huge hit and became the most-watched sitcom on American TV.
Jerry Seinfeld is an acclaimed stand-up comedian. He also produced, co-wrote, and starred in the iconic Bee Movie (seriously, it’s ridiculous, but great). He is the creator and host of Netflix series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.