The flashbulbs have burnt out, the cameras have stopped rolling and the myriad of screaming teenage girls have all grown up. Another former child star joins the ranks of the gone-too-soon club.
Cory Haim, the actor who became a household name with such movies as “Lucas”, “License to Drive” and “The Lost Boys” died on March 10 of what is now being called a suspected drug overdose. Haim, who gained notoriety in the 1980s, experienced a subsequent career slump with a stream of direct-to-video releases before making the inevitable jump to reality TV. He also experienced severe drug problems and had been in and out of rehab a reported 15 times.
What is it about gaining stardom at an early age that lends itself to a troubled adult life? Is it merely as case of too much too soon? Though they may not be earning as much money or working as many hours as their adult counterparts, child stars often have to shoulder the burden of adult responsibilities and many go on to crack under the pressure.
No doubt the fast paced Hollywood party lifestyle is also a factor in the destruction of many a young star. With drugs and alcohol readily available at every turn, is it any surprise that so many are unable to resist and end up going down that dark and twisted road?
The combination of adult sized responsibilities and temptations and young minds not mature enough to handle them almost always leads to tragedy.
Certainly Haim wasn’t the first child star to meet a tragic and untimely end. The tradition dates all the way back to Dana Plato of “Diff’rent Strokes” fame and includes such big names as River Phoenix, Brad Renfro and even Michael Jackson.
Even when it doesn’t end in suicide or an overdose, several other former teen and child stars have descended into lives plagued with career mishaps, drug problems and brushes with the law.
Jodie Sweetin, who played precocious middle child, Stephanie on the sitcom “Full House”, went on to develop a daily methamphetamine habit that expanded to include cocaine and ecstasy.
Jaimee Foxworth of the TGIF staple, “Family Matters” would battle depression and substance abuse, star in a number of pornographic films and eventually find her way back to television by participating in Dr. Drew’s “Celebrity Rehab.”
But what of the former child stars who managed to avoid the life of debauchery and depravity, the Melissa Gilberts, Alyssa Milanos and Tatiana Alis? What elusive factor do these success stories have that keeps them from heading down the path followed by so many of their costars, a path littered with drug abuse, eating disorders, DUIs and death?
Jason Bateman, who achieved teen idol status in the mid ‘80s with roles in “Silver Spoons” and “Teen Wolf Too”, went on to become the Director’s Guild of America’s youngest ever director at 18, and earned roles in such hits as “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story”, “Juno” and “Hancock”. In 2005, Bateman won a Golden Globe for his role on the series “Arrested Development” as well as being nominated for several other awards, including an Emmy.
While his character Doogie Howser dealt with the pressures of being an adolescent in an adult world, Neil Patrick Harris was able to successfully make the transition from former child star to well-adjusted and established actor. Developing cult following from his role in the Joss Whedon Internet musical “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” and as Barney Stinson on the CBS sitcom “How I Met Your Mother”.
For the current generation of child and adolescent stars, only time will tell. Abigail Breslin, Dakota Fanning and Jaden Smith among others could all enjoy long and successful careers in the industry, could find their calling in another field (hello, Danica McKellar) or could go in the opposite direction, joining the long line of stars who burned too hot and fell from the heavens far too soon.
Right off the bat let me just tell you that I really liked your comments about writing under your profile. I really do feel like writing is a chore most days, but when I can really find something worthwhile to talk about it seems to write itself. On you article, I found it very interesting because many of those actors/actresses started way before the age of ten. A time period most in the child developement areana would say is the most critical for growth. This is a time when learning languages, mastering instruments, and many other things can come as almost second nature. Our brains are hardwired to learn, however if we submerge all that with the pressure of stardum and horrible role modeling its a mixture for disaster. That hidden factor that shields some and exposes others is parental oversite. Just explaining that somethings are wrong at that stage is not going to do it, preventing exposure to the adult things that I can only imagine they witness is also a paramount concern. Great article!
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