NPR’s Michel Martin talks with Edward Whelan of the Ethics and Public Policy Center about President-elect Trump’s influence on Senate Republicans’ selection of a new majority leader.
Jennifer Stone, Bridgit Mendler, Noah Schnapp and more who worked traditional jobs post-fame
There are many actors you’ll likely recognize who left their career in Hollywood and set out on a more traditional career path.
Actors have gone on to become nurses, veterinarians, lawyers and more.
Child actors in particular have ventured on a more traditional career path after starring in a TV show or movie that put them on the map in the entertainment space.
KEVIN HART, REESE WITHERSPOON AND OTHER CELEBRITIES WHO HAVE AUTHORED POPULAR CHILDREN’S BOOKS
Below are a handful of actors who have worked traditional jobs since becoming recognizable faces after their time on TV or in movies.
Bridgit Mendler, Noah Schnapp and Jennifer Stone are all examples of actors who worked regular jobs post-fame. (Getty Images)
1. Jennifer Stone
Jennifer Stone is widely known for her role in the Disney Channel hit show “Wizards of Waverly Place.”
On the show, which aired for four seasons beginning in 2007, she played Harper Finkle, the quirky best friend of Alex Russo, who was played by Selena Gomez.
After her time on “Wizards of Waverly Place,” she was inspired to become an emergency room nurse after her own diagnosis with type 1 diabetes when she was 20 years old.
“I was like, ‘OK, let me pivot from majoring in psychology to majoring in something that I can further understand myself better and what’s going on with my body and also be able to help people,’” Stone told People.
“I wanted to be somebody that was like, ‘Look, I’ve been where you’ve been, and it gets better,’” she added. “The hardest phase of a diagnosis story is the not knowing what’s going on with your body, not knowing how to treat it. I think that’s the most challenging part.”
Jennifer Stone is now an emergency room nurse but spent several years acting on “Wizards of Waverly Place.” (Eric McCandless/American Broadcasting Companies via Getty Images)
Stone graduated from nursing school in December 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
As a nurse, Stone still gets recognized from her days on the Disney Channel show.
“I get recognized pretty frequently between the red hair and my weird voice. It’s kind of a giveaway. Even during the pandemic, when I was in full PPE – mask, gown, gloves, completely covered head to toe – people would recognize me. I was very surprised by that,” she told Healthline.
FORMER DISNEY STAR REVEALS HOW HE ‘FELL INTO’ ADULT ENTERTAINMENT AFTER ‘WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE’
“No one wants to go to the ER, and so if I can bring somebody a little bit of joy when they’re having a rough day, I look at it as such a gift,” she said.
Stone’s days on “Wizards of Waverly Place” aren’t fully behind her.
Stone played the best friend of Alex Russo (Selena Gomez) in the Disney series. (Craig Sjodin/Disney Channel via Getty Images)
Stone and her “Wizards of Waverly Place” co-star David DeLuise host the “Wizards of Waverly Pod,” where they rematch episodes of the beloved series.
2. Kay Panabaker
You may recognize Kay Panabaker from movies like “Nancy Drew,” “Fame” or the TV movie “Read It and Weep.”
CELEBRITIES YOU MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN WERE ON NICKELODEON SHOWS EARLY IN THEIR ACTING CAREERS
You may also remember Panabaker from TV shows like “Summerland” and “Phil of the Future.”
Now, you’re not likely to see Panabaker on the big or small screen, as she has shifted her focus to zoology since her acting days.
Panabaker received a degree in history from UCLA, according to Naperville Magazine, and then completed an 18-month animal program at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida.
Kay Panabaker focused on her love for animals after her time acting. (Charley Gallay/WireImage)
She then did an internship with Disney World and was hired by the company, she told the outlet in 2016.
“I get recognized from time to time at work, and the one thing I always impart on people is: life is short. You have to love your job because you spend so much time there,” Panabaker told Naperville Magazine. “So that’s what I’ve done. And I just want people to love what they do, whatever that is.”
