You remember Simon Camden. That blonde, sweet-faced kid from 7th Heaven who always seemed to be the moral compass of the family until he hit those awkward teenage years. For a decade, David Gallagher was a staple of American living rooms. Then, the show ended, and it felt like he vanished. Honestly, most people think he just retired or became a "where are they now" statistic. But if you look at the full list of david gallagher movies and tv shows, the guy didn't actually go anywhere; he just got a lot darker and started hanging out in video games.
The transition from a WB heartthrob to a gritty character actor is a path many try, but few actually pull off without it feeling forced. Gallagher did it by leaning into the "unrecognizable" factor. He grew the beard, lost the boyish charm, and started playing people you’d definitely want to avoid in a dark alley.
From Talking Babies to The WB
Most people forget that David Gallagher’s career started way before the Camden family ever moved into that big house in Glen Oak. He was a child model at two years old, but his big break came in 1993. He played Mikey Ubriacco in Look Who's Talking Now. You know, the one where the dogs talk? He was just eight. Working with John Travolta and Kirstie Alley that early set a high bar, and it actually led to him working with Travolta again in the 1996 film Phenomenon.
Then came 1996. The year 7th Heaven premiered.
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For ten seasons, Gallagher played Simon. He was the "middle" kid who grew up in front of the world. But here’s the thing: he actually left the show for a bit. He wanted to go to USC to study film, which is why Simon "went to college" in season 8. He came back, of course, because you can't really have a Camden reunion without the kid who once traded his siblings for a parakeet. By the time the show wrapped in 2006, Gallagher was 21 and ready to shed the "Simon" skin.
The Post-Camden Pivot: Killers and Cults
If you look at the david gallagher movies and tv shows that followed his departure from family-friendly TV, it’s a total 180. He didn't want to play the nice guy anymore. He showed up in Numb3rs as Buck Winters, a serial killer. Yeah, Simon Camden as a serial killer. It worked surprisingly well.
He started a run of guest spots on procedural dramas that became his bread and butter for a few years:
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- CSI: Miami as a murder suspect.
- Saving Grace playing a survivor of a tragedy with a dark secret.
- Bones and Without a Trace, usually playing someone "edgy" or troubled.
- The Vampire Diaries, where he played Ray Sutton, a werewolf-hybrid who met a pretty grisly end at the hands of Klaus.
One of his most underrated film roles during this era was in J.J. Abrams' Super 8 (2011). He played Donny, the local stoner who worked at the camera shop. It was a small role, but he was hilarious. He actually sent in an audition photo of himself looking incredibly disheveled and "stoned" just to prove he could do it. It worked.
The Voice of a Generation: Kingdom Hearts
While TV fans were wondering where he went, an entire generation of gamers knew exactly where David Gallagher was. Since 2002, he has been the voice of Riku in the Kingdom Hearts franchise.
This isn't just a "one and done" voice job. Riku is one of the most complex characters in gaming—starting as a rival, falling to darkness, and eventually finding redemption. Gallagher has voiced him in almost every single entry, from the original PS2 game to Kingdom Hearts III and beyond. For many, his voice is more iconic as a Keyblade master than it ever was as a Camden.
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What is David Gallagher Doing in 2026?
He’s still active, but he’s shifted his focus significantly. As of early 2026, Gallagher has leaned heavily into his connection with the fans. He’s a regular on the convention circuit—recently appearing at Anime Las Vegas—where he meets Kingdom Hearts fans who have followed his work for over twenty years.
He also recently surprised everyone by entering the podcast world. Alongside former co-stars Beverley Mitchell and Mackenzie Rosman, he co-hosts Catching Up with the Camdens. It’s a rewatch podcast where they actually talk about the "heavy" stuff from the show that didn't age well, and Gallagher is surprisingly candid about his time as a child star.
On the personal side, he's a "girl dad" now. He recently shared that he welcomed his second daughter, Fern, in late 2024, joining his older daughter Lily. He’s living a much quieter life than the Hollywood peak of the late 90s, focusing on voice work, selective acting roles, and his family.
Practical Ways to Catch Up
If you’re looking to dive back into his filmography, skip the 7th Heaven reruns for a second and try these:
- Watch Super 8 (2011): It’s his best "transformation" role where he proves he has great comedic timing.
- Play (or watch) Kingdom Hearts: Even if you aren't a gamer, look up the Riku cutscenes. It’s some of the best voice acting in the industry.
- Find the Numb3rs episodes: Search for the "Buck Winters" arc (specifically "The Art of Reckoning"). It’s the perfect antidote to his "good boy" image.
The reality of David Gallagher’s career is that he didn't "fail" after his big show ended. He just chose a different kind of longevity. He traded the tabloid fame of the early 2000s for a stable career in voice acting and character work that has kept him working for over thirty years.