He was a teen star with everything going for him—fame, fortune, and a top-rated TV show. But just as his career was soaring, he made a decision that stunned many. Stepping away from Hollywood, he chose a path that few could have predicted.
As a beloved child actor in “Growing Pains,” he became one of the most popular young actors of the 1980s. Teen magazines featured him on their covers, and he was the go-to heartthrob for many fans. Yet, behind the scenes, he grappled with a growing sense that Hollywood wasn’t where he truly belonged.
The actor, circa 1982 | Source: Getty Images
By the early 1990s, at the peak of his fame, the star made a choice that would shock many in the industry. He turned away from acting and embraced a life of faith. This decision didn’t just alter his career; it transformed his entire worldview. How did his life unfold after he left Hollywood?
The actor poses for a portrait, circa 1980 | Source: Getty Images
He didn’t set out to become an actor. In fact, as a young boy, his sights were set on something completely different—he wanted to be a doctor. His dream was to become a surgeon, but his career path took an unexpected detour when his mother, encouraged by a friend, introduced him to acting.
That friend happened to be the mother of Adam Rich, a child actor famous for his role in “Eight is Enough.” She suggested that the boy’s mother take him to an agent and try his luck in commercials.
Reluctantly, his mother followed the advice, and before long, the nine-year-old was booking small roles. His first acting jobs included commercials, like the one for McDonald’s. Though he found himself working steadily, the young boy didn’t enjoy acting.
The actor poses for a photograph on September 22, 1985 | Source: Getty Images
“I was always annoyed having to brush my hair and tuck my shirt in to go drive an hour in traffic to audition,” he once reflected on those early years. Despite his lack of enthusiasm, his acting career gained momentum, eventually leading to his breakout role as Mike Seaver in “Growing Pains.”
The “Growing Pains” cast, dated July 22, 1985 | Source: Getty Images
As his fame grew, so did his internal struggle. Hollywood had much to offer, but he began questioning if that was enough. What would eventually pull him in a completely new direction was something unexpected—his faith.
The “Growing Pains” cast in 1990 | Source: Getty Images
Growing up, his family wasn’t religious, and there were never conversations about God in his home. “When I was growing up, we didn’t go to church,” he once shared.
“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,” he added.
The actor appears on the ABC tv special, “The ABC All-Star Spectacular,” on September 12, 1985 | Source: Getty Images
His atheism was shaped by those around him, particularly his teachers. “I think I caught my atheism—it was by contagion,” he said, referring to the influence of his science and history teachers, who dismissed religion as “just a fairy tale.”
At that point in his life, he was fully immersed in his Hollywood career and had little interest in exploring faith or spirituality. Yet, despite his disinterest, a chance encounter would soon change the course of his beliefs.
Kirk Cameron with co-star Dana Plato on November 5, 1985 | Source: Getty Images
It wasn’t a deep theological conversation that first brought him to church. Drawn to a girl he liked, he accepted her invitation to attend church with her family. “I’ll be honest. It wasn’t because I was interested in God. I was interested in the girl,” he admitted.
Little did he know, this casual decision would spark a profound transformation in his life. As his faith deepened, it began to have a noticeable impact on his life and career, raising concerns among his colleagues in Hollywood.
The actor on November 20, 1985 | Source: Getty Images
By the time he was 17, his commitment to his newfound beliefs had started to influence the way he approached his role in “Growing Pains.” This sudden shift did not go unnoticed by the show’s producers and cast members, who grew increasingly worried about how it might affect the series.
As one of the show’s key characters, his actions held significant weight. The show’s success—and everyone’s jobs—depended, in part, on him. The producers worried whether his deepening religious beliefs would take him in a direction that could jeopardize the show’s longevity.
The actor on set with a co-actor on October 21, 1986 | Source: Getty Images
“Is he getting into something that’s really gonna take him into Looney Town? And if it is, we need to stop that,” he recalled their concerns. He, however, was focused on trying to live out his faith, though he admits that at times, he didn’t handle it as gracefully as he could have.
“I was trying to take the moral high road. I wanted to please God genuinely, and I think sometimes that got misunderstood,” he explained. What was clear, though, was that his priorities were shifting—and Hollywood wasn’t sure how to respond.
The actor on set with co-actor Jeremy Miller in the movie “Growing pains” on February 18, 1986 | Source: Getty Images
As his faith grew stronger, he also became more aware of the troubling behaviors around him in Hollywood. Over time, he reportedly witnessed disturbing incidents that further distanced him from the industry.
“The evil, the darkness, the twisted sickness of Hollywood has been going on for a long time,” he said, reflecting on his years as a child actor. The former teen heartthrob, who began acting at nine, recalled being suspicious of the unsettling things happening behind the scenes during his time on “Growing Pains.”
