These Iconic ’90s Stars Look Nearly Unrecognizable Today–Here’s What They’re Doing Now

The ‘90s icon played Newman, Jerry Seinfeld's arch-nemesis, on the TV show Seinfeld from 1992 to 1998.

His resumé also includes roles in Jurassic Park, Space Jam, and Dead Again, as well as voice work in beloved films like Tarzan and Toy Story.

The actor has undergone a remarkable physical transformation since appearing in Jurassic Park, revealing he’s lost 110 pounds (approx. 49 kg).

Wayne told TMZ that he achieved the results by trying everything from medications to surgery, radiation, and reducing his caloric intake.

A heartthrob of the 1990s, Brendan famously starred in George of the Jungle and The Mummy trilogy.

The 56-year-old’s film work slowed from the late 2000s to mid-2010s due to poor box office performances and various health and personal issues, including a case of s*xual assault that he experienced at the hands of Philip Berk, the former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

His career was revitalized with the critically acclaimed film The Whale, which earned him an Oscar for Best Actor, and with Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon.

Rick is known for many ‘80s blockbusters like Ghostbusters and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, but he also starred in beloved ‘90s films like The Flintstones, Little Giants, and Big Bully.

The Ontario-born actor retreated from Hollywood in the late ’90s after losing his wife and the mother of his two children, Ann Belsky, to breast cancer.

"I took a break, which turned into a longer break," he told THR in 2015. "Stuff happens to people all the time, and people make adjustments, change careers, and move to another city. Really, that's all I did.”

Rick is set to return to on-camera acting by reprising his role of Dark Helmet in the sequel to Spaceballs from Amazon MGM Studios, Variety reported last month. The film is slated for release in theaters in 2027.

The blonde bombshell was discovered after being featured on the jumbotron during a football game in her native Canada while wearing a Labatt's Beer T-shirt. The beer company hired her to promote the brand, and she was later flown to Los Angeles to model for Playboy magazine.

Pamela achieved pop culture status after starring on Baywatch for five seasons, from 1992 to 1997.

The 58-year-old mother of two has ditched her signature eyeliner and embraced a makeup-free look in recent years to celebrate her natural beauty.

She said she experienced an identity crisis after realizing that she’d been “playing characters” her whole life, including that of a model, Playmate, and rocker’s wife. “And then I started realizing, ‘Oh, I feel great as me, I don’t want people to think of me as all those cartoon characters I created for protection.’”

The actress rose to fame playing Jamie Buchman in the sitcom Mad About You, a role that earned her three Golden Globes and four Emmy Awards.

In 1997, she won an Oscar for her performance as Carol Connelly, a single mother with a chronically ill son, in As Good as It Gets.

Helen’s most recent film role was in the thriller In Cold Light, which premiered at the 2025 Tribeca Festival on June 7. She also has a recurring role in the HBO Max show Hacks.

The Twister star revealed that she used to be “really worried” about her appearance in the 1980s, saying, “When I gave it up, my brain and body got better. I was taking these exercise classes called ‘abs, thighs, and buns’ and I was like, ‘I’m going to be d*ad one day — do I really want to give up an hour in this class?’”

Bridget, the daughter of Peter Fonda and niece of Jane Fonda, retired from acting in 2002.

Throughout her career, she received two Golden Globe nominations for Scandal and No Ordinary Baby and an Emmy nomination for In the Gloaming.

The 61-year-old’s notable work also includes The Godfather Part III, Jackie Brown, and It Could Happen to You.

After marrying composer Danny Elfman, Bridget stepped away from the public eye to focus on her family life. 

Asked if she'd ever return to show business, even with a director of her choice, Bridget answered "no," and then explained, "I don't think so, it's too nice being a civilian."

At six years old, Jonathan starred alongside none other than Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire, playing the son of Renée Zellweger’s Dorothy. He went on to appear in the Stuart Little films, The Little Vampire, and Little Mike.

The actor opened up about being bullied in middle school, saying he was "made fun of relentlessly" and told he was a “has-been” who would “never book a job again.”

After guest-starring on Dawson's Creek, Jonahan took a break from the entertainment industry to attend high school in California.

As an adult, the 34-year-old starred in the Lifetime movie Secrets at the Museum and the horror film Camp Pleasant Lake.

Former child star Danica McKellar gained popularity after portraying Winnie Cooper in the hit 1990s show The Wonder Years. After the show ended, the actress appeared in several television films for the Hallmark Channel and did voice acting work. 

In 1998, Danica earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from UCLA. The 50-year-old has published various books on mathematics, including Do Not Open This Math Book and Math Doesn't Suck, Kiss My Math.

Danica shares a son, born in 2010, with her ex-husband, composer Mike Verta.

Jaleel is best known for playing Steve Urkel on the sitcom Family Matters for ten years. His character became so popular that it inspired merch like an Urkel doll and even Urkel breakfast cereal.

After the sitcom ended, Jaleel went on to appear in Grown Ups, Boston Legal, House, Castle, Psych, and Bones.

He now hosts the CBS game show Flip Side, which puts contestants’ intuition about human behavior to the test.

Jake got his big break playing Jamie Langston in Jingle All the Way, the 1996 Christmas film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad.

You may also recognize him as the young Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode I—The Phantom Menace.

The 36-year-old retired from acting in 2001 after experiencing bullying at school following his Star Wars role.

In high school, Jake was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. He was hospitalized in a mental facility in 2023 after being arrested for reckless driving and stopping his car in the middle of a busy freeway during a psychotic episode.

His most recent arrest, in March 2023, came five years after his younger sister, Madison, passed away in her sleep of natural causes.

Matt’s brunette locks may have turned gray, but he still exudes the sweet charisma that lit up millions of TV screens in the ’90s with Friends.

The 57-year-old actor received three Emmy nominations for his portrayal of the womanizing yet lovable Joey Tribbiani, a role he played from 1994 to 2004.

During his time on the sitcom, he also appeared in Lookin’ Italian and Charlie’s Angels. His last screen appearance was in June 2020, when his show, Man with a Plan, was canceled.

In a 2017 interview with Conan O’Brien, Matt said he’d like to retire as soon as possible. “I think I would like to do not a f**king thing, that’s what I would like to do. Just nothing, absolutely nothing, zero.”