Remember the kid with the inhaler? The one who made Ice Cube's life a living hell in a Lincoln Navigator? Yeah, that was Philip Daniel Bolden.
Honestly, if you grew up in the mid-2000s, Bolden was everywhere. He wasn't just "the kid from that one movie"—he was the face of the precocious, slightly chaotic younger brother archetype. But then, he just... vanished. Or so it seemed.
Actually, Philip Daniel Bolden is having a massive resurgence lately, and it’s not just some nostalgia trip. As we move through 2026, he’s proving that the "child star curse" isn't a rule. It's a choice.
The Hiatus Nobody Understood
For about a decade, Philip was basically a ghost in Hollywood.
After his voice work as I.Q. in the 2008 animated flick Fly Me to the Moon, the credits stopped rolling. People assumed he’d moved on, maybe went to school, or just got tired of the grind. And they weren't entirely wrong. Bolden actually took that time to live a normal life, eventually graduating from Carver High School and exploring the technical side of the industry.
He didn't want to be "Kevin Kingston" forever.
Breaking the "Child Actor" Mold
When he finally resurfaced, it wasn't with a reboot or a reality show. It was gritty, adult, and actually good.
- NCIS: Los Angeles: He popped up as Marcus Babu in 2020. It was a "blink and you'll miss it" role for some, but for fans, it was the first sign he was back for real.
- Millennials (AMC+): This was the big one. Playing Travis Lewis, Bolden shed the "cute kid" image entirely. He was dealing with real-world issues—rent, relationships, the struggle of being a twenty-something in a world that doesn't care about your feelings.
- The Producer Pivot: He’s not just in front of the lens anymore. Word is, he’s been deep in the writers' room, working on scripts and production deals that lean into his New Orleans roots.
What Philip Daniel Bolden is Doing Now
So, where is he in 2026?
He's 30 now. Think about that for a second. The kid who was "are we there yet-ing" us is officially a veteran in the business.
Right now, he's leaning heavily into the "multi-hyphenate" lifestyle. He’s a rapper, a screenwriter, and a producer. He’s been seen at industry events looking less like a former child star and more like a tech-savvy executive. He’s basically the blueprint for how to transition careers without the typical tabloid meltdown.
The most interesting thing about Philip in 2024 and beyond is his refusal to play the "remember me?" card.
You don’t see him doing every "Where Are They Now?" podcast. He’s quiet. He’s selective. He’s focused on the work. And that’s exactly why he’s actually getting work. Casting directors don’t see a kid; they see a seasoned pro who knows how a set runs because he’s been on them since he was four.
✨ Don't miss: Is Melissa Magee Married? What Really Happened With the NBC4 Meteorologist
Why He Still Matters
A lot of actors from that era burned out. They couldn't handle the shift from being the center of attention to being just another guy in an audition room.
Bolden seems to have skipped that ego trap. Whether it’s his guest spots on iZombie or his lead role in Millennials, there’s a maturity there that you can’t fake. He’s one of the few who realized that "making it" as a kid is a sprint, but staying in the game as an adult is a marathon.
Actionable Takeaway for Fans
If you want to support his current era, stop looking for Are We There Yet 3. It’s probably not happening. Instead, check out his work on AMC+ or follow his production updates. He’s building something that’s actually meant to last, and honestly, it’s a lot more interesting than a nostalgia trip.
Keep an eye on the credits for indie projects coming out of the South—that’s where his heart is right now, and that’s where his best work is likely to show up next.