The Tragic Stories Behind Hollywood’s Beloved Child Stars

With so many stars in the world, it usually takes something special to stand out. Of course, showing off your incredible acting talents at such a young age is one way to ensure you stand head and shoulders above the rest. The problem? Things aren’t always as they seem.

The tragic stories behind Hollywood’s beloved child stars certainly go to show that things might be a little different behind closed doors than what we see on our screens. Unfortunately, these can oftentimes have tragic consequences.

Gary Coleman was plagued with several health issues from a young age

Although Gary Coleman rose to fame as a part of the sitcom ‘Diff’rent Strokes,’ health issues plagued the child actor from the start. His personal life was filled with plenty of issues, many of which were kept from the public for years. However, we do know that Gary was diagnosed with medical conditions that stunted his growth.

As well as only ever growing to four feet eight inches tall, Gary also had to go through not one but two kidney transplants by the time he turned 14 years old. Later in life, even more health issues came Gary’s way, including problems with substance abuse and battling depression, alongside seizures and heart issues that led to pneumonia.

The end of Diff’rent Strokes made it tough for Gary Coleman to find work

‘Diff’rent Strokes’ was enough to see Gary Coleman become a household name and even meant the actor was the highest-paid child actor for much of the 1970s and ‘80s. In fact, Gary was earning a staggering $100,000 per episode by the time the show was through, but that didn’t mean things were always easy for the star.

The end of the sitcom actually made it incredibly tough for Gary to find more work. While he was offered other movie and TV roles, nothing ever came close to the paycheck he earned from ‘Diff’rent Strokes.’ All of this led the actor down the path of blowing through his money and getting caught up in several financial legal battles.

Losing his fortune was partly down to Gary Coleman’s rising medical bills

Being a child actor meant that Gary Coleman’s parents were the ones in charge of his riches for much of his life. They weren’t alone, as the star also had a business advisor, but Gary was convinced they had all been playing him for his money and giving him the wrong advice. Eventually, everything hit rock bottom.

Ten years after suing both his parents and his advisor, Gary was forced to file for bankruptcy, with reports claiming he had lost every dime from his $18 million fortune. Part of losing his wealth came from mounting medical bills, with Gary turning to unusual ways - such as auctioning his personal items - to try and raise money.

Marrying Shannon Price was far from perfect for Gary Coleman

In 2007, everything took a turn for Gary Coleman. The former child actor met and fell for Shannon Price, who was just 22 years old at the time, with the pair walking down the aisle just a few months later. Gary opened up about Shannon being his first romantic relationship, but things were far from easy for the pair.

The couple was in and out of the headlines for their various public fights and behavior, with people noting how Shannon would regularly shove her husband and would drag him around by his hand like a child. Although they divorce in 2008 and Shannon was served a restraining order, they continued to live together as part of a common-law marriage.

Gary Coleman was just 42 years old when he passed away

Everything came to a head on May 26, 2010, when Gary Coleman was admitted to the hospital in critical condition. It turned out Gary had fallen down the stairs and hit his head, with doctors believing another seizure was to blame. Although he fought, Gary passed away two days later at just 42 years old.

This quickly led to another legal battle between his surviving loved ones, with many arguing they were entitled to Gary’s estate. It even delayed funeral and wake plans, with Shannon Price claiming she was entitled to it all. Amazingly, many accused her of ending Gary’s life, with his ashes being kept from his ex-wife all these years later.

Judy Garland might be the most prominent child star from the Golden Age

When it comes to iconic child stars, Judy Garland might be the most famous of all to come from the Golden Age. After all, she brought the likes of Dorothy Gale in the musical fantasy ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and Esther Smith in the festive musical ‘Meet Me In St. Louis’ to life, showcasing her girlish charm and stunning voice.

While she was a true star on the big screen, things were a far cry from the glitz and glamor we saw for Judy behind the scenes. From years of crushing pressure to the assault and substance abuse that plagued her life, being one of the biggest stars of the time was far from an easy ride for the actress.

Comments about her physical appearance plagued Judy Garland from a young age

One of the biggest things that always held Judy Garland back - according to those in charge of marketing the young star - was her appearance. At 13 years old, Judy was signed to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, but executives were less than impressed with her girl-next-door appearance and four-foot-eleven-inch frame. Instead, they wanted MGM stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Lana Turner.

Louis B. Mayer, the head of MGM, even went as far as calling young Judy a “fat little pig with pigtails,” a “hunchback,” and an “ugly duckling,” among several other things in the barrage of daily verbal abuse. In the end, they used rubber disks on Judy’s nose to reshape it and made the star wear caps on her teeth.

