5 former child stars who faced serious personal challenges in adulthood amid concern over Tylor Chase

Several former child stars have struggled in adulthood after early fame. Recent concern over Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide actor, Tylor Chase, has brought these issues into the spotlight again. Chase, who played Martin “Mouth” Qwerly on the popular Nickelodeon show, is one of the former child stars who was recently seen living on the streets in Riverside, California, in videos that went viral online. He appeared disheveled and unrecognizable to many fans, prompting widespread concern about his well-being.

Chase, now 36, has been out of regular acting work for many years and has largely stayed out of the public eye. Social media posts and news reports suggest he may be living without stable housing and struggling to care for himself. His mother has said that he still refuses medical help and does not manage money or personal belongings well, which has made it hard to support him through a simple fundraiser.

While many former child stars manage stable adult lives, others face issues linked to mental health, addiction, finances, and housing insecurity. Child stardom often brings pressure before emotional maturity has fully developed.

Long work hours, public attention, and financial responsibility at a young age can affect personal growth. When fame fades, some former child stars struggle to adjust to life outside the spotlight. Support systems are not always strong or consistent during this transition.

5 former child stars who faced severe personal challenges

Gary Coleman

Arnold Jackson on Diff’rent Strokes made Gary Coleman one of the most familiar former child stars in the late 1970s. He was a household name due to his catchphrases and screen personality. Nevertheless, he struggled later in life.

Coleman had had chronic kidney disease since childhood. The condition was common and involved frequent medical care, which impaired his physical growth. Health issues were some of the causes of continued stress and depression. Later, he was in a financial dispute with his mother and father over his childhood income wasted in adolescence. Years later, these battles with the law surrounded him.

As an adult, Coleman went bankrupt and had difficulties getting permanent employment in the entertainment industry. He was associated with several legal incidents, such as assault cases. Later in life, he faced financial difficulties and had poor personal relationships. He died in 2010 at age 42.

Dana Plato

Dana Plato appeared on Diff’rent Strokes as Kimberly Drummond and became a household name on television in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Her career came to a screeching halt after the show's end.

At a tender age, Plato was one of the former child stars who experienced personal difficulties in adulthood. She got pregnant when she was a teenager and could not find stable acting until later. There was financial pressure, and she resorted to low-budget film work. She also acquired substance abuse problems that deteriorated with the progression of time.

Her health and her life were impacted by her addiction problems. Plato was repeatedly imprisoned and put on trial. Her death occurred in 1999 at the age of 34 due to an overdose of drugs. Her demise demonstrated the absence of long-term help that many former child actors face.

Corey Haim

Corey Haim became famous in the 1980s with such films as The Lost Boys. He was part of a list of former child stars who became teen idols at the time.

Haim struggled with substance abuse. He was also reportedly se*ually assaulted. The drug dependency had an impact on his health, money, and ability to work regularly. His mid-20s were marked by a declaration of bankruptcy.

In 2008, Haim was also one of the former child stars who was reported to have lived some homeless days in the city of Los Angeles. His condition kept getting worse owing to chronic drug abuse. He passed away in 2010, aged 38, due to pneumonia caused by drug addiction.

Macaulay Culkin

5th Annual Academy Museum Gala - Arrivals - Source: Getty

Among the former child stars is Macaulay Culkin, who became one of the most successful child actors of all time after starring in Home Alone. His early fame spread worldwide with the success of this movie. He was active well into the early 1990s.

Culkin later left acting as he grew older. He cited pressure from fame and family conflict as the key influences in his decision. His parents had engaged each other in a court battle over how to control his earnings, and as such, Culkin had wanted to get emancipated at an early age.

Culkin came under the spotlight of the media in the years that followed due to reported substance use and legal troubles. He later shifted back to the field of acting in small parts and concentrated on his own work. His experience is indicative of the pressure that early fame may bring to personal growth.

Amanda Bynes

Amanda Bynes starred in the Nickelodeon series All That and The Amanda Show. She later shifted to movie roles and was regarded as a major young star of the early 2000s.

Bynes started to have severe mental health problems in the late part of her teens and the beginning of her 20s. She had several legal incidents, such as DUI arrests. There were concerns with her behavior in the open, and she ultimately enrolled in mental health and drug-related treatment programs.

In 2013, Bynes was put under a conservatorship that lasted for some years. This period is when she left acting and life. Although she has since been trying to achieve some level of stability, her experiences demonstrate how early fame can overlap with untreated mental problems.

The stories of these former child stars demonstrate that premature fame does not mean long-term stability and health. Others had to go through hardships that went beyond the career failures to include health problems, addiction, financial challenges, and mental health challenges.

Love movies? Try our Box Office Game and Movie Grid Game to test your film knowledge and have some fun!

Edited by Yesha Srivastava

Help Us Improve