When your parents told you to get off of “the Nintendo” in the 90s, you usually had to play with friends, listen to a cassette tape, or unfortunately, do your homework. If you couldn’t find a buddy to chat with on your corded phone, then you might have opted just to watch tv instead. The channels weren’t as good, but there were plenty of sitcoms to fill the day before the real shows came on at night.

The characters on tv shows are often romanticized and more perfect than the person you sat beside in class. It was easy to fall for these characters, making the ride home from school excruciating. Gazing at Saved By the Bell’s A.C. Slater’s manly, curled mullet or wishing Jesse Spano would lecture you, might have filled your thoughts. High school wouldn’t end up being like what you watched on tv, but it was nice to dream.

Life not only moved on for us, but also for those we fell in love with onscreen. Many opted to trade their celebrity days for a private life.  Mighty Morphin Power Ranger’s Red Ranger Austin St. John wanted to hide away after the show ended, while My So-Called Life’s Claire Danes became a star on Homeland.

What happened to all the other stars we followed in the 1990s? We’ve compiled a list of celebrities that made our childhood hearts flutter.

25 Twins Just Make Everything Better

Sister, Sister starred two identical twins who were separated at birth and adopted by different parents. They reunited fourteen years later for a successful show that lasted almost 120 episodes. After the show ended, Tia and Tamera Mowry studied Psychology at Pepperdine University. Not wanting to share awards all the time, the twins would later separate to pursue different projects.

Tia and Tamera would later team up again in 2011 for a reality show where the twins prepare for Tia’s wedding. Tia then landed a role in BET’s The Game and would later star in a cooking show called Tia Mowry at Home. Tamera also had a voice acting role as Misty Knight in The Super Hero Squad Show, but mostly landed smaller roles in tv and movies.

24 A Girl You Could Literally Melt For

The Secret World Of Alex Mack aired during Nickelodeon’s evening programming before Are You Afraid of the Dark. Alex was a tough teenage girl who defended herself against the people who were trying to capture her. She wielded the abilities to morph into liquid and use telekinesis. She was smart, funny, and her smile melted several hearts.

Larisa Oleynik enjoyed the role but was happy to head to college after the show ended. After graduating, Larisa went straight back into actively acting. She continued a few small film roles, appearing in The Baby-Sitters Club and 10 Things I Hate About You as well as dramas like Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in 2016. We might miss her as the adventurous teen in Alex Mack, but she won’t be quitting acting anytime soon.

23 Making A Splash In Our Hearts

Who could forget the eco-friendly movie, Free Willy? The family-friendly film told the story of a troubled 12-year-old boy. He only found solace by befriending an orca held in captivity. The human star, a preteen named Jesse, captivated audiences and their hearts by his love of his oceanic friend. The role even won him a nomination for MTV’s Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance.

Free Willy was Jason’s first big acting role and so far, his last one to make a splash. He acted in two sequels before moving onto other movies, such as Tekken and The Neverending Story III. He hasn’t been in any other groundbreaking performances since his orca-befriending days but has most recently appeared in smaller tv roles, voice acting in Rugrats or performing as Matthew Keane in Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior.

22 She Was All That

Amanda Bynes was a young actress who quickly rose to fame. She starred in All That and The Amanda Show but eventually moved on from Nickelodeon shows. After the show ended, the movies Amanda appeared in went from G to PG quickly with What a Girl Wants, She’s the Man, and Easy A starring Emma Stone. In 2010, she wanted to get rid of her child acting days and appear more mature by appearing in a racy photo shoot in Maxim magazine.

Amanda decided to take a break from acting but ran into legal issues. In 2012, she was charged with a DUI. A year later, she was arrested for starting a small fire in her neighbor’s driveway, which had her institutionalized for a few days. Amanda has stayed out of trouble since those trying times. In 2017 she decided to return to acting, but only on tv shows.

21 His Scary Stories Couldn’t Put Out The Fire In Our Hearts

Gary was the part of the original Are You Afraid of the Dark storytellers. In fact, Gary was the founder of the first set of campfire teens. Every week, viewers tuned in to hear a new story and catch a glimpse of the intellectual heartthrob played by Ross Hull.

Ross has had a thriving career in Canada after spending five years as Gary. After a few more acting roles, including Dr. Corrigan in Stargate: Atlantis, he moved on to pursue other interests. Ross completed a Meteorology Program at Mississippi State University and a Radio and Television Arts degree in Toronto. In 2005, he left the world of acting to become a weather presenter on The Weather Network. He continues to give the weather forecast today for various news outlets.

20 Why Did She Keep Playing With Our Minds?

If you didn’t tune into Fresh Prince of Bel-Air for Will Smith, you were tuning in to watch the antics of the Banks family. Hilary and Carlton were already spoiled from their wealthy lifestyles, but Will tried to show Ashley that there was more to life than money. Ashley turned out to be one of the most balanced characters on the show.