FORMER DISNEY STAR DEMI LOVATO WON’T ALLOW FUTURE CHILD TO FOLLOW HER ‘TRAUMATIC’ PATH
3. Jeff Cohen
When Jeff Cohen was a child, he starred as Chunk in the 1985 treasure-hunting classic, “The Goonies.”
Cohen stayed in the entertainment industry into his adulthood, but not quite in the same way.
Cohen went to UCLA School of Law and became an entertainment lawyer, according to People.
Jeff Cohen still works in entertainment, but as a lawyer instead of an actor. (Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Entertainment Weekly)
In 2002, Cohen co-founded the law firm Cohen Gardner, according to Business Insider.
4. Bridgit Mendler
Former Disney star Bridgit Mendler played Teddy Duncan in “Good Luck Charlie.”
In the show, her character recorded video diaries throughout her life to share with her younger sister, Charlie.
The show aired from 2010 until 2014.
During this time, she also starred in the Disney TV movie “Lemonade Mouth.”
Bridgit Mendler is now the CEO of a space startup. (Mike Windle/Getty Images for WE Day)
Mendler underwent a complete career change after acting, as she is now the CEO and co-founder of a space startup called Northwood Space, according to CNBC.
“While everybody else was making their sourdough starters [during the COVID-19 pandemic], we were building antennas out of random crap we could find at Home Depot … and receiving data from [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] satellites,” Mendler told CNBC.
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5. Peter Ostrum
Peter Ostrum’s time in the spotlight was short, but the movie he starred in was a classic.
Ostrum played Charlie Bucket in the 1971 film “Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory,” the only movie project listed under the actor’s name on IMDb.
Ostrum went on to get his doctor of veterinary medicine degree at Cornell University, according to Veterinary Practice News, and then landed a job at Countryside Veterinary Clinic in Lowville, New York.
Peter Ostrum’s only acting role was in “Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory.” (Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)
He stayed there for 37 years before retiring in December 2022, according to the source.
6. Noah Schnapp
Noah Schnapp is one of the core cast members on the hit science fiction show, “Stranger Things.”
Even after he got started on “Stranger Things,” he continued to spend summers working as a lifeguard at a pool.
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“It’s kind of a ‘just for fun thing,’” Schnapp told Flaunt Magazine about his summer job. “I’ve kind of grown up with a normal life and normal friends and stuff outside of ‘Stranger Things,’ so it’s kind of kept me grounded.”
Trump appoints Elon Musk; Pete Hegseth : NPR
Good morning. You’re reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.
Today’s top stories
President-elect Donald Trump is ramping up the assembly of his team for a second term in the White House. He says he will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel, House Rep. Elise Stefanik to serve as U.N. Ambassador and Rep. Mike Waltz of Florida to be his national security adviser. Trump has also tapped Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a new government agency called the Department of Government Efficiency. Some of his selections, like TV host Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense, have raised some eyebrows. Here’s who else Trump has picked as cabinet members and key advisors so far.
Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to speak during an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center on Nov. 6, in West Palm Beach, Fla.
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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
- 🎧 Trump’s selections reflect his focus on loyalty and show a more nationalistic and transactional emphasis when it comes to his policy priorities, NPR’s Franco Ordoñez tells Up First. A strong opposition to China, support for Israel and skepticism for Ukraine is expected. A House Republican committee chair expressed shock after Hegseth was named secretary of defense. The representative said Hegseth wasn’t on the known list of names under consideration. Hegseth is a decorated veteran but lacks the management and high-profile national security experience expected for this role, Ordoñez says
A U.S. jury has awarded $42 million to three former detainees of the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. The abuse they received there by American troops is one of the lasting legacies of the invasion of Iraq. Photos of the abuse were published in 2004. Warning: This story contains graphic descriptions of the torture of the prisoners.
