How Did This 1980s Teen Idol Who Quit Hollywood and Became a Christian Do?
He had it all as a teen star: fame, money, and a super-popular TV show. But just when his career was taking off, he did something that shocked a lot of people. When he left Hollywood, he took a path that not many people saw coming.
It was because of “Growing Pains” that he became one of the most famous young actors of the 1980s. He was the heartthrob of many teens and was on the covers of many magazines. Aside from the cameras, though, he was struggling with the growing feeling that Hollywood wasn’t where he belonged.
Back in the early 1990s, when he was at the height of his fame, the star made a decision that shocked many in the business. He quit acting and joined a religious community. This choice changed not only his career, but also his whole view of the world. Following his departure from Hollywood, what happened in his life?
From childhood dreams to accidental fame
A career as an actor wasn’t his goal. Indeed, when he was young, he had a very different goal in mind: he wanted to become a doctor. He wanted to be a surgeon, but his mother, with the help of a friend, introduced him to acting, which took him in a different direction.
That friend’s mother was Adam Rich, a famous child actor best known for his part in “Eight is Enough.” That the boy’s mother should take him to an agent and see if he can get work in commercials.
His mother didn’t want to follow the advice, but she did, and soon the nine-year-old was getting small parts. Commercials like the one for McDonald’s were among his first acting jobs. Even though the young boy had a steady job, he didn’t like acting.
In the beginning, he remembered, “I hated having to pull my shirt up and brush my hair before driving an hour to audition.” His acting career took off, even though he wasn’t very excited about it. His big break came when he played Mike Seaver in “Growing Pains.”
It got harder for him as his fame grew. Although Hollywood had a lot to offer, he started to wonder if that was enough. He would eventually go in a completely different direction because of something he didn’t expect: his faith.
When he was a kid, his family wasn’t religious, and they never talked about God at home. He used to say, “When I was a kid, we didn’t go to church.”
“If you had asked me, I would have said I would be in the category of an atheist at 16 years old, 17 years old,” said he.
He became an atheist because of the people around him, especially his teachers. According to him, his science and history teachers, who thought religion was “just a fairy tale,” made him become an atheist.
He was very busy with his Hollywood career at that point in his life and didn’t want to think about faith or spirituality much. Even though he wasn’t interested, a chance meeting would soon change his mind.
They weren’t having a deep theological conversation when they first went to church. He agreed to go to church with a girl he liked because she invited him. “I am telling the truth. It wasn’t on account of my interest in God. He told her, “I was interested in the girl.”
He didn’t know it at the time, but this simple choice would cause a huge change in his life. His faith grew stronger, and it started to have an effect on his life and career. This made his coworkers in Hollywood worried.
By the time he was 17, his newfound beliefs were starting to affect how he played his part in “Growing Pains.” Producers and cast members of the show noticed this sudden change and became more and more worried about how it might affect the show.
His actions were very important because he was one of the show’s main characters. He played a part in the show’s success and in everyone’s jobs. The show’s creators were afraid that his growing religious beliefs might lead him in a way that would hurt the show’s future.
What is he doing that will really get him into Looney Town? He thought back to their worries and said, “And if it is, we need to stop that.” But he was focused on trying to live out his faith, even though he knows he wasn’t always as good at it as he could have been.
“I was taking the right thing to do.” He said, “I really wanted to please God, and I think that got misunderstood sometimes.” His priorities were changing, though, and Hollywood didn’t know what to do about it.
His faith grew stronger, and he became more aware of the bad things going on in Hollywood around him. He reportedly saw some upsetting things happen over time that made him stay away from the industry even more.
He talked about his time as a child actor and said, “The evil, the darkness, the twisted sickness of Hollywood has been going on for a long time.” The former teen heartthrob, who started acting when he was nine, remembered being suspicious of the strange things going on behind the scenes on “Growing Pains.”
His personal dialogue coach from the show, Brian Peck, who was later found guilty of sexual abuse crimes, was one of the most shocking things that came out. A recent documentary that showed the bad side of the entertainment business brought Peck’s name to light.
