He might not be the biggest household name on this list – but Clark Brandon certainly had a memorable time during his teen years. The young kid from New York blew up early on with roles in shows such as “Mr. Merlin” and “Out of the Blue.”
He even starred alongside the legendary Jim Varney in the movie “Fast Food.” After that, Brandon took a step back from acting and entered the director’s seat, helming projects for movies such as “Dark Secrets,” “Skeeter,” and “The Last Road,” to name a few. Up until 2018, Brandon was actually the dean at the Arete Preparatory Academy in Southern California.
Tommy Steele (1950s)
Many regard Tommy Steele to be the UK's very first teen idol. And when you consider the fact that this crooner had his first hit single back in 1956 with "Rock with the Caveman," that actually makes perfect sense. Steele even had his rise to fame portrayed in the movie "The Tommy Steele Story."
Amazingly, the film's soundtrack was the first from the UK to reach number one on the UK Albums Chart. As the '60s progressed, Steele moved away from the rock and roll scene and became more of an all-around performer. In 2020, Steele got the ultimate British honor when he was knighted by the Queen for his contribution to British culture.
Marty Wilde (1950s)
Marty Wilde was certainly one of the people responsible for making rock and roll popular in the UK back in the '50s. With hit singles such as "Endless Sleep," "Sea of Love" and "Bad Boy," he was no stranger to chart success.
Wilde also had hits in both the '60s and the '70s, but it was his teen years that fans will best remember him for. And the success ended up running in the family - as his daughter Kim Wilde also made a name for herself in the world of pop - creating the '80s single "Kids in America," among others.
Lance Kerwin (1970s)
To say that Lance Kerwin was a prolific '70s teen star would be the understatement of the century. At one point, it seemed like the young actor was in absolutely everything - featuring in shows such as "Shazam!," "Gunsmoke," "Wonder Woman," and "Little House on the Prairie," to name a few.
Kerwin also had a decent amount of acting roles throughout the '80s but ended up taking a hiatus during the mid-'90s. In 2022, Kerwin finally returned to TV, appearing in the historical drama film "The Wind and the Reckoning." Sadly though, just a year later, Kerwin passed away under tragic circumstances.
Kristy McNichol (1970s-1980s)
Kristy McNichol really had some longevity when you consider how long she stayed relevant in the world of TV. Back in the late '70s, she rose to stardom with her role as Letitia "Buddy" Lawrence in the drama series "Family."
While she continued to appear sporadically on TV, she would end up having another prominent role about a decade later, playing Barbara Weston on the sitcom "Empty Nest." She also had a hit role in the movie "Little Darlings." She stepped away though from acting at the turn of the millennium and in 2012, McNichol came out as gay, having been in a relationship with Martie Allen for more than two decades.