This ’80s Teen Idol Gave Up Fame for Faith—You Won’t Believe What He’s Doing Now!

He was a teenage star with everything—fame, money, and a hit TV show. But just as his career reached its peak, he made a surprising decision. He stepped away from Hollywood and chose a very different path, one no one expected.

As a child actor in “Growing Pains,” he became one of the most famous young stars of the 1980s. Teen magazines loved him, and fans saw him as a heartthrob. But behind the scenes, he started feeling like Hollywood wasn’t where he truly belonged.

As a kid, he never planned to be an actor. His dream was to become a doctor, specifically a surgeon. However, his path changed when his mom, encouraged by a friend, introduced him to acting.

That friend was the mother of Adam Rich, a child actor famous for “Eight is Enough.” She told his mom to take him to an agent and try commercials. Reluctantly, his mom followed the advice, and at age nine, he started landing small roles, including a McDonald’s commercial.

Though he worked steadily, he didn’t enjoy acting. He once said, “I was always annoyed having to brush my hair and drive through traffic to auditions.” Still, his career grew, and he landed the role of Mike Seaver on “Growing Pains,” which made him famous.

As his fame grew, he began questioning if Hollywood’s lifestyle was enough for him. It was his faith that eventually led him in a new direction.

He didn’t grow up in a religious household. “We didn’t go to church,” he said. As a teenager, he considered himself an atheist. “At 16 or 17, I would have said I didn’t believe in God,” he explained.

His atheism was influenced by his teachers. “I think I caught my atheism—it was like a contagion,” he said, referring to how his science and history teachers dismissed religion. At the time, he was focused on his Hollywood career and didn’t care about faith.

That changed when he met a girl he liked. She invited him to church with her family, and he went—not because of faith, but because he was interested in her. This simple decision changed his life. Over time, his faith grew stronger and began to affect his career, causing concern among his Hollywood colleagues.

By 17, his faith started influencing his decisions on “Growing Pains.” This worried the producers and cast members, as the show’s success depended on him. They wondered if his new beliefs would hurt the series.

He recalled their concerns: “Is he getting into something that’s going to ruin the show? If it is, we need to stop that.”

Cameron admitted he was trying to live out his faith but didn’t always handle it well. “I wanted to please God, but sometimes that got misunderstood,” he said. His priorities were shifting, and Hollywood didn’t know how to handle it.

As his faith grew, he noticed troubling things in Hollywood. He described the industry as having “evil, darkness, and twisted sickness.” He recalled being suspicious of things happening behind the scenes during “Growing Pains.”

One shocking incident involved his dialogue coach, Brian Peck, who was later convicted of sexual abuse. For Cameron, these incidents confirmed that Hollywood wasn’t as wholesome as it seemed. He believed the industry’s obsession with fame and power only led to harm.

These experiences made him more committed to his faith and strengthened his decision to leave acting. But his next chapter focused on family and living a life rooted in his beliefs.

At 20, Cameron married his “Growing Pains” co-star, Chelsea Noble. Together, they built a life away from Hollywood, raising six children—four of whom they adopted.

Adoption was especially meaningful to them, as Noble herself was adopted. They supported their kids in reconnecting with their biological families when ready. Family became Cameron’s top priority.

One example of his dedication was during the filming of his 2008 movie “Fireproof.” In a kissing scene, Cameron refused to kiss anyone except his wife. The filmmakers worked around this by dressing Noble as the female lead and filming the scene in silhouette.

With Hollywood behind him, Cameron focused on his family and faith, which continued to guide his life decisions.

In 2021, Cameron decided to leave California, where he had lived most of his life. On social media, he asked for recommendations on where to move. The top suggestions were Tennessee, Florida, and Texas. He chose Tennessee.

Cameron explained his move by saying California had become unsafe and no longer reflected his values. Tennessee offered a slower pace, community, and the chance to live closer to three of his children.

He also found Tennessee to be a hub for Christian projects, aligning with his beliefs. The state’s entertainment industry is growing, attracting others who have left Hollywood for a more grounded lifestyle.

In July 2024, Cameron and Noble became grandparents. Cameron shared his joy on social media, writing, “Our hearts are filled to overflowing” about the birth of their granddaughter, Maya Jeanne Noble Bower.

Cameron also continued working on faith-based projects. In 2022, he released the film “Lifemark,” which celebrates adoption and the value of life—a subject close to his heart as an adoptive father.

Though he left mainstream Hollywood, Cameron remains active in creating films that reflect his values. His focus on positive stories about family and faith has defined his career after acting.

Today, Kirk Cameron’s life is far from his teenage stardom on “Growing Pains.” Instead, he has found fulfillment and purpose through faith, family, and storytelling.