Friday, June 17, 2011

Tracey Gold or Elizabeth Ward on Growing Pains


Wait a minute, that's not the real Carol Seaver!
When Growing Pains first aired in 1985, there was some weird mystery surrounding the role of Carol Seaver. Teen magazines like Bop, Tiger Beat and Teen Beat had us tweens pumped about the new show and it's new heartthrob, Kirk Cameron as Mike Seaver. The mags ran promotional photos of the young cast and also introduced us to Elizabeth Ward as Carol, Mike's brainy younger sister.
Jonathan Ward as Douglas Pembroke on Charles in Charge.
Actress, Elizabeth Ward hailed from Elkridge, Maryland and had a brother named Jonathan Ward best known as Douglas Pembroke during the first year of Charles In Charge. Here's where the confusion comes in. When Growing Pains first aired, that chick Elizabeth wasn't Carol! Carol was played by Benson star Missy Gold's little sister Tracey Gold!
Growing Pains cast with Tracey Gold as Carol. 
It turns out test audiences weren't feelin' the original Carol. Could you imagine being Elizabeth Ward? Seriously, picture it ... You're cast in a big-time sitcom alongside cute Kirk Cameron, promo photos are distributed to the media, you've told your friends to watch out for your new show and then in a flash the dream is over. 

A quick search on Elizabeth's IMDB resume shows her career in acting sorta ends around the time of the Growing Pains debacle. How devastating. According to Wikipedia, today Jonathan Ward owns an auto restoration shop, His sister is no longer acting. Her married name is Elizabeth Ward Langson and I found her on Facebook. Don't worry I didn't message her or anything. 

Click here to view the original Growing Pains pilot featuring Elizabeth Ward as Carol Seaver.

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18 comments:

  1. Ms. AJune 17, 2011 at 3:25 AM

    I remember the show, but don't recall that. Poor girl!

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  2. Jack of DiamondsJune 17, 2011 at 4:48 AM

    Very interesting!

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  3. Lady EstrogenJune 17, 2011 at 9:17 AM

    Huh. Learn something every day. I liked Tracy though - and she looked more "related" to Kirk.. I guuuess.
    But yeah, poor girl, indeed.

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  4. ShannonJune 17, 2011 at 10:43 AM

    Is it bad that looking at the first picture, I wasn't feeling Carol either??

    I loved Tracy Gold. I WAS Tracy Gold. Except I wanted a make out sesh with Kirk Cameron, so I guess that would be a bit weird. :)

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  5. SuzeJune 17, 2011 at 11:19 AM

    Charles in Charge! I reference that show in one of my novels.

    Crazy that you found her on Facebook. Our world is so, so different than it was in the '80s. Much more egalitarian and democratic in very fundamental ways.

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  6. Oilfield TrashJune 17, 2011 at 11:53 AM

    I never really watched that show.

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  7. TILTEJune 17, 2011 at 12:53 PM

    awww, that's kinda sad! for elizabeth ward, anyway. tv life can be harsh.

    coincidentally, the pembroke family didn't last too long on charles in charge either (from what i remember). didn't they move and then another family took the house, along with charles? that's pretty weird when you think about it happening in real life.

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  8. Rawknrobyn.blogspot.comJune 17, 2011 at 1:49 PM

    That is really interesting and sad, Ally. I loved the show but didn't know this. Wish there was a happier "ending" for Elizabeth.
    xoRobyn

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  9. AdaJune 17, 2011 at 6:16 PM

    That's the acting industry for you I guess :/

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  10. MarleneJune 17, 2011 at 8:14 PM

    Learned something new here today!

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  11. Dan AlexanderJune 17, 2011 at 11:04 PM

    Wow! I never knew this! I can't imagine anyone but Tracey Gold as Carol.

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  12. edJune 17, 2011 at 11:21 PM

    interesting history. must of been a crappy feeling

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  13. AnonymousJune 18, 2011 at 12:12 AM

    Never seen this show, so I have idea what's going on >_<. But it sucks that they aren't in acting anymore =(

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  14. BelleJune 18, 2011 at 1:39 AM

    Show business is sure hard on a person's feelings. Poor girl. I hope she had a happy life afterwards.

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  15. Pat TillettJune 18, 2011 at 2:03 PM

    I had no idea...
    I remember the show, but didn't even know about it...

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  16. TeachinfourthJune 19, 2011 at 12:01 PM

    I loved the theme song of this show...in fact, I still love it today.

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  17. UnknownJanuary 26, 2013 at 10:34 AM

    I Feel Badly For Elisabeth,But Tracey Just Made More Sense

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