A dependence on narcotics stemmed from Judy Garland’s hectic schedule

One of the most tragic things that gripped much of Judy Garland’s life was her addiction to narcotics - and it all started during her time in the limelight. Being compared to so many of her co-stars and other big names signed by MGM meant Judy always knew she had to go all out to keep up with their demands.

Executives at the studio allegedly ordered Judy to take things to lift her up and get her through hectic working days. The problem? She quickly relied on sleeping medication to wind down at the end of each day, leading to a vicious cycle that was impossible to break. In fact, Judy was addicted to the things by just 15.

MGM Studios were behind Judy Garland’s lifelong body image issues

It often felt as though things couldn’t get worse for Judy Garland, yet there was always something lurking around the corner. Working on ‘The Wizard of Oz’ merely led to more hurtful comments about Judy’s appearance, specifically her weight. Apparently, they wanted Dorothy to look as girlish and young as possible, leading to layers of clothes and constricting corsets.

On top of hiding her figure, executives also forced Judy onto a strict diet of nothing more than black coffee, diet medication, chicken soup, and adult additions. It might be little surprise that constantly having to listen to harsh comments about her appearance and an incredibly restrictive diet led to lifelong body image issues for Judy.

Years of substance abuse meant Judy Garland passed away almost penniless

‘The Wizard of Oz’ was more than a breakout moment for Judy Garland. The young actress was tragically subjected to a host of assaults, mainly from the munchkin actors, who were mostly over 40 years old. Even Louis B. Mayer was accused of assaulting Judy while she was performing a song for the executive in his office.

By the time she turned 47, Judy was addicted to narcotics, without hope, and almost penniless. A lifetime of psychological torture and assaults had taken its toll, with her fifth husband finding Judy’s body in her apartment. It was later disclosed Judy had passed away due to an overdose of medication she’d been addicted to since she was a teenager.

Judith Barsi was subjected to a terrifying home life at the hands of her father

Appearing in dozens of commercials was just the beginning for child star Judith Barsi. The youngster was a legend behind the scenes, with plenty talking about how well the young actress could take instructions and bring just about any character to life. It's also how Judith landed her big break in the horror movie 'Jaws: The Revenge.'

It wasn't long before Judith shot to new levels of fame as Ducky in the animated drama movie 'The Land Before Time,' but things were far from perfect for the youngster as soon as the cameras stopped rolling. While it's believed she had a good relationship with her mother, Judith's father was highly abusive - and dangerous.

Her father's drinking led him to be violent toward Judith Barsi and her mother

Things continued to go from strength to strength for Judith Barsi, who was quickly acting alongside some of the biggest names in Hollywood at the time. Sadly, things weren't so great at home, as her father developed a drinking dependency. In fact, things got so bad for József Barsi that he wound up on the wrong side of the law.

Driving while under the influence were just some of his brushes with law enforcement, with József regularly threatening to end his wife, Judith, and his own life in one go. Although Judith's mother, Maria, reported these threats to the police, they found no physical signs of any abuse and, therefore, didn't press charges against József.

Judith Barsi's father continued to threaten his family despite no more drinking

Even though József stopped drinking, his violent outbursts continued. The incident with the police was seemingly enough to curb his drinking once and for all, but József could never control his anger. Apparently, he would regularly threaten to burn down the family home and cut everyone's throats to end their lives before taking his own once they were gone.

As if that wasn't enough, it's reported József hid a telegram from his wife that spoke about a relative losing their life in Hungary. It's believed József knew Maria would want to leave the country with Judith, and he was worried the pair would never return once they were finally away from his controlling and violent ways.

CPS stepped in, but Judith Barsi's mother calmed the situation

Judith Barsi opened up about the abuse she faced at home to a close friend, admitting her father would regularly throw pots and pans at her and her mother. In fact, things got so bad that Judith developed a psychological condition that made her pull out her own hair. The youngster eventually broke down in front of her agent.

This was enough for Child Protective Services to step in, who noted the severe emotional and physical damage Judith faced. While they were set to intervene, Maria confessed she planned on divorcing József and moving to an apartment she had been renting as a safe place in the day. Sadly, she never followed through with her plan.

Judith Barsi's father ended her life when she was just ten years old

On June 28, 1998, a neighbor reported a loud bang from the day before, knowing they had to call the police. Tragically, they walked in far too late. Judith and Maria were both found lifeless in the home, while József's body was later discovered in the garage with a self-inflicted wound to the head. That was just the beginning.

