Where did Barret Oliver, who played Bastian in "The NeverEnding Story," disappear to

In the 1980s, actor Barret Oliver was one of Hollywood's most recognizable child stars, but his fame faded almost as quickly as it arrived. Born in 1973 in Los Angeles, Oliver began acting in early childhood with small television roles, including appearances in "The Incredible Hulk" and "Knight Rider."

Fame through "The NeverEnding Story"

Oliver's true international recognition came with Wolfgang Petersen's 1984 film "The NeverEnding Story," based on the novel by German writer Michael Ende. He played Bastian, a shy boy who escapes bullying classmates and becomes absorbed in a magical fantasy world found within a mysterious book. The film became one of the era's most iconic fantasy works and still attracts new generations of viewers, though later sequels cast different actors as Bastian.

Following this success, Oliver took on several other projects, including Tim Burton's short film "Frankenweenie," the science-fiction film "D.A.R.Y.L." — for which he won a Saturn Award — and Ron Howard's "Cocoon." He also appeared in various television series and TV films.

A sudden exit from acting

In 1989, at age 15, Oliver appeared in his final film, "Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills," and shortly afterward left acting altogether. He has never publicly explained his reasons in detail and has made no attempts to return to the film industry or capitalize on his former fame.

After his acting career, Oliver turned to photography, becoming a printmaker and researcher of historical photographic techniques, including the 19th-century Woodburytype process. In 2007, he published a book on the history of this technique, and his work has been exhibited in galleries and museums.

Oliver turned 53 this August. He reportedly still lives in Los Angeles, working as a photographer and teacher of historical photographic methods, but rarely discusses his private life publicly and avoids media attention and social networks.