Let's take a close look at some of our most recognizable cultural icons before they were famous. From rappers to blockbuster actors, we've tracked down those awkward years in photo form. We've got braces, we've got bowl cuts all for you to enjoy.
Miley Cyrus
Before she became a wrecking ball with short hair and the strength to take on all the conservatives in the world, Miley Cyrus was sweet educating Hanna Montana.
This picture is a little bit before she made her TV debut and became Miley Cyrus. One thing is certain – she isn't going anywhere, and that's a good thing.
See more of your favorite celebs before they were famous:
Before Dat Super Bass
Nicki Minaj
Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty is the totally unknown real name of the rapper we all know and love as Nicki Minaj. Born in Trinidad in 1982, she moved to NYC pretty early in life to spend her formative years in Queens. Eventually, she would shop her mixtape around the block there, but wait — we've found innocent, adorable childhood, Nicki!
Nicki has reflected in this era as a little bit too loose for her teen tastes. Surprisingly, she explained: "I don't think I had a lot of discipline in my household. My mom motivated me, but it wasn't a strict household. I kind of wanted a strict household." Perhaps that is why Nicki admits she was fired from 15 jobs in early adulthood. Good thing the rap career worked out, actually.
Lil' Bronx Boo Boo
Cardi B
Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar is not a name most of us know — or can even pronounce — but the woman otherwise known as Cardi B was born in 1992, in Washington Heights. Daughter of a Dominican dad and Trinidadian and Spanish mom, Cardi actually developed her trademark accent when she moved to Washington Heights. Claiming to have had involvement with violent gangs as a youth let's take a look at this unearthed photo of lil' Cardi! What do you think?
A few years after this period, Cardi found herself in an abusive relationship and discovered stripping was her best way out financially in a hurry. Goodness, how time flies when you're having fun!
Destined For Disney
Selena Gomez
Selena Marie Gomez was born in Grand Prairie, way down in good ole' Texas in 1992. Raised with some Mexican traditions because of her father's ancestry, she explained: "My family does have Quinceañeras, and we go to the communion church. We do everything that's Catholic, but we don't really have anything traditional except [that we] go to the park and have barbecues on Sundays after church." She actually got her high-school diploma by homeschooling, a fact few know!
Selena was interested in the entertainment industry at an early age and began auditioning. She actually met Demi Lovato during a casting call for Barney & Friends! But was she always so confident? Selena revealed more about that in a recent interview: "I was very shy when I was little [...] I didn't know what 'camera right' was. I didn't know what blocking was. I learned everything from Barney." Look at that shy little face, people!
Dangerous Toddler
Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande-Butera was born in 1993 down in sunny, breezy Florida. From an early age, she performed at a local children's theater, and things went up, up, up from there!
But before the stage shows and the realization of her musical dreams, Ariana was just a lil' sweetie like all of us. Here she is, everyone! If you look closely, you can see the adult we know hiding in there.
You'll never guess who this is
Robert De Niro
As a kid, De Niro grew up in Greenwich Village, but would hang out in Little Italy with the Italian youths and since he was so fair-skinned, they nicknamed him "Bobby Milk."
De Niro's father is half Italian, and in 2006, the actor was granted Italian citizenship.
Can you recognize her?
Adele
I love pictures of kids after they just finished having fun! Born on May 5, 1988, in North London England, this young girl is only 6 years old and already is acting like an artist, experimenting and expressing herself.
She recorded a demo for a school project and gave the demo to a friend who posted it on Myspace, which jump-started her career.
She has since recorded three albums starting In 2008 with her album 19 and became an international star with her second album 21, yeah you've guessed it, that was her age when she became one of the biggest stars in the world!
She won numerous accolades including the Grammy awards for the top three categories, collectively with three albums won her record-breaking 13 Grammy awards.
Can't recognize this one...
Kate Hudson
A daughter of an academy award winner and feminist icon has to become something special. That's the golden rule. Hudson did just that.
After winning a Golden Globe for her role in Almost Famous she has appeared in an array of films crossing genres and challenging herself and her fans anew in each appearance.
Big hair
Blake Lively
This little girl is Blake Lively. True, we know her mainly from Gossip Girl.
When she was only 10 her father cast her and later, when she was only eighteen she starred in The Sisterhood of Traveling Pants and that became her start. Other than that, she's married to Ryan Reynolds whom she met during the filming of The Green Lantern.
A vampire?!
Kristen Stewart
For her young age, Kirsten has had enough time to do a lot of mileage in Hollywood. The Twilight Saga gained her international fame, in addition to her relationship and breakup with her co-star Robert Pattinson.
In 2017 she announced being involved with a Victoria Secret model Stella Maxwell stating for an interview with The Guardian "it's cool that you don't have to nail everything down anymore. That whole certainty about whether you're straight or gay or whatever."
Who's the singer?
Prince
A little over a year ago the world was shocked and horrified to learn that Prince had left us to our own devices and joined the great gig in the sky.
Known for his extensive vocal range, extravagant dress and makeup and flamboyant stage presence Prince has entombed in our hearts thanks to his numerous hits and artwork.
Who's the kid?
