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Child Actors Who Lead Tragic Lives

M

Mark_Giardina

Guest
Some examples: Please add more names and situations if you know of them.

Rusty Hammer, who played the son on the “Danny Thomas Show”, killed himself.

Anissa Jones, who played the cute little blond girl on "Family Affair" died at age 18 as the result of suicide.

Patty Duke. We all know the stories about her being manipulated by her managers. She grew up in a very hostile environment, which led to her dependency on drugs and booze.

The child actors from Diff'rent Strokes. Dana Plato had a drug problem that eventually killed her. Todd Bridges spent time in jail on numerous criminal charges. Gary Coleman took his parents to court, claiming they stole millions from him. He eventually filed for bankruptcy and also had a few legal battles.

Jay North dealt with depression for many years because of the pressure brought to bear on him as a child actor.

Rick Nelson took drugs. His brother David never even graduated from high school. Both of them had to deal with their workaholic Father, Ozzie.

One could even go back as far as Jackie Coogan. Back in the days of silent movies Coogan, as a child actor, made millions (before income taxes were enacted) but ended up playing Uncle Fester on TV's "The Addams Family" because his parents spend all the money he made in the movies. I believe there is a law on the books in California named after Coogan that now protects the assets of child actors from their parents or guardians until those actors reach legal age.
<P ID="signature">______________
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted and I won't be laid a hand on.
I don't do these things to other people and I expect the same from them".</P>
 
> Some examples: Please add more names and situations if you
> know of them.
>
> Rusty Hammer, who played the son on the “Danny Thomas Show”,
> killed himself.
>
> Anissa Jones, who played the cute little blond girl on
> "Family Affair" died at age 18 as the result of suicide.
>
> Patty Duke. We all know the stories about her being
> manipulated by her managers. She grew up in a very hostile
> environment, which led to her dependency on drugs and booze.
>
>
> The child actors from Diff'rent Strokes. Dana Plato had a
> drug problem that eventually killed her. Todd Bridges spent
> time in jail on numerous criminal charges. Gary Coleman took
> his parents to court, claiming they stole millions from him.
> He eventually filed for bankruptcy and also had a few legal
> battles.
>
> Jay North dealt with depression for many years because of
> the pressure brought to bear on him as a child actor.
>
> Rick Nelson took drugs. His brother David never even
> graduated from high school. Both of them had to deal with
> their workaholic Father, Ozzie.
>
> One could even go back as far as Jackie Coogan. Back in the
> days of silent movies Coogan, as a child actor, made
> millions (before income taxes were enacted) but ended up
> playing Uncle Fester on TV's "The Addams Family" because his
> parents spend all the money he made in the movies. I believe
> there is a law on the books in California named after Coogan
> that now protects the assets of child actors from their
> parents or guardians until those actors reach legal age.
>
Somebody correct me: Lauren Chapin, "Kitten" on "Father
Knows Best," had drug problems for years, but I think she became
either a drug counselor or an evangelist. Billy Gray (Bud on the
same show) was in and out of trouble with the law, even while "FKB"
was in production, for everything from traffic violations to drugs.
 
> Somebody correct me: Lauren Chapin, "Kitten" on "Father
> Knows Best," had drug problems for years, but I think she
> became
> either a drug counselor or an evangelist. Billy Gray (Bud
> on the
> same show) was in and out of trouble with the law, even
> while "FKB"
> was in production, for everything from traffic violations to
> drugs.
>

I forgot to mention Lisa Loring, who played Wednesday on "The Addams Family". After that TV show was cancelled I believe, as an adult, she made several pornographic movies and even married a porno star. As for her involvement with drugs, I'm not certain, but performing in those movies, it's possible she made have had access or used drugs.

<P ID="signature">______________
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted and I won't be laid a hand on.
I don't do these things to other people and I expect the same from them".</P>
 
The kids from Eight Is Enough seemed to have had their share of troubles.

Lani O'Grady died from drugs or something related.
Susan Richardson was in and out of trouble with drugs and other problems. Last I know,she kicked the habit.
Adam Rich from his teenage years on was in trouble with drugs among other things and I haven't heard much out of him in the past few years.

Some others who met tragically with their problems.

Russ Weatherwax(Pugsley from The Addams Family) died in his home from unknown circumstances. He was working in construction at the time of his death.

Bobby Buntrock(Harold from Hazel) died in a motorcycle accident in 1974 at the age of 21. There were some unresolved circumstances surrounding his death(suicide,drugs,accidental).
 
>
> Russ Weatherwax(Pugsley from The Addams Family) died in his
> home from unknown circumstances. He was working in
> construction at the time of his death.
>
Correct name is Ken Weatherwax, and unless it just occurred, he is still alive and will turn 51 in September.
 
