Unscripted

The Kony2012 campaign launched one of the biggest viral videos of all time and secured a permanent place in pop culture history. But what happened to <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/where-are-viral-video-stars-now/michelle-nati">Jason Russell</a>, the man behind the legendary video? In the massive response to his work on Kony2012, the filmmaker suffered a very public mental breakdown, but Russell has bounced back and continues his advocacy work.The story behind the Kony 2012 video gets even more interesting the deeper you look beneath the surface. Loaded with complicated issues including race and class, history and culture, social media and the power of technology, Russell's video created a perfect storm of events that changed his life forever. The video that made him famous--or infamous, depending on which camp you fall in--was viewed one million times within its first 24 hours online and reached 100 million views in just six days. Ten days later, Russell temporarily split from reality.Read on for more about Russell and where he's at today.

Whatever Happened To Jason Russell, The Man Behind Kony 2012?

General

Donn Saylor

Social Media & Texts

For a few months in 2018, Lil Tay -&nbsp;a supposedly 9-year-old social media star -&nbsp;rocked the internet with a wave of scandalous&nbsp;behavior. Among other provocative feats, Lil Tay was driving fast cars, freely dropping racial slurs,&nbsp;and talking on a phone made of cold, hard cash.

With each new video and Instagram post,&nbsp;journalists became increasingly curious about Lil Tay&#39;s&nbsp;legitimacy. Was&nbsp;she the real deal,&nbsp;or simply a&nbsp;pawn controlled by a shadowy presence lurking off-camera?&nbsp;Then, a few months later, the&nbsp;boujee preteen vanished from social media as quickly as she had arrived. But what happened to her?

At first, fans wondered whether&nbsp;the young flexer was finally receiving comeuppance for her bad behavior, but this isn&#39;t&nbsp;the real reason&nbsp;why Lil Tay deleted all her social media posts.

Who is Lil Tay, really?&nbsp;Is she a 9-year-old with money to burn? Or is she <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/worst-parents-of-2018/ranker-news" target="_blank">a product of horrible parents</a> and an online culture equating excess to&nbsp;success? If you&#39;re one of the millions of people who follow her&nbsp;on Instagram, there are probably a few things you never knew about Lil Tay.

Who Is Lil Tay, The Vulgar Young Influencer Who Disappeared From Social Media Just As She Took Off?

What Happened To Lil Tay? Why Did She Disappear From Social Media?

Jacob Shelton

The Craft

Light as a feather, stiff as a board... who didn&#39;t give levitating their friends a shot after seeing&nbsp;The Craft as a kid? Whether your favorite witch was Sarah, Bonnie, Rochelle, or the dangerous and powerful (yet oh-so-cool) Nancy, you might have wondered about the actresses behind them at some point: Where are they now?

Well, whether&nbsp;moving on to bigger and better Hollywood roles or building a life outside of the limelight, here&#39;s where all the witches all went after the credits rolled, along with their victims - *Ahem* we mean co-stars.

If you&#39;re looking for even more&nbsp;The Craft&nbsp;content, be sure to also check out these cool <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/behind-the-scenes-of-the-craft/tamara-jude" target="_blank">behind-the-scenes stories</a>, or even some <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-craft-reboot-reactions/erin-maxwell" target="_blank">fan reactions</a> to the 2020 reboot!

What Ever Happened To The Cast Of 'The Craft'?

The Cast Of 'The Craft': Where Are They Now?

Linda Meyers

Stephen King Works

Based on the Stephen King novella The Body, Stand by Me&nbsp;is a 1986 coming-of-age classic not just for the &#39;80s, but for all time. While a large part of its success comes from its universal themes of the loss of innocence and the trauma of growing up, no one can deny that its memorable cast of characters -&nbsp;mainly troubled boys&nbsp;Gordie, Chris, Teddy, and Vern -&nbsp;also helped it stick the landing. The actors behind them, even at their young age, did an excellent job of bringing the characters&nbsp;to life.

So what happened to those boys - or any of the movie&#39;s other notable actors - once the film wrapped? Here are some of their stories, and for more &quot;where are they now&quot; lists, be sure to check out these roundups of the casts of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/lost-boys-where-are-they-now/linda-meyers" target="_blank">The Lost Boys</a> and <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/where-are-the-kids-from-the-sandlot" target="_blank">The Sandlot</a>.

Whatever Happened To The Cast Of 'Stand by Me'?

The Cast Of 'Stand By Me': Where Are They Now?