- 🎧 The jury said U.S. military contractor CACI could be found guilty because the interrogators CACI supplied to the prison conspired with U.S. soldiers to inflict torture on the plaintiffs, NPR’s Ruth Sherlock says. CACI denies this characterization and said its employees didn’t take part in abuse committed by the military police in Abu Ghraib. This case specifically focuses on the three plaintiffs and does not pave the way for compensation for other victims. Sherlock remarks that the verdict shows how hard it is for victims of U.S. military abuse to get any kind of remedy.
- ➡️ Last year, Sherlock spoke with former Abu Ghraib detainee Talib al-Majl, who is not one of the three plaintiffs in this latest case. He told Sherlock that the 16 months he was held in prison ruined his life.
United Kingdom Prime Minister Kier Starmer has announced plans to cut climate pollution by at least 81% compared to 1990 levels by 2035. He made the pledge to fight global warming at the COP29 Climate Summit, which is underway this week.
- 🎧 The U.K. plans to reach this goal by investing in climate solutions like wind energy, solar, big batteries and nuclear energy, NPR’s Julia Simon says. Starmer also made an economic argument for the change, saying it is a huge opportunity to invest in U.K. businesses. There hasn’t been as much optimism for U.S. leadership at this climate summit, Simon says. President-elect Trump has previously called climate change a hoax.
Special series
Money from fossil fuels is directly financing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a leading climate scientist says.
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Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images
Money from fossil fuels is directly financing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a leading climate scientist says.
Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images
Each day this week, Morning Edition will dive deep into one of the promises President-elect Donald Trump has made for day one of his administration.
Trump has promised to boost America’s fossil fuel industry. As part of this plan, he intends to eliminate policies and regulations that support green technologies, such as those found in the Inflation Reduction Act. Additionally, he has expressed a desire to lower energy prices and terminate offshore wind projects. Brian Murray, director of the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability at Duke University, speaks with NPR’s A Martínez about what that would mean for the U.S.’ climate goals.
Picture show
Christian Baiocco, Griffin Katz and Grant Weintrob pose for a film photo with President Joseph Biden.
photo provided by Life on Film.
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photo provided by Life on Film.
The creators behind the viral TikTok account @lifeonfilm.27 give film cameras to strangers all over the world and compile the images into a video. They have even featured celebrities such as Ed Sheeran and Ice Spice. In September, one of the most powerful men in the world, President Biden, was given a camera. The resulting photos offer a glimpse into his life, showcasing views of the White House taken from the presidential limo, as well as newly signed bills and other documents in the Oval Office.
3 things to know before you go
Nicholas Hamlett, 45, was the subject of a weekslong manhunt following the Oct. 18 murder of Steven Lloyd. Authorities say Hamlett befriended Lloyd and lured him into a wooded area in Tennessee, killing him in an attempted identity theft plot.
Monroe County Tennessee Sheriff’s Office
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Monroe County Tennessee Sheriff’s Office
- Nicholas Hamlett was arrested after a weeks-long manhunt for killing a man in Tennessee. Hamlett reported the killing to police as a bear attack in an attempt to steal the victim’s identity, according to authorities.
- In a recent interview, Denzel Washington says he plans to retire after a few more projects, including a third Black Panther movie. The film hasn’t been confirmed yet.
- Samantha Harvey has won the 2024 Booker Prize for her science fiction novel, Orbital, which follows six astronauts orbiting Earth for one day of their nine-month mission.
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
Good Samaritan saves Georgia man from burning home
A Georgia homeowner has recounted how a quick-thinking passerby saved him from his burning home last month by kicking down a locked storm door to pull him to safety.
David McConnell told FOX5 Atlanta that he was taking a nap in his Winterville home on the afternoon of Oct. 29 when a noise from the kitchen woke him up.
“I heard some popping and snapping and crackling,” McConnell said, adding that he went back to sleep thinking the sound would go away.
McConnell only realized something was wrong when the fire alarm went off. He told the outlet that he jumped out of bed and found thick smoke engulfing the inside of his home.
