What Happened to This 80s Teen Idol Who Left Hollywood and Turned to Christianity

He was a teenage sensation—a heartthrob with a starring role in a hit TV sitcom, magazine covers plastered with his face, and legions of fans clamoring for his attention. Hollywood seemed to offer him everything: fame, fortune, and a path to even greater success. Yet, at the height of his career, he made a choice that left everyone stunned.
Walking away from the bright lights of Hollywood, he chose a path that defied expectations. As his peers chased fame and accolades, he turned his back on the industry that had made him a star, embarking on a journey that would transform his life in ways no one could have imagined.
A Chance Beginning
As a boy, his dreams didn’t include acting. In fact, his greatest ambition was to become a surgeon. But fate intervened when a family friend suggested his mother take him to auditions. At just nine years old, he began landing commercial roles, including one for McDonald’s, despite his own disinterest in acting.
“I hated brushing my hair and sitting in traffic just to audition,” he later admitted. Yet, by the time he was a teenager, his career had skyrocketed. He secured a starring role in a beloved sitcom that turned him into one of the most recognizable faces of the 1980s.
On the surface, his life seemed perfect. Fans adored him, and Hollywood embraced him as one of its golden boys. But beneath the surface, he grappled with growing doubts about the life he was leading.
A Sudden Shift
Raised in a non-religious household, he identified as an atheist for most of his adolescence. “We didn’t go to church, and the idea of God seemed like a fairy tale,” he recalled.
It was a girl—not a revelation—that first brought him to church. Captivated by her, he accepted her invitation to attend services with her family. What began as a casual outing soon turned into a profound transformation.
Through sermons and reflection, he found himself questioning everything he thought he knew. By the age of 17, his faith had become the guiding force in his life, reshaping not only his personal beliefs but also his professional priorities.
Hollywood’s Unease
His newfound faith did not go unnoticed. On the set of his sitcom, producers and cast members grew concerned as his values began influencing his decisions. Scripts were scrutinized, scenes were questioned, and Hollywood watched as its teen star took a path no one anticipated.
“There was worry about where my beliefs would take me,” he later said. “Would it hurt the show? Would it alienate fans? But for me, it was about doing what I believed was right.”
At times, his efforts to live out his faith caused misunderstandings. “I wanted to take the moral high road, but I wasn’t always graceful about it,” he admitted.
Disillusionment and Departure
As his faith deepened, so did his awareness of the darker side of Hollywood. He witnessed behaviors and incidents that further distanced him from the industry. “The evil and darkness I saw made me question everything about this world I was a part of,” he reflected.
Among the revelations was the arrest of a dialogue coach he had worked with, convicted of heinous crimes. These events solidified his decision to step away from Hollywood’s glitz and pursue a life grounded in faith and family.
A New Life
At just 20 years old, he married his co-star and began a new chapter. Together, they built a family focused on love and shared values, welcoming six children, four of whom they adopted. Adoption, deeply personal for both, became a cornerstone of their lives.
His commitment to faith extended to his career. While acting in a faith-based film, he refused to kiss anyone other than his wife, even on screen. The filmmakers honored his conviction by using creative cinematography to preserve the moment.
A Fresh Start
Years later, he made another life-altering decision, leaving California for Tennessee. Drawn by the state’s slower pace and faith-centered communities, he sought a home that aligned with his values.
In Tennessee, he found not only a new home but a vibrant community of like-minded individuals. He continued creating faith-based films and projects, remaining true to the values that had once made him walk away from Hollywood.
A Legacy of Faith and Family
In 2024, his journey came full circle when he and his wife welcomed their first grandchild. Holding his granddaughter, he reflected on a life far removed from the Hollywood spotlight—a life filled with purpose, family, and unwavering faith.
His story is a testament to the courage it takes to follow one’s convictions, proving that the greatest roles in life are not those played on screen but those defined by love, faith, and integrity.