Being a twin, you’re already pretty unique. After all, only 2 percent of people on Earth are twins, with a mere 0.2 percent being identical. But given that the talented pairs listed in this article achieved fame young, they stand out even more! So, what’s become of these dynamic duos? Well, we provide all the answers — some of which might surprise you!
20. Tiffany and Krystle Mataras
The Mataras twins Tiffany and Krystle debuted on the big screen in the Arnold Schwarzenegger comedy-drama Kindergarten Cop. In that 1990 movie, the identical twins from California played Tina and Rina.
They followed that up with roles together in Problem Child 2, Single White Female, and Camp Nowhere in the next four years.
And now
After 1994, the Mataras appeared together in the TV series High Incident and movies Journey of Redemption and 100,000 Zombie Heads. The latter from 2012 is their last acting credit listed on IMDb.
Today, the twins run a joint Instagram account in which they describe themselves as “Identical mirror twins, business owners, artists, L.A. natives, [and] sometimes actors.”
19. Cali and Noelle Sheldon
Imagine starring on arguably the biggest sitcom of all time and not remembering a single thing about it. Well, that’s what twins Cali and Noelle Sheldon did.
But it’s not because they were wasted, or anything. It’s because they both portrayed baby Emma on Friends, the little daughter of Rachel and Ross. Adorably, they changed places when the other was having a nap.
And now
Now young adults, the identical twins haven’t given up on this show business lark. The sisters have appeared together in a number of short films, before landing roles in the acclaimed horror thriller Us.
That movie hit screens in 2019 to great success, so be sure to keep an eye out for these talented young ladies in the future.
18. Scarlett and Hunter Johansson
Twins Scarlett and Hunter Johansson were welcomed into the world on November 22, 1984. They joined an arty family that included their producer mother Melanie Sloan and their screenwriter and director grandfather.
So, it was hardly surprising that the brother and sister caught the acting bug from an early age. They appeared together in the 1996 movie Manny & Lo, in which Scarlett played her first lead role.
And now
Since that movie, however, the Johansson twins have taken very different paths in life. Scarlett has gone on to be one of the biggest stars in Hollywood and a bona fide beauty icon to rival Marilyn Monroe.
Hunter, meanwhile, has moved into political campaigning and community organizing. Still, the siblings remain close and are often seen together at red carpet events. Aww.
17. James and Oliver Phelps
Remember Ron Weasley’s elder brothers Fred and George from the Harry Potter films? Of course you do.
Well, those roguish twins were portrayed by real-life bros James and Oliver Phelps. They first appeared in the role in the opening movie in the franchise, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
And now
But that movie was released way back in 2001. So, what’s become of the brothers in the two decades since?
Well, they’ve been quite busy pursuing their acting careers. James and Oliver have worked together in the movies Last Night in Soho and Own Worst Enemy. They also host a podcast entitled Normal Not Normal that’s seen them get back in touch with various Potter alumni.
16. Shane and Brent Kinsman
The Cheaper by the Dozen movies were big hits with kids and parents alike. And that popularity was in no small part down to the impish on-screen twins Nigel and Kyle Baker.
Those memorable characters were portrayed by real-life identical twins Shane and Brent Kinsman, who were discovered aged just four at a baseball game. But what are they up to now?
And now
The first thing to say is that the Kinsman brothers are no longer the gawky kids of yesteryear. No, fast-forward to today, and they’re two dapper young men with degrees from California Polytechnic State University.
They’ve not been on screens since 2011, when they appeared as Porter and Preston Scavo in Desperate Housewives. But they both plan to return soon, with a stated goal to make it into the Star Wars franchise.
15. Sama and Haya Khadra
Never heard of Sama and Haya Khadara? Erm, us neither — but Google is our friend.
It informs us that they’re two Palestinian fashionistas born in Saudi Arabia, who are often jointly referred to as SimiHaze. The twins were discovered in Paris when they were just 14, before being recruited by Chanel to walk the runway at the next Fashion Week in the French capital.
And now
Since they exploded onto the fashion scene, the girls have made big strides in the industry. They’ve relocated to Los Angeles, amassed over a million Instagram followers, and made friends with the likes of Selena Gomez and Bella Hadid.
After founding the company SimiHaze Beauty and studying film and art, the world appears to be their oyster.
14. Brittany And Cynthia Daniel
Twin sisters Brittany and Cynthia Daniel rose to fame in the mid-1990s on Sweet Valley High, a TV show adapted from a series of novels by Francine Pascal.
The blonde siblings portrayed Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield on the program, characters who tried to negotiate high school and consequently became favorites among teens all across America.
