Forever Luke Skywalker, Mark Hamill actually started his way as a TV actor. He later landed roles in shows such as “The Texas Wheelers” and “General Hospital” in the 1970s and was very popular even before landing the role of Luke. He had a small role in George Lucas’s movie “American Graffiti” and went on to play Luke shortly after.
Luke won Hamill two Saturn Awards and a substantial place in American cultural history. Although he didn’t manage to develop as a live-action actor – Hamill had a very successful voice-acting career over the years. He keeps acting to this day and has several newly announced acting projects to look forward to.
Vincent Van Patten (1970s)
Son of the actor Dick Van Patten, Vincent was encouraged to take the spotlight as a young boy, and he appeared in many commercials as a kid. He soon transitioned into bigger roles, starring in numerous films and TV shows, the first of which was "Bonanza."
But Vincent is more than just an actor. He is also a talented tennis player with a well-established career and titles, as well as a successful poker player. So even though he doesn't act anymore, he has other ways to make a living. Vincent actually comes from a family full of celebrities. His uncle, Tim Van Patten, is a famous TV director.
Bobby Rydell (1960s)
Bobby Rydell made the women of the 1960s swoon with a single stare and it was clear that everyone else wanted to be him. He became famous in the ‘50s on Paul Whiteman’s "TV Teen Club" as a regular cast member. After many years on the show, Rydell turned to music, which didn't take off that well.
Eventually, however, he was cast in the hit 1963 movie version of "Bye Bye Birdie." Despite numerous health issues and undergoing kidney and liver transplants, he was still performing around the world and had no plans of slowing down. Unfortunately, though, he ended up passing away in 2022.
Christopher Knight (1970s)
Christopher Knight is commonly known as Peter Brady from "The Brady Bunch." He later made guest appearances on other famous TV shows of the time, as well as a few sporadic film roles. While Knight made his first few bucks as an actor, he later found more success in the business world.
Knight went into the tech industry, eventually founding a few companies. The last one he founded, Eskape Labs, was bought out by a big US tech company. Romantically speaking, the man’s been married four times. Hopefully, with his latest wife, Cara Kokenes, there’s a little more lasting power.
Corey Feldman (1970s)
Corey Feldman got his start in the '70s. His first role was at the age of three in a McDonald’s commercial and had a role in the 1979 film "Time After Time." He and Corey Haim became good friends, and both struggled with substance abuse as they moved into their young adulthood.
Corey later starred in classics such as "Stand By Me," "Gremlins" and "The Goonies," to name a few, before turning to music. His music career didn't enjoy the same success as his acting career. He released 5 studio albums, the latest of which, "Angelic 2 the Core" (2016), flopped miserably.