Ryan Gosling
Canadian actor Ryan Thomas Gosling was born on November 12, 1980. He has one older sister. His dad was a traveling salesman, so he moved from time to time.
He was homeschooled as a child, and then attended Gladstone Public School in Canada. Later on, Ryan attended Cornwall Collegiate and Vocational High School in Cornwall, where he did great in Drama and Fine Arts.
He started out on "The Mickey Mouse Club" in January 1993, and since he just gained popularity.
Who's the cute toddler?
Bruce Willis
Born of all places in West Germany to an American father and German mother, Bruce Willis came to America only when he was two.
Willis stuttered as a child and found that acting and being on stage was the best help for him. His first big role was as a private investigator in Moonlight. Turns out he actually was a PI after high school.
Sing-along
Taylor Swift
This 4-year-old all American girl is a bundle of talent. Would you believe Taylor Swift started writing songs only a year after this picture was taken? Her Grandmother was an Opera singer, so I guess it's all in the genes.
December 13, 1989 in Pennsylvania, Swift already sang The Star Spangled Banner for the 76'ers at the age of 11. She recorded her first album at the age of 16 and went on to be the youngest artist to win a Grammy in 2010.
Her music has a special appeal to women all over the world in addition to her appeal to many Americans with her All American music and vibe.
Pink Power
Naomi Scott
British actress Naomi Scott became famous due to her role as Mo Bangaree in the 2011 Disney Channel Original Movie "Lemonade Mouth." She later became even more famous as Kimberly, the Pink PowerRanger on the 2017 Power Rangers film.
Her mother is Gujarati Indian and her father is English. Naomi is also a musician and she debuted her first EP Invisible Division in 2014.
And this guy?
Freddie Mercury
The teeth gave him away, haven't they? You might think it's Freddie Mercury, but it's actually Farrokh Bulsara. Freddie Mercury was his stage name. He was born in 1946 in Zanzibar to Persian parents who are part of a community which fled to India when the Arab invasion of Persia happened a few hundred years ago.
When he was 24 he formed Queen with guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor. As musicians go, 24 is an old age to start a band, but hey - It's Queen.
Who's this toddler?
Tupac Shakur
This smiling little 3-year-old is going to live long after his demise and change the world - it's Tupac Shakur is? And did you know that Tupac was named after South American revolutionary Túpac Amaru and that his full name is Túpac Amaru Shakur?
I bet you didn't know that his mother Afeni Shakur was a member of the Black Panther Party. A month after she been acquitted of charges of conspiracy, Tupac was born.
Born in East Harlem, New York, on June 16, 1971, he was originally named Lesane Parish Crooks, but his mother changed it. No wonder he would grow up to be an American revolutionary!
Looks the same today
Rashida Jones
Rashida Jones understands her fans, and what they want. In 2012, she tweeted a few childhood pictures of herself before the release of Celeste and Jesse Forever – the first film she co-wrote.
After doing a bunch of comedies, including a guest appearance in The Simpsons, she turned to documentaries, namely the all-important Hot Girls Wanted, exposing the role of teenage girls in pornography.
A costume girl?
Lady Gaga
Yup, that's Lady Gaga. While you think of your next Halloween costume, remember that she started playing the piano when she was 4 and wrote her own songs when she was 13! And that look? You have to be Lady Gaga to earn the rights for it.
Born on March 28, 1986, at the age of 11, she was accepted to the Juilliard School in Manhattan but she didn't go. Instead, she went to a private Catholic school and held her first New York nightclub show at the age of 14.
She was one of only 20 ever granted early admittance to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, but she quit after a year to pursue her music career. With her style, talent and success, she knew what she was doing!
We recognize the dad
Ben Stiller
Here you go, ladies and gents! Comedian and actor Ben Stiller at 13 years old, accompanied by his father, Jerry Stiller, in New York City. Both of his parents were actors, so Ben grew up on Hollywood sets and was interested in filmmaking from a young age.
One of his shorts, The Hustler of Money, got the attention of Saturday Night Live, and in 1989, he joined the show as a writer and a featured performer. Unfortunately, his time at SNL was short-lived and he left just four episodes into the show. Don't worry, Ben would return to host SNL in 1998 and 2011.
Do you recognize this guy?
RedFoo
This little kid is RedFoo. His list of achievements include being a rapper, dancer, record producer, DJ, singer, songwriter and half of the LMFAO musical duo. His father was Berry Gordy, Jr. – the founder of Motown (the record label) and Nancy Leiviska making him mixed race. He went to school with Wil.I.Am and GoonRock.
Despite being bullied for his mixe background, Redfoo is now an X Factor judge and the nicknames he was called "Oreo" (his favorite cookie) and "Zebra" *his favorite animal print) have now become his strong points.
Who's this kid?
Amy Winehouse
This smiling little English girl is no other than Amy Winehouse. During her short career, she had time to produce two albums, with her second album Back to Black landed in 2008 5 Grammy awards in her lap, making her the first British woman to win five Grammys including Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
Winehouse made her last public appearance in at Camden's Roundhouse just three days before she died in 2011. In 2014, a bronze statue of her was unveiled in Camden Town.
