Danny Pintauro is shedding light on the challenges faced by child actors after their rise to fame. Best known for his role in “Who’s the Boss?”, he recently made headlines by sharing a selfie as he worked as an Amazon driver in Los Angeles. The 50-year-old mentioned that he had taken a decade-long break from acting and turned to delivery driving while trying to re-enter the entertainment industry.
In an interview, Pintauro expressed that, despite being part of a successful show from 1984 to 1992, financial concerns still lingered. “People often think that if they recognize you, you’ll be set for life, but that’s not true,” he remarked. He pointed out the misconception around what residuals from past shows actually provide, especially during the era of the ’80s.
“Back then, the industry operated differently,” he explained. “There wasn’t any expectation for further earnings from things like DVD sales, as those didn’t even exist.” He talked about how contracts were structured during that time, leading to minimal residuals from reruns, with payments decreasing each time a show aired.
Pintauro noted that while the initial earnings from “Who’s the Boss?” were promising, many of those funds went toward his education at Stanford and living expenses afterward. “I worked at the Gap and later moved into management at PF Chang’s,” he recalled, aiming to build a stable life apart from his childhood celebrity status.
He also mentioned attempts to dive into theater direction in New York, which didn’t pan out as he’d hoped. However, after some detours, including a stint caring for animals in Austin, he felt the pull of acting again and decided to focus on it full-time.
Working as an Amazon Flex driver has turned out to be beneficial for him. “It was quite a transition,” he shared, recalling his initial nervousness during his first shift, including navigating a less-than-friendly neighborhood. “With my hazards on, I would rush to deliver packages while keeping an eye out for barking dogs,” he laughed.
The viral reaction to his Instagram post surprised him; he aimed to showcase the real challenges of relaunching a career in today’s entertainment landscape. He quipped, “As an actor who’s active, I’m not really working that much right now.” Pintauro acknowledged that the number of productions has diminished, and established actors typically get more opportunities.
Reflecting on the changing industry, he remarked that sitcoms are becoming less common, with streaming services taking center stage. “I always felt stars aligned during my childhood. Now, things feel different,” he said, adding that he never anticipated the shift to streaming would overshadow traditional network shows.
Pintauro is actively seeking more acting roles and wishes to resonate with those who juggle multiple jobs while holding onto their dreams. “We’re all just trying to keep pushing through,” he reiterated. “I respect anyone doing what needs to be done to support their families. Anyone who’s watched my journey knows I’ve taken whatever steps necessary to keep going.” He concluded with a hopeful note, saying, “No matter the circumstances, I stay optimistic. I keep moving.”