Flammable liquid was found over Judith and her mother, leading investigators to theorize József planned on burning their bodies after ending their lives. Her passing took a huge toll on Hollywood, with the animated fantasy film 'All Dogs Go to Heaven' - Judith's final film - being released posthumously and dedicated entirely to Judith and her memory.

Corey Feldman's career all started when he was three years old

There are child stars, and then there's Corey Feldman. The 1980s star was just about everywhere anyone looked and his time as a household name seemingly came overnight, but it all started when Corey was just three years old. The moment came following his appearance in a McDonald's commercial before Corey went on to appear in over 100 ads.

Still, it was the fall for Corey Feldman that got people talking more than anything. How did the legend go from starring in some of the biggest shows and movies of the time to selling his CDs on the street corner to pay for his illegal substance habit? It seems the fall came just as fast as the rise.

His mother started feeding Corey Feldman diet medication and pressuring her young son

Like many other child stars, Corey Feldman faced a lot of pressure, and a lot of it came behind closed doors. Unlike the sparkly exterior the rest of the world was shown, Corey was being fed diet medication by his mother any time she thought her young son had gained too much weight or he needed to look younger.

As if that wasn't enough, it's alleged Corey was beaten and assaulted by his mother any time anything went wrong on set or at auditions. None of this shone through during Corey's incredible roles in the sitcoms 'One Day at a Time,' 'Cheers,' and even 'Mork & Mindy' before making his way to the big screen.

Corey Feldman was regularly assaulted by the elite members of Hollywood

Things took an even more tragic turn for Corey Feldman when the child star was just 14 years old. Jon Grissom, a man who was supposed to be his agent, assaulted the teenager in what tragically would become the new normal for the star. It lasted for a year, but Grissom wasn't alone in his heinous acts.

Another man, Alphy Hoffman, ran a nightclub that was frequently visited by some of the youngest - and underage - stars in Hollywood. Alphy wasn't the only one here, as the elite of Hollywood would regularly arrive, with Corey stating he was regularly surrounded by people who assaulted him multiple times, telling Dr. Oz he was “tossed back and forth between them.”

Turning to illegal substances ultimately saw the downfall of Corey Feldman's career

It might be little surprise that Corey Feldman regularly started to use illegal substances as a way to cope with the growing pressure of being one of the biggest child stars of the '80s alongside the abuse he faced from those at the top. What started with softer narcotics soon turned into using much more dangerous illegal substances.

This was partly what caused Corey's dramatic downfall that saw him turn from one of the biggest names to someone selling CDs on the edge of the road to try and raise money to fund his habit. While the habit was gone for good by 1995, there was no room for Corey to recover from his fall from grace.

Corey Feldman has spent years talking about the abuse he faced in Hollywood

In the years since his tumultuous career in Hollywood, Corey Feldman has become an avid speaker about what happened to him behind closed doors. It turns out many people knew about what was going on, with Corey's good friend, Corey Haim, also getting caught up in it all. Even actress Alison Arngrim has opened up about the rumors.

She confessed she heard "everyone's had them" when talking about the Coreys, leading Feldman to open up about children working in Hollywood. According to the actor, he says that his only advice to the parents of child stars or those wanting to act is to “get these kids out of Hollywood and let them lead normal lives.”

Corey Haim’s rise to fame was just as fast as his downfall

Being a part of the Two Coreys alongside Corey Feldman meant that no matter what happened, Corey Haim would always be a household name. The actor was the definition of a heartthrob during his heyday until his decline into substance abuse and addiction that saw Corey fall from grace - hard. However, things weren’t always that way.

Corey’s rise to fame was just as fast as his downward spiral, with the star shooting to the top at ten years old. This was all thanks to his time in the children’s show ‘The Edison Twins’ before turning his attention to the big screen in the drama ‘Firstborn.’ This gave Corey a chance to rub shoulders with the best.

An incident on set was enough to leave Corey Haim “terrified”

Sadly, it was acting in ‘Firstborn’ at 13 years old that gave Corey Haim his first taste of the terrifying side of Hollywood. Apparently, Corey complimented co-star Peter Weller on his acting, who threw the teen against a wall in a fit of rage. Although Peter later claimed it was his method acting, Corey was left “terrified.”

Despite the behind-the-scenes antics, things continued to go from strength to strength for the young star. Corey landed a prominent role in the teen drama film ‘Lucas,’ but it did more than introduce Corey Haim to the larger population. It’s said that working on the movie was also the first time the actor tried an adult beverage and narcotics.