Jason David Frank

Like many '90s kids, you might find yourself occasionally wondering "<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/where-are-they-now-power-rangers/shamus-kelley">Where are the Power Rangers now</a>?" They've become a phenomenon spanning generations, but it all started with the mid-'90s&nbsp;Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Back in the day, the young actors who played the Power Rangers were actually a pretty tightknit group (though, there were some <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/tv-show-behind-the-scenes-feuds/nikoberi">behind-the-scenes shenanigans</a>), and a few remain so to this day. Perhaps even more specifically, though, you might wonder&nbsp;what happened to the Green Power Ranger, Tommy, who became a fan-favorite on the show.Frank, who <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/20/arts/television/jason-david-frank-dead.html">passed November 19, 2022</a>, at age 49, went on to have a pretty interesting life, much of it still revolving around&nbsp;Power Rangers, but that's not all that defined him. He was somewhat of an enigmatic character, in fact -&nbsp;both devoutly Christian and an MMA fighter -&nbsp;and if you're a frequent Comic-Con attendee, you might very well have seen him displaying his karate moves at some point.&nbsp;Here's a ton of crazy stuff you almost certainly didn't know about Jason David Frank, the original Green Ranger. If you want to find out which Power Ranger was missing a finger (and who wouldn't?), and other crazy stuff about the original series, check that out <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/things-you-never-noticed-about-power-rangers/cehudspeth">here</a>.

Weird Facts About Jason David Frank, The Original Green Power Ranger

11 Facts About The OG Green Power Ranger Jason David Frank

Zack Howe

Remember these child stars? How did they turn out?

All Grown Up

Spy Kids

Spy Kids is hardly one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-movies-for-kids" target="_blank">best kids movies ever</a>, but it did spawn a minor franchise and banked plenty of early-aughts nostalgia for kids of the '90s.&nbsp;Fortunately, most of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/full-cast-of-spy-kids-actors-and-actresses/reference" target="_blank">cast of Spy Kids</a>&nbsp;has moved on to great Hollywood careers (other than,&nbsp;perhaps ironically, the kids themselves). Spy Kids also features&nbsp;a fair amount of actors who&nbsp;had huge careers predating the campy children's movie, and they've&nbsp;gone on to thrive post-Spy.&nbsp;There are a number of stars in the film you may not even remember appearing in it, especially because some of them&nbsp;aren't traditionally actors.&nbsp;While it's natural to wonder what became of the kids, the more fascinating stories relate to the actors who were already fully grown at the time of the 2001 family adventure (although&nbsp;one of those kids is now engaged to a pop star). Minor spoilers for Spy Kids ensue, but if you haven't seen these movies by now, what's going on? Who hurt you?

What Ever Happened To The Cast Of Spy Kids?

Person

Where Is The 'Spy Kids' Cast Now? Here's What Happened To Them

The Lost Boys

The vampires in the hit 1987 horror film The Lost Boys may have been immortal, but the actors behind the characters did have to grow up eventually. From the devilish David and his bloodsucking crew, to the two brothers Sam and Michael just doing their best to survive in sunny Santa Carla, where are they now? Read on to find out, and if you&#39;re looking for even more The Lost Boys&nbsp;cast and film content, be sure to also check out our lists of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/lost-boys-behind-the-scenes/orrin-grey" target="_blank">behind-the-scenes stories</a>, fun <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/small-details-the-lost-boys/erin-maxwell" target="_blank">hidden details</a>, and <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-the-lost-boys-quotes/movie-and-tv-quotes" target="_blank">best quotes</a> from this summertime classic!

Whatever Happened To The Cast Of 'The Lost Boys'?

Once upon a time, The Hills was the biggest reality television phenomenon on&nbsp; MTV. In fact, the show was so big, its main cast members were receiving nearly $100,000 per episode. Today, the show can primarily be notable for its tendency to script and stage some of its most prominent dramas. Many even ccredit the show for the norm in reality television' s trend to create storylines and blatantly stage scenes, effectively faking the drama.At the time, the girls and guys of The Hills&nbsp;cast were some of the biggest names in Hollywood. The cast made headlines daily and it felt like you knew their every move. Nary was there a moment in which Speidi weren't calling in their own tabloid rumors. And we all remember the fallout of the rumored Lauren/Jason sex tape. But since the show's conclusion, it seems as though The Hills cast has rightfully faded from the limelight. Have you ever wondered what your former favorite reality stars are up to? Regardless of how much The Hills&nbsp;was real or fake, the stars sure enough have had to deal with reality since departing from the show. &nbsp;After some research, we've got you covered. Find out what happened to the very &quot;real&quot; characters of The Hills TV show and learn the answer to the question, &quot;Where are they now?&quot;