Looks the same
James Franco
At 39, James Franco is not stopping for anyone. He isn’t categorized as a one type actor as he can turn into any character in any type of film. By the way, he is also a college instructor!
His first big acting gig happened back in 1997, when he was just 19-years-old, in a TV series called Pacific Blue. He probably looked something like he does here in the picture with his two brothers to the Franco House.
He looks like a nice boy!
Mike Tyson
Ok, this is Mike Tyson at the age of 9. Yeah, if I would have met him then, I'd probably feel a little uncomfortable. What?! He's a scary guy! Check out the eyes and the smile that hasn't changed, even after a professional boxing career. Despite this he was shy and a target for bullying, so he learned to fight back. With style.
Born in June 1966 in Brooklyn, Tyson couldn't stay out of trouble. By the age of 13, he had been arrested over 30 times and was sent to a reform school in upstate New York where he was introduced to boxing manager Constantine "Cus" D'Amato who took Tyson under his wing and trained him to be the youngest heavyweight boxing champion ever at the age of 20!
Why so sad?
Slash
English born guitar legend was born with artistic genes. All he had to do was choose his favorite tool of expression. Thankfully he chose the guitar. His mother was an Afro American costume designer working with rock legends like David Bowie and his father designed rock album covers. Basically, he was raised to be a rockstar.
At the age of five, Slash and his father joined his mother in LA and that's when Slash met future band member and good friend Steve Adler. The two later joined Axl Rose, Izzy Stradlin and Duff McKagan to form the legendary rock band Guns n' Roses.
Rappin' it
Eminem
This is Eminem. Yeap, this cute, blonde, all American boy will grow up to piss everyone off and have the crowd come back for more. Growing up in a black neighborhood, these cute looks were also the reason for him getting beat-up and bullied at school.
It was Dr. Dre who backed him as a rapper despite being white stating "I don't give a f@#$ if you're purple; if you can kick it, I'm working with you."
Do you know this swimmer?
Jason Statham
Check out the tough diver! In the 25 years that passed, he hasn't changed at all. Not so intimidating with hair, is he? That's Jason Statham when competing in a diving competition.
Former English model and competitive diver made his silver screen debut in Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (famously saying "Left leg, right leg, your body will follow. They call it walking."). Since then, in the past 20 years, he has been in endless films, bringing his strong English accent, humor and impeccable acting skills to every character he plays.
Rockin' it
Mick Jagger
Born in 1943, this English lad will grow up to have one of the longest and most impressive careers in Rock n' Roll. The Rolling Stones frontman literally paved the way for almost every other rock star that came after him.
His huge mouth, over the top performances, combined with endless talent, has led Jagger through an almost 60 year career that included ups and downs, highs and lows, addictions and recoveries and into knighthood, the Rock n' Roll hall of fame, and as a music icon that will live eternally in man kind's culture around the globe. No way there is a person alive today that can't name 5 Rolling Stones songs off the top of their head.
He changed the world
Elon Musk
The living manifestation of Iron Man. Elon Musk was a geek since he was 10, teaching himself to program and sold his first computer game for 500$ when he was only 12. He paid a price for it as well. He was constantly bullied and picked on at school, and one time was thrown down the stairs and lost conciseness.
Musk is known to test limits. He used to own a Mclaren F1 and crashed it. The story goes that he was in it with a friend who asked how fast the car can go. Musk, without hesitation, said "Let's find out" and floored it. They crashed the luxury supercar, and Musk hadn't even had it insured. So when you wonder how he can think of such massive cutting edge projects prone to fail – it's just in his character.
Another brain on legs
Warren Buffett
Son of late Congressman Howard Buffett, there is no one in the world that could have predicted that he would become the best investor in the world and one of the richest. But one has to remember that he showed interest in the stock market at a very young age, after spending much time in the customers' lounge of a regional stock brokerage near his father's own brokerage office.
Inspired by the book 1000 ways to make $1000, Buffett was an entrepreneur and a businessman all his life. His first business endeavors were selling chewing gum, coke bottles and magazines door to door. When he was 18 he bought a pinball machine and placed it at a barber's shop. Within weeks he bought another one and made his first business exit was when he was 19.
You needed help
Andrew Lincoln
Born in 1973, Andrew Lincoln is quite a late bloomer in stardom. He has done some acting but his worldwide big break came in 2010 when he was cast as Rick Grimes in the hit TV series The Walking Dead.
He studied acting at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Meaning he can do almost anything.
So colorful... it's...
Kim Kardashian
As much as we can’t believe it, Kim Kardashian was also a child. So no, she was not spawned by clouds and angel hair.
When she was young she acted much like any kid would, as you can see in this picture. But when she grew up she had some other ideas about how to get famous.
Future princess
Meghan Markle
Although Meghan Markle is just about as famous as it gets these days with her recent marriage to Prince Harry, there was a time before her fame that her career in Hollywood wasn’t so glamorous.
Most of us know Meghan for her role as Rachel Zane the paralegal in ‘Suits’. Just about everyone fell in love with her character. However, few know that before she scored this role, she worked for a while as a “briefcase girl” on the US game show ‘Deal or No Deal”.
