Paige Tamada won the hearts of moviegoers with her portrayal of Little Elf Judy in John Pasquin’s The Santa Clause, a 1994 Christmas fantasy comedy film starring Tim Allen alongside Judge Reinhold, Wendy Crewson, David Krumholtz, and Peter Boyle. Although hers was a small part, it was a memorable role that propelled the California native to mainstream popularity, laying the foundation for Tamada to build her repute as one of the most admired child actors in the 90s.
Undeniably a talented performer, Paige Tamada was poised to become a renowned Hollywood star as an adult. But then, she left acting as the 90s ran out and has since embraced a career in business. While her Hollywood days are over, the American former actress has forged a meaningful life for herself as a businesswoman. From her exploits as an actress to her accomplishments in business, here’s the story of Elf Judy from The Santa Clause.
How Old Is Paige Tamada Now?
The American former actress is in her late 30s; she was born in Los Angeles, California, on the 11th of January 1985. Also raised in Los Angeles, Paige Tamada had a normal upbringing until her acting career dragged her into the limelight. She attended the International School of Los Angeles also known as Lycée International de Los Angeles (LILA). The bilingual school established in 1978 was instrumental in molding the adorable scene-stealer of the 90s.
Paige Tamada’s life changed in 1992 when she made her acting debut as Marie in the “Come Fly with Me” episode of Jeff Franklin’s Full House; she was barely seven at the time. Tamada was also seen as Eleanor in an episode of Linda Bloodworth-Thomason’s Evening Shade in 1992. She reprised the character in three more episodes of the comedy series in 1993, the same year she appeared as Tiffany in Home Improvement, Lisa Yamoto in Room for Two, and as Jessie in the “Six Degrees of Graduation” episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Breakthrough And Acting Exploits
The Elf Judy role in 1994 pushed Paige Tamada’s career forward, paving the way for more noteworthy roles that popularized her name in the American movie industry. The same year she played Elf Judy, she appeared in Paul Aaron’s Untamed Love starring Cathy Lee Crosby, John Getz, and Gary Frank. She was also seen in “The Sock-Her Boys” episode of Hearts Afire. In 1996, she appeared in another episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and then played Clara in “The Foundation” episode of Seinfeld.
Paige Tamada landed one of the most significant roles of her acting career in 1997 when she was cast in Mad City, a crime thriller starring John Travolta alongside Dustin Hoffman, Alan Alda, and Mia Kirshner. The following year, she played Young May in Milo, a horror film written by Craig Mitchell and directed by Pascal Franchot. Her next role came in 1999 when she played Lily in Stuart Margolin’s television movie, The Rockford Files: If It Bleeds… It Leads.
Paige Tamada’s Business Pursuits Since She Left Acting
The former actress’ last role was in 1999’s “Love’s Illusions” episode of Ally McBeal. She gave up acting at the turn of the millennium and has since embraced a business career. Paige Tamada has kept a low profile since she abandoned acting and has offered no explanations regarding what inspired that decision. She probably opted for a career change because she no longer found the profession fulfilling. Given that she was 14 when she quit acting, it’s also possible she wasn’t old enough to deal with the conflicting emotions and challenges attached to Hollywood fame, so she walked away. Whatever might have motivated her decision to give up acting, Tamada has kept it to herself while pursuing a career in the corporate world.
She reportedly furthered her education at UC Berkeley after high school. Upon her graduation from college, she began working in the retail industry. As of 2014, she was part of Macy’s Executive team. She later joined Lamps Plus, a privately held retail company that manufactures and sells home decor items. As of 2018, she had attained the position of Leadership Development Manager at the company. She helps Lamps Plus actualize its learning and development needs. While she continues to explore opportunities in the business world, Paige Tamada maintains a private lifestyle.
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