FIREFIGHTER PULLS TODDLER FROM BURNING APARTMENT BUILDING IN DRAMATIC EARLY MORNING RESCUE: VIDEO
Firefighters responded to a house fire in Winterville, Georgia, around 5 p.m. on Oct. 29. (Athens-Clarke County Fire Department)
“You could not see out my backdoor or my window,” McConnell said. “That was pretty scary.”
McConnel said he tried to exit the home through his front door but found the storm door locked.
Fire officials said that the roof collapsed when first responders arrived. (Athens-Clarke County Fire Department)
Dylan Betts, a good Samaritan who was driving by on his way home from work, stopped when he saw the smoke and raced to help.
“I ripped off and then kicked it in,” Betts said of the locked storm door.
No injuries were reported as a result of the fire. (Athens-Clarke County Fire Department)
Betts said he stepped inside the home through a “thick wall of black smoke” and called out.
OHIO WOMAN PULLED TO SAFETY FROM BASEMENT WHILE HOME ABOVE HER ENGULFED IN FLAMES, BODYCAM SHOWS
“Mr. David, luckily, heard my voice, and he came right to me,” Betts told FOX5.
The fire was believed to have started in the garage before spreading throughout the home. (Athens-Clarke County Fire Department)
When the outlet asked Betts why he risked his life to save a stranger, Betts responded, “Why not? That’s America.”
McConnell said that his family calls Betts “our hero,” and even gave Betts tickets to a Georgia/Tennessee football game as a small thank you for saving his life.
The Athens-Clarke County Fire Department said the fire originated in the garage and spread throughout the structure, according to the station. Firefighters arrived to find deteriorating conditions, including a roof collapse. No injuries were reported.
How the Senate confirmation process works and how Trump wants to change it
NPR’s Michel Martin talks with Edward Whelan of the Ethics and Public Policy Center about President-elect Trump’s influence on Senate Republicans’ selection of a new majority leader.
Los Angeles Times owner announces paper will have a new editorial board soon so ‘all voices are heard’
A new Los Angeles Times editorial board representing “all voices” will be coming soon, according to a post from the paper’s owner.
On Sunday, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong wrote about the importance of sharing different opinions to promote “trust in media” in the wake of President-elect Donald Trump’s resounding victory.
“Proud that we posted this letter from one of our readers on X. When the President has won the vote of the majority of Americans then ALL voices must be heard. Opinions are just that. I will work towards making our paper and media fair and balanced so that all voices are heard and we can respectfully exchange every American’s view ..from left to right to the center. Coming soon. A new Editorial Board. Trust in media is critical for a strong democracy,” Soon-Shiong posted on X.
Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong hinted that a new, more balanced editorial board could be “coming soon.” (Photo by David McNew/Getty Image)
Soon-Shiong appeared to be referring to a “Letters to the Editor” piece he had reshared on X that featured both criticism and praise for columnist LZ Granderson’s article, titled “There’s no mystery. White women handed Trump the election.”
On Thursday, he similarly posted, “The American people have spoken and @latimes will take the lead to provide factual and balanced coverage as the country heals its division.”
Soon-Shiong also retweeted a post-election clip from CNN’s Scott Jennings where the commentator wrote, “3:38am – reflecting on Trump’s impending victory and coming Harris concession. Trump has a mandate. The late stage mirage of Harris momentum was crushed by regular working class Americans of all races.”
The LA Times came under fire last month after the editorial board did not endorse a presidential candidate for the first time since 2008.
After news about the non-endorsement, editorials editor Mariel Garza claimed an endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris had already been drafted, but the owner scrapped it.
“I am resigning because I want to make it clear that I am not okay with us being silent,” Garza said at the time. “In dangerous times, honest people need to stand up. This is how I’m standing up.”
Veteran journalists Robert Greene and Karin Klein also resigned following the news.
According to Soon-Shiong, the decision came about after the editorial board refused to write a balanced analysis of both candidates’ and their policies.
