This ‘Angelic’ Child Star Stayed under the Radar — He Looks ‘Unrecognizable’ & Grew Beard to Hide from the Public

A former child star managed to stay out of the spotlight for years, despite a brush with the law. He now sports a beard, making him hardly recognizable to his fans.

The star rose to fame with his moving role in “Forrest Gump” as the son of the main character. This actor became a beloved figure in American cinema.

His career soared after starring in “The Sixth Sense” (1999), along with Bruce Willis — a role that won him critical acclaim. A year after this breakthrough, the child prodigy acted with Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt in “Pay It Forward.” He then starred in Steven Spielberg’s “A.I. Artificial Intelligence,” the following year.

This early success laid the groundwork for his career. He would become the first millennial to receive an Oscar acting nomination but lost to Michael Caine.

From having an angelic look to a more mature appearance, here is the history-making child star who has significantly transformed through the years.

The Actor in 1994

In 1994, a young Haley Joel Osment charmed audiences with his boyish innocence. Images from that year show him with a cherubic face, framed by light brown hair.

He showed joyful curiosity in commercials and serious thought in film roles. While very young, he had a remarkable ability to convey deep emotions. Both audiences and critics loved this about him.

The child star fell into acting by chance. At the age of four, someone spotted him in Ikea. He first appeared on screen in a 1993 Pizza Hut ad. Soon afterward, he was approached by the “Forrest Gump,” director.

Playing Forrest Jr. was only a small part of five-year-old Osment’s career. But, his screen test with Tom Hanks still circulates on social media. This is thanks to their heartwarming double act.

Osment in 1997

By 1997, Osment still appeared in TV and film. His appearance during this period showed a slight change from his early years. The award-winning star began to grow into his features, with a more defined look. It hinted at the young adult he would soon become.

Osment in 1999

“The Sixth Sense” came out in 1999. It saw Osment change into a serious, thoughtful young star. His deep-set eyes and serious manner captured his character’s haunted feelings.

This role brought him global fame. It also secured his place in Hollywood. People saw him as a talented young actor with an old soul.

Director M Night Shyamalan had worried that Osment was too much of a “cherub” to cast in “The Sixth Sense.” But the boy was also serious-minded and precocious.

For Osment’s final audition of three for “The Sixth Sense,” he wore a suit. Shyamalan said the boy’s vulnerability and depth moved him to tears. He was especially moved by Osment’s delivery of the now-classic line, “I see dead people.”

Osment in 2000

At the start of the new millennium, Osment attended the 72nd Academy Awards as a nominee. The event marked him as one of Hollywood’s top young talents.

Osment’s style had matured at this time. He seemed more polished at public events. His youthful charm now came with growing sophistication.

He also found himself back at school where he was not treated as a celebrity. Then in fifth grade, Osment admitted that it was a “shift in gear,” as he found it easier to navigate.