Hollywood Kids With Tragic Stories: Fame, Heartbreak, And The Dark Side Of Stardom

Dana Plato was best known for her role as Kimberly Drummond in the hit sitcom Diff’rent Strokes. This made her a teen idol of the 1970s and ’80s. She was pigeonholed into her sitcom role and never grew past being a Hollywood kid. Unfortunately, her struggles with drugs and alcohol also made headlines.

In 1988, an accountant stole the majority of her money after she signed over power of attorney. In 1991, she robbed a Las Vegas video store and was placed on probation. The following year, she was arrested again for forging a diazepam prescription. As a result, she served 30 days in jail and went to rehab.

Dana died of apparent suicide in 1999. She and fiancé Robert Menchaca Jr. stopped at his mother’s house for a visit. Dana said she wasn’t feeling well and went to lie down in the guest room. She took too many pills and never woke up.

This adorable child actor was first discovered when she was 5 years old. Her two most famous roles were in movies released after her death. The Hollywood kid was the voice of Ducky in The Land Before Time and Anne-Marie in All Dogs Go to Heaven.

Tragically, Judith’s life off-screen was less than idyllic. Her father, József Istvan Barsi, was an abusive alcoholic. Child protective services were called in to investigate but her mother, Maria Barsi, was hesitant to press charges. On July 27, 1998, József shot and killed his wife and daughter. He then set their home on fire and killed himself in the same manner. Judith and Maria are buried next to each other in the Hollywood Hills at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

More from LittleThings: 8 Celebrities You Probably Never Realized Started Out As Child Stars

Corey Feldman is another child actor who struggled with alcohol and substance abuse. He was a teen heartthrob in the ’80s after starring in movies such as Gremlins, The Goonies, Stand by Me, The Lost Boys, and License to Drive. His teenage success did not translate into adulthood.

He is an outspoken critic of Hollywood’s treatment of child actors. Corey emancipated himself from his parents at 15 years old, claiming they were abusive and stealing his paychecks. Additionally, he has accused multiple industry people of sexually assaulting him in his youth. He has also been accused of sexual assault by multiple women.

Not much is known about Sawyer Sweeten’s personal struggles. He, his twin brother Sullivan, and his older sister Madylin starred on Everybody Loves Raymond. Sawyer didn’t land many roles beyond his tenure on the show. Sawyer and Sullivan owned a house together in California. Just before his 20th birthday, Sawyer died by suicide.

Gary Coleman was another child actor on Diff’rent Strokes who struggled with the weight of fame. He was diagnosed with kidney disease during his younger years, which stunted his growth and kept his youthful appearance even later in life. This was great when he was a kid but prevented him from getting roles as an adult.

Gary struggled with substance abuse, anger issues, and handling his finances. He got in several altercations with fans. He also had a contentious relationship with his wife, Shannon Price. Both Shannon and Gary accused the other of being abusive. In 1989, he successfully sued his adoptive parents and business manager, proving they mishandled his finances. Just 10 years later, he declared bankruptcy. Gary died at age 42 in 2010 after suffering a brain hemorrhage.

River Phoenix had adoring fans and four younger siblings looking up to him, including Joaquin Phoenix. He tragically left this world too soon after going on a drug binge on Halloween 1993 at the Viper Room in West Hollywood, California. His family and friends claimed he did not use drugs on a regular basis but his temporary lack of judgment ultimately cost him his life. Films such as Stand by Me, Running on Empty, and My Own Private Idaho keep his memory alive.

This child actor fell victim to the studio system. Walt Disney himself handpicked Bobby Driscoll to star in films such as Songs of the South, Treasure Island, and So Dear to My Heart. He even won a juvenile Oscar in 1950. This didn’t save him from being dropped by Disney when he hit puberty. Bobby struggled to find work after that, and became addicted to drugs. When he died at age 31 from heart failure caused by his excessive drug use, no one could identify his body. His mom searched for him, eventually coming to the realization that the unidentified John Doe was her missing son.

This Wizard of Oz star was another victim of a studio system. MGM prescribed Judy Garland amphetamines to wake up in the morning and barbiturates to go to sleep at night. Movies had to get made, no matter the human cost. This started a lifelong addiction to drugs that ultimately cost Judy her life at age 47. She is still remembered today as an icon of old Hollywood.

Thuy Trang was born in Saigon, Vietnam. Her father served as an officer in the South Vietnamese army and was forced to leave his family behind when the city fell in 1975. Thuy almost died on a packed cargo ship to Hong Kong. Eventually, her family was reunited in the United States. Thuy went on to study Shaolin kung fu and was cast as the original yellow Ranger on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. She left the series halfway through the second season over pay disputes. Thuy died in a car accident in 2001.

When Robert “Rob” Knox booked a small part in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince he thought it was his big break. The child actor had previously only appeared on British television shows. He was stabbed defending his little brother in a fight outside a pub in London before the film was released. His murderer was given a life sentence. A foundation dedicated to raising money to train young people in the arts and an annual film festival were created in Rob’s memory. Potter fans will always remember him as Marcus Belby.