Whatever Happened to Little Chrissy Seaver From ‘Growing Pains’?
If you watched Growing Pains in the late ’80s and early ’90s, you probably remember when the Seaver family welcomed an adorable little blonde girl named Chrissy. Introduced in the show’s fourth season, Chrissy was initially played by twins Kelsey and Kirsten Dohring; in the show’s sixth season, Ashley Johnson, then six years old, took on the role, and quickly became a fan favorite, holding her own alongside a well-established cast that already felt like family.
“Every memory that I have from Growing Pains is so good,” Johnson, now 41, recently shared on Pod Meets World, the podcast hosted by Boy Meets World alums Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong and Will Friedle. Johnson had glowing things to say about her experience on set, especially about her TV dad, the late Alan Thicke. “He was the greatest. I mean, as a first TV dad, I just remember I loved hugging him and just being around him. He was wonderful.”
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She also remembered working with Leonardo DiCaprio, who appeared in the show’s final season as homeless teen Luke Brower. “He was so good,” she said. “Like, you could tell so early on … everyone was like, ‘This kid is so good.’” DiCaprio was just 16 at the time, and Johnson remembers him being “so sweet” to her.
What did Ashley Johnson do after Growing Pains?
While some child stars disappear after their big breakout, Johnson kept working. She transitioned into film with roles in What Women Want, Fast Food Nation and The Help, as well as recurring parts on The Killing and a five-season lead on Blindspot. She even appeared in The Avengers, where her scenes as Beth, a waitress saved by Captain America, hinted at a storyline that never quite took off (instead, that storyline went to Emily VanCamp’s Sharon Carter).
She’s also a prolific voice actor, bringing life to beloved characters like Gretchen in Recess, Terra in Teen Titans and Gwen in Ben 10. Gamers know her best as Ellie in The Last of Us, a role that earned her two BAFTA awards and widespread praise.
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Today, she’s a key member of the Critical Role team, a livestreamed Dungeons & Dragons series that became a full-on phenomenon. Johnson plays fan-favorite characters Pike and Yasha, and now serves as president of the Critical Role Foundation, which leads the group’s charity efforts. Her creative energy also spilled over into other projects with longtime friend Mila Shah, including a podcast and web series called Little Things.
Behind the scenes, life hasn’t always been easy. Her father passed away when she was just 16, and she has spoken about the scoliosis and kyphosis that made her teenage years physically difficult. In recent years, she’s navigated a painful and very public breakup with former fiancé Brian W. Foster. In 2023, she filed a restraining order and joined a lawsuit alleging abuse and harassment. But today, she seems to be doing well.
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Favorite TV Families
April 2019
Celebrate the best of the best of TV families!
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