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![Young Seaver Family]()
Growing Pains centered around the Seaver family, a wacky bunch with a working mother and stay-at-home father. The sitcom ran from 1988-1992 on ABC.![Middle-Aged Seaver Family]()
The Seavers were: doofy dad Dr. Jason Seaver (Alan Thicke), level-headed mom Maggie Malone (Joanna Kerns), troublemaker Mike (Kirk Cameron), smart Carol (Tracey Gold), and playful Ben (Jeremy Miller).![Older_Seaver_Family]()
In the later seasons, the Seaver family expanded to include baby Chrissy (Ashley Johnson) and adopted Luke Brower (Leonardo DiCaprio).![The Seaver Kids]()
Though canceled in 1992, Growing Pains has spawned two reunion movies, following the lives of the Seaver children as young adults.![Andrew Koenig: Then]()
Andrew Koenig played Mike's goofy friend "Boner" on the show. With a name like Boner, goofy is about the only way you can go.![Andrew Koenig: Now]()
Koenig, who is the son of "Star Trek" actor Walter Koenig, who played Checkov, had a hard time after his "Growing Pains" fame. Koenig was reported missing around Valentine's Day 2010, and his parents had issued a statement asking the public for help in locating their son. His body was found Feb. 25, in Canada.![Kirk Cameron: Then]()
At 15, Kirk Cameron starred as popular Mike Seaver and became a teen heartthrob.![Kirk Cameron: Now]()
In his late teens, Kirk became a born-again Christian, leading to several clashes on the show over his objections to its supposedly racy material. In 1991, he married Chelsea Noble, who played his on-screen girlfriend Kate in Growing Pains. At 38, Kirk now stars in Christian movies and radio and runs a camp for terminally ill children.![Tracey Gold: Then]()
At 16, Tracey Gold played brainy Carol Seaver, often teased by her brothers for being a nerd.![Troubled Tracey Gold]()
On the show, Carol was often the brunt of fat jokes. But this was no joke to Tracey Gold, who struggled with anorexia in her time on Growing Pains and beyond. Her battle with the disease received extensive national coverage, and she was hospitalized in 1992 after dropping to 80 lbs.![Tracey_Gold_DUI]()
Tracey experienced some trouble with the law as well, and was arrested for drunk driving in 1994 with her family in the car.![Tracey Gold: Now]()
Tracey, now 40, has been happily married since 1994 and has four young boys. She has recently starred on TV Guide and TLC television specials.![Jeremy Miller: Then]()
Jeremy Miller, here at age 9, played Ben Seaver, the youngest in the family (until Chrissy came along).![Jeremy Miller: Now]()
Jeremy admitted to a nervous breakdown at a young age, while also suffering from ADD. He is currently married at age 32 and has only appeared in minor roles since his TV stardom.![Ashley Johnson: Then]()
In an effort to salvage ratings, baby Chrissy was born in 1988, but only 2 years later, producers decided to advance her age to 6. Ashley Johnson, 7, began portraying young schoolgirl in 1990.![Ashley Johnson: Now]()
Ashley, now 25, starred in several other child roles, most notably as Mel Gibson's daughter in the 2000 comedy, What Women Want. She currently provides voices for Disney cartoons.![Leonardo DiCaprio: Then]()
In the seventh season, with cancellation quickly approaching, producers attempted to save the show with homeless ragamuffin Luke Brower, who was adopted by the Seavers. He was played by none other than Leonardo DiCaprio, whose role on Growing Pains was one of his first.![Leonardo DiCaprio: Now]()
Only six years later, Leo-mania began with DiCaprio starring in the 1997 all-time blockbuster Titanic. And to think, we have Growing Pains to thank.Then/Now: The Cast of 'Growing Pains'
The child stars from the classic sitcom - from Kirk to Leo - have all experienced growing pains of their own.
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- Then/Now: The Cast of 'Growing Pains'
