Skip to content

Top Navigation

EW.com EW.com
    • All TV
    • TV Reviews
    • TV Reunions
    • Recaps
    • What to Watch
    • Animated
    • Comedy
    • Crime
    • Drama
    • Family
    • Horror
    • Reality
    • Sci-fi
    • Thriller
    • All Movies
    • Movie Reviews
    • Trailers
    • Film Festivals
    • Movie Reunions
    • Movie Previews
    • All Music
    • Music Reviews
    • All What to Watch
    • What to Watch Podcast Episodes
    • TV Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • All BINGE
    • EW's Binge Podcast Episodes
    • Recaps
    • Survivor
    • This is Us
    • RuPaul's Drag Race
    • Stranger Things
    • The Boys
    • The Blacklist
    • The Walking Dead
    • Better Call Saul
    • All The Awardist
    • The Awardist Podcast Episodes
    • Oscars
    • Emmys
    • Golden Globes
    • SAG Awards
    • Grammys
    • Tony Awards
    • All Books
    • Book Reviews
    • Author Interviews
    • All Theater
    • Theater Reviews
  • Podcasts
  • Gaming
    • All Events
    • Comic-Con
  • Celebrity
  • Streaming

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe

Explore EW.com

EW.com EW.com
  • Explore

    Explore

    • Comic-Con 2022: Stars strike a pose in EW's photo studio

      Comic-Con 2022: Stars strike a pose in EW's photo studio

      From the casts of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever  and The Walking Dead  to Chris Pine and Regé Jean-Page, see who dropped by EW's Comic-Con headquarters at the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego. Read More
    • Power players: Inside The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

      Power players: Inside The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

      Go behind the scenes of Amazon Prime Video’s ambitious fantasy epic, which hopes to introduce J.R.R. Tolkien to a new generation. Read More
    • Biggest bombshells in unsealed Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard court docs: Erectile dysfunction, nude photos, and Marilyn Manson

      Biggest bombshells in unsealed Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard court docs: Erectile dysfunction, nude photos, and Marilyn Manson

      Just when you thought there couldn't possibly be more to learn about the high-profile defamation trial, more than 6,000 pages of court docs were released over the weekend. Read More
  • TV

    TV

    See All TV
    • TV Reviews
    • TV Reunions
    • Recaps
    • What to Watch
    • Animated
    • Comedy
    • Crime
    • Drama
    • Family
    • Horror
    • Reality
    • Sci-fi
    • Thriller
  • Movies

    Movies

    See All Movies
    • Movie Reviews
    • Trailers
    • Film Festivals
    • Movie Reunions
    • Movie Previews
  • Music

    Music

    See All Music
    • Music Reviews
  • What to Watch

    What to Watch

    See All What to Watch
    • What to Watch Podcast Episodes
    • TV Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
  • BINGE

    BINGE

    See All BINGE
    • EW's Binge Podcast Episodes
    • Recaps
    • Survivor
    • This is Us
    • RuPaul's Drag Race
    • Stranger Things
    • The Boys
    • The Blacklist
    • The Walking Dead
    • Better Call Saul
  • The Awardist

    The Awardist

    See All The Awardist
    • The Awardist Podcast Episodes
    • Oscars
    • Emmys
    • Golden Globes
    • SAG Awards
    • Grammys
    • Tony Awards
  • Books

    Books

    See All Books
    • Book Reviews
    • Author Interviews
  • Theater

    Theater

    See All Theater
    • Theater Reviews
  • Podcasts
  • Gaming
  • Events

    Events

    See All Events
    • Comic-Con
  • Celebrity
  • Streaming

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Gallery
  3. Harriet the Spy Where Are They Now?

Harriet the Spy Where Are They Now?

Catch up with the stars of the '90s classic on its 20th anniversary
By Madeline Boardman Updated July 27, 2017 at 11:49 AM EDT
Skip gallery slides
FB

1 of 9

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

'Harriet the Spy,' Then and Now

'Harriet the Spy,' Then and Now
Credit: Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection

Twenty years ago this week, Harriet the Spy arrived in theaters. Released in July 1996, the big-screen adaptation of Louise Fitzhugh's 1964 novel featured Michelle Trachtenberg, Rosie O'Donnell, and Eartha Kitt, among others. On the 20th anniversary of the flick, see its stars then and now, ahead.

 

1 of 9

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 9

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Michelle Trachtenberg

Michelle Trachtenberg
Credit: Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection; Theo Wargo/Getty Images

While she made an uncredited appearance in 1995's Melissa and popped up in episodes of All My Children, Law & Order, and The Adventures of Pete & Pete, Michelle Trachtenberg earned her first big-screen role as the title detective in 1996's Harriet the Spy. After playing Harriet M. Welsch, the young star earned additional big-screen lines for Inspector Gadget (1999), EuroTrip (2004), Mysterious Skin (2004), Ice Princess (2005), Black Christmas (2006), 17 Again (2009), Cop Out (2010), and Take Me Home Tonight (2011). Trachtenberg also added to her TV résumé with turns in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Six Feet Under, Mercy, Weeds, and Gossip Girl.