Still showing off :-)
Gigi Hadid
For any Hadid, a time before fame is something that barely exists. Born to model Yolanda Hadid and real estate developer Mohamed Hadid, her modeling career began at age 2! She was discovered by Guess clothing and modeled with baby Guess before stopping to concentrate on school.
Those interim years while Hadid focused on her studies, going on to start a degree in criminal psychology, are the only very few years she was not in front of the screen. As you know, now she is one of the most successful models around and was even named International Model of the Year by the British Fashion Council.
Eyes wide shut
Emily Ratajkowski
These days, Ratajkowski is one of the elite who pretty much rule the modeling world.
Since she was noticed by the entire world as the model from Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines music video, her career has shot to the sky with various acting roles and modeling deals.
Queen of the north
Sophie Turner
Turner is a star that practically grew up on the set of Game of Thrones. However, before her fame began, she had a wonderful and carefree childhood where she grew up in Northampton, England.
She was quoted in an interview with The Telegraph describing her environment during her childhood: "My childhood was pretty fun. We had pigsties, barns, and a paddock, and used to muck around in the mud."
Her life is a bit more glitz and glam now, a strong career under her belt and engaged to Joe Jonas!
He saved England
Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill has definitely gained some weight as an adult, but let's face it, war and stress, in general, can do that to you. But you gotta hand it to him - the lad looked pretty damn sharp, even as a kid.
Young Winston was born to the family of the Duke of Marlborough, and his father was a Lord. When Churchill was a child he went to the "Spencer Churchill" boarding school and historians say he was quite a poor student.
He also struggled with a speech impediment, a lisp that plagued him for a while; repeated public speeches helped him through it, however.
Let it be
John Lennon
Yep, that is John Lennon, who was only 17 when this photo was taken. The young woman next to him is Cynthia, who was his girlfriend at that time. And as we all know, she went on to become his first wife. The two actually met in a calligraphy class at the Liverpool College of Art, and married in 1962 when she became pregnant.
Lennon really only got a wife out of the college, however, as he failed all of his exams, ridiculed teachers, and was eventually thrown out of the school completely! One thing he did to get thrown out? He sat on the lap of a nude model and was subsequently banned from that course.
Better with a guitar
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain, the lead singer of Nirvana, was the very definition of a teenage rebel. As you can obviously tell, this is his mugshot from when he was arrested at age 19. What did he do to get arrested, you ask? He was caught spray painting on cars.
He started his music career at age 14, however, when an uncle offered him a bike or a used guitar. Cobain was a big fan of music, so he chose the guitar, and in high school, he and a friend, Krist Novoselic, formed a band, practicing in Novoselic's mother's salon.
You may think Nirvana's first album is Nevermind, but it's actually Bleach, which was released in 1989 on an indie label called Sub Pop Records.
We miss this funny guy
Robin Williams
Aw, that sweet, almost nostalgic smile who made us laugh and cry so many times over the years! In this pic, Robin Williams was 18 years old and a senior at Redwood High School. While in school, Williams was voted "Funniest" by his classmates, as well as "Most Likely to Not Succeed," but they were far off from that one.
Williams first pursued acting after high school when he was in a local production of Oliver and did long rounds of improv in between scenes. Soon he obtained a full-ride scholarship at Juilliard, ending up in the same class as Christopher Reeve, who would be a devoted friend for both of the actors' lives.
According to reports, Williams even ended up paying many of Reeve's doctor bills after the Superman actor became a quadriplegic.
Pass the ball!
Cristiano Ronaldo
Don't tell me you didn't recognize that 6-year-old's smile. I mean come on, Cristiano Ronaldo's smile is one of the most famous smiles in the world. In fact, most of his expression hasn't changed because he is still focusing on the same goal - becoming the best soccer player in the world.
Born February 5, 1985, in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, Ronaldo started playing soccer at the age of 8. When he was 18 he single-handed beat Manchester United and the players urged their manager to add him to the team. He set the goal-scoring record for the team and later transferred to Real Madrid for a world-record transfer fee and become the all-time club scorer again.
Did you know that his charity work in his home town is so appreciated the Madeira airport was renamed Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira International Airport?
American boss
Bruce Springsteen
This picture really captures everything Bruce Springsteen was and is. Taken on the shores of New Jersey in 1955 when he was only 6 years old. One thing is certain, the shore is the same and Bruce never really left his hometown. He writes about it all the time!
Born in New Jersey on September 23, 1949. In his late teens, he started playing in Asbury Park on the New Jersey Shore with different bands, eventually forming the E-Street Band. He had a very complex relationship with his father and but they had reconciled. The Boss said his father was a major inspiration for his music.
Did you know his nickname "The Boss" comes from the days when he personally paid his band members?
Breaking Bad
Bryan Cranston
Wait, so this is the guy who played Chem teacher turned meth cook Walter effin' White in Breaking Bad? This sweet 14-year-old boy with a funny haircut and a dog wearing sunglasses? Wow!
Bryan Cranston's father actually left the family three years before this picture was taken, when Bryan was 11, and he reconnected with his father at age 22. The actor has said that he based his performance of Walter White on his father's posture and demeanor.