And now
The Daniels continued to act after Sweet Valley High, appearing in That ’80s Show together before Cynthia quit acting in the early 2000s to focus on other things. Namely, photography and a lifestyle website that she ran with her sis known as Sweet Collection XO.
Brittany carried on acting, before taking a break to fight and beat cancer in 2012. Cynthia has since been tempted back to acting, and along with her beloved sister is set to appear in the new Cheaper By The Dozen movie, due in 2022.
13. Tia and Tamera Mowry
Those of you who watched TV in the ’90s will likely have seen Tia and Tamera Mowry on the sitcom Sister, Sister. The real-life identical siblings portrayed long-separated twins on the popular teen show.
But that was three decades ago now, so you might be wondering what they’ve been up to since.
And now
Well, after starring as reunited twins again in Disney’s Twitches and Twitches Too, the sisters halted their acting careers to study psychology at Pepperdine University. They then returned to acting, with Tia appearing in the movie Baggage Claim and on the TV series Family Reunion.
Tamera showed up in A Christmas Miracle, and for seven years hosted daytime talk show The Real. Finally, together they’ve created a book series called Twintuition.
12. Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen
Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen might be the most famous celebrity twins of all, originally finding stardom on the hugely popular TV series Full House. They were just infants when it began in 1987, and audiences saw them grow up to be girls of nine.
Then, of course, followed their very own show The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley and Two of a Kind, not to mention a bunch of films.
And now
Yet we don’t hear much about the Olsen twins these days, so what have they been up to? Well, the sisters have largely stepped back from Hollywood since 2012, instead channeling their energy into their fashion line, Elizabeth and James.
The twins’ respective relationships have been of interest, though. Mary-Kate was married to former French president Nicolas Sarkozy’s half-sibling Olivier until 2021. And Ashley is currently with artist Louis Eisner.
11. Aaron and Shawn Ashmore
Canadian brothers Aaron and Shawn Ashmore went into show business at a very early age. The identical twins appeared together as students in the 1991 comedy-drama Married to It.
They then repeated the feat in the 1993 TV movie Gross Misconduct: The Life of Brian Spencer. But what’s become of them since those early days?
And now
Well, the brothers have stayed in the acting game — and they’ve had considerable success in it, too. They’ve both starred in Smallville.
And Aaron has appeared regularly in the TV series Warehouse 13 and Killjoys. Shawn, meanwhile, has starred as Bobby Drake/Iceman in the X-Men movies, and he also landed a recurring role on The Following as Agent Mike Weston.
10. Louise and Lisa Burns
Who can forget the Grady daughters from horror classic The Shining? The terrifying twins scare the life out of poor Danny Torrance — and they’re still in our nightmares to this day.
But what happened to Louise and Lisa Burns, the identical British sisters who portrayed them, in the decades that followed?
And now
The answer is that the pair largely retreated from the spotlight, with neither sister acting after The Shining. They’ve made sporadic TV appearances related to the horror classic, such as on an episode of the VH-1 Where Are They Now?
Nowadays, the twins actually keep a joint Twitter and Facebook account, so committed fans can keep up with their antics there.
9. Blake and Dylan Tuomy-Wilhoit
If you watched Full House during its late ’80s and early ’90s heyday, then you’ll no doubt remember Uncle Jesse and Aunt Becky’s ultra-cute twin kids. Those characters — Nicky and Alex Katsopolis — were portrayed by real-life twins Blake and Dylan Tuomy-Wilhoit.
But now they’re all grown up. So, what do they look like? And what have they been up to?
And now
Perhaps unsurprisingly, they’ve grown into handsome young men. But the pair ditched acting soon after Full House to follow their passions, with Blake choosing to be a firefighter and Dylan a foley artist.
The latter even picked up an Emmy nomination for his work on Game of Thrones. In 2015 Fuller House was announced — and the Tuomy-Wilhoits reprised their roles in the franchise for two episodes. Awesome!
8. Diane and Erin Murphy
Bewitched was one of the biggest TV shows in America by the late 1960s, with twins Diane and Erin Murphy helping to generate its gargantuan success. As toddlers, they were spotted by a talent agent and were recruited to portray Tabitha Stephens from 1966 to 1968.
They then went on to numerous other roles soon after.
And now
Erin ultimately stayed in show business, continuing the role of Tabitha without her sister, before appearing in episodes of TV series such as Lassie and in more than 100 commercials. She’s also been everything from a TV host to reality TV star, stunt double, makeup artist, businessperson, casting director, acting teacher, and motivational speaker.
Phew. Diane, however, shunned the limelight following a few more TV appearances and ads. She later studied psychology and sociology at the University of California.
7. Melanie and Martina Grant
British people of a certain vintage will likely remember twins Melanie and Martina Grant fondly. The sisters appeared on the kid-centric game show Fun House, alongside the magnificently mulleted main host, Pat Sharp.
