34-Year-Old Actor Jonathan Lipnicki Has Completely Changed Since His 'Jerry Maguire' Days

Nov 23, 2020

What happens to children who become superstars while very young? How do they go about life after all the attention they get due to their stardom? Well, Jonathan Lipnicki is an excellent example of a child star transitioning into adulthood and the choices along the way. Jonathan was the star in “Stuart Little” and “Jerry McGuire”. After 20 years, the charming little boy that played Ray Boyd in “Jerry McGuire” is now a fully-grown man. The changes are astounding.

Jonathan Lipnicki, born in Westlake Village, California, in 1990, enjoyed a lot of love from his Jewish parents and older sister Alexis. Given that his parents had no connection whatsoever to the entertainment industry, it was quite a surprise that he became a movie star at such a young age. Often, child stars have at least one parent involved in the entertainment industry.

Jonathan’s introduction to acting was due to his sister, who was in an acting class. He decided to try acting and found that he loved it, auditioning for commercials before “Jerry McGuire.” Jonathan went to Agoura High School in Los Angeles, a school that has produced other celebrities such as filmmaker Shane Stanley, musician Brad Delson of Linkin Park, and TV personality Adrianna Costa.

The premiere of “Jerry McGuire” in 1996 had a significant impact on Jonathan’s life. When the filming started, it was a big deal for him to spend days on set with superstars such as Renee Zellweger and Tom Cruise. At the time, he was only five years old. The success of the film saw it achieve five Academy Awards nominations. In the movie, Jonathan’s role was the son of Dorothy (played by Renee Zellweger), who is a single mother. Dorothy is in a relationship with Jerry McGuire (Tom Cruise), a sports agent.

Although Jonathan did not play a huge role, his appearance in many emotional scenes made a huge impression on the audience. Even critics loved him, and he ended up winning two Awards for his role. Jonathan still maintains a close relationship with Tom Cruise, seeking his advice from time to time. He names Tom Cruise as his favorite actor, which may result from their roles in “Jerry McGuire.”

The success of “Jerry McGuire” opened up opportunities for Jonathan. His Hollywood star was shining bright, and he had many offers for films and shows. He appeared in several TV series, including “Dawson’s Creek.” While the shows gave him an opportunity to showcase his talent, his stock as a widely recognized celebrity rose with the animated comedy “Stuart Little.” Although the target audience was young millennials, everyone that watched the film loved it. People especially loved his character, a little blond boy from a family that adopts a talking mouse. Jonathan would later play the same role in the film’s 2002 sequel.

Jonathan is undoubtedly one of the biggest child actors of the early 2000s. He appeared among the ‘100 Greatest Kid Stars’ list by VHS as well as ranking 8th on E’s “Cutest Child Stars: All Grown Up.” His movies had already grossed $750 million before he turned ten years. Such success is admirable. However, coping with success is never an easy task, and Jonathan had a fair share of challenges.

Jonathan admits that he had a hard time at school, especially with his classmates. He says that as a teen, people relentlessly made fun of him. People told him that his star had faded, referring him to as a ‘has-been’ that would never get a job again. That made him feel like garbage.

Jonathan did not stop acting immediately after the “Stuart Little” movies. He continued to star in several films. However, as he explained to the Huffington Post, he started feeling tired of the movie industry. He wished to take a break from the limelight and enjoy a normal teenage life. He turned his focus on his studies and doing ordinary teenage stuff like going to prom and joining the water polo team.

After his graduation, Jonathan felt it was the right time to go back to acting. He went back to Hollywood and has been involved in several films and TV shows such as “Monk” and “Interns of F.I.E.L.D.” He says he enjoys telling stories and experiencing different characters. Jonathan’s latest movie, originally titled “Broil” and now set to air as "Vampire Dinner - You are what you eat", is a horror movie where he plays Sydney ‘The Chef’ Lawson.

Jonathan’s life is not all about acting. He has other interests and engagements he commits to. Now 34 years old, he is active in martial arts. He currently trains in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Alan Zborosky. That has kept him in good shape, based on his recent photos.

Jonathan has always tried to give back to society even from when he was a kid. He is actively involved in charity including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The foundation hailed him in 2001 as one of its “Heroes of 2001” due to his engagement with them. He has also been a speaker for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Currently, Jonathan Lipnicki’s net worth is approximately $5 million. Jonathan Lipnicki was thrust into stardom at a very early age. He has had to navigate through life as a star and has faced many challenges. He has made some choices along the way that have shaped his career. His choice to take a step back from the limelight so that he could enjoy a normal childhood before later resuming his acting may have proved to be the right decision when handling fame.

Jonathan’s experience can be a good inspiration to many child stars as they go about handling fame. It would be a great benefit to many if it spread and reached as many people as possible.