Featuring a rotating cast of young performers like Mario Lopez and Jennifer Love Hewitt, the children’s musical variety show ended after nine seasons in 1994

NEED TO KNOW

• Kids Incorporated ran for nine seasons, first in syndication from 1984 to 1985, followed by the Disney Channel from 1986 through 1994
• Starring a group of musically inclined kids, the series launched the careers of former child stars like Fergie, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Mario Lopez
• Many of the cast members, including Fergie and Hewitt, would go on to release music and appear in popular films and on TV

“K-I-D-S!” Say those letters to any millennial, and they’ll probably yell back the next line: “Kids Incorporated!”

The syndicated Disney Channel series was a major part of life for kids in the 1980s and early 1990s, and it also launched the careers of Fergie, Mario Lopez and Jennifer Love Hewitt, among other former child stars.

Kids Incorporated followed a group of kids in a rock band as they navigated crushes, friendships, peer pressure and, at times, heavy-hitting topics such as abuse. The show officially ran from Sept. 1, 1984 to Jan. 9, 1994, though Disney aired reruns of the 149 episodes through May 30, 1996.

Across the show’s nine seasons, many actors aged out of their roles, so no cast member appeared for Kids Incorporated’s entire run. Fergie was on the longest, from the pilot through the first six seasons, followed by Moosie Drier (Riley), who starred for five seasons and was one of the recurring adult cast members.

Hewitt’s two-season run coincided with Fergie’s time on the series. During an appearance on Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown in January 2025, she said of the future Black Eyed Peas singer, “I looked up to her big time.”

Most of the cast has stepped away from the limelight, but quite a few, including Fergie, Lopez and Hewitt, have remained in the entertainment business.

Find out what the cast has been up to since Kids Incorporated went off the air over 30 years ago.

01 of 11

Rahsaan Patterson as “The Kid”

Cast as “The Kid,” Rahsaan Patterson was a main fixture on the show from 1984 to 1987, showcasing his vocal talents along the way.

The New York City native was scouted to join the show after performing in a talent show in fourth grade, telling PEOPLE in June 2024 that from there, “it was literally an overnight kind of thing.”

“I never had aspirations to [perform professionally] as a kid. I was just somebody who sang,” recalls Patterson. “Coming from a family of musicians and singers, it wasn’t uncommon for us to explore our talents and be supported in that way. But when that phone call came, my whole life changed.”

After leaving the series in 1987, Patterson dove headfirst into music. He first sang background vocals on Kids Inc. costar Marta “Martika” Marrero’s debut album, later contributing to her follow-up project and going on tour with her. In the ‘90s, he co-wrote multiple hits, including Brandy’s “Baby” and Campbell’s “Back to the World,” before releasing his self-titled debut album in 1997.

He’s since dropped six more studio albums — his last was 2019’s Heroes & Gods — and continues to work as a musician, touring across the globe.

02 of 11

Stacy “Fergie” Ferguson as Stacy

Long before she was nicknamed “The Duchess” and taught us how to spell glamorous, Fergie (born Stacy Ann Ferguson) was a primary cast member of Kids Inc. Her vocal talent was a highlight, but she also proved to be a gifted actor.

After her time on Disney, Fergie — a native of Hacienda Heights, Calif., a suburb of Los Angeles — joined a girl group called Wild Orchid, featuring her fellow Kids Inc. castmate Renee Sandstrom (a.k.a. Renee Sands) and their friend Stefanie Ridel. Wild Orchid released two albums as a trio but would later disband, and Fergie joined the Black Eyed Peas, which skyrocketed her to fame.

After releasing four studio albums with the group, Fergie left Black Eyed Peas in 2018. They reunited in 2025 to celebrate each band member — Fergie, Will.i.am, Taboo and Apl.de.Ap — turning 50.

The Grammy-winning singer released her debut solo album The Dutchess in 2006. Over a decade later, she released her sophomore solo effort, Double Dutchess, in 2017.

Fergie continued to act, appearing in films like Grindhouse (2007) and Marmaduke (2010). In 2018, she began hosting the since-canceled reality show The Four: Battle for Stardom. She has also launched two footwear lines and fragrances, and she founded the winery Ferguson Crest with her father, which she sold in 2023, per Architectural Digest.