It ran from 1989 to 1999, making contestants battle it out on a range of challenges — from go-karting to completing obstacle courses.
And now
The twins are now settling into middle age, having both started families and enjoyed mostly regular lives. Martina has worked as an account manager for beauty brand Clarins, while Melanie has run a pub.
But the ladies haven’t given up on Fun House or nostalgia, as they can actually be hired for live events!
6. Kristopher and Jason Simmons
Kristopher and Jason Simmons gained a high level of fame at a very young age when they appeared as Wyatt Halliwell on supernatural series Charmed. The American twins — who are half Ecuadorian through their mother — first appeared on the show in season five, when they were just seven months old.
Kristopher and Jason continued in the role until the series concluded in 2006.
And now
The Simmons brothers later appeared together in the 2008 movie Pushing Daisies and a 2013 episode of How I Met Your Mother. Since then, though, they’ve largely moved out of the limelight.
They appear to be based in California and have earned youth soccer referee awards. Interestingly, Kristopher and Jason have two younger brothers, who, as fate would have it, are also twins. What are the odds?
5. Christian and Joseph Cousins
Kindergarten Cop follows Arnold Schwarzenegger’s undercover police officer as he pretends to be a teacher in order to foil a plot by a criminal father to kidnap his child. That particular boy, Dominic, was portrayed by identical twin brothers Christian and Joseph Cousins.
They got their break as toddlers playing Bobby Ewing on Knots Landing from 1987.
And now
Since those early days in show business over 30 years ago, the Cousins boys have grown gracefully into adulthood. Both stayed in the acting game to an extent, appearing in the movies Critters 3 and The Babysitters.
Their last joint credit was the 1995 TV series Dream On. Since then, Joseph has worked as a stylist, while Christian has worked at a furniture store.
4. Wendi and Brenda Turnbaugh
Identical twins Wendi and Brenda Turnbaugh rose to fame on the hugely popular and wholesome ’70s TV show Little House on the Prairie. Like many child actor twins, they worked together to play one role — that of Grace Ingalls.
But that was a long time ago, so what are they up to now?
And now
The Turnbaugh sisters turned their back on acting after Little House on the Prairie. Brenda got married in 1996 and has two children, while Wendi became a student of psychology at college.
She then also married and had two little ones of her own. Wendi also fought bravely against a brain tumor, later writing a book about it. Despite taking different paths, the two sisters usually attend any Little House on the Prairie reunions.
3. Spencer and Peyton List
Arriving into the world in 1998, Peyton and Spencer List were thrown into acting at a very tender age. We’re not talking 10 or 11 here, but rather two or three.
The twins’ first big-screen appearance together was in the superhero blockbuster hit Spider-Man 2. They were extras, depicting a boy and girl playing on some steps.
And now
Nowadays, though, the twins are twenty-somethings and much more than child extras. Peyton has starred in Bunk’d, Happy Together, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
Plus, she’s also shown her musical prowess and released the singles “Liar Liar” and “Dance Till We Die.” Spencer, meanwhile, has turned up in the film The Bachelors and TV shows The Fosters and Good Trouble. The twins have also appeared on Saturday Night Live together, as well as the movie Bereavement.
2. Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush
Wendi and Brenda Turnbaugh weren’t the only twins acting in Little House on the Prairie. They weren’t even the only twin girls!
No, the show also featured Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush, who both took it in turns to portray Carrie Ingalls from 1974 until 1982. So, what became of them?
And now
The sisters — who were curiously credited as a single actor named Lindsay Sidney Greenbush on Little House on the Prairie — stepped away from acting after that iconic show finished. They’ve largely kept out of the public eye ever since.
They have, however, shown up in reunions for the series on occasion.
1. Dylan and Cole Sprouse
Dylan and Cole Sprouse shot to fame in the early 1990s on Grace Under Fire, when they were barely out of diapers. The brothers both portrayed Patrick Kelly on the sitcom from 1993 until 1998.
They later went on to star together in numerous films and TV shows, including the Adam Sandler vehicle Big Daddy and the popular Disney Channel show The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. Cole also portrayed Ross’ kid Ben on Friends.
And now
These days, the Sprouses have developed into leading adult actors. Cole — who paused acting to study at New York University — is best known for his role as Jughead Jones on the teen drama Riverdale and his on-off romance with co-star Lili Reinhart.
Dylan, meanwhile, has starred in several films and tried his hand at business. Not bad, guys! But, of course, there are plenty of child stars without a twin, and their transformations are just as jaw-dropping. You won't believe what Abigail Breslin looks like today.
