This former actress became successful early in Hollywood, starring in one of the most popular sitcoms of all time, “All in the Family.” Her talent earned her award nominations, and her future in acting seemed bright.
The young actress on the set of “All in the Family” as Stephanie Mills in 1979. | Source: Getty Images
But by 18, she had grown tired of acting and decided to start a whole new career “from scratch.” Curious about where her bold decision led? Here’s what happened to this “All in the Family” star and where she is now.
The “All in the Family” actress circa 1980s. | Source: Getty Images
From Broadway to ‘All in the Family’
This young actress first captured attention on Broadway. At just eight years old, she starred as Molly, the orphan, in the original 1977 production of “Annie.” By 1978, she landed a significant role in one of television’s most iconic shows, “All in the Family.”
She joined the cast as Stephanie Mills, the bright, witty niece of Archie and Edith Bunker. Her portrayal of Stephanie quickly won over audiences and critics alike. The actress was honored in 1981 with the Best Young Actress Award at the Young Artist Awards.
The young star circa 1981. | Source: Getty Images
The CBS sitcom’s spin-off, “Archie Bunker’s Place,” gave her even more room to showcase her abilities, and she earned a Golden Globe nomination for her performance, further solidifying her place as one of the show’s standout stars.
The actress circa 1981. | Source: Getty Images
Her contribution to television was recognized once again when she was ranked No. 50 on VH1’s “100 Greatest Kid Stars.” However, despite all the acclaim, the “All in the Family” star made a life-altering decision at 18 — she walked away from acting, setting the stage for a new chapter in her career and life.
The young actress circa 1982. | Source: Getty Images
Shifting Gears
This young star turned her back on her flourishing acting career and decided to pursue her passion for music. The former actress revealed that music had always been her true calling. She said, “I found out that after doing the TV show, I wanted to do music and more than anything to write music.”
The child actress at the Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Bailey “The Greatest Show on Earth” event circa 1982. | Source: Getty Images
She added, “I had already done the acting thing, and when you are 16 and 17 years old you are all cocky. I felt I am going to go for it and start from scratch.”
She joined forces with Gregg Alexander, a fellow singer-songwriter and producer. With their strong creative partnership, they co-wrote several songs.
The actress-turned-musician circa 1983. | Source: Getty Images
“We became soul mates rather quickly. […] She was a big TV star, was just getting out of TV and going to launch into a film career. But she had this passion for music and singing and songwriting,” Alexander noted.
The singer-songwriter circa 1980s. | Source: Getty Images
The “All in the Family” star’s songwriting talent shone brightly, particularly through songs like Natasha Bedingfield’s “Unwritten” and “Pocketful of Sunshine.” Her work garnered critical acclaim, including an Oscar nomination for the romantic ballad “Lost Stars,” featured in the 2014 film “Begin Again.”
In the film, the song is first sung by the movie’s star, Keira Knightley, and then sung twice more by pop star Adam Levine, who played Knightley’s boyfriend.
“Begin Again,” written and directed by John Carney, marked the first time the former actress and Alexander composed for a film. The latter revealed that Carney called him out of the blue after getting his name from a few mutual friends.
The “All in the Family” actress circa 1987. | Source: Getty Images
“It was a very fluid process, doing the music for this film,” said the actress-turned-songwriter, who also co-wrote two of the film’s other songs, “A Step You Can’t Take Back” and “Coming Up Roses.”
She and Alexander knew they had gold in their hand with “Lost Stars.” When they finished the demo and sent it to Carney, they received an email saying tears were hitting his computer.
The singer-songwriter at the “Before Sunrise” premiere on January 24, 1995, in New York. | Source: Getty Images
Though the former actress’s transition to music was not without its rough patches, the musician’s courage to embrace this new challenge paid off as she continued to build a career in music over the years.
The musician at the “As Good as It Gets” premiere on December 6, 1997, in Westwood, California. | Source: Getty Images
The actress-turned-songwriter also released her solo work, with her 1994 album “Arrive All Over You” gaining attention overseas, especially in Europe. However, she admitted that competing with American rock bands at the time made it difficult to break through in the U.S. market.
“It did really well in England, Germany, and Europe, but in America, we had a bit of a struggle because it was coming out at the same time as Pearl Jam. I was on the same label,” the former Hollywood star explained.
Alexander added, “We stuck [together] through the lean years. There was a period when both of us got dropped by our record labels because we didn’t sound like everything else that was out there at the time.”
Nonetheless, the “All in the Family” actress’s collaboration with Alexander led to the formation of the New Radicals. Together, they created the album “Maybe You’ve Been Brainwashed Too,” featuring hits like “Someday We’ll Know.”
The musician and The Radicals during a photoshoot in 1999. | Source: Getty Images
As of 2024, 25 years after they parted ways with only one album, New Radicals, now comprising only Alexander and the former actress, released new music, including their version of Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s “Murder on the Dancefloor.”
The singer-songwriter and The Radicals during a photoshoot in 1999. | Source: Getty Images
Embracing Motherhood
This actress-turned-musician is Danielle Brisebois, who entered yet another fulfilling chapter of her life over the years — becoming a mother. In 2008, she married British songwriter and producer Nick Lashley. Not long after, the couple welcomed twin daughters, Lola and Charlotte.
In December 2020, Brisebois took to Instagram to celebrate her daughters. She captioned the sweet birthday post, “We had a fun day!! Actually a great day!! Happy Birthday my loves! 7. Wow.”
In April 2022, the singer-songwriter shared in a post that Charlotte tried her hand at modeling as she posed for the family’s favorite clothing lines. A few months later, Brisebois was the picture of a proud mom as she posed with her twins, writing, “The love I have for these two is beyond the best thing in the world.”
In 2023, the “All in the Family” actress posted a snap of her daughters enjoying a day at Disney before her husband took to Instagram to commemorate the twins’ first day in 5th grade in September 2024.
In the post, the twins — one of whom was a foot taller than her sister — wore sweet smiles as they held up signs in honor of the milestone.
“Pretty girls!!! 😍,” one social media user said of Brisebois’ daughters. “Wow, look at those gorgeous girls!” another typed. A third added, “Those eyes!! What darlins [sic].”
As for following in their mother’s footsteps, Brisebois revealed that she would have no problem with her girls becoming actresses. While many former child stars struggle with their fame, the “All in the Family” star reflected fondly on her time on the Hollywood acting scene.
“I got to do really fun stuff. I was in the room when Martin Charnin, Charles Strouse, and Tom Meehan were writing a song for ‘Annie,’ [sitting] under the piano with Sandy the dog. We were all in Carroll O’Connor’s house all the time,” she recalled.
Brisebois’ journey from a beloved child actress on “All in the Family” to an accomplished songwriter and devoted mother is a testament to her versatility and passion. Her ability to reinvent herself, whether on stage, in the recording studio, or at home, highlights a life filled with creativity, growth, and fulfillment.