Would you believe that after college the actor used to perform weddings as an ordained minister to help him make ends meet? Imagine having Walter White as your minister!
Crazy art
Andy Warhol
Awww, here's a younger Andy Warhol. I don't want to sound like I'm bragging, but something's telling me that I could've definitely spotted an artist if I saw this young lad in real life. There's something about him, something that I can't quite put my finger on. Maybe it's the essence of art.
Biographers of Warhol say that the artist had Sydenham's chorea when he was a child and that it caused him to have involuntary muscle movements. As a result of his condition, he would stay home from school bedridden and listen to the radio. After high school, Warhol quickly pursued his art career, studying commercial art at The Carnegie Institute of Technology.
His first job? Drawing shoes for the magazine Glamour.
Who's the singer?
Rihanna
This little 2-year-old is gonna rock the world. Don't be fooled by Rihanna's babyface, that's a real go-getter strong woman! She is so strong that no one at school knew about the migraine headaches that plagued her because she didn't want to be different, she overcame an abusive relationship and scored her first No.1 hit when she was only 18!
Born on February 20, 1988, she started a girl band at the age of 15 but of the three girls, she was the only one producer Evan Rodgers liked. Rogers later assisted her to get a contract from Def Jam records and went on to become Rihanna!
Did you know that when she was 16 she left Barbados to live in America with Evan Rogers and his wife so she could promote her budding career?
Leading the way
Barack Obama
Just imagine seeing this 4-year old on his tricycle in your neighborhood a few decades ago. Let's say you were accompanied by a friend who was able to tell you this child's future. His father was Kenyan and his mother was from Kansas.
Would you believe them if they told you he would go on to become America's first Afro-American president? This photo was likely taken in 1965 in the state of Hawaii, where he was born. He sure was cute, wasn't he?
Cute kid, hot adult
Blake Shelton
Blake Tollison Shelton, born in 1976 in Oklahoma, started singing when he was 12-years-old. By 15 he wrote his first song, and at 16 he won a Denbo Diamond Award in his home state.
Today he is by far the best-known county singer on TV and radio, with albums and singles holding on to top billboard for weeks on end. After ringing in a victory on The Voice and the Sexiest Man Alive title, all he has left is being married to Gwen Stefani.
They are both going to live in a Hawaiian style home in Oklahoma.
Amazing actress
Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn has always been keen on showing us that looks are not everything that defines a person. She definitely had it all. Did you know that this icon was actually the daughter of a Dutch baroness and that Audrey was born Audrey Kathleen Ruston, also known as Edda Kathleen Hepburn-Ruston?
Her father believed he was descended from the third husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, so he attached Hepburn to his name; eventually, Audrey had the same last name.
Like a Bee
Muhammad Ali
Seriously? Here teen Muhammad Ali - or Cassius Clay, as people used to call him at that time - looks virtually the same as the adult version. The only difference being that he's thinner in this pic. Duh.
The boxer was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, and after being introduced to the Nation of Islam, he changed his name to Muhammad Ali, and rejected Cassius Clay as his "slave name." He may have changed his name, but you could see the fighter in him at age 12, and he kept fighting his whole life.
Singing diva
Cher
Yep, this is Cher and this ain't no mistake. This is her mugshot, which was taken when she was only 13 years old. What exactly did she do? Well, she only borrowed her mom's car.
Cher was born Cherilyn Sarkisian and spent her whole childhood dreaming of being famous. Her talent showed when she organized the production of Oklahoma for her fifth-grade class. Not only did young Cher produce the show, but she also choreographed it, directed it and did the parts for the boys, who were hesitant to participate.
Cher said she "always knew she was going to be a star" and after learning this, we'd agree!
Where's the smile?
Matthew Perry
No, this isn't a Friends reunion. Joey didn't want to come.
Matthew Perry, here about 12 years old already has the face of a comedian looking for his next punch line.
Who's the ELF?
Orlando Bloom
This charming little English boy (you can tell by the sweater) got his first big break only 2 days out of acting school!
Not a lot of Orlando isn't broken. He broke his left arm and cracked his skull three times, broke his nose, his right and left leg, his right wrist and he also broke his back. He also broke some ribs while shooting The Lord of the Rings.
Funny-cute girl
Jennifer Aniston
Yeah, this little toddler is going to become everyone's sweetheart more times than once. Since her debut in the early 90's she's won a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
But for us, she'll always be Rachel from Friends and Brad Pitt's mythological ex.
Another friend
Matt LeBlanc
Another "Friend". This smiling boy's smile is going to be the downfall of many of New York's finest women. Do you see those eyes? Those are the eyes of a true artist.
After Friends finished he created a comedy show about himself (and won a Golden Globe for it) and harnessed his gear-head to host BBC's Top Gear.
Rockin' it!
Ozzy Osbourne
The father of heavy metal, the Prince of Darkness, the founder of Black Sabbath, there are few artists that have made in impact like Ozzy Osbourne. Nicknamed "Ozzy "since grade school, he suffered from dyslexia that was diagnosed only many years later. When he head She Loves You at the age of 14, he knew he wanted to be a rock star and quit school at the end of the year.
