Amanda Bynes' Full Biography

Amanda Bynes is an accomplished actress who launched to fame as a skilled comedian and satirist on the sketch comedy “All That” in the mid-nineties as a young teen, and went on to perform throughout her teen years and young adulthood.

However, like many child stars, her adulthood has been fraught with struggles, mental health issues, and her work to take control of her own life.

Early life And Education

She was born Amanda Laura Bynes on April 3, 1986, in Thousand Oaks, California, to parents Lynn Organ and Rick Bynes. She has two older siblings, and her father worked as a dentist while her mother worked as a dental assistant and office manager.

From a young age she enjoyed acting and comedy. When she was 10, her dad signed her up for a kids’ comedy camp at The Laugh Factory, according to Page Six.

It was there she was discovered by Nickelodeon, launching her acting career into television, though she’d already performed in commercials and on stage.

Career

1990s

She reportedly had an agent from the age of 7, when she began appearing in commercials and on stage.

In 1996, Bynes joined the cast of “All That” as its youngest member. She would perform in many skits, such as the “Ask Ashley” segments, where she would showcase a skill at flipping very quickly from sweet and pleasant to screaming rage over a letter-writer’s apparent ignorance, then back again.

Her success and popularity was so apparent that she was given her own spin-off, “The Amanda Show, which ran through 2002.

2000s

In 2000, Bynes won her first Kids Choice Award as Best Television Actress for her performances in “All That” and “The Amanda Show.”

In 2002, Amanda made her film debut, co-starring with Frankie Muniz in “Big Fat Liar,” and earning a Kids’ Choice Award.

She would then star in “What A Girl Wants,” and “She’s The Man,” among other teen comedies.

At the same time, she was cast in the sitcom “What I Like About You,” in which she performed from 2002 to 2006.

She also tried on some voice acting, taking a role in the movie “Robots” and voicing a character on “Rugrats” through several episodes.

In 2007, she was cast in the musical, “Hairspray.”

She would appear in several more movies before the big stop, including “Living Proof,” “Canned,” and “Easy A.”

2010s

After “Easy A” in 2010, she was done. Amanda Bynes announced her retirement on Twitter, where, according to Page Six, she said, “Being an actress isn’t as fun as it may seem. If I don’t love something anymore, I stop doing it. I don’t love acting anymore, so I’ve stopped doing it. I know 24 is a young age to retire, but you heard it here first.”

She would later reveal that she had been unhappy with her appearance in “Easy A,” and that she was struggling with personal issues.

Around 2014, she apparently tried focusing on fashion, taking courses at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. Despite some struggles and a reported relapse along the way, she did reportedly receive her associate's of art degree and graduated from FIDM in 2019, according to People.

2020s

Following a stint in a conservatorship, Bynes had indicated an intent to return to acting. However, ahead of a reunion with the “All That” cast at 90s Con in March 2023, she had a mental health incident and sought inpatient care for a period of time, and did not appear at the event.

It’s not clear at this time whether she will ever return to acting.

Business Ventures

In 2007, Bynes launched a fashion line called “Dear.”

Personal Life

After leaving acting, Bynes went through a series of arrests for DUIs and reckless driving, including one incident in which she reportedly clipped a police car. There were also two hit-and-run charges.

Relationships

Former child star Amanda Bynes has had her fair share of high-profile relationships throughout her life. At the tender age of 13, Bynes found herself in the spotlight not just for her acting skills on the "Amanda Show" but also for her romantic involvement with co-star Drake Bell. As she navigated through her teenage years, Bynes continued to make headlines for her dating life. At 15, she was linked to Taran Killam, who was 19 at the time, showcasing a pattern of age-gap relationships that would persist in the years to come. The rumor mill churned again in 2002, suggesting a romantic connection between Bynes and "Big Fat Liar" co-star Frankie Muniz, although the actress never officially confirmed their relationship.

As Bynes transitioned into adulthood, her romantic entanglements took on a more mature hue. At 17, she reportedly embarked on a relationship with Nick Zano, who was 24, once again raising eyebrows due to the age difference. Later, at 22, Bynes found herself briefly entwined with the 35-year-old Seth McFarlane, adding another chapter to her list of noteworthy relationships. Despite the ups and downs in her love life, Bynes surprised fans in 2020 when she announced her engagement to Paul Michael. However, as with many celebrity relationships, this engagement faced its share of challenges, and the two ultimately decided to part ways a few years later. Bynes' romantic journey has been a rollercoaster of youthful infatuation, age-gap relationships, and brief engagements, providing fodder for tabloids and celebrity watchers alike.

Religion

Amanda Bynes’ father is Catholic, and her mother is Jewish. She has said she was raised on both belief systems, but has not elaborated on exactly what her personal views are.

Health and Pregnancies

Amanda Bynes has struggled with mental health issues. In 2014, she tweeted an allegation that her father had abused her and later tweeted a retraction, claiming that a microchip in her head had caused her to make the initial claim.

She entered into a conservatorship under the care of her mother. In 2018, Amanda Bynes shared that she had been sober for 4 years, and in 2022, she filed to end the conservatorship. However, in 2023, she had an incident that resulted in a 72-hour psychiatric hold and a promise to follow up with outpatient care.

Net Worth

Bynes has an estimated net worth of $6 million.

Jobs

Amanda Bynes was reportedly prepared to re-enter the Hollywood workforce in early 2023, but was sidelined by personal struggles, and it’s not clear at that time what the future holds for her.

Activism

Amanda Bynes has been a poster child for working on mental health and self-esteem issues.

Controversies

Amanda Bynes has had a few brushes with law enforcement, mostly over DUI and traffic incidents.

During what may have been a mental health break, she went on a series of Twitter rants, attacking people ranging from her father to then-president Barack Obama, whom she also asked to fire a police officer who had arrested her in a previous incident.