> I forgot to mention Lisa Loring, who played Wednesday on
> "The Addams Family". After that TV show was cancelled I
> believe, as an adult, she made several pornographic movies
> and even married a porno star.

...though she was acquainted with porn actors and frequently on the sets of such productions, the only porn video Loring ever appeared in had her in a _non-sex_ role; IIRC, she was there as a favor to Kelly Van Dyke (Jerry's daughter and the wife of "Twin Peaks" regular Jack Nance). She did marry porn actor Paul Seiderman a.k.a. Jerry Butler, but left him after finding out he'd returned to making the pornos. She's now doing public relations work for a hotel chain, according to her Wikipedia listing...<P ID="signature">______________
King Daevid MacKenzie
WLSU Wisconsin Public Radio, La Crosse
heard weekly on http://www.radio4all.net/
"Kill Ugly Radio." FRANK ZAPPA</P>
 
> > Russ Weatherwax(Pugsley from The Addams Family) died in
> his
> > home from unknown circumstances. He was working in
> > construction at the time of his death.
> >
> Correct name is Ken Weatherwax, and unless it just occurred,
> he is still alive and will turn 51 in September.

...Ken is indeed still with us. The earlier poster is probably thinking of Ken's uncle, Rudd Weatherwax, who was once the dog trainer on "Lassie" and several movies including HONDO and THE YEARLING...<P ID="signature">______________
King Daevid MacKenzie
WLSU Wisconsin Public Radio, La Crosse
heard weekly on http://www.radio4all.net/
"Kill Ugly Radio." FRANK ZAPPA</P>
 
> The child actors from Diff'rent Strokes. Dana Plato had a
> drug problem that eventually killed her. Todd Bridges spent
> time in jail on numerous criminal charges. Gary Coleman took
> his parents to court, claiming they stole millions from him.
> He eventually filed for bankruptcy and also had a few legal
> battles.
>
> Jay North dealt with depression for many years because of
> the pressure brought to bear on him as a child actor.
>

Dana Plato, Not long before she died, she did the movie "different Strokes: The Story of Jack & Jill..and Jill". One of those TV websites, for some reason I want to say sitcomsonline.com , someone posted on the site that the movie was porn. Anyway this upset Plato who BTW claimed the film wasn't rated-x. Actually Plato was right, it wasn't an "X" but rather "NC-17". However since many video stores and people for that matter look at NC-17 as "a soft X", din't make a difference as many other sites and even books still call Plato's movie "lesbian porn".

Jay North...when stories about the abuse he went through were made public ( I believe this was in the early 90's ), I remember when one of the tabolids and I believe a few radio DJs made the claim that North was abused not only by his Aunt (?) but also by the actor who played the original Mr. Wilson on Dennis the Menace...Joseph Kearns !! North denied that one !!

Also around this same time reruns of Dennis the Menace were very popular on Nickelodeon, often airing several times a day. But once North's stories of abuse came out, Nickelodeon took the shows off the air. Even when Nick@Nite had their 10th Anniversary, the channel even went as far as made the claim that Donna Reed was their first show even though it was actually Dennis The Menace.

here is a "somewhat" another example..

Even though he wasn't a "child" star, well maybe in a sense he was as his show was certainly quite popular among kids is the fate of Bob McAllister. McAllister was the host of the syndicated kids show "Wonderama" in the 70s as well as the original host of the ABC-TV kids show "Kids Are People Too".

There was a time in the mid 70s it really looked like McAllister would be a big star. Monty Hall had him host Let's Make A Deal once, McAllister was so good that Hall even had him do a pilot for another game show called "Carnival". However that show wasn't sold. I also remember reading back then that Metromedia was seriously thinking about having him do a daily syndicated Mike Douglas style of show, for daytime just as Merv Griffin was doing for them back them since McAllister was a great interviewer. Those who remember Wonderama I am sure remember the large number of guest stars he had and for a show that was only seen in a few markets, his guest list was quite impressive. he even had the band ABBA on, and that band did very few TV shows even during their 70's hayday.

Wonderama ended in 1977 and within a short time he was on ABC's Kids Are People Too. However Once he was taken off Kids are People Too, McAllister days of a big TV star came more/less to a halt and by the mid 80s he was for the most part sadly forgotten. By the time of his death from cancer in 1998, McAllister was doing magic tricks for "private parties" by advertising his services in local bowling alleys and even then he ads were calling him "the Wonderama man".
I believe he did some appearances at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey as well just before he died.

He died of cancer in 1998 and according to his daughter ( she told www.tvparty.com ), he didn't even know he had cancer.

sad !!
 
> Anissa Jones, who played the cute little blond girl on
> "Family Affair" died at age 18 as the result of suicide.