He worked as a construction site laborer, trainee plumber, apprentice toolmaker, car factory horn-tuner, and abattoir worker. His also committed a couple of low levels failed burglaries including stealing a TV that he dropped and abandoned. He spent 6 weeks in prison, and his father, deciding to teach the young delinquent a lesson, never paid the fine to release him.
Metallic Smile
James Hetfield
Metallica's frontman is probably one of the main reasons we can enjoy real heavy metal again after years of being sterilized by commercialized "Hair Metal" that took metal to the romantic realm and almost abandoned the genre's roots.
Born in 1963, James lost his father when he was 13 and his mother passed away when he was 16 leaving Hetfield alone in the world. His anger against the world was tunneled into his rage to music. Together with Lars Ulrich they formed Metallica and are now considered one of the biggest bands ever. If his parents were alive, they'd probably be very proud.
Gentle giant
Gentle giant
Before he got into acting and wrestling, Andre the Giant looked, well, like this. The fact that he was taller than the average man - or woman, for that matter - is pretty obvious from the picture above. The reactions of the women around him are quite interesting, don't you think?
Andre the Giant suffered from Gigantism, which is caused by the pituitary gland producing too much growth hormone. The excess hormones caused Acromegaly, which can cause enlarged hands, legs, feet, and joints. Soon Andre the Giant was 7 feet tall and weighed 520 lbs, which helped him have a successful wrestling career.
Who's The Master?
Bruce Lee
The martial arts icon. The man who single-handedly made Kong Fu and Karate popular and laid the cornerstone for today's UFC franchise.
Born in 1940 in San Francisco to a Chinese father and half Chinese half Caucasian mother, Lee began martial arts training when he was 16 years old. Here he is presumably 9 years old.
You'll never guess this guy!
Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson is one of the most hated men in America. At the turn of the millennium, when he released his fourth album, came the Columbine tragedy. A journalist mistakenly wrote that one of the shooters was wearing a Manson T-shirt, and a lot of fake and pointless blame was aimed at the controversial artist.
In an interview about the case, Manson was asked what he would have told the boys if he had a chance. Of all the people that were confronted with the same query, Manson's response made the most sense – "I would have listened" he said, and reversed the entire discussion. He continues to be hated but his loyal fan base has proved to be more loyal and less prone to bigot's false campaigns.
Is he expendable?
Sylvester Stallone
Sly is today one of Hollywood's most iconic stars. Would you believe that he was almost homeless before he sold his script for Rocky? The dog in the film is his, and he had to sell it for $50 at some point after tying him to a drug store. He even did a softcore porn film (that was later renamed after he gained fame "The Italian Stallion"). Interestingly, by today's standards, the film would be considered mainstream.
He said at multiple times, "It was either do that movie or rob someone, because I was at the end – the very end – of my rope". Since then his career has careened into the success lane, and when he coaches younger actors he says, "In this industry, sometimes you have to do things that won't make your parents proud."
The POTUS
Donald Trump
What a smart-looking young man Donald Trump was. Look at that perfectly combed hair, the big blue eyes. Yeah, one could have guessed that this kid was going places. Of course, coming from a rich family helps.
Born on June 14, 1946, in Queens, in New York Trump studied high school in the New York Military Academy, and economics at the Wharton School. After finishing his studies he took charge of The Trump Organization, In addition to other endeavors and enterprises, including The Apprentice.
Doesn't look eccentric
Johnny Depp
Aged 10 you probably wouldn't recognize Johnny Depp. Ok, the hair is the same, but where are the cheekbones? I guess he was so cute, that when he dropped out of high school to be a musician and regretted it two weeks later, his principal told him to follow his dreams rather than return to school.
Born in 1963 in Kentucky, his family moved around almost 20 times before settling down in Florida. His first role was in the horror franchise A Nightmare on Elm Street but became a star with the original series 21 Jump Street where he was a cop uncover in a high school.
Since then he has evolved to be the Johnny Depp we all know and love. I guess his high school principal knew what he was talking about for a change!
Who's this cute looking kid?
John Travolta
Oh yeah, that's John Joseph Travolta. Good looks were a given for Travolta. His father was a semi-pro football player and his mother was an actress and a singer.
Travolta is an avid aviator. He literally lives on an airstrip he owns and has four planes. In 2007 he was honored the Living Legends of Aviation award.
He's one with everything
The Dalai Lama
In this picture, the 14th Dalai Lama was only 2 years old. Who would've guessed that cuteness can actually be an indicator of greatness? He did go on to do great things after all.
The 14th Dalai Lama was born Lhamo Döndrub, and at the age 2, he was identified as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama when he correctly chose all of the holy man's possessions in a test.
He was just 4 years old when he went to go live in his new home in Lhasa under the name Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso and when he was 15, he was officially enthralled as the Dalai Lama.
Since becoming the Dalai Lama, he has been a passionate advocate of non-violence, and in 1989, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Too cool for his age
Biggie Smalls | The Notorious B.I.G.
I know it sounds weird, but if someone had ever asked me what Notorious B.I.G. looked like when he was six, this is exactly what I would've imagined. Interesting, right? It does take style to pull off a pink suit, after all. But this guy is just too damn awesome.
