Ashley Johnson is opening up about a terrifying experience from her days as a child star. The actress recently revealed that she was only 7 years old when an audience member grabbed her and tried to carry her away during a live taping of Growing Pains, turning what should have been a routine filming day into a frightening ordeal.
According to Fox News, Looking Back, Johnson admitted she was too young to fully understand what was happening. It was only later that she realized the seriousness of the situation and the danger everyone on set had narrowly avoided.
A shocking moment unfolded before a live audience
Speaking on the Weird Kids podcast, Ashley Johnson explained that the incident happened during her first year on the hit sitcom. At the time, cast members walked past audience members on their way from their trailers to the studio, a practice that would be considered highly unusual under today’s security standards.
She recalled that production had already received a threatening message warning that someone intended to come to the set with a gun and harm members of the cast. As she walked beside her mother before filming, a man suddenly broke away from the audience line, grabbed her, and attempted to run off with her. Security quickly intervened, stopping the suspect before he could get away.
Ashley Johnson was too young to understand the danger
Johnson said she had little idea of what was unfolding as security wrestled the man to the ground. She remembered the man lifting her into the air during the struggle, which left her frightened and upset. At the time, however, she worried most that she had somehow done something wrong. Only later did she learn how serious the situation had been.
The actress went on to enjoy a successful career after joining Growing Pains as Chrissy Seaver in 1990, becoming the youngest member of the beloved television family. She later built an impressive résumé in both live-action and voice acting, earning acclaim for performances in television, film, and video games. By sharing this childhood memory years later, Johnson offered a candid look at the realities many young performers faced behind the scenes. Her story also highlights how much security practices on television productions have evolved over the years, helping protect young actors while allowing audiences to continue enjoying the shows that became cherished parts of television history.