'Pay It Forward's Haley Joel Osment Left Acting & 'Grew a Beard' to Hide from His Fame — The Actor Is Now 34

Haley Joel Osment made a name for himself when he became one of the youngest actors nominated for an Oscar at 11. However, following his recognition, he left Hollywood to attend college and faced challenges. Thankfully, he overcame them and, years later, enjoys a thriving career, sporting a new look. Here are the details of the actor's life.

Haley Joel Osment is an American Actor who has been in the movie industry for nearly his entire life. He ventured into entertainment as a young boy.

At age four, the Hollywood star acted in a commercial, and before he turned eight, he starred in 1994's "Forrest Gump" alongside one of the greatest movie icons, Tom Hanks.

Osment's role in the movie earned him a Young Artist Award. In the following years, the actor went on to star in other films like "The Pretenders," "Touched By An Angel," and many others.

Although Osment has bagged many roles and interpreted them perfectly, he is most famous for appearing in the 1999 thriller and horror movie, "The Sixth Sense."

The actor featured as Cole Sear, alongside A-list Hollywood icon Bruce Willis, who played Dr. Malcom Crowe. Osment was only a child then, but starring in the well-known movie made him a force to reckon with in the industry.

In 2000, his role in "The Sixth Sense" earned him an Oscar award nomination, making Osment, 11 at the time, one of the youngest actors to nab an Academy Award nomination.

Inside Haley Joel Osment's Adolescent Years/Challenges He Faced

After Osment gained international recognition following his role in "The Sixth Sense," the actor stepped away from the spotlight.

Osment further noted that because his roles were the opposite of his sweet image as a child star, he "grew a beard to try to hide in public," but it did not work.

Unlike many other child actors, Osment decided that going to college would be a better option. So, in 2006, he studied experimental acting at New York University.

Later, Osment would reveal that his time in college was fulfilling. According to the star, he knew that leaving Californian was a big risk, as people were likely to forget him, but it was a risk he was willing to take.

Most importantly, he had the support of his parents, who constantly desired that he go to college. According to Osment, he struggled to know who he was as a child actor, especially after the 1999 career-changing role. So, going to college seemed the perfect way for him to figure out who he was becoming.

Overall, overcoming the burden of child stardom was not an easy feat for Osment, but with determination and the support of his parents, he navigated through it.

Speaking about his parents' role in helping him arrive safely into adulthood, Osment made it known that his parents often worried about what would happen to him. He further noted (via The New Yorker):

"Being a parent of a kid in the industry often causes people to question motivations. They wonder, 'Are the parents being exploitative?'"

But Osment confessed that his parents never exploited him in any way. They helped him master his lines and prepare for his roles. When the time was right, they supported his decision to step back and pursue a college degree. Following the pause in his movie career, things didn't go as smoothly as Osment hoped.

In 2006, when the actor was 18, he was involved in an accident while driving under the influence of alcohol. In addition, he was charged with marijuana possession and was sentenced to 60 hours of rehabilitation.

Osment was also issued a fine and was put on three years of probation. Thankfully, the actor scaled through that phase and focused on improving his personal and professional life.

Two years later, he made his Broadway debut on "American Buffalo," starring as a heroin addict. Then, in 2011, after he graduated from college, Osment featured in more productions where he had to play the bad guy. During an interview with The Guardian, he admitted it was an amazing period. According to the Oscar-nominated actor:

"That was a very fun period of playing a lot of bad guys."

Osment further noted that because his roles were the opposite of his sweet image as a child star, he "grew a beard to try to hide in public," but it did not work.

In the following years, things only got better for Osment. As he kept climbing the ladder of success, the actor did not forget his past and did not mind talking about it.

As opposed to the narrative that child stars were expected to "stereotypical ailments with fame," Osment said there were children with positive experiences, and he was one of them. In his words:

"I'm lucky to have a positive relationship with those periods that can sometimes be difficult for other people."

The actor also remembers his famous co-stars from childhood, including Tom Hanks, who Osment said is a nice man.

Haley Joel Osment Looks Different at 34

Years after his return to Hollywood, Osment, 34, has evolved and looks different from his childhood character. He maintains a low profile but has been spotted in public occasionally. In 2014, the actor was spotted strolling with his statuesque, blonde, and beautiful girlfriend.

Osment was unrecognizable as he had a beard, a hat, and sunglasses. A few days earlier, the duo was caught on camera holding hands in Venice Beach.

The actor donned a black jacket, gray t-shirt, baggy jeans, and a pair of black trainers. He topped it off with sunglasses and a baseball cap.

In addition to his new look, Osment is still very active in the movie industry. In 2021, the Hollywood star appeared in the season two finale of "Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens."

He has also featured in other productions such as "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile," "Spielberg," "Oasis," "Clara's Ghost," and many others. Overall, it is great to see Osment achieving his dreams after the challenges he encountered during his adolescent years.