Top 10 Teen Drama Stars Who Fell Off the Map
#10: Michael Steger “90210” (2008-13)
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Best known for his portrayal of the school reporter Navid Shirazi, Michael Steger actually appeared in several Disney projects before “90210” - including “Hannah Montana” and “The Cheetah Girls: One World.” After spending 5 years playing Navid, Michael seemed to have only done a few acting gigs here and there. He’s very busy taking care of his adorable family, but according to his Instagram bio, he’s not done working on projects just yet. He appears to be a producer of a movie called “White Like Me,” which is written by his wife Brandee. However, it seems like Michael has definitely moved on from being a “90210” teen heartthrob.
#9: Josie Loren “Make It or Break It” (2009-12)
You probably remember Josie Loren from playing Kaylie Cruz in the popular gymnastics series “Make It or Break It.” Before her big TV show debut, she actually managed to land several smaller roles in big series, including “Hannah Montana.” But once “Make It or Break It” was over, Josie’s acting career essentially slowed down. According to IMDB, Josie stepped away from the limelight and hasn’t done any projects since 2015, when she had a main role in “The Mentalist”’s 7th season. She actually went back to school and got a law degree! Nowadays, she seems to be spending more time with her kids and her husband, the former NFL player Matt Leinart.
#8: Miriam McDonald “Degrassi: The Next Generation” (2001-15)
Miriam McDonald was best known for her fearless lead role in “Degrassi: The Next Generation,” which is part of the longest-running dramatic television franchise in Canadian history. Her time as Emma Nelson finished in 2010 and by the looks of it, Miriam had several appearances since then, including a guest role in “Orphan Black.” However, she seems to have mostly entered a new stage in her life with a brief stint in in real estate. In 2018, she revealed she’d love to do a “Degrassi” reboot after Drake sort of brought back the spirit of the show with his "I'm Upset" video. There’s still hope, guys!
#7: Teddy Dunn “Veronica Mars” (2004-19)
Teddy got his breakout role when he was cast to play Duncan Kane in “Veronica Mars.” However, even then, he left the show after season 2 and has never been mentioned again. After Teddy was told his character was going to be written off, he didn’t really mind - and that was primarily because the hardcore fans REALLY seemed to dislike Duncan as a character as well as Teddy’s performance. After a few other gigs, Teddy left acting altogether and is now a lawyer. He revealed that he does get asked about his role as Duncan, but is content that his life has now gone in a completely different direction.
#6: Tangi Miller “Felicity” (1998-2002)
‘90s teens definitely remember the name Tangi Miller, who played the iconic Elena Tyler in “Felicity.” But since her big breakout, Tangi stuck to relatively small roles here and there. In 2017, she directed, produced, and co-starred in a movie called “Diva Diaries.” Her private life remained very much private and not a lot is known about her, other that she appears to be doing well. Speaking of “Felicity” though, Tangi’s co-star and ex-Power Ranger Amy Jo Johnson also slowed down her acting career. She focused on directing and even released three albums as a singer!
#5: A. J. Langer “My So-Called Life” (1994-95)
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A.J got to play the feisty Rayanne Graff on “My So-Called Life,” one of the very first shows to give teens an “authentic voice” at the time. Since its cancelation, A.J got to work on several other projects. But according to IMDB, she hasn’t done any acting since 2013. Reason? She became the Countess of Devon after her husband’s father passed away and moved to an actual castle in London where she lives with her family. And maintaining that lifestyle keeps her pretty occupied. But it’s not that bad - she explained: “it’s like living in a dream sequence that’s here all the time.”
#4: Ken Baumann “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” (2008-13)
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Ever wondered what the guy that played Ben Boykewich on “The Secret Life of then American Teenager” has been up to since the show’s finale? Well, according to IMDB, he’s been keeping pretty low key when it comes to acting. He appears to have produced a documentary called “Once a Marine,” but other than that, there’s very few projects listed for Ken. During the filming of the teen drama’s last season, Ken had to be admitted to hospital and got diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. Since then, he’s been spending plenty of time with his family and stayed away from acting.
#3: Michelle Trachtenberg “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003) & “Gossip Girl” (2007-12)
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If you don’t know Michelle from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” you probably remember her from playing Georgina in “Gossip Girl.” Michelle has had quite an incredible acting career, but according to IMDB, she hasn’t done any projects since 2018. However, she’s still somewhat active on social media where she sometimes shares behind the scenes moments of her life and career. In a heartbreaking Instagram post in early 2020, Michelle revealed she was mistreated by other students in school for being a young actress. By the looks of it, it appears that she’s now taking a much-needed break from Hollywood to heal and reflect.
#2: Nicholas Brendon “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003)
Here’s another “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” star that has since slowed down his acting career, but for completely different reasons. After playing Xander Harris for six years, Nicholas Brendon took on several different projects, including playing Kevin Lynch in “Criminal Minds.” However, he’s led a troubled life and had many run-ins with the law. In 2004, he checked into rehab for his issues with alcohol. A few years later, he was also charged with vandalism and battery against a police officer. Since then, he’s been arrested several more times, infamously appeared on ”Dr. Phil” and made headlines in 2017 for his alleged violent behavior towards his then-girlfriend .
#1: Andrew Keegan “7th Heaven” (1996-2007)
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He went from one of the biggest ‘90s heartthrobs who appeared in some of the biggest shows of its era to the founder of a new religion, away from the Hollywood drama. Andrew Keegan appeared in small screen classics such as “7th Heaven,” and had a memorable role in the popular “10 Things I Hate About You” movie. While he’s had a few projects here and there since then, his attention was mainly focused on his spiritual organization called Full Circle, established in 2014. Many media outlets have criticized the organization for its cult-like nature. In 2015, the organization was actually raided by government agents for distributing illegal kombucha and was closed down 2 years later.
