Cheryl JChild Actors - The Waste and the Wasted Part 2
April 3rd 2008 07:11
Because this was a long post I have broken it into two parts. This is following on from Child Actors - The Waste and the Wasted Part 1 about the tragic twists that have happened in the lives of some child actors who never seemed to cope with the pressures of finding fame at such a tender age. It is always sad to hear of people succumbing to drugs alcohol and suicide but it is made doubly tragic by these kids who were given such adulation and how hard it must be to adjust if that stops. Plus, many of these kids had access to drug and alcohol fueled parties long before they should have.
Jonathan Brandis first came to fame in the starring role in Neverending Story II: The Next Chapter in 1990 at the age of fourteen and in the sci-fi series Seaquest DSV. Jonathan committed suicide in November 2003. He was just 27.
Brian Bonsall who played Alex P Keaton's adorable little brother in Family ties was arrested last year for assault after his girlfriend told police he poured an alcoholic drink on her face while she slept, put her in a choke hold and threw her onto a bed when she tried to leave. He reached an agreement with prosecutors and was given a term of two years probation. He was previously charged with DUI in 2001. Brian starred in the movie Blank Check when he was still a child but has since formed a couple of bands stating that his real passion is music.
Jodie Sweetin played sweet little Stephanie Tanner in the long running Full House, the show in which John Stamos and the Olsen twins shot to fame. Jodie admitted to trying crystal meth because she was 'bored' and became a serious addict while married to a police officer. Jodie checked herself into a treatment facility and now states she is clean and would like to act again. Last reports say she is pregnant.
Brad Renfro began a very promising career starring with Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones in The Client which became one of the top grossing films of 1994. In 1996 he was cast in Sleepers and acted alongside Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Kevin Bacon and Brad Pitt following up with the starring role in Apt Pupil opposite Ian McKellen. He seemed like a star on the rise but the next few roles didn’t pan out as successfully. In 2005 Renfro was arrested on drug charges and his picture, in handcuffs, was splashed across the front page of the Los Angeles Times. After being arrested again for DUI and an attempt to buy heroin the judge in his case found him in violation of his parole and he entered rehab. Brad Renfro was found dead in January this year of an accidental overdose of heroin and methadone.
But not every child actor's story is one of tragedy, loss and failure. I'll be posting soon on those who made the transition with great success.
Jonathan Brandis first came to fame in the starring role in Neverending Story II: The Next Chapter in 1990 at the age of fourteen and in the sci-fi series Seaquest DSV. Jonathan committed suicide in November 2003. He was just 27.
Photo Contact music
Brian Bonsall who played Alex P Keaton's adorable little brother in Family ties was arrested last year for assault after his girlfriend told police he poured an alcoholic drink on her face while she slept, put her in a choke hold and threw her onto a bed when she tried to leave. He reached an agreement with prosecutors and was given a term of two years probation. He was previously charged with DUI in 2001. Brian starred in the movie Blank Check when he was still a child but has since formed a couple of bands stating that his real passion is music.
Photo younghollywoodof.com
Photo The Age
Jodie Sweetin played sweet little Stephanie Tanner in the long running Full House, the show in which John Stamos and the Olsen twins shot to fame. Jodie admitted to trying crystal meth because she was 'bored' and became a serious addict while married to a police officer. Jodie checked herself into a treatment facility and now states she is clean and would like to act again. Last reports say she is pregnant.
Photo fullhouse-kakalog
Photo TMZ.com
Brad Renfro began a very promising career starring with Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones in The Client which became one of the top grossing films of 1994. In 1996 he was cast in Sleepers and acted alongside Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Kevin Bacon and Brad Pitt following up with the starring role in Apt Pupil opposite Ian McKellen. He seemed like a star on the rise but the next few roles didn’t pan out as successfully. In 2005 Renfro was arrested on drug charges and his picture, in handcuffs, was splashed across the front page of the Los Angeles Times. After being arrested again for DUI and an attempt to buy heroin the judge in his case found him in violation of his parole and he entered rehab. Brad Renfro was found dead in January this year of an accidental overdose of heroin and methadone.
Photo canada.com
But not every child actor's story is one of tragedy, loss and failure. I'll be posting soon on those who made the transition with great success.
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Brad Renfro was brilliant in Bully and I was genuinely saddened by his passing...
River Phoenix was another uber talent that blew his ride. Still makes me sad the fabulous portrayals we may have seen as he matured.
Comment by Cheryl J
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River Phoenix would most likely have become one of the finest actors of his generation. I remember being so shocked when he died. I recently felt the same way when I heard about Heath Ledger. River was brilliant in all of his performances but the vulnerability he showed in his role in Stand By Me took my breath away. To be able to summon that kind of rawness at that age was nothing short of stunning.
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Comment by Jarrah
Back to the Eighties
Plenty of people have pointed that out to me.
Its all been done before anyway, so, whatever.
However, it is funny to note that 2 pictures from this post and part 1 were directly from my blog!
Comment by Cheryl J
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Sorry about that, I had no idea the photos came from your site. I just looked my searches and none of them were yours so I may have plucked them from someone that had already taken them from your site. I'm happy to remove the offending pics if you like or credit you.
I'm happy for the critique and certainly didn't mean to piss off you or your readers
This also wasn't meant to be an 80s blog as such. Brad Renfro and Jonathan Brandis didn't become famous until the 90s. It's just that these people aren't as fresh in your mind as the people that have trainwrecked since such as Britney et al.
Comment by Jarrah
Back to the Eighties
You didn't piss me off.
Its just a blog, no biggy
Comment by Johnny Come Lately
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If they weren't child stars from the eighties and nineties they'd still be kids and wouldn't have had a chance to be adult screw ups yet. But you should go back further, what about Danny Bonaduce?
Cool post.
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a scabby heroin-addict vampire with hiv