She and her sister Danica were both students at the Diane Hill Hardin Young Actors Space school. The sisters sometimes competed against each other for roles, including Danica's role of Winnie Cooper on The Wonder Years. Crystal would go on to play Becky Slater, a recurring character and onetime love interest of Kevin Arnold. She was nominated for the Best Young Actress Guest Starring In A Television Series award at the eleventh annual Youth in Film Awards in 1988 and 1989.