It has been over two decades since we first saw Steve Martin struggle to wrangle twelve kids while holding a whistle in his mouth. That’s a long time. In 2003, Cheaper by the Dozen wasn't just a movie; it was basically a cultural reset for family comedies. We all wanted to live in that chaotic, sprawling house, even if it meant getting soaked by a poorly aimed fire hose or dealing with a literal frog in the breakfast.
But Hollywood is a weird place. Kids grow up. They quit acting. They become superstars. They disappear into the suburbs. Looking at the cast of Cheaper by the Dozen now, the paths they took are actually pretty wild. You’ve got everything from massive indie-pop careers to people who just... walked away from the camera entirely.
The Parents: Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt
Steve Martin didn't need this movie to be a legend, but it definitely cemented him as the ultimate "fun but stressed" 2000s dad. These days, he isn't slowing down, though he’s pivoted a bit. If you haven't seen Only Murders in the Building, you're missing out. He’s back to his comedic roots alongside Martin Short and Selena Gomez, proving that his timing is still sharper than most actors half his age. He’s also become a serious banjo player—like, Grammy-winning serious.
Bonnie Hunt, who played Kate Baker, has always been the glue. She’s stayed busy, mostly in the voice-acting world. If you’ve watched a Pixar movie in the last fifteen years, you’ve heard her. She’s in Cars, Toy Story 3, and Monsters University. She also created and starred in her own shows and remains one of the most respected writers and directors in the industry, even if she isn't on the red carpet every single week.
The Big Three: Nora, Charlie, and Lorraine
Let’s talk about the older kids because their trajectories were the most unpredictable.
Piper Perabo (Nora) was already a bit of a star thanks to Coyote Ugly, but she used the Baker family momentum to build a really sturdy career. She starred in Covert Affairs for years and more recently showed up in Yellowstone. She’s also become a massive activist, often seen on the front lines of various social justice movements. She isn't just an actress anymore; she’s a legitimate voice for change.
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Then there’s Tom Welling. Charlie Baker. The moody high schooler with the "cool" hair. Welling was the heartthrob of the early 2000s, largely because of Smallville. Honestly, for a while, you couldn't turn on a TV without seeing his face. He took a break for a bit but came back for Lucifer and has been doing the convention circuit, embracing the Clark Kent legacy. He’s a dad now, which feels weird to say if you still picture him wearing a letterman jacket.
And Hilary Duff. Wow. Lorraine Baker was the fashion-obsessed middle child, and at the time, Duff was the queen of Disney. Most child stars burn out. She didn't. She transitioned into a music career, then back to TV with Younger, and then headlined How I Met Your Father. She’s basically the blueprint for how to survive being a teen idol without losing your mind.
The Middle Kids: Where Did They Go?
This is where the cast of Cheaper by the Dozen now gets really interesting because some of these kids just left the industry.
- Kevin G. Schmidt (Henry): The kid who played the clarinet? He’s actually done a lot of acting since, notably on The Young and the Restless. But he’s also a co-founder of a skincare brand.
- Alyson Stoner (Sarah): Sarah was the tomboy who caused all the trouble. Alyson is a powerhouse. They became a world-class dancer (you’ve seen them in Missy Elliott videos) and a huge advocate for mental health and queer representation in Hollywood. They’re very vocal about the "toddler to TikToker" pipeline and the ethics of child stardom.
- Jacob Smith (Jake): He was the one with the skateboard and the punk-rock attitude. Jacob pretty much stepped out of the spotlight after 2006. He’s living a private life now, which is honestly a flex in this day and age.
The Federman Twins and the Younger Squad
The younger kids—the ones who were mostly there to cause mayhem—have had vastly different lives. Morgan York, who played the brainy Kim Baker, stopped acting in 2010. She’s now a successful fantasy novelist. It’s funny how life imitates art; her character was the smart one, and she went on to write books.
Forrest Landis (Mark, aka "Fedex") was the sweet, misunderstood kid with the glasses. He did a few more movies like Flightplan but eventually retired from acting to focus on his education and a more "normal" career path.
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The twins? Brent and Shane Kinsman (Nigel and Kyle). They were the chaotic duo that everyone remembers for the "soaking the underwear in meat" scene. They went on to play the Scavo twins in Desperate Housewives for years. After that, they basically retired from acting to go to college and live out of the public eye.
Why We Still Care About the Baker Family
There is a specific kind of nostalgia for the early 2000s that Cheaper by the Dozen taps into perfectly. It was a pre-smartphone era. The problems felt manageable. The cast felt like a real family, probably because they spent so much time together on a cramped set.
When you look at the cast of Cheaper by the Dozen now, there isn't that typical "downward spiral" story that usually follows child stars. Most of them seem... okay. They’re writers, business owners, parents, and advocates. Maybe Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt actually did a good job "parenting" them on set.
It’s easy to forget that this movie was actually based on a true story (well, based on a book about a real family from the early 1900s). The 2003 version modernized it, but the core theme—that family is messy and loud but worth it—stayed the same.
Beyond the Screen: Real Life Transitions
The most striking thing about this group is the sheer variety of their adult lives. You don't see this often with large ensemble casts. Usually, they all try to stay in the game, or they all disappear. Here, you have a perfect split.
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- The Lifers: Steve Martin, Hilary Duff, and Piper Perabo who are clearly in this for the long haul.
- The Pivoters: Alyson Stoner and Morgan York who used their platform to launch entirely different careers in advocacy and writing.
- The Ghosts: Jacob Smith and the Kinsman twins who decided that fame wasn't all it was cracked up to be and just went home.
There’s something respectable about that. In an era where everyone is trying to be an "influencer," seeing the kids from one of the biggest movies of the decade just go to college and get regular jobs is kind of refreshing.
Assessing the Legacy of the 2003 Film
Some critics at the time hated this movie. They thought it was too slapstick. But the audience didn't care. It made over $190 million. It spawned a sequel (which featured a young Taylor Lautner, by the way).
What people forget is the chemistry. You can't fake the bond between twelve kids. They actually liked each other. They’ve even done "reunion" videos on social media during the pandemic, recreating famous scenes from their childhood. That kind of longevity in a friendship is rare in Hollywood.
Actionable Steps for Fans of the Franchise
If you're feeling nostalgic after catching up with the Baker family, here is how you can dive back in:
- Watch the 2022 Remake: Disney+ released a new version starring Gabrielle Union and Zach Braff. It’s a different vibe, but it handles the "blended family" dynamic in a modern way that’s worth a look.
- Follow the Authors: If you want to see what "Kim Baker" is up to, look up Morgan York’s books. Supporting former child actors in their new ventures is a great way to show appreciation for their work.
- Check out Alyson Stoner’s "Dear Hollywood" Podcast: It’s an eye-opening look at what it was actually like to be a child star during that era. It gives a lot of context to the Baker kids' experiences.
- Revisit the Original Source: Read the 1948 book Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. It’s a completely different world but fascinating to see where the concept started.
The Baker family might be grown up, but the impact of that 2003 film remains. It’s a time capsule of a specific moment in cinema where things were just a little bit simpler, a little bit louder, and a lot more crowded.