He wrote on X, “The Editorial Board was provided the opportunity to draft a factual analysis of all the POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE policies by EACH candidate during their tenures at the White House, and how these policies affected the nation. In addition, the Board was asked to provide their understanding of the policies and plans enunciated by the candidates during this campaign and its potential effect on the nation in the next four years. In this way, with this clear and non-partisan information side-by-side, our readers could decide who would be worthy of being President for the next four years.”
“Instead of adopting this path as suggested, the Editorial Board chose to remain silent and I accepted their decision. Please #vote,” the message concluded.
LA Times guild members attacked the paper’s owner for squashing an endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of the election. (AP/Jacquelyn Martin)
In response, the Los Angeles Times Guild Unit Council and Bargaining Committee released a statement attacking Soon-Shiong for blocking a planned endorsement of Harris.
“We are deeply concerned about our owner’s decision to block a planned endorsement in the presidential race. We are even more concerned that he is now unfairly assigning blame to Editorial Board members for his decision not to endorse. We are still pressing for answers from newsroom management on behalf of our members. The Los Angeles Times Guild stands with our members who have always worked diligently to protect the integrity of our newsroom,” the statement read.
The Guild had to follow up with a message begging Times readers not to unsubscribe from the paper and jeopardize their livelihoods.
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Fox News Digital reached out to Granderson, the Los Angeles Times and the Los Angeles Times Guild for a comment.
Trump is meeting Biden in the Oval Office today : NPR
Then-President Barack Obama shakes hands with then-President-elect Donald Trump after a meeting in the Oval Office on Nov. 10, 2016.
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Former and future President Donald Trump is set to visit his old office today, the Oval Office. President Biden invited his predecessor and successor for what is a ceremonial tradition meant to signal the desire for a smooth and peaceful transfer of power.
In 2020, Trump refused to accept the results of the election and did not invite Biden to the Oval Office.
But in 2016, then-President Barack Obama sat next to Trump in the Oval Office just two days after Trump beat Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
In this file photo from Nov. 10, 2016, then-President-elect Donald Trump listens to then-President Barack Obama speak after their Oval Office meeting.
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Sitting side by side, Trump called Obama a “very good man,” said it was an honor to meet with him and that he looked forward to being with him “many, many more times in the future.”
It didn’t take long for Trump to sour on Obama. But there in the Oval Office, with cameras aimed at them, the two presidents had an almost friendly rapport.
Obama said he wanted to facilitate a transition that would set Trump up for success. “I believe that it is important for all of us, regardless of party and regardless of political preferences, to now come together, work together, to deal with the many challenges that we face,” Obama said.
Meanwhile Trump raved about how long the meeting lasted.
“This was a meeting that was going to last for maybe 10 or 15 minutes, and we were just going to get to know each other,” Trump said. “We had never met each other. I have great respect. The meeting lasted for almost an hour and a half. And it could have — as far as I’m concerned, it could have gone on for a lot longer.”
The one piece of advice Obama gave Trump while reporters were in the room was, “Don’t answer the questions when they just start yelling it.”
That’s something Trump immediately ignored when in office. He frequently held court as reporters shouted questions, responding to the ones he felt like answering and sometimes sparring with the journalists.
The tradition is part of the transfer of power
If the Trump-Obama relationship was strained, the one between Biden and Trump is even worse. Biden campaigned against Trump twice, winning in 2020 with an argument that Trump was an existential threat to U.S. democracy.
Then during the 2024 campaign, their one meeting on a debate stage in late June essentially ended Biden’s bid for a second term. During the remaining months of the campaign Trump often gloated about his knock-out punch in the debate and bemoaned the “coup” that forced Biden out of the race.
But, the day after the election, Biden phoned Trump to congratulate him and invited him to the White House for a meeting.
“I assured him that I would direct my entire administration to work with his team to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition,” Biden told staff and members of his cabinet gathered in the Rose Garden last week. “That’s what the American people deserve.”
Louisiana woman charged after leaving her child on roadway, falsely reporting kidnapping: police
A Louisiana woman is behind bars after police say she falsely reported the kidnapping of her young son last week.
