'80s TV Icon Left Career for Sick Mom, Who Once Regretted Giving Birth to Her & Bullied Her Because of Weight — Where Is She Now?

This Hollywood star rose to fame in a blockbuster hit of the '80s but walked away at the peak of her career to care for her dying mother. From battling addiction to finding faith and forgiveness, take a look at her journey beyond the spotlight.

She rose to fame as a child star and landed a lead role in one of the biggest films of the 1980s. But behind the scenes, she was enduring abuse at the hands of her mother — the same mother she would later give up her thriving acting career to care for as she battled cancer.

So, where is this star now? This is the story of how she disappeared from Hollywood — and what she's been doing ever since.

The Child Star Who Shone Onscreen Suffered in Silence

By the time she was 12, this actress had already swapped childhood for a life in Hollywood with her divorced mother. Casting directors saw something magnetic in her — sharp timing, natural charm, an emotional depth beyond her years.

TV roles quickly followed, and she fell in love with the spotlight. "My fun and joy was when the camera was on and I got to be a person and act," she recalled. "Because every single role I played I got to take a part of me and express it."

This was because, at home, there was no applause. No safe space to land due to her alcoholic mother. "I thought everyone grew up hearing, 'I regret the day you were ever born,'" the actress once said, adding:

"I was either the greatest or I was worse than my father, worse than her mother. [...] I didn't know who I was because I was told so many different things."

In addition to the constant criticism, her weight became another weapon in that toxic dynamic. The young star was forced to stand in front of her mother's bed while being told she was "too fat" — even when she wasn't.

The pressure to be perfect chipped away at her self-worth until it finally cracked. At 14, she tried to overdose on her mother's prescription pills. "That was my intention. Completely. It was not a cry for help. It was an 'I'm done. I don't deserve to be here anyway. I'm too fat,'" she revealed.

By 16, she was battling bulimia and taking up to 60 laxatives a day. Yet the cameras kept rolling. In 1982, she landed a role in the series "Herbie, the Love Bug," opposite Dean Jones. It was on that set that she found a lifeline.

Jones and his wife, Lori, began taking the young actress and her mother to church, gently introducing her to a faith that would later help pull her out of the darkest corners of her life. And then, at 18, came a career-defining role.

She landed the part of Jennifer Parker — Marty McFly's sweet, steady girlfriend — in what would become one of the most iconic film franchises of the '80s. "Back to the Future" launched her into pop culture history.

However, leaving Hollywood didn't mean her problems were over.

But fame wasn't enough to save her from what was happening at home. By the time the sequels were gearing up, her mother was dying of breast cancer, and Hollywood had to wait. "Life was very, very difficult and stressful," the actress said.

"I just didn't have it in me to do anything but deal with the stress and the emotions that were going on as a result of my mom being in the process of dying," she added.

The offers were there, and the opportunity was hers. But she turned it all down. "I know she wanted me to continue doing the part and didn't agree with my decision," she told Fox News. The former child star continued:

"But I was just not in a place emotionally where I could handle any more than what I was already handling. I wanted my mother to be supported and cared for."

The role of Jennifer was eventually recast with Elisabeth Shue. For most, that might have sparked bitterness, but for this actress, it brought a strange kind of comfort. "When I found out she was cast, I was actually very flattered and honored because I think she's an amazing actress," she admitted.

"And funny enough, [the lead role in] 'Adventures in Babysitting' was between her, me, and Phoebe Cates. I have nothing but respect and praise for her — and I still have not met her," she further remarked.

However, leaving Hollywood didn't mean her problems were over. In fact, they were just getting started as drugs and alcohol took over. That spiral didn't stop until 1992 when she entered rehab. But while it marked the beginning of her recovery, it was not an instant fix.

The famous actress still carried the weight of her past. "I built brick walls in front of me physically in my brain. I built them. And her yelling got softer and softer and softer," she shared. Two years later, her mother died in October 1994.

Over the years, the actress picked up acting again.

For a long time, that grief stayed locked inside her. It wasn't until years later that she began to make peace with the pain. "I finally saw her as she was — a woman like myself who was broken," the actress revealed.

"And I said, 'God, I'm really sorry. I'm sorry for the horrible things I said about her. I'm sorry for hurting her on purpose by destroying myself to the best of my ability. Please will you forgive me,'" she continued.

That moment wasn't just a release — it was a turning point. Her faith, which had first been sparked on a long-ago TV set, became her anchor. "It's made all the difference in the world," she said. "I believe God carried me through a lot of it."

Describing Him as her "only source of comfort and joy," the '80s star explained that any time she turned away from her faith, she lost her sense of peace. "Because of God, I know that my mother is in heaven…she is out of pain and sadness," she added.

Reclaiming Her Story

This actress, who many know and adore as the girl-next-door from Hill Valley — the one who stole Marty McFly's heart — is none other than Claudia Wells.

Over the years, the actress picked up acting again. She landed parts in projects like "Still Waters Burn" in 2008, "Zero Impact Home" in 2014, and "Bottle Monster" in 2020, her last acting credit at the time of writing.

In 1991, she also took an unexpected turn — into fashion. She opened Armani Wells, a high-end men's designer resale store in Studio City, California. What started as a practical way to support herself became a full-fledged success. She explained:

"I sell very high-end expensive clothing at rock bottom prices. It's like celebrity clothing that have only been worn once or they have been photographed in it and can't wear it again. [...] I'm absolutely brilliant at making guys look gorgeous and the price is right."

Over the years, in addition to returning to the silver screen and becoming a businesswoman, she became a mother. However, though she briefly considered allowing her son into the business — thanks in part to his Gerber baby looks — the Hollywood star chose to keep him away from the spotlight.

"No, but he was for a minute when he was growing up," Wells said when asked if her son, Sebastian, was interested in following in his famous mother's footsteps.

Instead, he blossomed into an "intellectual guy who's actually not interested in the creative bent of life," much like Wells' father.

As for her love life, the "Back to the Future" star had never married, but still held out hope that she would find the one. "I am waiting for my husband to come and find me," she revealed in 2015.

Professionally, in recent years, the actress has also become a familiar face at conventions, where "Back to the Future" fans from around the globe still line up to meet their beloved Jennifer Parker.

In 2021, she supported The Hollywood Museum as it reopened with a special exhibit honoring the "Back to the Future" trilogy. Beyond that, Wells also serves as an ambassador for Kids in the Spotlight, a nonprofit that empowers foster youth to write, cast, and star in their own short films.

"I'm so grateful for the life I have today," she said. "My daddy is 96 years old. He and his wife have been married for 50 years. I'm my sister's best friend. In fact, my sister's name is Jennifer…and I'm eager for what the future holds."

"The most beautiful actress we know! 🔥❤️🔥" one netizen commented on an Instagram post Wells shared on March 29. Another shared, "You look absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for posing with me!" while a third typed, "You Look gorgeous like always." A fourth person wrote, "So kewl! You & everyone look great!"

From child star to cultural icon, from caregiver to an impressive comeback, Claudia Wells' story is one of resilience — not defined by what she walked away from, but by everything she walked toward.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "help" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.