1. Abigail Breslin:
The star of Little Miss Sunshine undeniably rose to fame during her awkward years, but she has since grown to become a force to be reckoned with on screen.
Can you believe Breslin's transformation from these side-by-side photographs?
2. Zac Efron:
Efron might've hit the scene as a puny pre-teen, but there's no denying the total beefcake he's transformed into today.
Starring in movies like Baywatch and Neighbors, his winsome grin and sparkling blue eyes undoubtedly break just as many hearts (if not more) now than in his High School Musical days.
3. Elle Fanning:
Noted for her breakout role in the J.J. Abrams film Super 8, this young lady has quickly blossomed from a quiet young girl into a serious force in Hollywood.
One thing that hasn't changed? Those soulful baby blues.
4. Scarlett Johansson:
Johansson has enjoyed an illustrious career as one of Hollywood's most sought-after leading ladies, but it came after a massive transformation from her early days.
It's hard to believe the little girl from The Horse Whisperer has become a sexy siren of the silver screen.
5. Daryl Sabara:
Even though he first won our hearts while playing the role of Juni Cortez in the Spy Kids film franchise, you might not find someone who could recognize Sabara on the streets today.
That curly mop was his signature style!
6. Daniel Radcliffe:
Since practically every young adult today was raised on the Harry Potter films and books, you'd have tough time finding someone who isn't familiar with this Brit's mug.
Still, even little 'Arry couldn't escape puberty.
7. Joseph Gordon Levitt:
Levitt's first claim to fame was his role as an eccentric teen alien on the '90s sitcom Third Rock From the Sun.
Today, he's fully transformed into a handsome devil—and one of Hollywood's most charismatic leading men.
8. Georgie Henley:
Bitten by the acting bug at a young age, Henley starred as Lucy in the massive blockbuster fantasy film series, The Chronicles of Narnia.
Now, she's gone on to star in several off-Broadway productions of such plays as Babes in the Wood, We Will Rock You, and Jane Eyre.
9. Drew Barrymore:
Barrymore was just a child when she first made a name for herself in Hollywood with a starring role in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
Even though she grew up in the public spotlight, she's barely recognizable from her former child self!
10. Kristen Stewart:
While Stewart first catapulted into the public eye as the lead in the teen vampire love story, Twilight, she's still a mere shadow of herself as a child.
Anyone who knew her as a kid would have a hard time recognizing her today!
11. Hilary Duff:
When Duff first starred in the children's film Casper Meets Wendy, she was a wide-eyed actress looking to make a name for herself. She matured quite a bit after the hit TV series Lizzy McGuire, transitioning into more adult roles (she stars in Younger).
She's also a mom herself!
12. Kim Kardashian:
To be fair, Kardashian wasn't actually a child star, though she did have some famous ties to celebrities in her youth.
Even still, looking at her today, it's almost impossible to make a connection between the left and right photo.
13. Ariel Winter:
People across the United States came to love this young lady for her role on the hit sitcom Modern Family.
Since launching her career in 2009, however, Winter has changed her look several times—and she's known just as much for her body-positive attitude as for her acting chops.
14. Blake McIver Ewing:
Known for playing the young nerdy boy Derek on the '90s family sitcom Full House, Ewing had a difficult time shedding his geeky image.
Once he finally moved on from puberty, however, his model good looks sealed his post-nerd status.
15. Ariana Grande:
Grande first catapulted into the public eye as a young girl on the the Nickelodeon series Victorious.
When she reemerged as a fully fledged pop star some years later, fans had a difficult time realizing she was the same person!
16. Jerry O'Connell:
After first appearing in the '80s coming of age film Stand By Me, no one ever expected the pudgy (but lovable) O'Connell to blossom into this stud.
Nevertheless, he did—and he went on to star in such roles as Crossing Jordan and Sliders.
17. Keira Knightley:
Looking at a side-by-side of Knightley as a child and now, you can see a faint resemblance.
But who would've thought that little girl would go on to have such a successful career as an actress in such films as the raunchy Pirates of the Caribbean and oh-so-serious Atonement?
18. Freddie Highmore:
When Highmore sprung onto everyone's radar with his breakout role in the 2005 remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, he showed his serious acting chops.
Many years later, he proved this even further when he starred as Norman Bates in the TV series Bates Motel.
19. Neil Patrick Harris:
Harris might have played a child doctor on the hit television program Doogie Howser, M.D., but it wasn't until he starred in How I Met Your Mother that people first caught a glance of him as an actual adult.
He really grew up to be legen...wait for it...
20. Macaulay Culkin:
Culkin won over audiences's hearts as Kevin McCallister in the '90s family Christmas movie Home Alone.
But when photos of the actor all grown up appeared online, people had a hard time believing it was actually him.