He was a teen star with everything—fame, fortune, and a hit TV show. But just as his career reached new heights, he made a surprising decision. He stepped away from Hollywood, choosing a life path few had expected.
As a beloved child actor on “Growing Pains,” he became one of the most popular young stars of the 1980s. Teen magazines put him on their covers, and fans adored him. However, behind the fame, he struggled with the feeling that Hollywood wasn’t where he was meant to be.
At the height of his fame in the early 1990s, this actor made a choice that surprised many. He turned away from acting and embraced a life of faith. This decision didn’t just change his career; it changed his entire worldview. What happened to him after he left Hollywood?
From Childhood Dreams to Unexpected Stardom
As a child, he didn’t dream of becoming an actor. He wanted to be a doctor. But when his mother, urged by a friend, introduced him to acting, his career path shifted. That friend was the mother of Adam Rich, a famous child actor. She suggested his mother take him to an agent to try his luck with commercials.
Though he wasn’t eager, his mother followed the advice, and by age nine, he was landing small roles. One of his first jobs was a commercial for McDonald’s. Despite his early success, he didn’t enjoy acting much.
He once said, “I was always annoyed having to brush my hair and tuck my shirt in to go audition.” Still, his career took off, and he became famous for his role as Mike Seaver on Growing Pains. But despite the fame, he felt something was missing.
From Atheism to Christianity
He grew up in a non-religious household. “We didn’t go to church,” he said. He considered himself an atheist by his mid-teens, influenced by teachers who dismissed religion as a fairy tale. At the time, he was focused on his acting career and had no interest in faith.
However, his life took a turn when he attended church with a girl he liked. “I went to church not because I was interested in God, but because I was interested in the girl,” he admitted. That casual decision eventually led him to embrace Christianity.
Hollywood’s Response
By age 17, his newfound faith began to impact his work on Growing Pains. The show’s producers and cast grew concerned about how his religious beliefs might affect the show. His co-workers worried that his changing priorities could put the show’s future in jeopardy.
Reflecting on those years, he said, “I was trying to take the moral high road, but sometimes I didn’t handle it as gracefully as I should have.” His commitment to his faith, however, remained strong.
The Dark Side of Hollywood
As his faith deepened, he became more aware of unsettling behaviors in Hollywood. “The evil, the darkness of Hollywood has been going on for a long time,” he said. He described troubling experiences behind the scenes during his time on Growing Pains.
One shocking event involved his dialogue coach from the show, Brian Peck, who was later convicted of sexual abuse. These incidents solidified his decision to step away from the industry.
Life After Hollywood
At 20, he married his Growing Pains co-star, Chelsea Noble, and they built a family-focused life together. The couple adopted four of their six children, a cause close to both of their hearts. Noble herself was adopted, and they helped their children connect with their biological families when the time was right.
Cameron’s dedication to his family and his faith became evident during the filming of Fireproof in 2008. He refused to kiss anyone other than his wife in a scene, so the filmmakers dressed Noble as the female lead for the shot.
Leaving California
In 2021, Cameron decided to leave California. He shared on social media that Tennessee, Florida, and Texas were top suggestions for a new home. Ultimately, he chose Tennessee for its slower pace and “wholesome values.” Three of his children already lived there, making the move even more appealing.
In Tennessee, Cameron found a community of like-minded people, including others who had left Hollywood. He appreciated the “healthy freedom mindset” and found Tennessee to be a hub for Christian projects.
Becoming a Grandfather and New Projects
In July 2024, Cameron and Noble welcomed their first grandchild, Maya Jeanne Noble Bower. He shared the joyful news online, expressing his excitement for this new chapter as grandparents.
Cameron continued his work on faith-based projects, including the 2022 film Lifemark, which explores adoption and the value of life—a topic close to his heart as both a father of adopted children and the husband of an adopted woman.
Today, Cameron remains committed to creating media that reflects his beliefs. Though his teenage heartthrob days are behind him, his journey has brought him deep fulfillment and purpose.
An 82-year-old man who felt alone and lost his wife chooses to assist his new neighbours.
Moving to a new place with five kids might be a little scary because everything is new, including the people, places, and way of life.
This is what Sharaine Carabello, 32, and her husband Wilson, 42, went through when they moved from Texas to Pawtucket, Rhode Island. They were especially worried about being accepted because they were the only Black family in the neighborhood and had no idea what the future held.
The Caraballo family was worried about blending in at their new neighborhood until they unexpectedly received assistance from their 82-year-old neighbor, Paul Callahan. Paul, who had recently lost his wife, greeted them warmly. When he brought tools and offered to help fix up their house, they bonded in a special way.
Paul was a manager at Texas Instruments once, and according to USA Today’s Sharaine Carabello, he was like family. They got him through a terrible time by helping him with handyman tasks and inviting him to family gatherings. As their bond grew, Paul assumed the role of honorary grandpa for the Caraballo kids.
Paul did more than just fix broken objects around the house; he became an essential part of the Caraballo family’s daily schedule. He becomes the children’s favorite person, known as “Grandpa,” by making them happy, telling them stories, and spending almost every day with them.
Paul, who likes to socialize and engage with others, thinks that developing relationships is essential. He thinks that if you don’t give it a try, you can miss out on making friends. Paul says it doesn’t have to cost anything to be kind, and you typically get something good in return.
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The Caraballo family became close to Paul by choosing to be open and understanding with him, even though they were only neighbors. They learned that families are made up of more members than only their biological relatives. You might feel like you belong and get the support you need by forming close relationships with others.
In this unexpected bond, the Caraballos found a helpful neighbor as well as a loving family member. Conversely, Paul experienced a newfound feeling of fulfillment and purpose, proving that sometimes, individuals come into our lives at the very moment we most need them.
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