Struggling with the attention was one of the biggest problems for Corey Haim

Starring as one-half of the Two Coreys in the horror movie ‘The Lost Boys’ meant Corey Haim was introduced to Corey Feldman, a relationship that would go on to be one of the most prominent in his life and one of the most tragic for the pair. That’s not all. Corey also became a hit with young girls everywhere.

It’s said the star received over 2,000 fan letters, with the pressure quickly becoming too much for the actor. The result? Corey started to experiment with beverages and illegal substances more and more as a way to cope, later admitting that one would lead to another and another as the vulnerable star had no idea what to do.

Corey Haim was forced to go to extreme lengths to fund his habit

The turn of the century was a challenging moment for Corey Haim, as his age meant he could no longer play the teen heartthrob, and Hollywood was yet to find a place he belonged. This wasn’t helped by Corey’s continual stints in and out of rehab, meaning almost all of his money - and once thriving career - were gone.

A lack of money also led Corey to go to extreme lengths to fund his habit, including cutting his hair and pulling his teeth in a bid to sell them to whoever would pay. It wasn’t until years later that Corey admitted a lot of his crippling habit stemmed from the abuse he faced from as young as 14.

Corey Haim lost his life to an overdose at just 38 years old

Tragically, Corey Haim was just 38 years old when an accidental overdose caused him to lose his life in 2010. Before his passing, he admitted to People magazine that he was “ashamed” about the abuse and “shut my mouth.” Corey Feldman also opened up about some of the behind-the-scenes abuse they both faced in his memoir and interviews.

Here, Feldman admitted Haim believed the pair should “mess around” because “this is what all boys do,” something Haim was allegedly told during one moment of abuse. The problem came when Haim’s mother stated Feldman was “desperately trying to destroy my son’s history,” claiming all the rumors were untrue, and it was “a very deep jealousy thing.”

Baby Peggy was a Hollywood star by the time she was two years old

One of the many tragic aspects that usually hits a host of Hollywood child stars is when adults become involved in their careers. For Baby Peggy, that was her parents. Rather than seeing their child go from strength to strength, the young actor was about to learn all of her money was gone at the hands of greedy adults.

Things weren’t always that way, as Peggy-Jean Montgomery was once one of the most in-demand stars of her time. Her cropped black hair meant she stood out from the crowd, and Baby Peggy was a bona fide star by the time 1920 rolled around. The twist? Peggy was just two years old but already known for her expressive talents.

Earning the title Million Dollar Baby was no coincidence

A handful of feature films were just the beginning for Baby Peggy, who is credited with appearing in around 150 short movies throughout her career. That’s not all. It wasn’t long before she was called the Million Dollar Baby - and it was more than just a name. Baby Peggy’s father stepped up as her manager with one thing in mind.

He was determined to make as much money as possible from Baby Peggy’s career, negotiating million-dollar contracts for many of her roles. Her career continued to skyrocket, with Baby Peggy memorabilia selling like hotcakes. Jewelry, dolls, and everything else was on the menu, with each selling out faster than the last. Sadly, things weren’t all roses.

Baby Peggy admitted she didn’t know what it was like to be normal

Being a child star meant that people recognized Baby Peggy just about everywhere she went - and that was one of the major problems for the youngster. Working on movies since the tender age of two meant that Peggy never went to mainstream school or got to socialize with other children her own age at all.

Instead, Baby Peggy admitted that she “didn’t know what a regular kid was” as it was so far from the life she lived. The worst part? The youngster “didn’t have any friends” as her parents were so focused on her career that they didn’t have time to let her take time off. It simply didn’t fit with their financial plans.

Being so greedy meant Baby Peggy’s father lost all her contracts

Things were going so well for Baby Peggy until 1924 rolled around. Suddenly, her career dried up without warning, and all of her offers were gone. Sadly, there was one person to blame: her father. Being so focused on money meant that he was always trying to negotiate more and more from her contracts, squeezing every penny he could.

It was all going to plan until a producer refused to meet his demands and canceled Peggy’s contract without warning, leaving the actor with no work and no income. This was only made worse when Baby Peggy’s dad learned that her grandfather had actually stolen all of the money she’d made so far, meaning they were completely broke.

Baby Peggy spent her free days living out her true passion

In the end, Baby Peggy turned to vaudeville in an attempt to claw back any kind of money for her family, but it was too late. The Great Depression rolled around - losing the family their Wyoming ranch in the process - and the family couldn’t keep up with the lavish lifestyle they had lived for so long.

Although she did work as a Hollywood extra, Baby Peggy decided to turn away from the limelight in the 1930s to focus on her true passion for writing. Apparently, Peggy wanted to be a writer since she was eight years old, changing her name to Diana Serra Cary and writing at least five novels before she passed away in 2020.