Artasia Viges, 24, called authorities at around 1 a.m. on Nov. 5 to report the alleged kidnapping of her young son near U.S. 190 and Industrial Road in Eunice, according to the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Viges said she was parked on the roadway changing a flat tire when “individuals in an older model truck” took her son.
When deputies arrived at the scene, they learned quickly that citizens found the little boy alone in the parking lot of Heinen Medical Clinic with “abraison injuries to his knees,” the sheriff’s office said.
LOUISIANA BOY, 10, ARRESTED IN DOUBLE HOMICIDE OF FORMER MAYOR, HIS DAUGHTER
Artasia Viges, 24, is facing multiple charges after police said she lied about her son being kidnapped after she left him unattended on a major roadway. (St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office)
The child, whose age was not disclosed, told police that his mother “ran him over” and left him on the side of the road. He was taken to a hospital to be treated.
Juvenile detectives with the sheriff’s office were called to investigate because of the extreme difference in statements between the child and his mother.
The sheriff’s office said a later interview with Viges “revealed the awful truth,” which was that the little boy was not kidnapped, but left unattended on a major roadway and “allowed to run off in the night.”
LOUISIANA MOTHER INVOLVED IN FIGHT WITH STUDENTS AFTER BEING LET IN SCHOOL
The young boy was found by citizens alone in the parking lot of Heinen Medical Clinic with abrasions to his knees. (Google Earth)
“What started as a disagreement between a mother and a child became a bizarre reaction to the child having a tantrum,” the sheriff’s office said on Facebook.
When Viges pulled the car over, her son jumped out of the car before it came to a stop, which caused the injuries to his knees. The sheriff’s office noted that he was “obviously not properly restrained.”
Viges allegedly told detectives that she did not try to go after her son and she “ultimately lost sight of him.”
Viges, 24, claimed her son was kidnapped near U.S. 190 and Industrial Road (above intersection) in Eunice, according to the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office. (Google Earth)
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Viges is charged with cruelty to juveniles, child desertion and false swearing for purpose of violating public health of safety.
She is in the St. Landry Parish Jail on a $200,000 bond.
Trump's picks to fill foreign policy and defense positions raise eyebrows
Trump has made some unconventional and surprising choices when it comes to his foreign policy and defense team, like his plan to nominate Fox News host Pete Hegseth to be secretary of defense.
Texas lawmakers file record breaking 1,500 bills for 2025 legislative session
Tuesday was the first day Texas lawmakers could file bills for next year’s legislative session, and they were not shy about submitting a record-breaking 1,500 in the first filing period.
Though there is no real advantage, staffers camped out behind the Senate chamber in order to file early.
The early rush will, however, give a glance into issues plaguing the Lone Star State before the 89th legislative session reconvenes in 2025.
TEXAS CONGRESSMAN LOOKING AT PATH TO ‘HEALTHY’ GOP HOUSE MAJORITY | FOX NEWS VIDEO
The United States Flag and Texas State Flag are displayed at Murchison Rogers Park along Scenic Drive at sunset on June 24, 2021 in El Paso, Texas. (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
The bills filed covered everything from abortion, border security, restrictions on undocumented students receiving in-state tuition, proof of citizenship to register to vote and ways to lower property taxes or eliminate them altogether.
It is not uncommon for lawmakers to file thousands of bills during the session, but a majority never make it to the governor’s desk. The lowest bill numbers are reserved for the highest priority bills set by the House speaker and lieutenant governor in charge of the Senate.
TEXAS ANNOUNCES OVER 1M INELIGIBLE VOTERS REMOVED FROM VOTING ROLLS SINCE LAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Texas lawmakers began filing bills for next year’s legislative session on Tuesday, submitting a record-breaking 1,500 in the first filing period. (SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty Images)
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Republicans flipping control in the House and Senate will undoubtedly affect the upcoming legislative session, but many of them have not yet filed their bills.
Currently, the red state is expecting to have a surplus of $20 billion to fund the new mandates at the start of the 2025 session, according to state comptroller Glenn Hegar.