 

2 of 9

3 of 9

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Gregory Smith

Gregory Smith
Credit: Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection; George Pimentel/Getty Images

Gregory Smith filled his résumé with small gigs before coming to Harriet the Spy as Sport, appearing in Andre (1994), Leapin' Leprechauns! (1995), and Big Bully (1996). The child star went on to hit the big screen in Krippendorf's Tribe (1998), Small Soldiers (1998), The Patriot (2000), and American Outlaws (2001) before playing Ephram Brown on Everwood for four years. The Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century alum earned additional credits for Boot Camp (2008), Hobo with a Shotgun (2011), and Dream House (2011), and recently wrapped a run as Rookie Blue's Dov Epstein.

 

3 of 9

Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

4 of 9

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Vanessa Lee Chester

Vanessa Lee Chester
Credit: Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection; Barry King/Getty Images

After appearing in CB4, A Little Princess, and an episode of Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, Vanessa Lee Chester joined Harriet the Spy as Janie Gibbs, one of Harriet's best friends. Chester spent the 2000s earning credits for The Lost World: Jurassic Park, She's All That, and 17 Again, as well as episodes of Crossing Jordan, Without a Trace, and Veronica Mars. In recent years, Chester popped up in episodes of Switched at Birth, How I Met Your Mother, and Scorpion.

 

4 of 9

Advertisement

5 of 9

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Rosie O’Donnell

Rosie O’Donnell
Credit: Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection; Rommel Demano/Getty Images

Rosie O'Donnell found her spot in Harriet the Spy as Ole Golly, Harriet's nanny and confidant. Already an established star when she came into the gig, O'Donnell went on to lead The Rosie O'Donnell Show for six years, took a seat on The View, and acted in projects like Queer as Folk, Nip/Tuck, Drop Dead Diva, and The Fosters.

 

5 of 9

6 of 9

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

J. Smith-Cameron

J. Smith-Cameron
Credit: Jeff Vespa/WireImage

J. Smith-Cameron took on the role of Mrs. Welsch, Harriet's mom, after appearing in 84 Charing Cross Road (1987), The Equalizer, The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd, Mighty Aphrodite (1995), and Sabrina (1995). In the years since Harriet hit theaters, Smith-Cameron landed roles in The First Wives Club (1996), In & Out (1997), You Can Count on Me (2000), True Blood, Margaret (2011), Man on a Ledge (2012), and Rectify.

 

6 of 9

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

7 of 9

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Robert Joy

Robert Joy
Credit: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Robert Joy appeared opposite J. Smith-Cameron as Harriet's father, Mr. Welsch. The actor came into the gig with decades of work to his name, including credits for Ragtime (1981), Amityville 3-D (1983), Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), Radio Days (1987), Millennium (1989), Longtime Companion (1989), The Dark Half (1993), and Waterworld (1995). Since playing the father figure, Joy added to his résumé with appearances in Fallen (1998), Resurrection (1999), Sweet November (2001), The Shipping News (2001), Land of the Dead (2005), The Hills Have Eyes (2006), Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007), Superhero Movie (2008), and CSI: NY.

 

7 of 9

Advertisement
Advertisement

8 of 9

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Charlotte Sullivan

Charlotte Sullivan
Credit: Matt Barnes/ABC via Getty Images

Charlotte Sullivan appeared as Marion Hawthorne in Harriet the Spy, the school's resident mean girl. The gig was Sullivan's first credited role, and led to appearances in episodes of Goosebumps, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, and The Famous Jett Jackson. The actress went on to land roles in How to Deal (2003), Fever Pitch (2005), Citizen Gangster (2011), and The Colony (2013), and spent five years playing Gail Peck on Rookie Blue.

 

8 of 9

Advertisement

9 of 9

FB
Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message

Eartha Kitt

Eartha Kitt
Credit: Steve Thorne/Redferns

The famed "Santa Baby" singer brought her star power to Harriet the Spy as Agatha K. Plummer, an object of Harriet's spy work. While Kitt was best known for her music and stage work, the performer also boasted a robust on-screen résumé, earning credits for St. Louis Blues (1958), I Spy (1965), Batman, Friday Foster (1975), Boomerang (1992), Fatal Instinct (1993), and The Emperor's New Groove (2000). Kitt, who spent two years voicing Yzma in The Emperor's New School in the late 2000s, died at the age of 81 in 2008.

 

9 of 9

Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Madeline Boardman

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 9 'Harriet the Spy,' Then and Now
    2 of 9 Michelle Trachtenberg
    3 of 9 Gregory Smith
    4 of 9 Vanessa Lee Chester
    5 of 9 Rosie O’Donnell
    6 of 9 J. Smith-Cameron
    7 of 9 Robert Joy
    8 of 9 Charlotte Sullivan
    9 of 9 Eartha Kitt

    Share & More

    Tweet Pinterest Email Send Text Message
    EW.com

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Advertise this link opens in a new tab
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Meredith© Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright EW.com. All rights reserved. Printed from https://ew.com

    View image

    Harriet the Spy Where Are They Now?
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.