Bobby Driscoll was an instant Disney star until acne plagued his life

While everyone goes through different experiences while growing up, there are some struggles that affect plenty of us in the same way. One thing that many have had to battle is acne, and it was something that was about to affect child star Bobby Driscoll harder than most others. After all, it didn’t fit with his acting image.

Bobby shot to fame as the star of Disney’s adventure movie ‘Treasure Island’ before appearing in their animated film as the voice of the title character in ‘Peter Pan.’ This was enough to see him sign up for a lengthy contract with the studio until his teen years hit, and Bobby no longer had the marketable image they hoped for.

Turning to illegal substances helped Bobby Driscoll cope with the lack of work

It’s believed Bobby Driscoll’s acne was enough to see Disney drop the star in the middle of his contract, meaning the young actor had nowhere to go. What had been a thriving career as one of their leading stars was now replaced by Bobby getting rejected from parts. With no work coming in, Bobby had few options left.

It wasn’t long before Bobby followed in the footsteps of so many and turned to using illegal substances. The actor told the Los Angeles Times that he was just 17 when he “first experimented with the stuff” and how “In no time I was using whatever was available.” Sadly, having “the money to pay for it” was a dangerous combination.

Illegal substances and the avant-garde art scene gripped much of Bobby Driscoll’s life

His acting career continued to decline, his illegal substance use grew in seriousness, and Bobby Driscoll was soon on the wrong side of the law. Ultimately, Bobby was charged with illegal substance possession and check forgery, meaning landing roles was even tougher for the youngster by the time he was released. Eventually, Bobby turned to a new way of life.

That ultimately came with guest appearances in TV anthology shows as well as a stint in the avant-garde art scene as Bobby found a new passion in life. Tragically, his narcotics use was as strong as ever, and it wasn’t long before the star disappeared. It wasn’t until March 30, 1968, that the world started to learn what happened.

No one recognized Bobby Driscoll when the police found his body

Two young boys were playing in an abandoned building in East Village, New York City when they discovered a sight that would haunt them for the rest of their lives. Bobby Driscoll’s lifeless body was lying on a bed frame alongside empty drinks bottles and religious pamphlets that covered the floor. They immediately called the police, but things got worse.

It turned out the police had no idea who they had just found and had to run an autopsy on the John Doe to try and piece the clues together. They learned the person passed away due to heart failure linked to advanced issues with his arteries from continued narcotics use. Sadly, no one in the neighborhood recognized his photo.

It took three years for the world to learn about Bobby Driscoll’s passing

Eventually, Bobby Driscoll was buried in an unmarked pauper’s grave in New York City, and it took years before the world learned the truth. The year after his passing, Bobby’s mother asked for Disney’s help to find her son in the hopes she could reunite Bobby with his dad after so many years as he was close to passing away.

It was only then that the police ran a fingerprint test and learned the person they had buried in 1968 was none other than the child star. Still, the world didn’t know about Bobby’s passing until 1971, when Bobby’s mother finally announced the news. Even then, it was only because journalists began to research what happened to the star.

Drew Barrymore became an overnight star at an incredibly young age

She might have been in the entertainment industry for more than four decades, but things have been far from ideal for Drew Barrymore throughout her career. From the highs of the slasher ‘Scream’ and the sci-fi hit ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,’ it looked as though things couldn’t get better for the actress after taking Hollywood by storm.

In fact, it all started when Drew was just 11 months old when the star appeared in a dog food commercial. Sadly, no one really knew about the turmoil Drew faced behind closed doors. The actress came from a long line of performers. However, her mother seemingly had other ideas about Drew’s time in the limelight.

Drinking, narcotics, and partying were all a part of Drew Barrymore’s life at nine years old

Drew Barrymore was seven years old when she starred in ‘E.T.,’ which created a whirlwind of fame for the actress. Sadly, it also meant the youngster was introduced to a world she should have been shielded from, especially at such a young age. Drew quickly earned a reputation as a party girl in Hollywood before hitting her teen years.

Jaid Barrymore, her mother, decided to take Drew to the infamous Studio 54 nightclub when the actress was just nine years old, where she quickly fell into the world of taking illegal substances and drinking through the night. Apparently, they would go up to five times a week, with aid encouraging Drew to dance with famous men.

Being sent to a mental institution was the best and worst thing for Drew Barrymore

The more time Drew Barrymore spent in the club, the more she earned a reputation for being a wild child in the media. At just 13 years old, the youngster was forced into a mental institution by her own mother following a string of alleged violent outbursts and an attempt to take her own life.