The Hills Cast: Where Are They Now

Person in TV

The Hills Cast: Where Are They Now? (with Photos)

Ryan Davis

Jon Gosselin

If you've ever laid awake at night wondering what&nbsp;happened to Jon Gosselin, then you've come to the right place. The <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/full-list-of-jon-and-kate-plus-8-episodes/reference">Jon &amp; Kate Plus 8</a> dad walked away from reality TV after five&nbsp;seasons and a nasty split with Kate Gosselin. After a peculiar bad-boy <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/2000s-fashion-trends-everyone-regrets/candice-darden">Ed Hardy</a> phase in 2009, Jon Gosselin soon faded from the public eye.So, what has Jon Gosselin been up to since his grand exit? He's been working a variety of odd jobs, attempting to pay off debt, and blossoming into a semi-successful DJ. And of course, he's been fighting with Kate via tabloids and courtrooms over their eight children. But whoever said <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/famous-parents-of-multiples/celebrity-lists">raising a litter of children</a> was easy? Read on to discover (and Lol at) the very interesting things Jon Gosselin has been doing.

What Ever Happened To Disgraced Mega-Dad Jon Gosselin?

Elle Tharp

Celebrating the iconic actresses and actors who keep us coming back for more horror.

Scream Queens & Kings

Female Characters

In the world of horror, there&#39;s no one more revered than the scream queen. These actors are some of the biggest stars to ever grace the silver screen (or the VHS box), and even though many filmgoers&nbsp;have no idea who these shrieking, shivering celluloid stars are, they&#39;re beloved by horror fans across the world.

Many of the most well-known scream queens made their mark in the 1980s, an era when new horror films were coming out at a breakneck pace. Some of our <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-final-girls-horror-movies/ranker-film" target="_blank">favorite final girls</a> and bloody victims are still acting today, but many scream queens have moved on and forged their own paths be it as an author, or painter, or even medical marijuana grower. If you ever wondered&nbsp;what&nbsp;happened to your favorite scream queen, look no further. 
&nbsp;

What Ever Happened To Our Favorite Scream Queens?

Film actor

Weird History

Certain phrases and names&nbsp;resonate in the minds of Americans who lived through the 1980s. (A lot of them seemed to involve babies.) Baby Jessica, Baby Fae, Baby M. The Boy in the Bubble. <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/robert-chambers-facts/cat-mcauliffe" target="_blank">The Preppy Killer</a>. <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/pastors-that-fell-from-grace/genevieve-carlton" target="_blank">Jim Bakker</a> and Tammy&nbsp;Faye. At the time, these stories and the people in them seemed like they would never be forgotten. However, as the years go on and new stories arise, it makes us wonder - what happened to these tabloid stars?

What Happened To Famous '80s Tabloid Figures

What Happened To Famous 1980s Tabloid Figures

Ivey Nucilli

Bobbitt.&nbsp;Buttafuoco.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/historic-villainy-undeserved/elle-tharp" target="_blank">Lewinsky</a>.&nbsp;These surnames will echo in eternity. If you <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/facts-about-90s-celebrities/sean-kelly" target="_blank">lived through the &#39;90s</a>, you&#39;ll never forget them. Nor will you forget <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/oj-simpson-trial-where-are-they-now/mike-rothschild" target="_blank">Kato Kaelin</a>&nbsp;- though you may have forgotten why you knew his name in the first place. Like every decade, the &#39;90s had its serious news stories&nbsp;and the weird sideshows that gained prominence in the cultural psyche far beyond their impact on current events.

In a few cases (as with Monica Lewinsky), the two worlds - the world of the tabloid and the world of &quot;serious news&quot; - collided, with lasting consequences. Of course, life goes on, even for tabloid figures, and it&#39;s only natural to wonder - where are they now?