Actually,her death was caused by an overdose of drugs because on an E!'s True Hollywood Story about her,immediately after she got her trust fund,she squandered most all of her money on drugs and she was found dead by her boyfriend.

> Patty Duke. We all know the stories about her being
> manipulated by her managers. She grew up in a very hostile
> environment, which led to her dependency on drugs and booze.

Patty was also manic depressive as well. As a matter of fact,she hid the fact that she was manic depressive for years and years until the 1980's when she decided to come out in public and wrote an autobiography(Call Me Anna[Patty's real first name]) about her manic depression and other things.
 
> > > I don't know if this counts as "tragic" but I met Danny Bonaduce once at my local Cerebral Palsy Telethon, He was a jerk-off as a 10 year old, and he's a jerk-off now 30 something years later. If you ask me, that's tragic.
 
Danny Bonaduce (drug problems)
Leif Garrett (drug problems)
River Phoenix (deceased)

Didnt the actress who played MaryEllen Walton have drug problems at some point?? Maybe I'm wrong. But she DID appear in Playboy. Not that there's anything wrong with THAT. ;o)
 
Jodie Sweetin, who played middle sister Stephanie Tanner on Full House, just recently admitted on Good Morning America to being a crystal meth addict. She says she's on the path to sobriety, but only time will tell.
 
> > > > I don't know if this counts as "tragic" but I met
> Danny Bonaduce once at my local Cerebral Palsy Telethon, He
> was a jerk-off as a 10 year old, and he's a jerk-off now 30
> something years later. If you ask me, that's tragic.

Same reaction from everyone who has had the misfortune of meeting him. He comes off as a total jerk even through the psychic barrier presented by television. But, as is said, there's virtue in consistency--his ONLT virtue.
>
 
> > > > > I don't know if this counts as "tragic" but I met
> > Danny Bonaduce once at my local Cerebral Palsy Telethon,
> He
> > was a jerk-off as a 10 year old, and he's a jerk-off now
> 30
> > something years later. If you ask me, that's tragic.
>
> Same reaction from everyone who has had the misfortune of
> meeting him. He comes off as a total jerk even through the
> psychic barrier presented by television. But, as is said,
> there's virtue in consistency--his ONLT virtue.
> >
> "Well, like a friend of mine says, go with what you know"
 
> Didnt the actress who played MaryEllen Walton have drug
> problems at some point?? Maybe I'm wrong. But she DID
> appear in Playboy. Not that there's anything wrong with
> THAT. ;o)
>
I believe you are referring to Judy Norton-Taylor. She did pose for Playboy. As for the drug problem, I had not heard she had one. Once divorced, she remarried, has a child and is is a scientologist.
 
> > > > I don't know if this counts as "tragic" but I met
> Danny Bonaduce once at my local Cerebral Palsy Telethon, He
> was a jerk-off as a 10 year old, and he's a jerk-off now 30
> something years later. If you ask me, that's tragic.
>
Bonaduce's claim to fame has always been that he's a jerk. How he got a job on the radio God only knows. I've heard his show and he sucks big time.
 
> > > > > > I don't know if this counts as "tragic" but I met
> > > Danny Bonaduce once at my local Cerebral Palsy Telethon,
>
> > He
> > > was a jerk-off as a 10 year old, and he's a jerk-off now
>
> > 30
> > > something years later. If you ask me, that's tragic.
> >
> > Same reaction from everyone who has had the misfortune of
> > meeting him. He comes off as a total jerk even through
> the
> > psychic barrier presented by television. But, as is said,
>
> > there's virtue in consistency--his ONLT virtue.
> > >
> > "Well, like a friend of mine says, go with what you know"

Good one. He certainly does that.
>
 
> and is a scientologist.
>

I'd imagine that some would consider that tragic in itself.<P ID="signature">______________
Dave</P>
 
> > and is a scientologist.
> >
>
> I'd imagine that some would consider that tragic in itself.
>
I'll bet that is going over big on Walton's Mountain!
 
> The kids from Eight Is Enough seemed to have had their share
> of troubles.
>
> Lani O'Grady died from drugs or something related.
> Susan Richardson was in and out of trouble with drugs and
> other problems. Last I know,she kicked the habit.
> Adam Rich from his teenage years on was in trouble with
> drugs among other things and I haven't heard much out of him
> in the past few years.
>
Willie Ames from "Eight Is Enough" had his share of drug and alcohol troubles before becoming a Christian and later becoming "Bibleman".
Laurie Walters ended up appearing in a soft-core porn movies or two after it was discovered she was at least ten years older than the rest of the cast members that played her brothers and sisters. She was even a year or two older than Betty Buckley, who played her stepmother, Abby.
The last I had heard about Adam Rich was he was going to pose for "Playgirl" a couple of years ago. Whether he did, I don't know.
 
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