Fergie was married to actor Josh Duhamel from 2009 to 2019. They share one child: son Axl Jack.

03 of 11

Renee Sands as Renee

Sands, born Renee Sandstrom, also first stepped into the spotlight with Kids Incorporated, singing alongside Patterson, Fergie and the rest of the original cast.

Along with Fergie and Ridel, the Massachusetts native formed the girl group Wild Orchid in the 1990s. Together, they achieved commercial success with songs such as “Talk to Me” and “At Night I Pray.” The trio hosted the Fox Family Channel teen music game show Great Pretenders from 1998 to 2002.

In the late 1990s, Sands returned to acting, appearing in the 2003 short The Pink Ladies alongside Ridel. She’s largely focused on voice work, including for series like Special Agent Oso and Minnie’s Bow-Toons.

She hasn’t stopped singing either. Sands recorded “Here I Am” for Disney Channel’s 2008 movie Camp Rock and has sung on several Disney Records kids’ compilation albums.

Sands is married to investment expert Robby Welles, with whom she shares one daughter, per his website.

04 of 11

Mario Lopez as Mario

Lopez’s deep dimples have been gracing our screens since the mid-1980s. Before finding wide success as A.C. Slater on Saved by the Bell, Lopez was on Kids Incorporated from 1984 to 1986.

In July 2022, the San Diego native posted the ultimate throwback when he shared a vintage photo of himself and Fergie on Instagram alongside the caption, “Me and Fergie, a couple of 10 year olds at a luncheon.” On an episode of Watch What Happens Live in September 2017, Fergie confirmed they had been childhood sweethearts.

After his success on Kids Inc. and Saved by the Bell, Lopez starred on Pacific Blue and The Bold and the Beautiful before pivoting to media. He’s had several TV hosting gigs, but his two biggest were for Extra and Access Hollywood.

However, Lopez hasn’t stopped acting — he’s starred in Christmas movies, voiced characters on animated series like The Chica Show and the 2025 films Heads of State and Zootopia 2. He also made his Broadway debut in A Chorus Line in 2008 and made many cameos as himself on TV shows like Jane the Virgin, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Girls5Eva, Hacks, Loot and Wonder Man.

In November 2020, he reprised his role as A.C. Slater on Peacock’s Saved by the Bell revival before it was canceled in May 2022.

Lopez was briefly married to Ali Landry in April 2004 and later wed Courtney Lopez (née Mazza) in December 2012. They share three children: sons Dominic and Santino and daughter Gia.

05 of 11

Marta “Martika” Marrero as Gloria

Marta Marrero starred on Kids Inc. from 1984 until 1986. She changed her stage name from Marta to Martika Marrero while filming the Disney show, then dropped her last name entirely and began going by Martika.

After Kids Inc., Martika launched a solo music career but found more success internationally than in the U.S. Her eponymous debut album housed the hit “Toy Soldiers,” which charted in the U.S. and internationally and was later sampled by Eminem in 2004 on “Like Toy Soldiers.” She also released the chart-topping song “Love… Thy Will Be Done,” which she co-wrote with Prince.

In the early 1990s, the California native took a hiatus from music. She later released two albums with her band Oppera, which she co-founded in 2003 with husband Michael Daemon (who also uses the names Nikki, Nikki Lee and Michael Mozart). Martika also briefly used the stage name Vida Edit.

In the 2010s, she toured Australia both solo and with the Totally ‘80s Tour. Otherwise, she’s largely remained out of the spotlight and lives in Ohio with her husband, whom she’s been married to since the early 2000s.

06 of 11

Jennifer Love Hewitt as Robin

Another Hollywood favorite whose career has spanned decades, Hewitt cut her teeth playing Robin on the musical variety show from 1989 to 1991.

The actress dreamt of having a major music career. Though it didn’t pan out quite as hoped — she did have a hit single with 1999’s “How Do I Love” and achieved massive musical success in Japan — she forged an ultra-successful acting career that really took off with Fox’s Party of Five.

The Texas-born actress was also known for the 2000 TV movie The Audrey Hepburn Story and films like 1997’s I Know What You Did Last Summer, as well as its 1998 and 2025 sequels, and 2001’s Heartbreakers.