What Happened To Famous '90s Tabloid Figures

What Happened To Famous 1990s Tabloid Figures

90s Sports

The mid to late 1990s was one of the hottest and most exciting periods of professional wrestling in the United States. Wrestling has been a part of&nbsp;television <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/433611-the-history-of-pro-wrestling-in-the-us-part-1" target="_blank">since the beginning</a> of the medium, but very rarely - once for a <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/backstage-stories-from-1980s-pro-wrestling/will-morgan-1" target="_blank">brief period in the &#39;80s</a> and again in the &#39;90s - has pro wrestling permeated pop culture to the point where almost everyone has&nbsp;a passing familiarity with the main cast of characters. Whether we still follow wrestling doesn&#39;t even matter. We still like to check in every once in a while on those characters we knew once upon a time, no matter how briefly.&nbsp;

Some have embraced retirement and found ventures we would never expect. Others are still lacing up their boots and stepping into the ring decades later. This is what some of our favorite wrestling stars of the &#39;90s have been up to.

Whatever Happened To Some Of Our Favorite '90s Wrestlers?

Your Favorite '90s Wrestlers Then and Now

Will Morgan

Where Are They Now?

From Sanrio's Hello Kitty to Ed Hardy's tattoo-like designs, there are <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/clothing-companies/reference" target="_blank">certain brands</a> we instantly recognize. One of the most prominent of the last couple of decades has been Paul Frank Industries and their trademark Julius the Monkey merchandise. But the company and its products are much less visible than they once were, begging the question: What happened to Paul Frank and <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/embarrassing-90s-clothes-you-used-to-rock/ariel-kana" target="_blank">the designs</a> he made famous? The tumultuous history of Paul Frank Industries is rife with drama, and what transpired <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/behind-the-scenes-leprechaun-movies/jacob-shelton?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">behind the scenes</a> of the company eventually led to the rise and fall of one the most iconic brands&nbsp;of our time.Paul Frank began making his creations in 1995, when he was given a sewing machine for Christmas. He taught himself to use it and was soon crafting original designs for his family and friends. Word spread, and Frank's products became the hip, in-demand must-haves for a whole generation of consumers. Then, it would seem, they disappeared from the zeitgeist. But things are changing, and you might start seeing Julius the Monkey once again.

Remember Paul Frank? We Tracked Down Whether Or Not The Once-Iconic Brand Is Still A Thing

What Happened to Paul Frank, and Where Is He Now?

Entertainment

The nostalgic &quot;It Girls&quot; of the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s rocketed to fame just as quickly as they fell from fame - but where are they now? While some are still busy working actors, others have stepped away from the hustle and bustle of show business to raise families, write novels, work for charities, pursue educations, and more.

From <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-happened-to-lacey-chabert/genevieve-carlton?ref=browse_list" target="_blank">Lacey Chabert</a> to <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-has-fairuza-balk-been-up-to-since-the-craft/zack-howe" target="_blank">Fairuza Balk</a> to <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-happened-to-hilary-duff/carly-silver?ref=browse_list" target="_blank">Hilary Duff</a>, they&nbsp;all share one common theme - being It Girls that fill us with nostalgia for the film and television of yesteryear.

Whatever Happened To Nostalgic 'It Girls'?

Whatever Happened To Nostalgic 'It Girls'

<a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-happened-to-jonathan-taylor-thomas/crystal-brackett?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Whatever happened to Jonathan Taylor Thomas</a>, Michael Schoeffling, Freddie Prinze Jr., Josh Hartnett, and other teenage icons who dominated the film industry in the 1980s and '90s?&nbsp;To many, it seems as though these heartthrobs just <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/next-big-thing-90s-stars-that-vanished/anncasano">vanished overnight.</a> After starring in a few incredibly successful films, they exited the stage, never to be heard from again. They never allowed us to have the heartfelt breakup moment we so often witnessed on screen. They never gave us an explanation as to why they were ending things. They never even gave us a reason to cry and eat ice cream with our friends while bemoaning their grand departures. Instead, these famous actors just never showed up on film again, leaving us with more questions than answers.While this list most likely won't give us the closure we felt we deserved when <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/next-big-thing-80s-stars-that-vanished/anncasano">they disappeared,</a> it does provide some answers concerning what happened to our favorite famous actors who aren't that famous anymore. Almost all the dreamboats here struggled with finding their niche after being characterized as teen film sensations. However, some stepped into their new roles and identities much more gracefully (and successfully) than others.&nbsp;Vote up the stars you thought would be the next big thing - but weren't.&nbsp;

Nostalgic Actors Who Were Supposed To Be The Next Big Thing - But Weren't

Actor

11 Actors Who Were Supposed To Be The Next Big Thing But Weren't

Lauren Glen

Where Are They Now? lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for lists and rankings in all categories