An actress known for her beloved role in a hit 80s sitcom looked unrecognizable during a rare outing in Los Angeles this week.
The star appeared in the ABC show which garnered a number of accolades during its time on the air – including two Emmy wins.
Throughout her career in the entertainment industry, she has collaborated with numerous top-tier celebrities, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, the late Matthew Perry, and Diane Keaton.
Back in 2022, the Hollywood actress also made an appearance on a reality competition show and eventually came in first place during the season.
However, the star has seemingly taken a step away from the screen – with her last acting credit being in 2016.
But can you guess who it is?
A beloved actress, famous for her role in a popular 80s sitcom, recently made a rare public appearance in Los Angeles, looking almost unrecognizable. Can you guess who she is?
It is Tracey Gold, 55 – who notably played the role of Carol Seaver on the sitcom Growing Pains.
In the sitcom, she starred alongside acclaimed actors like Alan Thicke (Dr. Jason Seaver), Joanna Kerns (Maggie Seaver), Kirk Cameron (Mike Seaver), and Jeremy Miller (Ben Seaver).
The premise of the show followed, ‘The misadventures of a family with a home business father and a journalist mother,’ per an official IMDB synopsis.
During its seven seasons on ABC, the sitcom garnered three Golden Globe nominations as well as four Emmy nods – winning two.
Other celebrities also made brief appearances on the series before leaping to fame, including Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt.
The Titanic actor took on the role of homeless teen Luke Brower during the last season, while Pitt portrayed two different characters in 1987 and later in 1989.
Gold’s latest outing in Los Angeles took place earlier this week on Monday, and she was joined by husband Roby Marshall – whom she tied the knot with in 1994.
The star opted for comfort for the daytime excursion wearing a pair of black sweatpants and a white-printed sweatshirt.
It is Tracey Gold, 55 – who notably played the role of Carol Seaver on the sitcom Growing Pains; seen far left with late Matthew Perry on ABC sitcom in 1989
She has worked alongside a variety of A-list celebrities during the span of her career in the entertainment industry such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Diane Keaton
The Titanic actor took on the role of homeless teen Luke Brower during the last season, while Pitt portrayed two different characters in 1987 and later in 1989; Leonardo seen above in 1991 with Jeremy Miller
Back in 2022, the Hollywood actress also made an appearance on a reality competition show and eventually came in first place during the season
The star opted for comfort for the daytime excursion wearing a pair of black sweatpants and a white-printed sweatshirt
Tracey slipped into a pair of black sneakers and completed the look with black shades to protect her eyes from the bright sunshine
Tracey’s hair was styled into a simple ponytail while her bangs fell onto her forehead
On the series, she joined other cast members such as Alan Thicke (Dr. Jason Seaver), Joanna Kerns (Maggie Seaver), Kirk Cameron (Mike Seaver), and Jeremy Miller (Ben Seaver); seen far left in 1985
Tracey slipped into a pair of black sneakers and completed the look with black shades to protect her eyes from the bright sunshine.
She was seen grabbing a bite to eat with her husband before they strolled back to a parked car to head to their next destination.
Gold played Carol – one of the Seaver children – on Growing Pains which aired from 1985 through 1992.
A number of celebrities also guest-starred on the show, such as the late Matthew Perry, Heather Graham, Hilary Swank, Brian Austin Green, Candance Cameron-Bure, and Jennie Garth.
Two movie sequels followed titled The Growing Pains Movie (2000) and Growing Pains: Return Of The Seavers (2004).
Aside from her role in Growing Pains, Gold starred in film projects including Shoot The Moon (1982) and The Willies (1990). Her last movie credit – per the star’s IMDB page – is All Hallow’s Eve (2016).
She also made appearances in episodes for a variety of television shows over the years such as Fantasy Island, Father Murphy, Benson, Touched By An Angel and Melissa & Joey.
In 2022, she competed on the 24th season of Worst Cooks In America – and won.
The premise of the show followed, ‘The misadventures of a family with a home business father and a journalist mother,’ per an official IMDB synopsis
Gold played Carol – one of the Seaver children – on Growing Pains which aired from 1985 through 1992
A number of celebrities also guest-starred on the show, such as the late Matthew Perry, Heather Graham, Hilary Swank, Brian Austin Green, Candance Cameron-Bure, and Jennie Garth
Two movie sequels followed titled The Growing Pains Movie (2000) and Growing Pains: Return Of The Seavers (2004)
Aside from her role in Growing Pains, Gold starred in film projects including Shoot The Moon (1982) and The Willies (1990). Her last movie credit – per the star’s IMDB page – is All Hallow’s Eve (2016)
In 2022, she competed on the 24th season of Worst Cooks In America – and won
Tracey has also been open about her battle with anorexia – which began during her time on Growing Pains; seen above in middle top
Back in 2011, the actress admitted that the eating disorder ‘would have killed’ her while promoting the Lifestyle show Starving Secrets
Tracey has also been open about her battle with anorexia – which began during her time on Growing Pains.