Although she ultimately spent 18 months in the institute, Drew later admitted it was the thing she needed to get her life back on track. In 2015, the star told The Guardian, “it was horrible and dark and very long-lived,” but “it did give an amazing discipline.” Sadly, no matter what happened, Drew knew her childhood would never be normal.

Getting emancipated from her mother didn’t get Drew Barrymore’s life back on track

Drew Barrymore was 14 by the time she was released from the mental institution, but she learned more than how to take control of her life and behavior while she was away. It’s said the institution was also the place to suggest that she break away from her parents, with the actress becoming legally emancipated from her mother.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t enough to get Drew’s life back on track. Instead, the actress was left with nowhere to go and no idea how to run an apartment at just 14 years old. To make matters worse, the star’s reputation from her partying days followed her wherever she went, with directors laughing at Drew’s gall to show up at auditions.

Drew Barrymore made her Hollywood comeback and has thrived ever since

With nowhere to go, Drew Barrymore was left with few choices other than taking whatever work she could find. For three years, the former beloved actress worked in restaurants and cleaned toilets until everything turned around at 17 years old. Hollywood was finally ready to see her return, with Drew coming back bigger and better than ever.

Thankfully, the star was able to pick up where she left off, but this time, Drew was clean and sober for the first time in years. Things have continued to pick up for Drew in the years since, clawing her way out of what once looked as though it would be the end for the star.

Macaulay Culkin’s personal life was far from the success he enjoyed on screen

Nothing quite captures the 1990s quite like the child star Macaulay Culkin. His cheeky smirk and blonde hair made him stand out from the crowd, with his string of successful productions offering him an instant ticket to the top of Hollywood. Sadly, things weren’t the sunshine and roses they appeared to be in every aspect of Macaulay’s life.

Behind closed doors, the actor was plagued with a tumultuous relationship with his father and rumors that something inappropriate was going on between himself and Michael Jackson. That didn’t stop movie studios everywhere from signing Macaulay to their productions, with stage shows acting as his way into Hollywood. From there, things only continued to grow for Macaulay.

Growing close to Michael Jackson saw Macaulay Culkin become the center of rumors

While plenty of other movies were enough to get Macaulay Culkin’s name on the map, nothing was quite like the now Christmas classic ‘Home Alone.’ The film hit the big screen in 1990 and has been a festive hit ever since, launching the youngster to new levels of fame. It was around this time Macaulay also found a new friend.

Michael Jackson, aka the King of Pop, was enjoying the height of his career, but many couldn’t help but wonder about what was happening behind closed doors. Macaulay and Michael were spotted on vacation to Bermuda, would spend nights together at the Neverland Ranch, and even went to Disney together, with many wondering about the nature of their relationship.

Macaulay Culkin was one of many to testify at Michael Jackson’s infamous trial

It wasn’t long before everything came to a head, with many accusing Michael Jackson of inappropriate behavior with children. Macaulay Culkin wasn’t the musician’s only young friend, but he was one of the most prominent - and one of the closest to the star. In fact, Macaulay was called to testify at Michael’s infamous trial in 2005.

Here, Macaulay confessed that he had spent a night in bed with Michael around ten times, adding the King of Pop had an alarm that would alert him anytime someone was approaching the door. However, Macaulay still stands by the claims that nothing ever happened between the pair behind closed doors, despite all the stories in the headlines.

His relationship with his father was far from ideal for Macaulay Culkin

Troubled relationships have been something that have plagued Macaulay Culkin for most of his life. Being one of seven children didn’t mean the youngster blended into the background. Instead, the star’s father was the driving force behind his success, especially as Kit Culkin was experienced in Hollywood thanks to his time as a former actor.

The problem? It’s said Kit was a tyrant behind the scenes, with Macaulay later claiming his father would regularly humiliate and threaten his children. The actor puts a lot of it down to Kit’s jealousy over the success of his career, but that wasn’t all. It seems Macaulay's dad also wanted control of his son’s million-dollar fortune.

Macaulay Culkin took a break from Hollywood to turn his life around

At 15 years old, Macaulay Culkin took his parents to court to finally get control of his $17 million earnings. The result was Macaulay walked away emancipated from his father, a relationship that has never healed in the years since. It was also enough to see the former child star take a break from acting for several years.

Thankfully, things have improved for Macaulay in recent years, with the actor making his way back to Hollywood in various roles. The star has also been in a relationship with actress Brenda Song since October 2017, with the pair welcoming their first child in April 2021. It’s certainly a far cry from the life Macaulay once endured as a child.