The actor said that these new facts proved what he had already thought: that Hollywood wasn’t as good-hearted as it often seemed. He felt like this environment, which was based on power, pride, and ego, made him want to leave the spotlight even more.
Because he thought that seeking fame and wealth often led people down dangerous paths, he became even more devoted to his faith and the values it taught him. “When that becomes your God, rather than the God who laid down His life on a cross 2,000 years ago, you’re in for a world of hurt,” said he.
As his disappointment with Hollywood grew, he made up his mind to stop acting for good. His life was about to take another important turn, though, one that would make him focus more on his family and faith.
Kirk Cameron’s leaving Hollywood was the start of a new part of his life. He married his “Growing Pains” co-star and actress Chelsea Noble when he was only 20 years old. The two of them started a life together away from the entertainment business. With each other, they had six children, four of whom they adopted.
Cameron and Noble both cared a lot about adoption because Noble was adopted herself. They made sure their kids always knew where they came from and helped them get in touch with their real families when the time came.
This focus on family and his desire to keep a strong moral foundation became very important to Cameron. He showed how much he cared about family values in a powerful way while filming his 2008 movie “Fireproof.”
Cameron plays a firefighter who is trying to reunite with his wife in the movie. But Cameron wouldn’t kiss anyone but his real wife when it was time to film a kissing scene with the actress who played his wife.
To keep his wedding promise, the filmmakers dressed Noble as the movie’s female lead and filmed the scene in silhouette. Cameron later said, “I promise not to kiss any other woman.” This showed how seriously he believed what he was saying.
Cameron’s life became less about fame and more about staying true to the values he held dear after leaving Hollywood behind. His journey wasn’t over, though. He soon made another big choice that would change his life even more.
Cameron made another brave choice in the last few years when he left the place where he had spent most of his life and built his career. Early in 2021, Cameron told people on social media that he was leaving California.
“I asked on social media what states people recommend for a Californian looking to relocate, and the top responses were Tennessee, Florida, and Texas,” a Facebook post said. In the end, Tennessee was the one who won his heart.
During later interviews, he talked about why he made the move. Cameron thought California had become unsafe and longed for a place with more of the “wholesome values” that were important to him.
He moved because he liked the way of life there, but three of his children already lived there, which was also a big reason. It meant being closer to family while also being able to enjoy the slower pace and sense of community that Tennessee offered.
Cameron talked about Tennessee’s “healthy freedom mindset” as well as how different it was from California, where he said rules were getting stricter. He said that Tennessee was a “center for Christian projects” as well.
In Tennessee, he found a group of people with similar ideas, including artists who had left Hollywood. Because of its growing entertainment industry, the state has even attracted some California “refugees,” who are looking for a new start in life.
Cameron found a new home and a place that was more in line with the values he had adopted when he moved to Tennessee. But even though he left Hollywood and California, his love for family, faith, and telling stories has not changed.
Cameron’s life has had many important events, but the most important to him was becoming a grandfather in July 2024. Cameron shared the happy news about the birth of their granddaughter, Maya Jeanne Noble Bower, on social media with a heartfelt message.
“Our hearts are filled to overflowing,” he put in. “Our beautiful baby girl just had a beautiful baby girl, and we can hardly wait to spend every minute with her and shower her with love.” This new part of Cameron’s life as a grandparent brings him even more happiness and meaning.
Cameron continued to be passionate about projects that are in line with his faith and values while also enjoying his growing family. His movie “Lifemark,” which came out in 2022, is about the beauty of adoption and the worth of life.
Being the father of four adopted children and his wife’s own adoption story made the movie especially meaningful to him. Cameron told everyone how excited he was for the movie and how much the story meant to him.
Cameron stopped being involved with mainstream Hollywood a long time ago, but he is still making faith-based movies and media that reflect his beliefs. His career after leaving Hollywood has been marked by telling stories that are positive and uplifting and that celebrate family and faith.
Cameron’s life is very different now than it was when he was a teenager and a rising star on “Growing Pains.” He has a growing family and a steady stream of projects that are in line with his values. Although Kirk Cameron has chosen a different path, it has given him a deep sense of purpose and fulfillment.