One of the most shocking revelations involved his personal dialogue coach from the show, Brian Peck, who was later convicted of sexual abuse crimes. Peck’s name was highlighted in a recent documentary that uncovered the darker side of the entertainment industry.
The actor described how these revelations confirmed what he had suspected all along—that Hollywood was not the wholesome place it often appeared to be. For him, this environment, driven by power, pride, and ego, only reinforced his desire to move away from the spotlight.
The actor poses for a photo, circa 1987 | Source: Getty Images
He became even more committed to his faith and the values it provided, believing that the pursuit of fame and fortune often led people down dangerous paths. “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,” he stated.
His growing disillusionment with Hollywood solidified his decision to step back from acting. However, his life was about to take another meaningful turn that would see him focus more on family and faith.
Kirk Cameron’s departure from Hollywood marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life. At just 20, he married his “Growing Pains” co-star, actress, Chelsea Noble, and the two started building a life together far from the entertainment industry. Together, they welcomed six children into their family, four of whom they adopted.
Kirk Cameron and Chelsea Noble in the movie “Growing pains,” dated October 18, 1989 | Source: Getty Images
Adoption was a cause close to both Cameron and Noble’s hearts, as Noble herself was adopted. They always ensured their children knew their origins and helped them reconnect with their biological families when the time came.
For Cameron, this focus on family became central to his life, as did his commitment to maintaining a strong moral foundation. One of the most striking examples of his dedication to family values came during the filming of his 2008 movie “Fireproof.”
In the film, Cameron plays a firefighter trying to save his marriage. However, when it came time to shoot a kissing scene with the actress playing his wife, Cameron refused to kiss anyone but his real-life spouse.
Kirk Cameron and Chelsea Noble at Westbury Hotel in New York City on June 28, 1996 | Source: Getty Images
To honor his marriage vows, the filmmakers worked around this by dressing Noble as the movie’s female lead and filming the scene in silhouette. Cameron later explained, “I have a commitment not to kiss any other woman,” showing how seriously he took his beliefs.
With Hollywood in the rearview mirror, Cameron’s life became less about fame and more about staying true to the values he cherished. But his journey wasn’t over—he soon made another major decision that would further change the course of his life.
In recent years, Cameron made another bold life decision—leaving the place where he had spent most of his life and built his career. In early 2021, Cameron took to social media to share his intention to leave 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,” he shared in a Facebook post. Ultimately, it was Tennessee that won his heart.
Kirk Cameron poses on September 7, 2022 | Source: Getty Images
In subsequent interviews, he revealed his reasons for the move. Cameron felt that California had become unsafe and longed for a place that embraced more of the “wholesome values” he held dear.
He was drawn to its lifestyle, but there was another significant reason for the move—three of his children now lived there. It offered the opportunity to be closer to family while also enjoying the slower pace and community that Tennessee provided.
Cameron also spoke of the “healthy freedom mindset” he found in Tennessee, a stark contrast to what he described as California’s growing restrictions. He also called Tennessee a “hub for Christian projects.”
In Tennessee, he discovered a community of like-minded individuals, including other creatives who had left Hollywood behind. The state, with its growing entertainment industry, has even drawn a number of California “refugees,” offering a fresh start for those seeking a more grounded lifestyle.
With his move to Tennessee, Cameron found not only a new home but a place that aligned more closely with the values he had embraced. Yet, despite leaving Hollywood and California, his passion for family, faith, and storytelling has not wavered.
Cameron’s life has been full of milestones, but one of his most cherished moments came in July 2024, when he and Noble became grandparents. Cameron proudly shared the news on social media, posting a heartfelt message about the arrival of their granddaughter, Maya Jeanne Noble Bower.
“Our hearts are filled to overflowing,” he wrote. “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.” For Cameron, this new chapter as a grandparent brings even more joy and meaning to his family-centered life.
In addition to celebrating his growing family, Cameron continued his passion for projects that align with his faith and values. In 2022, he released the film “Lifemark,” which explores the beauty of adoption and the value of life.
The movie was particularly meaningful to him, given his personal connection to adoption as a father of four adopted children and his wife’s own adoption story. Cameron expressed his excitement for the film, emphasizing how close the story was to his heart.
Although Cameron stepped away from the Hollywood mainstream long ago, he remains active in creating faith-based films and media that reflect his beliefs. His focus on positive, uplifting stories that celebrate family and faith has become the hallmark of his post-Hollywood career.
With a growing family and a steady stream of projects that align with his values, Cameron’s life today is a far cry from his teenage days as a heartthrob on “Growing Pains.” But for Kirk Cameron, the path he has chosen has brought him a deep sense of fulfillment and purpose.