Notorious B.I.G. was also known as Christopher Wallace, but received the nickname "Big" because of his size; "Biggie Smalls" was another nickname, but he recorded under "The Notorious B.I.G." when the name Biggie Smalls was already in use by another rapper.
March 2017 marked the 20th anniversary of his death; the case is still unsolved.
Looks the same
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Here's a 16-year-old Arnold Schwarzenegger, having a lot of fun. But who wouldn't be, in that shape! How could you not enjoy it?
As you can see, Schwarzenegger already has pretty big muscles: he started training when he was just 15! The year after this picture was taken, the actor and bodybuilder won Mr. Universe.
Acting was the next thing on his list, and he achieved his dream with the movie Hercules in New York as Hercules, and the screen name "Arnold Strong." In Hercules, the actor's lines had to dubbed over with a voice-over artist because his accent was so thick. He eventually overcame that, obviously, because he was in several huge movies like The Terminator and Conan the Barbarian.
Best Sheriff around
John Wayne
Even as a 19-year-old, John Wayne looked absolutely gorgeous. I mean come on, he's always stolen a lot of hearts, and there's a good reason for that. Just look at him.
Did you know that John Wayne was just his screen name? The actor was actually born Marion Mitchell Morrison in Winterset, Iowa, and he actually got his big break while working on the set of a movie as a prop boy; a director saw him and cast him in a starring role for the movie The Big Trail.
He was credited once on-screen as "Duke Morrison, " but then Hollywood executives convinced him to take on the name Anthony Wayne after the Revolutionary war general, but then they settled on John Wayne, and the rest was history. Historians say that he wasn't even in the room when the name discussion happened!
Run baby, run!
Tom Hanks
Check out Forest Gump, errr… sorry, Tom Hanks as a baby. Those eyes and facial expression hasn't changed since 1957!
Four years after he was born his parents divorced, but that didn't stop the five brothers and sister from excelling! One is known a writer, another is an entomology professor and a third is actor/filmmaker. And Tom. What a family!
Strong with values
Angelina Jolie
Who would believe that this innocent-looking little girl is going to become one of the most successful actors ever, a renowned philanthropist and endure one of the ugliest divorces and an even uglier relationship start?
In the past year, she has shied from the limelight and is focusing on her family and keeping to herself.
You can't recognize her (the baby)!
Gwyneth Paltrow
Can you guess who Gwyneth Paltrow is in this picture? Hint: it isn't the adult. That's right, the mother is Blythe Danner, Paltrow's mother and Emmy Award winner.
Gwyneth was born in 1972 and this picture was taken sometime in 1973. Like mother like daughter, Gwyneth also became a star in her own right.
Like father, like son
Kiefer Sutherland
Here we have a two for one Kiefer Sutherland and his father Donald Sutherland way back before Kiefer thought of being a star and Donald was just starting his way up the Hollywood ladder.
At the ripe age of 82, Donald can kick back and enjoy reminiscing on his life knowing that his legacy will go on through "little" Kiefer.
FYI - not a native American
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand was once a kid too. Yeah, it's hard to believe that Barbra broke so many glass ceilings that were once a given and today have become all but obsolete.
In 1983 she was the first woman to write, produce, direct, and star in a major studio film, and was the first woman to receive the Golden Globe Award for Best Director.
Happy days
Ron Howard
Ron Howard is best known for being Richie Cunningham in Happy Days. After that, he left the front of the camera to focus on the workings behind it as a director.
His directing works include A Beautiful Mind – a cinematic masterpiece that earned him an Oscar for best director and best movie for 2001.
Stay tuned, he's directing the second Star Wars anthology movie unveiling Han Solo's past scheduled to be released May 2018!
Not so iron, is he?
Robert Downey Jr.
This is Robert Downey Jr. before the drugs, before the alcohol, before the rehab, and before Iron Man. What a cute kid!
Born in 1965, this picture was taken in the early 1970s. Almost ten years later Downey Jr. will enter our celeb consciousness when he became an SNL cast member.
Stars in their own right
Muhammad Ali & Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder was 16 here, while Muhammad Ali was 21. The dynamic of these two guys was freaking awesome, many said. Back then. they were both excited to be around each other.
Wonder was born Stevland Hardaway Judkins in 1950, and at age 11, he shared his first musical composition, Lonely Boy, to a member of The Miracles, who then sent him to audition at Motown.
There the producer Clarence Paul called the singer "Little Stevie Wonder" because of the kid's talent, and they worked on Wonder's first album when he was only 11.
This kid has a future!
George Clooney
Oh. My. God. This photo is absolutely amazing. Not only because it portrays a happy family, with two kids and two parents whose smiles are as candid as they can get, but because it also shows us a young George Clooney. One that would grow up to look exactly like his father.
The photo was taken in Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky and shows George and his sister, Ada. Their father, Nick Clooney, was a TV anchor in Cincinnati, Ohio, and young George spent his childhood in the Midwest.
He's a player
Tiger Woods
If you have ever wondered what 14-year-old Tiger Woods did when he was not playing golf, you have the answer in this photograph above. He played Zelda like all of the boys his age!