River Phoenix’s tumultuous childhood meant he never went to school

Plenty of children move around with their families during their younger years, and River Phoenix was no exception. He was the eldest of five children, including his younger brother Joaquin Phoenix, but almost immediately had to step up and help their parents. Apparently, the actor and musician lived in a “desperate situation” as the family had no money.

Instead, River was forced to learn how to play the guitar so he could busk with his siblings on street corners to afford food for his brother and sisters. All of this meant the star never went to formal school, either. Although he could read and write, it’s said that River never learned most basic skills.

Joining a cult saw River Phoenix’s life take an alleged turn for the worst

Things took a major turn for River Phoenix in 1973 when they joined a religious organization called Children of God. Although many have since argued it was a cult, River had no choice but to follow his parents, as he was just three years old at the time. Later, the star opened up about it all.

During an interview with Vanity Fair, Phoenix confessed that he was assaulted at just four years old and he had “blocked it out” from his life. The actor added the cult was “ruining people’s lives” but never spoke that much about his time with the group. Joaquin later disputed the claims, adding his older brother was joking about it all.

River Phoenix was known as a clean-living actor despite his behind-the-scenes antics

Things quickly went from strength to strength for the child star, as River Phoenix landed a host of successful acting roles. The likes of the coming-of-age drama movie ‘Stand by Me’ was enough to see the star become a household name before moving on to more adult-oriented roles just a few years later in the drama ‘Running on Empty.’

Amazingly, River also had a reputation for being one of the cleanest-living stars in Hollywood, thanks to the thought his family raised the actor to be against eating meat, drinking adult beverages, or using illegal substances. Sadly, it appears that narcotics might not have been absent from his life after all, with River allegedly dabbling in illicit substances.

Bob Forrest later spoke about River Phoenix’s illegal substance cycles

Growing up in the limelight was enough to see River Phoenix rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in the world in both the music and acting world. Musician Bob Forrest was one of River’s closest friends, who later confessed that illegal substances were a major part of the actor’s life for much of his time in the limelight.

According to Bob, the “routine stayed pretty consistent for all of us.” The musician opened up about taking certain substances for “that ninety-second, electrical brain-bell jangle” before taking others to “get a grip and come down” long enough to hold a conversation. Apparently, it was common to go through several of these cycles in one night.

Taking one substance too many ended River Phoenix’s life at 23 years old

At just 23 years old, River Phoenix was supposed to perform with his band on Halloween night at the Viper Room, a club that was partly owned by Johnny Depp at the time. Although he was on stage with the band, it’s believed Rover leaned over to Bob Forrest and confessed, “I don’t feel so good” before heading outside.

It was only when screams were heard, and the news spread inside the club that people learned River was having seizures and needed immediate help. The actor was taken to the hospital, where he was stabilized, but he never recovered. Instead, River was pronounced to be gone the following morning at a mere 23 years old.

Johnny Lewis was a hit child star until his later life

For years, Johnny Lewis was the child star of the time. His various acting roles meant he shot to fame, with his time as Half-Sack in the action crime series ‘Sons of Anarchy’ introducing the star to the world. Still, Johnny wasn’t a one-trick pony. Instead, he took to a host of productions, including the sitcom ‘Malcolm in the Middle.’

Sadly, this time in the headlines for most of his later life was all to do with Johnny’s legal troubles and battles with illegal substances. Ultimately, it all came to a head in 2012 when the former child star was accused of ending someone’s life - and potentially taking his own - after years of battling his own health and issues.

A high-speed accident changed Johnny Lewis’ life forever in 2011

Things had been going well for Johnny Lewis for years until 2011 rolled around. On October 30, Johnny was involved in a high-speed motorbike accident that ultimately left him with life-altering injuries. Although the doctors wanted to put the actor through several tests to determine what happened, it’s believed Johnny refused all treatment and merely wanted to leave.

In fact, it’s reported Johnny was recommended an MRI scan as professionals were worried about his brain, with his father scheduling not one but two scans that Johnny missed. It’s also said his father pushed for Johnny to receive psychiatric treatment, especially when he started displaying out-of-character behavior, but nothing was enough to change his mind.

The accident saw Johnny Lewis turn to a life of crime

The accident was enough to spark a major change in Johnny Lewis’ life, as the actor soon settled on a life of crime. Long gone were his days as an actor, as Johnny was suddenly getting into fights and relying on illegal substances to cope. In fact, Johnny was arrested three times between 2011 and the start of 2012.

