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.