When I was a kid, I was very envious of child celebrities. I thought they had the world in the palm of their hands. But, as I got older, I realized that most child celebrities end up in jail, in rehab, or even dead. Or in the case of Dustin Diamond (Screech from Saved By The Bell), you become a bad professional wrestler. Regardless, being a child celebrity isn’t all its cracked up to be. Here is a list of 5 washed up child celebrities.
Mayim Bialik
Mayim Bialik played the lovable but mature teenager Blossom Russo, in the NBC television series Blossom. The show ran from 1991 – 1995, when it was canceled. Apparently someone working for NBC came out of a coma. Although somewhat popular, Blossom was an over the top character and way too mature to be a teenager. Her brother, played by super stud of his time, Joey Lawrence, was a more accurate depiction. Stupid, daffy and looking for sex. Mayim Bialik was lucky. Despite being unattractive and the star of a bland TV series with bad writing, she was able to carve out a place in television history. Today, Bialik is still working in the business, despite a lengthy sabbatical. She plays Amy Farrah Fowler on CBS series The Big Bang Theory, and she will be releasing a book in the spring of 2012. Now if only she would come out with a line of Blossom hats.
Tracey Gold
I’m not sure what I will remember Tracey Gold for the most. Her portrayal of Carol Seaver in the monstrous TV series Growing Pains, or as the anorexia who manager to come back from the edge of death. Her highly publicized battle forced the young actress to be written out of most episodes in the last season of Growing Pains. Tracey Gold still makes occasional appearances on screen. In fact, in September 2004 she was the star of nightly news all over the country. Tracey Gold, the beloved Carol Seaver, and the woman who defeated anorexia, was arrested for drinking and driving. If that wasn’t bad enough, her child was also in the car. She had nearly killed her young child, as the car she drove rolled several times down an embankment. I wonder what Alan Thicke would say about this?
Brian Bonsall
Remember Brian Bonsall? He was the adorable younger brother of the even more adorable Alex P Keaton on the television series Family Ties. Brian Bonsall played Andy Keaton, and he was a last ditch effort by the shows producers to save the once popular Family Ties. Unfortunately, Family Ties passed away in 1989 at the age of seven seasons. The sitcom was survived by several bad sitcom vehicles for it’s star. Bonsall did achieve some success after Family Ties. The young man was the star of the kids movie Blank Check. Brian Bonsall fell of the map a year or two later. Since then, Bonsall has been in trouble with the law. In fact, he has had a more successful career in local prisons than any TV series hes been a part of. Brian Bonsall has been arrested on several occasions for possession of crack cocaine. In addition, he has been arrested for assault and battery. These actions make him a prime candidate for a stint on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.
Haley Joel Osment
Awe, not Haley Joel Osment. The young boy from The Sixth Sense? The young and likable Haley Joel Osment has had a very successful career in Hollywood. Besides starring in the massively successful movie The Sixth Sense, Osment also starred in Pay It Forward and AI: Artificial Intelligence. He was also a part of the short lived Thunder Alley show with Ed Asner. Haley was on a righteous path. He was getting great roles, and seemed like the sun would shine forever. But of course, it did not. In July 2006 Osment was in a drunk driving accident. Apparently Osment was driving his 1995 Saturn and crashed into a mailbox. Osment was drunk, probably because he was driving a 1995 Saturn in 2006. Luckily, Haley Joel Osment is still getting steady work, mostly as a vocal actor.
Macauley Culkin
Is there any more famous washed up child celebrity. Macauley Culkin was the star of one of the most celebrated kids movie franchises of all time. Home Alone. However, by the time Home Alone 3 rolled around, Culkin was far too old to play the silly kid. Instead, Culkin played the part of unruly party monster teenager. In addition, he was in the middle of an awful divorce between his parents. Culkin has resurfaced several times in the last few years, but never for long periods of time. Unfortunately, Culkin seems to be heavy into drugs and alcohol. Don’t leave this celebrity Home Alone! Get it? Get it?
Not all celebrity children are washed up. Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Christina Arguilera all spent time on The Mickey Mouse Club. And all three are big celebrities with promising careers. It seems some child celebrities just can’t say keep their heads on straight.