One moment saw Johnny strike two men with a glass bottle, while another came after he attempted to break into a woman’s house. Despite calls for him to receive treatment, the prosecution was worried about his mental state and narcotics dependence, adding Johnny would “continue to be a threat to any community he may reside in.”

Johnny Lewis was sent behind bars and released a few days before tragedy struck

Eventually, Johnny Lewis was arrested and sent behind bars, with his attorneys pushing for the actor to head to rehab in a bid to avoid jail. When he refused, they argued for Johnny to go to rehab for other addictions in his life, all to avoid a trial, but nothing worked. Instead, the actor remained behind bars until August 2012.

Only then did a judge decide Johnny was well enough to be allowed out-patient status, claiming that the actor would only be in jail for a couple more days. Sadly, the days turned into months, and Johnny wasn’t released until September 21, 2012. Tragically, no one knew what letting Johnny out would do to the world.

28-year-old Johnny Lewis ended his landlady’s life before losing his own

On September 26, 2012, a few days after he was released, neighbors called the police when they heard screams coming from 81-year-old Catherine Davis’ house. She was known to run a bed-and-breakfast for upcoming stars, and Johnny Lewis had moved back into one of the rooms. Tragically, this stay resulted in Johnny ending Catherine’s life.

Police later learned he had bludgeoned the landlady and her cat before fence hopping until landing back in Catherine’s house. Ultimately, Johnny fell from her roof and lost his life at 28 years old. No one is sure how Johnny ended up on the roof or if he slipped or fell, with his passing ultimately being ruled as accidental.

Shirley Temple became the first child star and a beacon of hope during the Great Depression

There are beloved child stars, and then there’s Shirley Temple. The actress is arguably the first major child star Hollywood ever welcomed, as she rose to fame around the Great Depression and is still a legendary name to date. Still, the Curly Top star was living a far-from-perfect life both on the screen and behind closed doors.

Her adorable dancing, plucky attitude, and mop of red curls meant Shirley was recognized around the world, but the star had no say in how she would rise to fame at just three years old. Still, many looked to Shirley as a beacon of hope in the Great Depression and couldn’t wait to see what she did next.

A questionable film franchise put Shirley Temple in adult-orientated situations

The likes of her roles in the happy-go-lucky movies ‘The Little Rebel’ and ‘Curly Top’ were enough to put Shirley Temple’s name on the map, but they weren’t the only productions to see the toddler on the big screen. One of those moments came when she was signed to the film franchise known as ‘Baby Burlesks.’

The idea of the movies was to poke fun at adult situations and stars of the time, with toddlers bringing the characters to life. The problem? It put the young actors in some incredibly grown-up situations. The franchise was also created in the pre-code era, meaning child stars had far fewer rights and could work all hours of the day.

Playing adult roles ripped away Shirley Temple’s innocence and childhood

Plenty of the scenes from the ‘Baby Burlesks’ movies would see Shirley Temple and the others wearing pretty skimpy clothing while performing all kinds of adult roles, such as pretending to be exotic dancers or ladies of the night. In fact, one scene in ‘War Babies’ sees Shirley’s top slip and fall suggestively to her shoulders.

From seductive dances to toddler sailors to the mannerisms she was forced to bring to life, the likes of ‘Baby Burlesks’ is now considered to be one of the leading ways child stars were exploited and ripped of their innocence all those years ago. It was also enough for some harsh rumors to spread about Shirley.

Several harsh rumor plagued Shirley Temple’s acting career

One of the biggest rumors that floated around about Shirley Temple at the height of her fame was all to do with her age. Many started to believe that the actress couldn’t be a toddler and must instead be a 30-year-old person with dwarfism playing a child. In fact, the rumor grew so large that the Vatican stepped in.

The Pope sent someone to confirm whether or not Shirley was really a toddler or an adult, but that didn’t put an end to the vicious rumors. Instead, people started to accuse Shirley of wearing wigs to set. This led to plenty of co-stars attempting to pull Shirley’s hair in a bid to reveal an alleged bald head underneath.

Shirley Temple became the bar of how child stars would be treated for years to come

The cruel rumors and harsh working conditions meant Shirley Temple suffered throughout much of her working life. After all, she stood no chance of enjoying a normal childhood, with her stand-in and oldest friend later opening up about it all. In 2016, Marilyn Granas admitted Shirley’s “childhood was so unnatural” as she “didn’t have a lot of friends.”

To top it off, the actress didn’t “get to do kid things” or “go to public school” like others, as Shirley was always in front of the camera. While her childhood was incredibly tumultuous, Shirley did manage to claw back some of her freedom in later years. Despite years of how the world viewed her, Shirley ultimately dabbled in politics.