Tatyana’s portrayal of Ashley left a long-lasting impression on viewers. She was stunning on-screen and had talents outside of acting, including singing and dancing. Though she hasn’t landed any groundbreaking roles since the show ended, Tatyana continued singing and released one full album. To this day, she has also continued acting on various tv shows and small movie roles.

19 Tool Time Had Nothing On This Genius

Randy Taylor was the middle child of the three Taylor boys in Home Improvement. He didn’t share his father’s love of tools and preferred sticking his nose in a book rather than a car engine. He was also incredibly devoted to a single girl, Lauren, who he remained loyal to during the entire series.

Jonathan Taylor Thomas portrayed this quiet, nerdy teen. After the show, he went on to voice Simba in Disney’s The Lion King. Though his future roles wouldn’t be as popular as Randy or Simba, he was still a genius outside of his career. Jonathan went on to graduate with honors from Chaminade College Preparatory School and enrolled at Harvard. Actors aren’t always different from the characters they portray on-screen.

18 A Sidekick Every (Wannabe) Warrior Wanted

Xena, the Warrior Princess may have been mighty, but she took strength from her partner, Gabrielle. She may have started off as naive and weak, but by the sixth season, she has also become a strong fighter, even if she didn’t like bloodshed as much as Xena. The young girl starts off hiding behind Xena but then learns to stand by her side as an equal.

Renée O’Connor already made her name known before debut in the Hercules and Xena tv shows and movies. After the show, she moved on to continue a long career of acting. In 2001, Renée started a film production company, ROC Pictures. She continued to perform smaller roles in movies and a few tv shows. One of her most recent performances was on the long-running show Criminal Minds.

17 Whoa! Now There’s A Teenage Hunk

Blossom was primarily about the struggles of a young girl. She felt awkward and weird, something many teenage girls could relate to. Her older brother Joey Russo was someone that most viewers couldn’t relate to, but he provided extra eye candy. He was a rebellious bad boy who’s accent and catchphrase “Whoa” made us both laugh and swoon.

Joey Lawrence has appeared on tv since he was five years old on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He’s appeared in several small movies over the years but primarily sticks to tv shows. After landing smaller roles on tv, his last big role was in Melissa & Joey for over one hundred episodes. Though he no longer says his catchphrase, he’ll always hold a special place in our hearts.

16 The Name To Write In Your School Notebook

Ghostwriter was a tv show that aired on PBS in the 1990s. It was an educational show about teens working with a supernatural entity to solve various mysterious. Lenni Frazier was the second person to notice Ghostwriter’s presence. She had a strong performance in the series. Her creative endeavors impressed viewers and many tuned in just to watch her in action.

Blaze Berdahl previously debuted in Pet Sematary before moving onto the PBS show. After the long-running show, she paused her acting career to complete college. Instead of returning to acting on screen, she has opted for voice acting instead. Though you may not recognize her range of voices, she’s had a successful career for over 25 years. Her voice acting portfolio includes Cheetah from DC Super Friends and the blonde icon herself, Barbie, for Toys “R” Us.

15 Worked His Magic On Our Young Hearts

Harvey Kinkle was lovable and goofy, which made this Sabrina, the Teenage Witch alumn easy to fall in love with. He was loyal from the first episode until the end of the series in 2003. We always hoped he and Sabrina would get together, but some fans may have secretly wanted his adorable smile for themselves.

The High School jock was Nate Richert’s longest lasting role, lasting four years. After the show ended, he continued acting for a few years before turning to music instead. Nate now plays folk-rock and bluegrass music, first with C. Duck Anderson, but has recently debuted a solo album called Halogen Moon. Even though he’s more focused on making music, he still appears at special events from Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.

14 Made Summer Camp Worth Attending

Salute Your Shorts was one of the earliest live-action shows for teens on Nickelodeon. Various personalities came together and clashed at Camp Anawanna. Everyone had their favorite characters, but many fell for the bratty princess of the group, Dina Alexander.

Heidi Lewis was so beloved for her role as Dina that she won the Young Artist Award in 1993. She appeared in smaller roles after Salute Your Shorts ended, such as Boy Meets World and Hypernauts. Unfortunately, her acting career slowly died off after performing in a few product commercials. But don’t feel worried for Heidi, as she turned in her acting for a law degree and now works as an attorney in the Golden State, California. Though she’s no longer saluting shorts on a flagpole, she’s enjoying married life and her new career.

13 We’d Go Back In Time To Protect His Smile

Terminator 2: Judgement Day was the movie everyone wanted to watch but had to hide from their parents. Though it was violent, everyone wanted to be the teenage bad boy John Connor, who worked with Arnold Schwarzenegger. John’s fierce style and attitude melted several teenage hearts.

Being John Connor was Edward Furlong’s first significant role. He continued to act in various movies after Terminator 2, including Daniel Vinyard in American History X. After that, his movie roles have taken a backseat due to the numerous issues Edward has faced in his personal life. Growing up on set, Edward faced various hurdles, such as a controversial relationship with a tutor, plus battling addiction. Things only ended up worse for Edward. In 2013, he was convicted and sentenced to jail for domestic assault.

