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.
Joyce DeWitt’s Candid Confession Confirms What We All Suspected
Decades may have passed since Three’s Company graced our screens, but its laughter still echoes in our hearts.
With unforgettable characters and side-splitting misunderstandings, this classic sitcom revolutionized the genre. Now, Joyce DeWitt reveals what really made the show a timeless treasure…
Public Domain
From the hilarious antics of three single roommates to the unforgettable performances of John Ritter and Suzanne Somers, Three’s Company remains a beloved staple of American television. It’s hard to believe it’s been 40 years since the series finale aired on ABC, yet its charm and humor still resonate today.
To illustrate how long ago Three’s Company became a hit, I just watched the intro. Seeing the shots from Santa Monica Pier during the show’s prime reminds me of how much has changed since they filmed there.
Sadly, neither John Ritter nor Suzanne Somers are with us anymore; both were taken from us far too soon. But keeping the spirit of Three’s Company alive is Joyce DeWitt, 75, who shares her vibrant stories and cherished memories from the beloved show.
”The most dear, precious, tender – and utterly unexpected – experiences that have come from working in ‘Three’s Company’ are the many, many adults who have told me that ‘Three’s Company’ was a safe haven they could count on during their teen years – for some, the only safe haven,” Joyce DeWitt told US Weekly.
Joyce DeWitt circa 1978. (Photo by Images Press/IMAGES/Getty Images)
Starring as Janet Wood alongside John Ritter and Suzanne Somers, DeWitt became a television icon and she was such a day brightener for millions.
She appeared in 171 episodes of the show between 1976 and 1984.
“It was such a gift. I mean, it was iconic. But who would have thought it?” Joyce DeWitt told The Spec. “All we were trying to do was make people laugh. When I think about it, the show was really an attempt to do a contemporary version of a 16th-century farce. It was about silliness running wild. I mean, we were talking about serious issues at times, but that was always somewhere underneath.”
“John Ritter used to say, ‘We don’t want people to just laugh but to fall over their couch laughing,’” she added. “The real issue was always the depth of friendship and the love those characters had for each other. That’s what drew people to them.”
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After Three’s Company ended, DeWitt stepped away from the spotlight for over a decade before making her comeback to acting.
Yet, no matter what she has accomplished or plans to do in the future, the vast majority will always connect her with that iconic show. And there’s a very simple reason for that, according to DeWitt.
“It was a ‘time out’ from the oppressive, challenging, difficult circumstances they were navigating in their young lives,” DeWitt says and adds:
“And, oh by the way, they say the characters also did stupid, crazy stuff that made them laugh. But it was the love, trust and support of the characters, one to the other, that made them lifelong fans.”
Public Domain
When you look at unedited photos from the Three’s Company set, the camaraderie among the cast shines through, especially in the images of Joyce DeWitt and Suzanne Somers, who played the beloved Chrissy Snow.
Both actresses delivered iconic performances, portraying young women navigating a male-dominated industry. They contributed just as much to the show’s success as John Ritter, and in those early days, their smiles in photos tell a story of friendship and collaboration.
Yet, beneath the laughter, tensions simmered. While Somers was celebrated for her role as “the dumbest blonde in America,” her fight for equal pay created rifts that would grow over time. As she demanded a 500% salary increase — from $30,000 to $150,000 — her relationship with DeWitt became strained. The set, once filled with joy, was now fraught with conflict.
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