‘The Wonder Years’ Cast All Grown Up: Where Are They Now?

UNITED STATES - SEPTEMBER 19: THE WONDER YEARS - Season Four - 9/19/90, Pictured, from left: Jason Hervey (Wayne), Olivia d'Abo (Karen), Fred Savage (Kevin), Dan Lauria (Jack), Alley Mills (Norma),
ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

The familiar strains of Joe Cocker singing “With a Little Help From My Friends” brought us right back to the late 1960s and early ’70s in the beautifully crafted coming-of-age series The Wonder Years.

For six seasons from 1988-93, we watched Kevin Arnold (Fred Savage) age from 12 to 17 and navigate young love, growing up and life with his typical American family (with Daniel Stern narrating as adult Kevin). The show was a hit and spawned a 2021 short-lived reboot. Since it recently arrived on Hulu, it’s a great time to check into what the Arnold family and Kevin’s friends, including the adorable Winnie, have been up to.

Fred Savage (48)

Kevin Arnold

Fred Savage Now and Then

Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection; Dominik Bindl/Getty Images

Savage was ready for his closeup as the central figure in The Wonder Years, having perfectly played the grandson in the winning 1987 fantasy film The Princess Bride. He honed his talent as a director in the ensuing years and also costarred on The Grinder with Rob Lowe. But after misconduct allegations surfaced, he was removed from his executive producer role on the now-canceled Wonder Years reboot. In recent years, he has returned to his acting roots in The Afterparty and Three Women.

He has been married to Jennifer Lynn Stone since 2004 and they share three kids.

Danica McKellar (50)

Winnie Cooper

Danica McKellar now and then

Everett Collection; Jason Davis/Getty Images for Alzheimer’s Association

McKellar played Kevin’s love interest, the charming Winnie Cooper. After Wonder Years, she attended UCLA to study math, which she excelled at; McKellar published academic papers on advanced mathematics and penned multiple cool math books for kids. She didn’t give up acting for the academic life, however; she also appeared on The West Wing and has had various voice roles on cartoons. She was a Dancing With the Stars fave and is a perennial performer in holiday movies on the Hallmark Channel and Great American Family network. She is currently married to attorney Scott Sveslosky and has one child from a previous marriage.

Dan Lauria (77)

John “Jack” Arnold

Dan Lauria now and then

ABC/courtesy Everett Collection; Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images for Toyota

Playing Kevin’s money-conscious pop on The Wonder Years was only one part of a steady career for this character actor. The Marine Corps veteran had larger roles in From the Earth to the Moon and Sullivan & Son, and played the titular Hall of Fame football coach on Broadway in Lombardi. He also wrote and starred in the play Just Another Day. Lauria most recently appeared in Reagan and has many projects in the works.

Alley Mills (73)

Norma Arnold

Alley Mills now and then

Bob D’Amico/TV Guide/ABC/courtesy Everett Collection; Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

The role of Kevin’s mom, Norma, looms large on Mills’ resumé, but there are plenty of significant stops along the way, especially on the television front. She had a recurring role on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman as Michaela’s sister, and has maintained a long history on The Bold and the Beautiful as Pam Douglas. She recently replaced Robin Mattson as Heather Webber on General Hospital, and won her first Emmy for the role. She sadly lost her husband, Orson Bean, to a tragic accident in 2020.

Olivia d’Abo (56)

Karen Arnold

Olivia d’Abo now and then

Warner Bros./courtesy Everett Collection; Rich Fury/Getty Images

In the years since she played Kevin’s rebellious sister Karen, d’Abo has remained busy as both a singer and actress. Perhaps best known otherwise for playing serial killer Nicole Wallace in a run on Law & Order: Criminal Intent, as well as voicing Jane in the animated The Legend of Tarzan and Luminara Unduli in numerous Star Wars shows, d’Abo also starred in the horror comedy film Staycation. Fun fact: her father Mike d’Abo was the lead vocalist for Manfred Mann.

Jason Hervey (52)

Wayne Arnold

Jason Hervey now and then

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images; Bobby Bank/Getty Images

Perfect as Kevin’s nasty older brother Wayne, Hervey’s post-Wonder Years life saw him working primarily as a producer, with many credits in videos for World Championship Wrestling presentations. While occasionally appearing on reality shows, he also most recently reunited with Wonder Years costar Danica “Winnie” McKellar in the 2021 Hallmark movie You, Me & the Christmas Trees. He is currently married and has two children.

The Wonder Years is currently streaming on Hulu.

’80s Where Are They Now
Want More?

’80s Where Are They Now

March 2023

Who can forget all the great TV shows, movies and music of the ‘80s? See what your favs are up to now!

Buy This Issue