12 Strong And Fearless, But Not A “Sidekick”

Michelle Trachtenberg made appearances in several 90s shows since her debut. She’s mostly known for playing the younger Pete’s best friend Nona F. Mecklenberg in The Adventures of Pete & Pete, but also appeared in the shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Six Feet Under, and Gossip Girl. Her appearances as the smart yet brave Harriet the Spy, impressed viewers.

Michelle appeared in a variety of media over the years and had remained active since her Pete & Pete days. She hasn’t had a long-lasting role in appearing as Emma Karlin in Weeds but continues to work as an actress. Lately, she has guest starred in various nighttime crime dramas like NCIS: Los Angeles and even Food Network’s Chopped Junior as a judge.

11 “Have Mercy” On Our Hearts

Jesse Katsopolis was the “cool” Uncle of Full House. He rode a motorcycle, dated beautiful women, serenaded the love of his life, Becky, and owned a nightclub for teens. He turned from an edgy rebel to a family man, keeping us on the edge of our seats the whole time. Fans were not only watching him as a cool Uncle but also as a handsome troublemaker.

John Stamos has held a steady acting career, from daytime soaps to roasting Bob Sagat on Comedy Central. His performances can be hard to miss, as he often has cameo roles on different tv shows, but few long-running parts. Luckily for us, John has reprised his role as Uncle Jesse in Fuller House on Netflix, in case you’ve missed his classic catchphrase, “Have Mercy.”

10 Adventures In Romance With A Childhood Friend

The Adventures Of Pete And Pete primarily focused on the brothers who shared the same name. The show ran for three seasons, taking us along on the boys’ journeys from childhood to days of teenage angst. Ellen Josephine Hickle had a big role in the older Pete’s life, first starting off as a trusted friend, then a love interest.

After the show ended, Alison Fanelli stopped acting to pursue higher education. She graduated from Dartmouth College with a Master’s Degree in Health Care Improvement. In 2011, she returned briefly for a small voice acting role in TOME: Terrain of Magical Expertise but has not returned to acting in any form since. Alison may not be helping the Pete brothers deal with their teenage problems, but at least now she can now mend their wounds.

9 Drove A Spike Into Our Hearts

Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, not only had to deal with her family’s history but also teenage life. She had to learn to embrace who she is while various supernatural creatures try to destroy her. One of those characters is Spike; an antagonist turned reluctant hero. Many were attracted to him because he was forbidden for the “good characters” to love.

James Marsters portrayed Spike throughout the Buffy and Angel spin-off series. He continued acting in the Sci-Fi genre, including a role in CW’s Smallville and the unfortunate role as Piccolo in the live-action Dragonball Evolution movie. James’ acting roles have slowly drifted off as he pursued musical interests. He has released two solo albums and is currently the lead singer of the rock band, Ghost of the Robot.

8 Programming Her Way Into Geeky Harts

Clarissa of Clarissa Explains It All was one of the earliest role models for geeky girls. Not only did she have a baby gator pet but she also programmed video games. It was a time where males were the primary gaming demographic, so a girl who not only played video games but also coded, was impressive. Her wild 90s fashion style made her fun and unpredictable. There were plenty of viewers who wanted her exciting life and many more who wanted her at their side.

Melissa Joan Hart has maintained a successful career since her Nickelodeon days. She appeared as the main character on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. She moved on to Melissa & Joey from 2010-2015. Melissa isn’t just a talented actress for tv, movies, and voice roles. She opened a candy shop for a short time and recently debuted a fashion line called King of Harts.

7 We’re Strong Enough For Him

Shawn Hunter was Cory Matthews’s best friend in Boy Meets World. When Cory wasn’t pining for his childhood friend Topanga, he was usually helping Shawn deal with family issues. Shawn is a troubled teenager who was captivating to watch. He may have disliked school, but he was a skilled writer and photographer. Shawn was the tough teen with a caring heart that many viewers couldn’t stop watching.

After the show ended, Rider Strong continued to act in a variety of small movie and tv show roles. He began to take on voice acting roles which include Batman Beyond and Star vs. the Forces of Evil. If you missed Shawn, you could catch him on Disney’s Girl Meets World, the sequel to Boy Meets World.

6 A Ranger We’d Want To Fight Beside

The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers were a group of teens who fought evil in Angel Grove. Most kids had their favorite ranger, but even more had a Ranger they fancied. For most, that was Kimberly Ann Hart, a cute and caring friend but also an incredibly tough warrior.

Amy Jo Johnson continued a successful acting career after her days as a Ranger. She appeared in Felicity, Flashpoint, and The Division. Though she feels embarrassed by her Mighty Morphin past, she’s grateful for the experience. Amy’s talents not only include acting but also singing. She’s released three solo albums and has performed songs for many tv shows. Amy still occasionally appears at Power Rangers-themed conventions and hangs out with her former co-stars.