From
the outside looking in, it may seem great to amass fame and fortune
at a young age. But for child actors, this seemingly fabulously
famous lifestyle tends to ruin their childhoods and happiness. Many
young Hollywood stars have gone from being America’s sweethearts to
troubled young adults dealing with depression, drug use, erratic
behavior and more. They personally suffer and their careers do
as well, often losing all of the fame and popularity they once
enjoyed as kids. Some bounce back, but many never do. To learn more
about their tragic downfalls, check out these 6 child actors who
ruined their careers.
Edward
Furlong
Furlong
got his claim to fame portraying young John Conner, the lovable tough
kid from “Terminator 2.” He became a pretty popular from this
role, but the fame was too much for him to handle and began spinning
out of control. He had several run-ins with the law, a few stints in
rehab, and was admitted into a psychiatric hospital.
Haley
Joel Osment
Osment
became one of the most recognizable child actors of his era, starring
in blockbusters like ”The Sixth Sense,” “Artificial
Intelligence,” and “Forrest Gump.” But he got involved in
alcohol and controlled substance abuse, which resulted in a terrible
car accident He was sentenced to years of probation, fines, mandatory
rehab and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. His career took a big hit.
Amanda
Bynes
Amanda
Bynes was a kid actor known for her goofy but lovable characters on
Nickelodeon such as “All That” and her own show called “The
Amanda Show.” But her career soon faded as she went into a downward
spiral of drinking, hit-and-run accidents, and drug use. She was also
placed on psychiatric hold for starting a fire in a residential area.
Since, she has seemed to be in recovery, but she hasn’t managed to
repair her career.
Jake
Lloyd
Many
child stars experience superstardom and become local and national
popularities, and this fame is the catalyst that sparks their
problems. But for Jake Lloyd, this wasn’t the story – after he
rose to fame for his role as Anakin Skywalker, he was the target of
extreme bullying in school and stated that Star Wars turned his life
into a “living hell.” He was later diagnosed with schizophrenia,
and eventually had to spend time at a psychiatric facility.
Macaulay
Culkin
Macaulay
Culkin is probably one of the most popular kid actors from the 90’s,
starring in several classic films like the “Home Alone” series.
He began falling into trouble in the early 2000’s, which he
accredits to his strained relationship with his father. Culkin was
arrested for possession for several controlled substances and
received hefty fines and prison sentences.
Lindsay
Lohan
Lohan got her big break with “The Parent Trap,” and went on to star in movies like “Freaky Friday” and “Mean Girls.” She was a major success and household name, but the fame caused her to spiral into trouble with the law, cocaine and alcohol. Her career has never quite recovered.
