Creepy Kids of Horror: Then and Now

With Halloween right around the corner, we started thinking about kids from horror movies over the years that have really gotten under our skin — and what happened to those kids, anyway? We take a look at some of the most memorable kids from horror films and where they are now.

Linda Blair, 'The Exorcist'

It's hard not to forget Linda Blair as Regan in William Friedkin's classic horror flick 'The Exorcist.' Between her spider-walk down the stairs, the pea-green vomit, and the expletives she hurled at a priest, Linda Blair's performance is one of the most memorable in horror history. Blair reprised her role in 'The Exorcist II: The Heretic,' but in the 80s she tried to revamp her image with edgy parts in a handful of B-movies — most notably 'Chained Heat' and 'Savage Streets.' These days Blair is an animal rights activist and donates to charities. She made an appearance last year on 'The Joy Behar Show.'

Daveigh Chase, 'The Ring'

Daveigh Chase played the creepy ghoul girl Samara in 'The Ring,' the US remake of the Japanese horror film 'Ringu.' In one very memorable scene Chase crawled through a television to kill Martin Henderson (and his career, presumably). She also starred as Samantha Darko in 'Donnie Darko,' as well as the ill-conceived sequel 'S. Darko.' Chase lent her voice to Lilo in the 'Lilo & Stitch' film, as well as the television series, and had a recurring role on HBO's 'Big Love.'

Harvey Stephens, 'The Omen'

As the demonic young Damien in 'The Omen,' Harvey Stephens' stare could penetrate right through to your soul. The young British actor had to dye and straighten his wild blonde locks to play the raven-haired hell-spawn in the 1976 classic. Stephens didn't act again until a cameo as a journalist in the 2006 remake starring Liev Schreiber and Julia Stiles, but he still makes the rounds at horror conventions, giving autographs and taking pictures with fans.

Isabelle Fuhrman, 'Orphan'

'Orphan' starred Isabelle Fuhrman as the new adoptee of an emotionally scarred couple coping with loss. As Esther, Fuhrman was utterly diabolical and eventually terrifyingly unhinged. Though it's only been a few short years since 'Orphan,' Fuhrman's transformation is stunning. She followed that role with a supporting part in this year's 'The Hunger Games' with Jennifer Lawrence, and will return to horror in David Gordon Green's remake of Dario Argento's 'Suspiria.'

Danielle Harris, 'Halloween 4' and 'Halloween 5'

Danielle Harris starred in both 'Halloween 4' and its immediate, lesser follow-up, 'Halloween 5' as Jamie Lloyd, niece of boogeyman Michael Myers. The young actress goes from fresh-faced innocent to chilling by the end of the fourth film (though that creepy moment is ret-conned somewhat in '5'). Harris continued to act with roles in 'Free Willie,' 'Roseanne,' and providing the voice of Debbie Thornberry in the Nickelodeon series 'The Wild Thornberries.' She didn't stay away from horror for long, though — Harris has become a horror mainstay, and her long resume includes a starring role in Rob Zombie's own 'Halloween' films, Adam Green's 'Hatchet' trilogy, and 'Stake Land.'

John Franklin, 'Children of the Corn'

While most people were terrified of the red-headed Malachai in 'Children of the Corn,' it was Isaac who really got under our skin. John Franklin played the young creeper in the film based on the Stephen King short story of the same name, and reprised the role in the 1999 direct-to-video film 'Children of the Corn 666: Isaac's Return.' Franklin also had another cool gig you may not have noticed: Cousin Itt in both 'The Addams Family' and its sequel, 'Addams Family Values.'

Lisa and Louise Burns, 'The Shining'

Lisa and Louise Burns starred as the Grady Twins in Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of Stephen King's 'The Shining.' That King guy is always reliable for his incorporation of creepy kids. The girls notoriously begged young Danny Torrance to play with them in the hallway of the Overlook Hotel. Lisa and Louise haven't acted in a feature film since, instead pursuing their careers academically. Lisa has a degree in literature and language, and Louise is a microbiologist, proving that all work and no play might actually do some good after all.

Lina Leandersson, 'Let the Right One In'

It takes guts when your first starring role is an androgynous vampire in a scary (and sorta sweet) coming of age horror drama. Lina Leandersson played Eli in the Swedish film 'Let the Right One In,' which was later remade in the US as 'Let Me In,' starring Chloe Moretz in Leandersson's role. The young actress is currently starring in two upcoming films in her native Sweden: 'The Arbiter' and 'Tenderness.'

Miko Hughes, 'Pet Sematary'

Yes, another Stephen King adaptation — this time it's 'Pet Sematary,' which starred Miko Hughes as the delightfully terrifying Gage, a young boy who was hit by a truck, and whose father stupidly buried in him the pet cemetery, where things come back to life in the worst possible way. Hughes also starred in 'Kindergarten Cop,' Wes Craven's 'New Nightmare,' 'Apollo 13,' and 'Spawn.' He continues to act and can be seen in last year's 'Remains,' as well as 'Tropic Thunder,' where he had an uncredited role as a DJ.

Mischa Barton, 'The Sixth Sense'
 

Mischa Barton played a scary ghost girl in M. Night Shyamalan's 'The Sixth Sense.' A guest appearance on the short-lived Fox show 'Fastlane,' produced by McG, landed her the starring role of Marissa Cooper on 'The O.C.,' but we'll always remember her best as the little girl with green vomit who scared the hell out of us and Haley Joel Osment. Barton still acts, having starred in 'The Assassination of a High School President' with Bruce Willis, and has a handful of B-grade movies on her resume.