Hewitt reached the peak of her powers when she played spirit medium Melinda Gordon on CBS’ The Ghost Whisperer from 2005 to 2010.

After stepping back from acting, she returned to the small screen in 2014, playing special agent Kate Callahan on Criminal Minds. Since 2018, she has starred as Maddie on 9-1-1.

Hewitt married fellow actor Brian Hallisay in November 2013. The two have three children: daughter Autumn and sons Atticus and Aidan.

07 of 11

Eric Balfour as Eric

Eric Balfour sang and danced his way through season 7 of Kids Incorporated.

The L.A. native made his film debut in the 1996 Lifetime movie No One Would Tell. He also nabbed roles in Can’t Hardly Wait (1998), What Women Want (2000) and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003).

On the small screen, Balfour starred on shows like 24, Haven, Six Feet Under, The O.C., Veritas: The Quest and Christine. In recent years, he’s starred in the miniseries The Offer (2022) and Wilderness (2024), had a recurring role on Country Comfort and the Charmed reboot, and guest-starred on Hacks. In 2026, he appeared on episodes of the spinoff The Drop: A Snowfall Saga and NCIS: Origins.

Balfour married Erin Chiamulon in May 2015. The couple has welcomed three children: sons Oliver Lion, Romeo Amadeus and Rafael Valentino.

08 of 11

Moosie Drier as Riley

By the time Drier appeared on Kids Incorporated in 1984, he already had a steady career as a child star, with acting credits on shows like Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In, Lassie, Little House on the Prairie and The Bob Newhart Show.

Born in Chicago and raised in L.A., the actor was cast in minor roles over the years, including on series like Just the Ten of Us, The Munsters Today and Jack & Jill. In the 2000s, he largely transitioned to voice acting, which included films like The Book of Life (2014), Ice Age: Collision Course (2016), and Charming (2018).

He also directed TV episodes for Reba and Too Late with Adam Carolla, as well as various theater productions.

Drier’s last acting credit was voicing multiple characters in the 2018 Netflix animated sci-fi film Next Gen.

09 of 11

Ryan Lambert as Ryan

Ryan Lambert was on Kids Incorporated from 1985 to 1988.

“Being on Kids Inc. was a dream come true. It was my first audition and my first professional gig,” he said in an interview with Chris Roe Management. “To have the show feature music as well only heightened the experience. Learning how to be on set, take direction and have a blast in the process really helped me in understanding what it means to be a working actor in this business.”

During his time on the series, the Ohio-born actor starred in the 1987 cult classic film The Monster Squad. He then appeared on an episode of It’s Garry Shandling’s Show and the 1990 TV movie Freeze Frame before quitting acting at age 20.

He returned to Hollywood “after a long hiatus” when he “got the bug big time again and decided it was time to get back to work.” He’s appeared in a few short films since 2016 and in the movies Wrecker (2022) and The Demons Within (2023).

Lambert formed the experimental indie rock band Elephone with Terry Ashkinos in the early 2000s, per SFGate, and is now in the indie-rock band Kill Moi.

10 of 11

Jerry Sharell as Mickey

Jerry Sharell starred on season 1 of the series as one of the original five cast members. He played Mickey, who forms the band Kids Incorporated.

Sharrell often posts throwback photos of behind-the-scenes moments from set on Instagram.

These days, Sharell works as a publicist in L.A. He has been the Vice President of Communications for Envoy Media since 2023 and previously worked for Dr. Phil and The Recording Company, per his LinkedIn.

Like several of his Kids Inc. castmates, Sharrell has also continued singing — in May 2023, he performed a sold-out show in L.A., as he shared on Instagram.

11 of 11

Kenny Ford Jr. as Kenny

Kenny Ford Jr. joined the show later in its run, appearing from 1988 to 1992 after several original cast members departed.

Before the series, he appeared on Highway to Heaven, Amen, Almost Grown and The Munsters Today, as well as in the 1990 film Ghost Dad. He later starred on Thea and In the House. His last film credit was 2012’s House Arrest.

Ford has largely stayed out of the limelight; however, his LinkedIn profile suggests he’s a musician in L.A.

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