A former child actor from a beloved 1980s sitcom looked nearly unrecognizable during a rare public outing in Santa Clarita, California, earlier this week. The 49-year-old star, who rose to fame on a hit ABC series that ran for seven seasons starting in 1985, kept a low profile while running errands. His career began with commercial appearances before he landed a guest spot on a children’s television program, eventually opening the door to a breakout role. Although he still occasionally takes acting jobs, he has also explored life beyond Hollywood, including previously running a catering business. He has also spoken openly about past struggles with alcoholism and now lives a quieter life away from Los Angeles.
The actor is Jeremy Miller, best known for playing Ben Seaver on the ABC sitcom Growing Pains. During the casual outing, Miller wore a gray short-sleeved shirt, blue shorts, flip-flops, and a cap. He was seen walking through a busy parking lot before heading off in his car.
Born in Covina, California, in October 1976, Miller began acting at a young age with commercials, including a McDonald’s advertisement. He later appeared in small roles on shows like Pryor’s Place and Punky Brewster before landing his big break in 1985 as the youngest member of the Seaver family on Growing Pains. The sitcom aired from 1985 to 1992 and also starred Alan Thicke, Joanna Kerns, Kirk Cameron, and Tracey Gold, with later appearances by Leonardo DiCaprio and Ashley Johnson.
Miller later revealed that he faced serious financial hardship during the 2008 economic downturn. His catering business collapsed, leaving him struggling and nearly homeless. He credited former co-stars Thicke and Cameron for stepping in to help, with Thicke connecting him to restaurant owners so he could use his culinary skills to support his family. Miller has spoken warmly about Thicke, who died in 2016, describing him as generous and saying he filled a father-figure role in his life.
After Growing Pains ended, the cast reunited for two television films, and Miller continued acting while also doing voice work, including portraying Linus in Happy New Year, Charlie Brown! and other Peanuts specials. He has also been candid about his long battle with alcohol addiction, revealing he began drinking at a very young age. In recent years, however, he shared that he achieved sobriety and focused on recovery after a DUI incident prompted him to seek help.
