Early career In 1978, at the age of ten, Olden heard about a local theatrical production of the musical
Oliver! that was looking for boys. He asked his mother to allow him to audition. In spite of some misgivings she eventually consented on the condition that if he didn't get the role he would agree not to pursue a career in show business. If he did get the part, she would accept it as fate and would allow him to pursue an acting career. After a series of auditions to evaluate his acting, singing and dancing abilities, Olden landed the title role and immediately began rehearsals for a full-scale production of the musical at the famed
Aquarius Theatre in
Hollywood, which co-starred comic
Dick Shawn. In his review of the special,
Baltimore Sun television critic, Bill Carter singled Olden out, writing "The main kid, called George in the show, has a kind of chip-on-the-shoulder mien; but he sings as sweetly as a choirboy. On February 6, 1982, Olden appeared in his first starring role in
ABC's popular Saturday morning anthology series,
The ABC Weekend Special. Later that same year, Olden followed up with guest-starring television roles, appearing on the daytime soap opera
General Hospital and an episode of
Little House on the Prairie titled
He Was Only Twelve. In the film, Olden played a young skateboarder who debates the merits of the
Silver Surfer with Jesse Lujack (
Richard Gere) at a news-stand on the streets of
Los Angeles. In December 1984, Olden appeared in the gangster spoof comedy film,
Johnny Dangerously, portraying a young
Joe Piscopo. On September 2, 1985, Olden debuted in his co-starring role on the
WTBS situation comedy
Rocky Road. On the series, Olden played Robbie Stuart, a typical "girl crazy" teenager who, along with his two sisters, inherits an ice cream parlor on the
Pismo Beach boardwalk from his recently deceased parents.
Later career After
Rocky Road ended, Olden continued to make occasional guest-starring appearances on television. In October 1987, he appeared in an episode of
Highway to Heaven titled
I Was a Middle Aged Werewolf and in 1990, he made two appearances on the critically acclaimed teen medical drama
Doogie Howser, M.D.. In 1994, Olden once again appeared with
Ricky Schroder, this time as "Lou" in the dramatic television movie
To My Daughter with Love. In 2005, after more than 10 years out of show business, Olden returned to acting with a small role as Devan Burnett in the teen buddy comedy
Suits on the Loose. ==Personal life==