Kirk Cameron is one of Hollywood’s most well-known actors. He was a phenomenal and impressive child who was born with acting abilities that allowed him to begin his career at the tender age of nine. He was soon a star in his own right, appearing in a slew of commercials and television shows. He landed a role in the television sitcom ‘Growing Pains’ after his acting stint. Soon after, he was recognized and praised for his outstanding performance in front of the camera. He tried his hand at acting in films and was a part of the star cast of several films, including ‘Like Father Like Son,’ ‘Listen To Me,’ and ‘Fireproof.’ Cameron, interestingly, had a religious revelation that shook him to his core. He went from being an atheist to becoming a Christian, referring to his conversion as being ‘born again.’ He became at odds with his coworkers after his spiritual revelation, refusing to do anything he felt was ‘inappropriate’ for him. He is an active evangelical Christian who co-founded The Firefly Foundation with his wife, actress Chelsea Noble, and partners with Ray Comfort in the evangelical ministry The Way of the Master. Continue reading to learn more about his life and work.
Childhood and Adolescence
Kirk Cameron was born in Panorama City, California, to Robert and Barbara Cameron. His mother was a stay-at-home mother, and his father was a retired school teacher. Bridgette, Melissa, and Candace Cameron Bure were his three siblings.
While working on the sets of ‘Growing Pains,’ he finished his education. At the age of 17, he graduated from high school with honors.
Career of Kirk
He began acting at a young age as a prodigious child. At the tender age of nine, he made his first appearance as an actor. His friend was the one who introduced him to the world of acting and helped him find an agent.
He began to appear in commercials and on TV shows. His first shot in front of the camera was for a breakfast cereal commercial. He was nine years old at the time.
He landed a starring role in the television series ‘Two Marriages’ four years later. He went on to appear in a number of television shows and films after that.
‘Growing Pains,’ an ABC television sitcom that premiered in 1985, was the prodigious actor’s big break. Mike Seaver was his character in the series, and he was played by him.
‘Growing Pains’ was the ideal platform for him because it not only helped him improve his artistic skills and talent, but it also helped him mature as an actor. He became a teen heartthrob and a growing sensation among the audience as a result of it.
He appeared in a number of television shows and commercials while filming ‘Growing Pains.’ During Super Bowl XXIV, he was cast in a 60-second Pepsi commercial. He also appeared on the covers of several magazines, including Tiger Beat, Teen Beat, 16, and others.
He made a guest appearance on ‘Full House’ in the episode ‘Just One of the Guys’ in 1988, playing D.J. Tanner’s cousin. Tanner’s character was surprisingly played by his real-life sister Candace.
He didn’t limit himself to acting in TV shows and series. Instead, he jumped in to see what he could do on the big screen. ‘Like Father, Like Son’ and ‘Listen to Me’ were among the films in which he appeared. The first was a comedy, while the second was a romantic comedy.
He was an atheist who converted to Christianity in his late teens, when he was at the pinnacle of his career, and thus became a Christian for the second time. After his conversion, he began to object to anything he considered to be too adult or inappropriate for him.
Because of his growing enmity with the cast of ‘Growing Pains,’ he has distanced himself from all of his co-stars. He wanted to start a new life away from the entertainment industry, so he did this. From acting to religious practices, he shifted his focus.
He starred in the WB sitcom ‘Kirk’ after the finale of the television series ‘Growing Pains.’ The show first aired in 1995 and ran for two seasons. Kirk Hartman, who has the responsibility of raising his siblings, was his character in the series.
In the year 2000, he returned to mainstream cinema by starring in ‘The Growing Pains Movie,’ a television reunion film. He then went on to star in the film ‘Growing Pains: Return of the Seavers.’
In conjunction with Warner Bros., he reunited with the cast of Growing Pains for a CNN Larry King Live interview in 2006. He made his acting debut two years later in Sherwood Pictures’ drama film ‘Fireproof.’ The film was a huge hit and a blockbuster success, with a profit margin of 600 percent. It was the highest-grossing independent film in 2008.
Aside from that, he has appeared in Christian films such as ‘Left Behind: The Movie,’ ‘Left Behind II: Tribulation Force,’ and ‘Left Behind: World at War.’ He’s also worked with Cloud Ten Pictures, a Christian film production company. He’s also appeared in several of their films, including ‘The Miracle of the Cards.’
He was the narrator for the documentary ‘Monumental: In Search of America’s National Treasure’ in 2012. The film was in theaters for nearly three months, grossing $177,729 in total.
He is currently a partner in Evangelical Christianity, where he trains Christians in evangelism. He co-founded ‘The Way of the Master’ ministry with fellow evangelist Ray Comfort. He also has a show with the same name that he hosts. For two years in a row, the show received the National Religious Broadcasters’ Best Program Award.
Achievements & Awards
Indiana Wesleyan University honored him by inducting him into their Society of World Changers in 2012.
Personal History and Legacy
He met Chelsea Noble, who would play his girlfriend Kate McDonald in the television sitcom, during the filming of ‘Growing Pains.’ The on-screen romance blossomed into a real-life affair.
On July 21, 1991, the two tied the knot. Jack, Isabella, Anna, and Luke are four of the couple’s six children, four of whom were adopted. Olivia Rose and James Thomas are their biological children.
The Firefly Foundation was founded by him and his wife. The organization runs Camp Firefly, which offers terminally ill children and their families a free week of vacation.
Estimated Net Worth
Kirk Cameron is an actor and producer from the United States who has a net worth of $10 million. Cameron is best known for his roles on the popular television show Growing Pains, but he has a long list of credits to his name.
He was without a doubt one of the most well-known faces of the 1980s and early 1990s. Kirk Noble and his wife Chelsea Noble are most well-known today for their evangelical Christian beliefs and practices.
The Firefly Foundation, which runs a summer camp for terminally ill children and their families, was founded by Kirk and Chelsea.
Trivia
This talented actor from the ‘Growing Pains’ series was an atheist until he had a spiritual awakening that led to his conversion to Christianity.