7 TV Shows with a child actor as the main protagonist

There are many genres of TV shows, and they range from horror and thriller to comedy and mystery. However, there is a subgroup of TV shows where a child actor is the central character. Mostly, such shows are comedies and sitcoms, and the shows utilize the child actor’s innocence and naughtiness to deliver a lighthearted and family-friendly series for the viewers. From Iain Armitage’s dedicated performance as Sheldon Cooper to Frankie Muniz’s iconic performance as Malcolm, who is a child prodigy, here are 7 TV shows that have a child actor as the protagonist.

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The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Richie Rich, and other TV shows with a child actor as the protagonist

1. Young Sheldon

Starring Iain Armitage in the titular role as Sheldon Cooper, this coming-of-age sitcom is a spin-off and prequel to the popular show, The Big Bang Theory. Created by Chuck Lorre and Steven Molaro, the show also features Zoe Perry, Lance Barber, and others. The series takes place in the late 1980s to mid-1990s and focuses on the child prodigy, Sheldon. While Sheldon is the protagonist of the series, the show also revolves around other characters like his parents, grandmother, and siblings. During the beginning of the show, Sheldon is a genius 9-year-old who has started attending high school. The show has received positive reviews and is noted for its light-hearted and wholesome comedy and the performances of its cast. Armitage delivers a dedicated performance as the younger version of Sheldon Cooper and embodies the character’s mannerisms and quirks. The show has the perfect balance of humor, nostalgia, and a bit of drama. There are many memorable episodes throughout the course of the series, like when Sheldon inadvertently supports communism and gets his family in danger, when he calculates the taxes for his parents, and more. The show also received appreciation for other characters like Meemaw (Sheldon’s grandmother) and George Sr. (Sheldon’s father), who deliver plenty of laughs in the show with their shenanigans.

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2. Stranger Things

Created by the Duffer Brothers and starring Winona Ryder, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, and others, this sci-fi horror thriller is one of the most popular TV shows in recent times. The series focuses on a group of people in the fictional town of Hawkins in Indiana, who find their lives turned upside down when other-dimensional beings erupt and cause havoc. The show is set in the 1980s and has plenty of yesteryear nostalgia. As the decade was famous for its child-centric movies and genres of horror and sci-fi, so also, this series pays homage to that era by keeping children at the center of the show. In the first season, the story builds as a group of boys face the otherworldly creatures called “demogorgons” when one of their friends is captured by the monster. Amidst all this, a mysterious girl called Eleven shows up and saves everyone from the creature because of her psychokinetic abilities. Over the course of the seasons, the show has incorporated various cast members that range from children to teenagers to adults. However, the main protagonist of the show is El/Eleven (played by Brown). Brown’s performance as El received widespread acclaim, and the actress has become synonymous with the character.

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3. Stuck in the Middle

Developed by Alison Brown and Linda Videtti Figueiredo, this coming-of-age comedy series features Jenna Ortega, Ronni Hawk, Ariana Greenblatt, and others. The show aired from 2016 to 2018 and had three seasons. The series is another one of those TV shows that has a child actor as a protagonist. While Jenna Ortega is now an adult, she was a teenager when she did this show. The series is set in Massachusetts and revolves around the fictional town of Marshport. Ortega plays the role of Harley Diaz, and the series focuses on the Diaz family and its eccentric members. Harley is the middle of the seven children and has to use her genius and creativity to create cool gadgets so that she can live with her family. The series therefore deals with Harvey’s struggles as she lives with her large family and has to use her knowledge to create gadgets that make life easy for her. The show is a family comedy and therefore has plenty of humor and is a lighthearted watch. It is one of the early shows of Ortega and is an underrated watch. Ortega showcases her acting talent in the series and often breaks the fourth wall as Harley to talk to the viewers about her chaotic family. Some of her most innovative gadgets in the show are the slushinator, the pick-me-up, and the snow machine.

