Bonnie Morgan: From Topanga to Hollywood's Contortionist Star

Bonnie Morgan is best known for her early role as Topanga Lawrence on the hit 1990s sitcom Boy Meets World. Morgan was originally cast in the role when she was still a child actress. However, she was soon replaced by Danielle Fishel after filming only the unaired pilot episode. Though her time as Topanga was brief, it marked the beginning of a long career in Hollywood for the talented young performer.

A Budding Child Star

Bonnie Morgan's first screen credit was in the 1987 film The Looney Wizard of Oz at just three years old. She went on to land small roles in popular TV shows like Sister, Sister in 1994 and Providence in 2002. One of her biggest early roles was in the 2002 Steven Spielberg sci-fi thriller Minority Report starring Tom Cruise.

Morgan began showcasing her skills as a contortionist in many of her acting gigs. She flexed both her dramatic and physical talents in shows like The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, CSI, Blunt Talk, and more. This combination of acting and contortion quickly became Morgan's niche as a performer.

Her most well-known contortionist acting role was as a "flexible corpse" in the 2002 film Minority Report. Though brief, the scene demonstrated Morgan's impressive skills and flexibility that would continue to make her a unique presence on screen.

The Topanga Recasting

In 1993, an eight-year-old Morgan won the role of Topanga Lawrence in the pilot for the new ABC series Boy Meets World. However, after filming the pilot, Morgan was soon replaced by Danielle Fishel.

On a 2021 episode of the Boy Meets World rewatch podcast Pod Meets World, Morgan opened up about losing the iconic role. She claimed that costar Ben Savage repeatedly broke character and made her laugh during rehearsals, which angered director David Trainer.

Morgan says Trainer called her agent and said she "couldn't take direction." When her agent defended her, Morgan says the director admitted she wasn't "pretty enough" for Topanga.

Trainer denies this account, saying simply that Morgan moved from the "solvable problems" camp to the "unsolvable problems" camp as an actress. Regardless of the real story, Morgan graciously moved on from the recasting.

Ironically, Morgan's sister Molly was later cast as a recurring character named Jacqueline on Boy Meets World in 1994. Though it must have been difficult watching her sister succeed in a role she lost, Morgan has never expressed any bitterness over the Topanga recasting.

Life After Boy Meets World

While Morgan didn't get to play Topanga beyond the unaired pilot, she has continued acting in film and television over the past three decades. She has over 50 credits to her name, many of which showcase her skills as a contortionist.

Some recent roles include parts in the horror films Rings (2017) and Bedeviled (2016). From 2001-2013, she had a recurring role as a contortionist corpse on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

Though Morgan has undoubtedly faced challenges in show business over the years, she has persevered and carved out a unique niche for herself by combining acting and contortion. While Topanga brought Danielle Fishel fame, losing the role did not stop Bonnie Morgan from building an impressive career of her own. After 30 years in the business, her flexibility and acting talents remain in high demand.