Back in 2011, the actress admitted that the eating disorder ‘would have killed’ her while promoting the Lifestyle show Starving Secrets.
And last month in January, Gold further reflected on her battle in an episode of the late Shannon Doherty’s Let’s Be Clear podcast.
She recalled how jokes in the script on the ABC sitcom had been written to reference her weight, with some said by her onscreen older brother Mike (Kirk Cameron).
‘Unfortunately, I think in that time it became at my expense, and it became because they started to have Mike Seaver make fat jokes about Carol Seaver,’ she explained.
Tracey then added that due to being a child actor at the time, she felt that she ‘really had no voice’ but ‘felt protective’ of her character.
During a break in between filming, Gold remembered gaining a little weight ‘and then the jokes accelerated when I came back and became meaner.
‘It was out of my character to speak up, but it was hurting me, and I was sensitive to it. And I knew I had gained a little bit of weight, and I had never had that problem before.’
And last month in January, Gold further reflected on her battle in an episode of the late Shannon Doherty’s Let’s Be Clear podcast
She recalled how jokes in the script on the ABC sitcom had been written in to reference her weight, with some said by her onscreen older brother Mike (Kirk Cameron)
Tracey then added that due to being a child actor at the time, she felt that she ‘really had no voice’ but ‘felt protective’ of her character
During a break in between filming, Gold remembered gaining a little weight ‘and then the jokes accelerated when I came back and became meaner’
‘It was out of my character to speak up, but it was hurting me, and I was sensitive to it. And I knew I had gained a little bit of weight, and I had never had that problem before,’ she said
‘You’re talking about me, Tracey Gold. And now I have to be in front of an audience that’s laughing at me and my body and my weight,’ she added
In regards to comments that were made in the script, Tracey recalled: ‘It’d be like a joke like, “Here comes wide load.” And you’re not talking just about Carol anymore.’
‘You’re talking about me, Tracey Gold. And now I have to be in front of an audience that’s laughing at me and my body and my weight.’
The studio called her father – who was her agent at the time – and asked that she lose weight, which had been a ‘blow.’
‘So within a month I had lost 20 pounds. Easily. I did it and I did it quietly, and I didn’t tell anyone I was doing it. I just went and did it.’
She added, ‘And all of a sudden, everybody’s coming up to me on the set, you know, everywhere, kind of going, “Oh my God, you look so good, you look so beautiful, you look so amazing.”‘
However, Gold continued to lose more weight – which had upset her now-husband Roby Marshall at the time.
‘But you know, you’re in Hollywood, and everybody just kept giving me compliments. And it was making [my then-boyfriend] furious that everybody was complimenting me because he knew I was sick.’
Tracey said, ‘And then all of a sudden, the jokes came about Carol’s working out. Carol becomes homecoming queen.’
After her weight loss, the studio called her father again.
‘And I remember – and it was the irony of all ironies – they basically said to me, they called my dad once again, this is a few months later, and they say, “We need Tracey to gain weight. She’s getting too thin on camera. She’s looking not healthy.”‘
The studio called her father – who was her agent at the time – and asked that she lose weight, which had been a ‘blow’
However, Gold continued to lose more weight – which had upset her now-husband Roby Marshall at the time
Marshall stepped in to help, as well as Gold’s co-star Joanna Kerns. ‘And I didn’t know, till years later, but it was Joanna Kerns, God bless her…she called the studio’
In 2023, Jeremy Miller – who played Ben Seaver on the show – revealed that a Growing Pains spin-off was in the works, with original cast members also ‘on-board to return’; cast seen in 1985
Marshall stepped in to help, as well as Gold’s co-star Joanna Kerns. ‘And I didn’t know, till years later, but it was Joanna Kerns, God bless her…she called the studio.’
‘And she said, “This girl’s gonna die on your watch if you don’t step in and do something.” And something was done.’
The actress later received out-patient treatment for her anorexia at UCLA’s Eating Disorder Institute.
In 2023, Jeremy Miller – who played Ben Seaver on the show – revealed that a Growing Pains spin-off was in the works, with original cast members also ‘on-board to return.’