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4. Malcolm in the Middle

Starring Jane Kaczmarek, Bryan Cranston, Frankie Muniz, and others, this sitcom is created by Linwood Boomer. The show aired for 7 seasons from 2000 to 2006 and is a cult classic. The series is also one of the first comedy TV shows to have a single-camera setup and not have a live studio audience or a laugh track. The story of the show revolves around a dysfunctional middle-class family whose protagonist is Malcolm (Muniz), a child prodigy. The series also revolves around other characters like Malcolm’s parents and his brothers. While the show focuses on the adventures and exploits of the various family members of Malcolm, who are unable to fit into society, the show’s central emphasis is on its child actor, Malcolm. Malcolm is the only member of his family who can see through the shenanigans of his family members and regularly gives asides to the camera as he points out their failures. The show, therefore, also breaks the fourth wall through Malcolm’s interactions with the viewers. The series has regularly found itself in various lists that rank the greatest sitcoms and TV shows of all time. Noted for its direction, humor, single-camera technique, and the performances of its cast, the show is a classic from the early aughts.

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5. Cory in the House

A spin-off of That’s So Raven, this sitcom aired on the Disney Channel from 2007 to 2008 and features Kyle Massey, Jason Dolley, Madison Pettis, and others. The series revolves around Raven’s brother, Cory Baxter (Massey), who moves from San Francisco, California, to Washington, DC, with his father, Victor Baxter. He makes the move because Victor has gotten a new job as the White House executive chef. The show was the first Disney Channel spin-off show. The show aired for two seasons and had mixed reviews, but it offers plenty of hilarious moments. The show is one of those TV shows that has a kid as a protagonist. Like his big sister, Raven, Cory also has plenty of chaotic energy that brings out laughter and loves to come up with “get-rich-quick” schemes that always end up in failure. His favorite catchphrases in the show are “You know how I do,” “Daddy No!,” and more that are still a part of Disney’s pop culture. Actor Kyle Massey delivers a dedicated performance and owns the character. He has played the role of Cory in the original show as well; therefore, when he plays Cory in this one, he gives a stellar performance, and his comedic timing is brilliant.

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6. The Suite Life of Zack and Cody

Starring Cole and Dylan Sprouse, Brenda Song, Ashley Tisdale, and others, this teen sitcom belongs to the classic era of Disney Channel shows that came out with back-to-back iconic children's shows. The series came out at a time when other popular Disney TV shows, like That’s So Raven and Hannah Montana, were also airing. The iconic show revolves around the twin brothers Zack and Cody, played by Dylan and Cole Sprouse, who live in the Tipton Hotel in Boston with their single mother. The show also has other characters like the hotel’s heiress, London (Song), and the hotel’s candy counter girl, Maddie (Tisdale). Most of the episodes of the show focus on how the two boys regularly get into trouble with the stern but hilarious hotel manager, Mr. Moseby (Phill Lewis). The series aired from 2005 to 2008 and was a worldwide success. It was even nominated for the Emmy Awards. The show also spawned a spin-off and a movie, but the original show remains a cult classic. Disney Channel has created many iconic shows for children and teens, and this one by Danny Kallis and Jim Geoghan is one of the few Disney TV shows that revolve around child actors and not teen actors. The show has many hilarious moments and classic episodes that are a must-watch.

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7. Richie Rich

Based on the Harvey Comics character of the same name by Alfred Harvey and Warren Kremer, this sitcom features Jake Brennan, Brooke Wexler, and others. The show comes in a long line of tradition that has adapted the famous comic character for TV and film. While there have been popular renditions of the comic character Richie Rich in animated TV shows and movies, this show is a modern and live-action adaptation of the famously wealthy boy. However, the show changes a few things and replaces all the major characters from the comics with a new supporting cast. Only the characters of Richie and Irona are the same. The show has two seasons, and though the reviews have been mixed, it is one of those TV shows that have a child actor as the protagonist. The show revolves around the adventures of the titular boy, who is extremely wealthy as a result of turning vegetables into a clean energy source. A trillionaire, he lives with his family in his mansion that has all kinds of technological contraptions. Most of the episodes focus on his adventures with his friends and his robot maid. In the show, he also has a sister called Harper, who is jealous of his success. The show is a lighthearted watch, and Brennan takes on the mantle of the popular character and delivers a dedicated performance.