SacAnime Spring 2026 Welcomes Candace Hutson

Candace Hutson, originally from Savannah, GA, began her career in preschool as a talented beauty pageant queen. At the age of 5, she sang and co-produced her first country record album in Nashville, TN. That album earned her nominations at the ASCAP music awards for best and youngest singer-songwriter.

She landed in Los Angeles for the awards show and soon started a successful decade-long career in acting. She starred in over 350 national commercials, which led to many guest-starring roles on shows such as Full House, The New Leave It to Beaver, Married… with Children, Baywatch, Hunter, The Bob Newhart Show, Quantum Leap, and Empty Nest. She eventually played Burt Reynolds’ daughter, “Molly,” for four years on the critically acclaimed television series Evening Shade.

Her standout movie credits include being the original voice of “Cera” in The Land Before Time (1988). Candace is the longest-remaining original cast member, reprising her role in the first three sequels of The Land Before Time. She also starred as Holly Dreyer in the 1989 psychological thriller Hider in the House, appearing alongside Gary Busey and Mimi Rogers. During this period, her other movie credits included starring as Jessica Wade in the cult classic film Dolly Dearest (1991). She also appeared in Disney Sing-Along Songs: Disneyland Fun and The Maddening, once again starring as Burt Reynolds’ daughter in that psycho-thriller.
As she dedicated her time to being a child actress in Hollywood, she yearned to attend high school as a full-time student. She thrived back in Savannah with her loving and supportive friends and family. She happily finished her third—and final—The Land Before Time sequel during her first year back home in Savannah, Georgia.