Woods began playing golf at age 2, even appearing on The Bob Hope Show. At the age of 3, he was already shooting a 48 on nine holes and was in his first national tournament at age 13. Just one year after this photograph was taken, Woods became the youngest person ever to win a U.S. Junior Amateur championship; he would go on to win the championship two more times.
In 1994, he was the youngest person to win the U.S. Amateur championship, but that record was broken in 2008 when Danny Lee won it at age 18.
Who could she be?
Marilyn Monroe
I'm not saying I couldn't have recognized her without her signature blonde hair. It's just that her curly brown hair and the circumstances in which this photo was taken are quite unusual when you're used to a more glamorous image of Marilyn Monroe.
Marilyn was born Norma Jean Mortensen and was in a foster home and orphanage in childhood. One of her first jobs was working at the Radiophone Factory in 1944, and that's what you see pictured here. Photographer David Conover was at the factory on assignment from the U.S. Army Air Force's First Motion Picture Unit, and she quickly became a model after he took her picture.
She first used the name "Jean Norman" but took the name Marilyn Monroe after a 20th Century Fox executive picked it -- Marilyn was from a Broadway star's name, and Monroe was her mother's maiden name.
Look at the nose!
Paul McCartney
As you've probably guessed, this is Paul McCartney. At 8 years old. And yes, the man next to him is his father. Also, isn't Paul's smile absolutely unique?
His father was a pianist and played the trumpet; it was he who encouraged Paul's love of music. His father tried to get him to take piano lessons, but Paul thought he would rather play by ear, so he did it his way.
Eventually, he got his first guitar and wrote his very first song, I Lost My Little Girl, when he was just 14. His mother died not long before this song was written and some biographers think the song is about her, though Paul has never explicitly said if that's true.
The second song he wrote? When I'm Sixty-Four What age? 16!
Baby Blues
Frank Sinatra
Okay, I think we can all agree that no other youngster has ever been as sleek, fancy and adorable as Frank Sinatra in the photo above. I mean, come on, most of the adults I know don't look half as good as he does here.
Sinatra is one heck of a crooner, but did you know that at his birth, the forceps used for the procedure perforated his eardrum and scarred his face? He overcame the incident, however, and became one of the best-selling artists of all time. Hard to believe he was never classically trained, but instead he learned how to read music and taught himself the rest.
I'd say he did one heck of a job, didn't he?
Who's your daddy?
Ivanka Trump
You are looking at a little kid who will grow up to be, maybe, the first lady President of the United States of America? She seems as if it's something she wants. Ladies and gentlemen, Ivanka Trump as a toddler!
With the cute baby's inquisitive expression, she already had a sense of fashion. I really love that baby dress. So Cute!
Looking Smart
Stephen Hawking
Yeah, that's Stephen Hawking when he was just 12 years old. Healthy, happy, and as sharp as he's always been. Brilliance! I can almost feel it in the pic.
Born in Oxford, England in 1942, Hawking was raised in a knowledge-loving family and was nicknamed "Einstein" by his peers. Although we know Hawking is a certified genius, he initially didn't do well in school until he succeeded in mathematics.
He started University College, Oxford at age 17, and says he studied about 3,000 hours while attending college. He passed away in 2018.
Talented star
Liv Tyler
Born in 1977, that's Liv Tyler. When this picture was taken, her famous father, Steven Tyler was so busy being a rockstar, that her mother's partner signed the birth certificate and assumed the responsibility.
In 1991 Tyler officially changed her name to Tyler and grew very close to her biological father. She still stays in loving touch with her adopting father and refers to him as "Dad".
Easy one
Bill Clinton
Okay, we all knew Bill Clinton could play the saxophone, but seeing him as a child is all the more interesting, considering that, well, he was also President of the United States for a while. And that's quite an achievement, right?
Bill Clinton was actually born William Jefferson Blythe III, but his mother remarried after his father died to a man named Roger Clinton, and Bill took his name at age 15.
When he was 16, he was first chair saxophone at high school, but he decided he wanted to be a public official, saying " I loved music and thought I could be very good, but I knew I would never be John Coltrane or Stan Getz."
Lil' dictator
Fidel Castro
All revolutionaries have a past, right? So it should come as no surprise that Fidel Castro too was just a normal boy at some point. As a teen, he actually played basketball for his high school's team, likely at Jesuit Belen High School in Havana.
Historians say he didn't take his studies seriously and was much more involved in playing sports.
Eventually, he became interested in politics and studied law at the University of Havana. He would then have his political theories grow more and more intense throughout the years. It's hard to believe that this young fresh-faced boy may have survived over 600 assassination attempts!
Still a ladies man
Snoop Dogg
Yeap, that's little kid is Snoop Dogg.
Maybe it's because throughout his career he has been so controversial, he has 17 Grammy nominations, but no wins.
Who's the smiling girl?
Gal Gadot
Israeli born Gadot rose to fame like a star with her Wonder Woman role, similar to the way Heath Ledger reinvented the role of the Joker.
Gadot, who starred in The Fast and The Furious is also Gucci's bamboo perfume global presenter. Gadot is not going anywhere soon. A mother of two, she is working hard to bring us joy.